Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-20
From a staff Correspondent.

condition this little village comprises thirty
buildings with population of about one hun
dred and fifty, but since the Inauguration OF
the present Centennial movement, there have
been a number of temporary wooden struc-
lures erected, and the town now boasts about
two hundred houses and floating population
in the thousands. I arrived here this (Satur-
day. morning at four o'clock and found every
thing In delightful confusion. There was a
perfect jam and hustle, and soon realized the
fact that this was one OF the occasions where
even the kindly offices Of friends were of no
avail, and that every man had to secure
whatever privileges or conveniences he
desired through his own personal
exertions and the knack he might
possess Of making progress under
adverse circumstances. The present condition
of affairs is attributed to the result of an effort
to have two distinct celebrations-one by the
Yorktown Centennial Association, of which
Colonel J. E. Peyton, formerly of New Jersey,
calls himself manager, and the other by joint
committee of Congress. met Colonel Peyton
on the boat coming from Baltimore, and had
quite a conversation with him, but was not
impressed with his executive or admins
trative ability. He is a clever old gentle
is not progressive or spirited enough for such
an affair. 1t was originally intended that the
celebration, under his management, should
take place on the 18th, with an address from
Hon. John Goode, and a reunion of the descend
ants of continental soldiers, but Mr. Goode
who is actively engaged in the exciting can
vass in Virginia, came not, neither did the
aforesaid descendants appear-from what
cause is not stated. The celebration was then
deferred until to-day, when it was positively
announced that it would be inaugu-
rated by the opening of the Moore House, in
which the commissioners Of the British and
Americans settled the terms of capitulation.
A number OF prominent citizens from Wash
tngton and Baltimore came down on the
steamer by special invitation to atteni these
ceremonies, but soon discovered that there was
to be another postponement,a and so imperfectly
organized are the plans of this local association
that it was impossible to learn what was to be
done, though it is now conceded that their
proposed celebration win be abandoned and
that the celebration of the Centennial will
| be confined to the arrangements made by the
Congressional Commission, and will commence
on Tuesday, the 18th instant.
As stated, found terrible state of confu-
sion existing on my arrival here, and quickly
learned the fact that everything was to be
made subservient to the military and what
comforts could be provided or accommoda-
lions extended, the soldier boys" were to have
first choice"
WHE MILITARY CAMP
is on Temple Farm. about two and one-half
miles from the landing, and over one of the
dustiest roads have seen in years, Yorktown
not having been favored with rain In several
weeks The chief difficulty is obtaining trans
portation for goods, and l had to wait from
haf-past four In the morning until eleven be-
fore could secure a conveyance TO remove
my camp eQuipage to the grounds
An effort was made at one time to have a de-
sirable location laid on as newspaper row, near
the town, for the correspondents of various
leading papers, but owing to some misunder-
standing between the local association and
the Congressional Commission. the movement
proved failure, and the knights of the
Quill" have to shift for themselves but with
haua mi hao off In he
cold, and have their comfortable tents in diff
ferent parts Of the ground. understand that
| Col. Peyton, whose association purchased
| Temple Farm and the Moore House, which is
located on it, for $4,000, conceived it to be a
| good idea to charge newspaper correspondents
one dollar per foot for the space occupied by
| their tents; but this would not work. as there
was much opposition in the association to such
| action as has no precedent in the history of
| this country. 1t demolished newspaper row"
however though building thirty feet square
is being erected for the use of the press, and
| will be provided with long tables
When my patience was just about exhausted
| and disgust was fast overcoming my patriot
ism, the rickety cart in which had made the
| trip from the landing with my truck" for the
| reasonable O. sum Of 81 50, stopped in front Of
| the tent of Colonel Forsyth, the QuarJermaster
| U. S. A, in charge, where 1 learned that the
| Georgia reservation was about a quarter of a
mile distant, on Avenue ID, and could there
select the spot to pitch my tent. Up to this
| time Zone o'clock had nothing to eat and
was not promising. was fortunate, however,
| to ia in with Captain James Persons, of
| Washington, chief clerk OF Colonel Corbins
| department, and through his assistance finally,
about six o'clock, succeeded in getting my tent
up and makilg myself comparatively COM
| Portable.
