Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-25
YORKTOWN CORRESPONDENCE.
The OmnIpresent Dust-MOre of the
Chathams-Gener HancOek's
Little Joke on the Tars-The Grand
Naval DIsplay-Guiteau Shot and
Cremated-DiVersIOn and Ameni-
ties of the Stay In Camp.

the surrender of Lord CORVALLIS at this place,
which included attractive features for four
days, the experience of the first day forced the
| conclusion that the original plan could only be
carried out at the cost of great serious incon-
venience and discomfort to the thousands who
| fiocked here with not the slightest conception
of what was in store for them. One can
scarcely imagine more unpromising point at
which to hold a grand national celebration
than this same Yorktown. Located beauti-
fully upon bluff. fully one hundred feet high.
and overlooking a magnificent expanse of
water, it is utterly devoid of single attractive
feature The soil is sandy, and the immense
traffic over the main road, it can scarcely be
called a street, has resulted in a thorough pull
verization of a tract from the landing to the
encampment at Temple Farm, nearly two miles
in length, and the clouds Of dust which are
ruination to clothing generally.
The little space which is honored
with the name Of town is mainly composed of
low drinking booths and gambling dens. 1t can
be emphaticaliy asserted that there are abso-
lutely no accommodations except Of the very
poorest kind, and those limited. The people
who have come here have been subjected to
much Inconvenience, even during the day, aDg
in one instance steamer loaded with several
| hundred ladies and gentlemen for Norfolk and
other points, learning the condition of affairs
returned home without even disembarking.
The mill ary alone, if we except the dignitaries
who were made comfortable on palace steam
ers lying n the river, have had any compare
tive comfort. For these reasons the commits
sion decided to cut off one day of the ceremo-
nies, and hence the celebration was brought to
close to-day with the army and navy review
and naval engagement in York river
The review was truly grand spectacle, and
| hazard nothing in saying that anything ap-
preaching it is not likely to be seen in this
country in century, if ever.
The great State of Georgia was represented
in this grand spectacle by one cempany-the
gallant Chatham Artillery, of Savannah-and
yet the distinguished honor was assigned her
OF the position on the right of the line, and
her Governor and staff prominent positions
| the stand. Governor ColQuitt keenly felt the
tuation, and said the only qualification he
had was the fact that the Chathams were truly
| representative company of Georgia, and
would illustrate the State with credit. The vol
| unteer militia of sixteen States, aggre-
| eating nearly 1900 men, were present
in the line, and their marching taking
| it as whole, was superior to that of the regu-
| lar infantry. Particularly noticeable for ad-
| mirahle marching were the First New JERSEY,
| the University Cadets of Virginia and the Ninth
| Massachusetts, The Fifth Marylsnd. under
Col. Douglas, was one OF the best disciplined,
and made as fine q display as any on the
ground AS have already wired YOU when
the Chatham Artillery came in front of Gen.
Hancock and staff, who were near the grand
| stand, whereon were seated the President and
CaDlneC ana fFencn ana herman delegations,
| Gen. Terry was seen to gallop TO the front and
halt Lieutenant George P Walker, who was in
command, and it was ascertained he bore an
order from Gen. Hancock for the company to
| halt. The guns were pointed out to the French
| delegation, and the President and Gen. Han
| cock personally complimented Lieutenant
| Walker upon the soldierly bearing and hand
some appearance Of his men, and closed with
| an invitation to him to attend collation. on
| board the steamer St. Johns. This was the
most marked compliment paid any command
in the entire review by the Major General
commanding, and is highly appreciated by the
Chathams.
Gen. Boulanger, of.the French delegation, in
| his expressive way, was heard to remark to
Gen. Hancock that some of the officers Of the
navy who were mounted did not appear to be
| entirely at ease on their prancing steeds. Gen.
Hancock, glancing over the neck OF his proud
charger, surveyed the officers a moment, and,
| turning quiZzically to Gen. Boulanger, said in
| French: We'll, they are evidently not very
happy on horseback; but you should see
how gracefully they ride in a carriage which
little joke the French General enjoyed
| keeny. The booming of the cannon had an
inspiring effect upon most Of the animals,
and it was apparent that the mounted officers
Of the Marine Corps would willingly have made
a great sacrifice to have been on foot. The
position of some of them was absolutely pain
| full. and their efforts to maintain their seats
caused great beads OF perspiration to glisten
| on their foreheads, and the otherwise imposing
| effect Of their bright, snowy uniforms
was marred. One officer, unable to
manage his nag, demoralized a portion
| of the crowd by dashing throush their ranks
aud making detour of the ground before he
could get his nag in position again. These
| we're only little incidents, however, that occa-
stoned diversion and in wise detr acted
| from the display or the imposing grandeur of
the review NotwithstsndngIthe numbe- of
troops engaged they were all in line, and the
march was commenced exactly at the hour
indicated in the orders of General Hancock.
and the review was over in about the time
usually required in getting volunteer
brigade under way, in the days of peaceful
parades.
