The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-30
An rnseresting letter fron General
Nnury.


Editors Of fhs Dispatch: However vague
and ysluclcss werc the inspiration ana puF-
Noes ~ the Yorktown Centennial, some
good. practical results have been achieseo
by II. - =, al,
she states have been assembled together and
had an opportunity 10 measure themselves
sSith each other and 10 learn each from the
other the progress that has been made IN
developing the military power OF the coun-
Try.
ssncularly well established. The ground
WAS wen selected, the supply OF water was
good and convenient. The tents were
conmodious and ample for al OF the troops.
No one acquainted with The necessities OF
iroops in calnp can complain Of the en-
continent OF the army at Yorktown. TOO
nnuch credit cannot be given to the o'hceTs
az the United states army who planned
and erected such excellent aecommoda-
tions. They were indcsatigablc IN Inelr
courteous endeayor to secure inc comfort
aud pleasure OF all for whom they hao 10
prosidc, aud viii be long and widely ana
Kindly remembered by us oil.
Great benefits will result 10 the country
from bringing together the volunteers OF All
the states in en- encampment win the regu-
lars. This is the first demonstration OF the
system by which Great Britain has Duilt UP
her militia and volunteer army OF nan
million Of men, and has been for several
years advocated in the volunteer conNeh,
lions which have followed the meeting OF
volunteer officers called here in Richmond
three years ago.
hone n will heneeforth become an es-
q 81, ff,tr A. mi forces
Of This State TO assemble them annually In
suitable oncampments, for drill and disci-
Milne. at such times and places as the Gov
crnor nav indicate, and that the Secretary
Of War be requested by the Governor TO
establish n camp OF instruction OF regular
troops 10 encamp and drill with the yollln-
tecrs.
There were volunteer troops at York
TOWN quite equal to the regulars. have
never seen any regular regiments drlll rs
did the Ninth Massachusetts,. The New
dorsey regiment and the volunteers OF
Michigan, Rhode Island, New YORK, ana
some others, were quite up to the regular
standard. The Virginia corps OF Cadets
far surpassed any other battalion upon that
field. ON drill, on parade, in the column
when the army passed i'm review, that corps
was applauded and admired beyond all the
other troops, volunteer or regular, ana
their personal department when OIL duty
was as unexceptionable as was their con-
duct in ranks.
Much of the surprising excellence OF the
magnificent brigade which represented
Virginia in this Centennial celebration IS
due 10 the corps OF State Cadets. Scores OF
graduates were in the Virginia regiments,
and were the chief agents Of the organiza-
ton of that fine brigade. TWAS the largest,
ms IL was the most complete, upon the
grounds. It's composition was battalion
of engineers (the Cadets three batteries OF
artillery, one troop of horse, and four regi-
ments Of infantry. 1t was worthy OF
our great State and OF any occasion,
and was magnificent illustration
OF what can be accomplished by
the self-respect Of the young men OF
Virginia, who, without aid or encourage
ment from any government, have, by their
own individual sacrifices of time, money,
and labor, created the finest body OF vol
rmteer soIdiery. / believe, on this continent.
Fitz. Lee might well be proud Of the grand
shout which rang out rs he and his brilliant
staff rode along their lines. His grand
father never saw such SoOdly array as
shcered our FitZ. that day.
DABNEY III. MAURY.