New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-21
A GALA DAY AT YORKTOWN
,,nr or THE SOLDIERS.

nr GREAT BRITAIN-END OF THE cELN
rbn soldiers who attended the centehhiai
.olebration at Yorktown paraded there ScS'o
do,, marching past a reviewing stand on which
,rere seated President Arthur, the French an"
German visitors, and distinguished men
IS the Nation. There were over
o 600 soldiers in line and they presented "
fine appearance. At the close OF the uaS 'ho
flag of Great Britain was saluted by the Wu
sbips of the Navy at anchor III York River WIN
this ceremony the centennial ObserVahceS en'''0'
REGULARS AND MILITIA ON PARADE,
APPEARANCE OF TIE CAMP OF TIE .,.''9.,, Sol-D.--'
TUE REVIEWING STAND AND ITS DlsIlN6'l9hhp
occUpANTs-THE MARCH PAsT-REGlMhNi' ''
ryr SEVERAL Stalls AND THE REGULARS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEi
vopvrowv Oct 2O-Last night it was de-
+orm,ned 70 coudense the last two days ceremonies
of tbe centennial celebration into one ana so emu
the affair on Thursday instead of Friday evening
The French visitors desired to 60 to klchmohd III
time for reception and ball on FriuaE' anu "
change of programme was made to oplge 'e'H
nleosed everybody else except the people VINO HhN
none to make money out OF the hungry aad thirsty
multitude. Tor there was little comfort any ""ei'
ovoept On board the vessels in the river Every one
- dorlr astir there is too much noise OF
IL
s+sou whistles and boatswains calls to sleep on the
yater after davbreak and ashore the reveiHe
ronses the most somnOlent An early VISIT 10 the
camp is, perhaps, the best way to begin the day
The road from the wharves leads through the town
this dreadful town-and out over the pare heIus
yellow with dust, past booths, tents ana shahues
where eager venders aggresslvely sollcltonsl 10
find customers for their beer and bananas. Inc
road is fetlOck deep In dust as INC "s
Minnesota -four. Every vehicle stlrs up
whrling cloud of this nasty penetrating
snf which has from the first proved the great draw
back to the celebration Last night General Han
cock had a dozen watering carts, brought from Nor
folk. at work on it, but they might have as wen
tried TO irrigate the desert of Sahara. Two miles
below Yorktown on the Moore Farm where Corn
walliss force grounded their arms hundred years
ago the camps of the regular and State troops are
ptched A finer camping ground no soldier could
wish. 1t is high plateau mile
long. ending at the water side In
bold bluff and stretching back half
mile to belt of wood so there Is the VIDE Olue
tidewater river on one side and the dark green
forest on the other and between lies this high dry
plain. New-Yorker naturally asks his way
among the masses of white tents to the camp OF his
States representative regiment, the 18th from
Brooklvn call on Colonel Austin results IN a
breakfast in the officers spacious messtent, and an
inspection of the admirable commisSary arrange
ment. Next the Governor whose white stand
ard fronts the broad parade-ground is visited.
Governor Cornell and his wife occupy tour
tents pitched in the shape of cross and converted
into one large handsome room which with bright
carUet and neat furniture has very cosy look
Standing IN front of the Governors headquarters,
one looks directly across the broad plain, where
century ago Corvallis scarlet soldiers marched
between the brilliant whitecoated French regiments
and the " old COntinentals in their ragged rcgl-
mentals to pile their muskets and standards. the
Bri ish bands playing the tune of " The World
Turned Upside Down" Next, call at
the Moore House, which the Centennial
Committee has nicely restored. Here the Marquis
and Marquise De Rochambeau have spent the night
as the guests of Professor Charer and Colonel Pey-
ton of the committee. The party are breakfaStng
Oh plates AMI cups made at Trenton to ccmmemo-
rate the celebration, and tho Marquise expresses
her delight at the quaint farmhouse with its huge
rooms and antiquated fre-places and speaks of
her enjoyment of the serenade the Brooklyn regi-
ment band gave her last night.
But now the air begins to throb with the
drum beats from all the camps, the buges
are blowing the assembly IN the near
quarters of the regulars, and here go dashing
by the dashing Cemmanler-in-ChiefG General Han
cock and his staff 1t is time to go TO the reviewing
stand. The troops are already mastering lOr tne
grand parade; but where is the standi Here
where it should be found are score of carpenters
and a company of engineer soldiers and some piles
of lumber and chairs A Northern Governor who
arrives early drily remarks that he thinks they
need not have waited until just a century after
COrnwalliSs surrender before commencing to
build the stand. 1t is iii passable shape,
however, by 10 o'clock; all but an old
sail cloth awning which is to shelter the President
and the most distinguished guests, and which lies
prone upon their chairs when they arrive. There
are chairs for nearly 500 people upon the stand.
General Sherman, the Governors OF States and their
families and stats, Senators, Congressman and
other people of note, fill the seats. Not much order
Is observed. When the foreigners arrive under
Nr. Blaine's escort. places have to be made for
them by oustng the first occupants. The
promptness shown in starting the parade is
cOmnendable, however. 1t was to move
at ten, and at ten to the minute it does move. Let
us look at the reviewing stand a moment before the
head of the column arrived. In the centre stands
President Arthur, digni6ed and serious figure clad
in black from head to foot. Near him the Cab
met officers and just at his right is Minister Outrey
and the double line of French officers IN their gay
uniforms their breasts glittering with Gro and
medals Conspicuous among them is the dashing
General Bouanger aud the tall, stout
dragon, Colonel Basson. who looks nearly
enough like General Hancock to be
his brother. Further at the right the German
officers in the palmer uniforms of dark blue and
scarlet, with the Secretary of the German legation
The French and Germans together form fine SOL
dierly group but they do not compare for physique
and certain air Of veteranshp with General Sher-
man and his staff who SIT close by. But here
comes the parade.
At the head ride four trumpeters heraldng the ap-
proaeh of General Hancock staff The gallant vet
eran of the Mexican War and lf ALI the VIRGINIA o