While waiting for the return Of the boy from
town with something to eat wrote this letter.
Ground on the right of the MORNING NEWS
headquarters has been marked off for Governor
Oolquitt and staff, and two tents will be erected
nj In fha iaffr mill fla
camp OF the Chatham Artillery, whose coming
is anticipated with much pleasure by their
friends Of South Carolina. who are already
here and whose camp is only a short distance
on. Directly opposite the Georgia camp, on
Avenue d, are the camps of the Fifth Mary land
Regiment, Of Baltimore, the First New Jersey
and the First Cumberland (Md). Berond is
the South Carolina camp, then the New Hamp-
shire and Connecticut, all opening on Avenue
d, which is the largest and handsomest laid off
on the grounds, and has been christened Han
cock" avenue in honor of the distinguished
officer, Gen. W. s. Hancock, who will have
charge here, and who arrived this morning
from Fortress Monroe and was received with a
salute.
Everything is being gotten In readiness for
the troops, who are expected tomorrow and
Monday, and the regular soldiers are doing
enectve work IN putting up tents. The most
serious inconvenience to those who did not
come prepared to camp out and rough it is the
distance to the eating houses and hotels (2).
There is plenty to eat and prices are not exor-
bitAntly high, considering everything, but the
trouble or getting it will render the sojourn of
the civic visitor anything but pleasant The
sleeping accommodations for visitors consist Of
bunks In barns, old houses and tents, and a
number of people have caught malaria from
sleeping on the ground, and have had to re-
turn home
AS for the Moore House, which is to be the
headquarters Of the President and suit, what
ever of historical interest may have attached
to it has been destroyed by the fact that it has
been painted, repapered and rebuilt, till it re-
aTf1lnl hut Fn
1t is estimated there are now five hundred
persons here TO cater, in one way or another,
TO the wants Of the public, but, so far as Ihave
been able to ascertain, not one OF them is able
to tell the difference between genuine butter
and oleomargarine, but they propose to do
better next week, provided the cows don't go
back on them.
The Richmond Howitzers, with four guns.
will be on the opposite side of Hancock avenue
facing the Chathams, which will be very pleas
ant, especially for some Of the old war mem
bers. who may by the light of the camp fires
fight their battles over again"
An officer Of the Sumter Light Infantry, of
South Carolina, whom met this morning, ex-
pressed regret that Georgia had not done as the
Palmetto state, and appropriated a sum to
have q large representation of our military
but said he knew the Chathams, personally and
by reputation, and felt that they would make
creditable showing for the Empire State in
quality, IL not in numbers.
Temple Farm is one vast tented field, and
there are already nearly ten thousand soldiers
New York Regiment are undoubtedly the best
in the camp, as they had a detail here two
weeks ago fixing up and arranging for their
reception.
The town and vicinity (none being allowed In
the campsl are crowded with men with sweat
boards, fakirS, wheels OF fortune, and every
conceivable device for gambling tempts the
unwary wherever he roams. variety hall
occupied.by troop similar to, and il possible
a little worse than, the female minstres under
Madam RentZ is in full blast and crowded
nightly.
THE DISTINGUISHED FRENCH GUESTS
Much interest attaches to the visit of the
French delegation, whose arrival with the
Presidential party on the steamer from Wash
| ington is expected on Monday. The delegation
comprises descendants Of those gallant French
men who were conspicuous in their devotion to
the American cause in the Revolution, and
hei ce have had the warmest greetings sioce
their arrival in this country, brief details Of
which have been telegraphed. l am sure,
sketches viii be read with general in crest and
pleasure by your Georgia and Florida sub
scribers:
THE MARQUIS DE RcCHAMBEAU.
The Frenchman of the highest rank who has
been invited to Yorktown is the Marquis de
! Rochambeau. There is. however, none Of the
/ blood of the great Rochamb au in his veins.
| but he bears a collateral relationship to the
principal line of tine Rochambeau family. The
present Marquis is the edopted son OF Philippe
Auguste Donation de yimeur, Marquis de Ro-
| chambeau. He has already paid visit to the
! United States as Commissioner Of France 70
| the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia.
| His appearance is handsome and imposing,
and his manners are extremely affable. He
present engaged in historical studies connect
ad with the Amarican war of indepaudanea