The association of which Col Peyton is
President had magnificent silver vase of ap-
propriate design made in New York at a cost
of 81 600 as a prize to the best drilled com
mand in the review. This handsome prize
was awarded the First New Jersey, but the de-
cision was not considered by many Of the
military as exactly fair, though there ia no
question asto the New Jersey Regiment making
the best appearance in the line. The objection
arises from the fact that this regiment is COM
posed of the crack companies detailed from
the different regiments in the State, while the
Fifth Maryland, for instance, which made a
splendid display, comprises only its own
companies. There is no dissatisfaction at the
result, however, and the New Jersey boys
were warmly complimented by the military
generally upon their success.
In the afternoon the naval review took place
on the river followed by the
and French war ships being engaged The The
stand at Lafayette Hail. and the bluff from the
landing TO the wharf near the Moore House,
was literally crowded with spectators The
exhibition Of the drill on shipboard was very
fine. and the firing splendid.
The President and party made tour Of the
river, visiting the various naval vessels, and at
night left for Washington. The French dele
cation also left this afternoon on the steam
ship Catskil for Richmond, where they will re-
main few days. The steamers arrived during
the afternoon packed with people, and it is
reported there will be hundreds here to-mor-
row il GnticiDasi1n that the celebration is to
last several days longer.
Tonight. the last OF many OF the troops in
camp, the greatest license is allowed, and hi
larity reigns supreme. This afternoon the boys
of the Fifth Maryland constructed straw man
and named it Guiteau. and set the ef1gy up in
prominent part of the camp. At sig o'clock
detail was formed aud ordered out, and Gui-
teau was shot 10 regular style. 1t was then
announced that at eight O'Clock the remains
would be carried out and cremated Long be-
fore that hour the members of all the compa-
nies in camp, Southern and Northern troops.
regulars, United States Veterans, began to as-
semble at the Maryland camp, and in due
time the heterogeneous crowd was form
ed in line. Guiteau was placed on a
stretcher, which was carried on the
shoulders of four men. A company OF the
Fifth Mary land, bearing torches and headed by
a fife and drum corps playing the dead march,
forme the head of the column, and was fol
lowed by the pail bearers; then the boys in
gray and blue, four abreast, with branches Of
cedar, sticks or wood and pans, numbering
some seven hundred, started from the Mary
land quarters and made circuit of the en-
campment, gaining accessions as they went A
popular member Of the Chatbams took q prom
inent part in the demonstration and assisted
at the creation of Guiteau. The affair Twas
impromptu, and was suggested In the spirit Of
frolic, but the execution, funeral procession
and cremation were carried out with the regu-
larity and discipline characteristic OF the mill
tary. After Guiteau had been disposed of, the
boys returned to their quarters and the process
sion was disbanded
Later this evening the Pennsylvania Tenci-
bles, under command Of Malor Ryan, hearing
that Cen: pa zhueh Lee was in the camp Of the
Norfolk Light Artillery Blues as the guest of
Captain Gilman, secured their band and pro-
ceeded In a body to Captain Gilman's tent,
In front of which they were drawn
up in line, and the band than
played beautiful air. General Leeiwas called
on, and nade sn eioauent and conservativs
speech, which was highly applauded, and sug-
1estive O. Certain actions by the State Legisla-
ture, to which shall refer at length at O more
leisure time. Spaeche5 Were made by Major
Ryan. of the Bencibles, and others in the same
friendly spirit, after which Captain Gilman
extended an invitation to the visitors to the
general mess room, where they were most
Hospitality entertained. There was general
visiting among the several commands and
good byes said as many had made arrange
ments to break camp" early on the morrow,
the steamers to convey them being in waiting.
The only troops that will be in camp on Fri
day night besides the regulars. will be the
Maryland, New Jersey and Massachusetts
commands, and they will leave early on Satur
day morning for their homes, steamers having
been chartered by them.
The Connecticut regiment and the Charleston
troops leave early in the morning for Charles
ton, and from thence will probably go to At
lanta. B. II. r.
Mr.. Charles B. Wayman. Erie, Pa, writes: