The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-02

I yesterday, as they were the day before.
Many books were returned TO the secretary
with the list OF premiums decided upon.
This work will be fully completed to-day,
and those who have won and the many
who have not will have their suspense re-
lieved.
A Pretty Parade.
| When Richmond shook sleep from its
! eyelids yesterday morning about the first
! thing that il thought OF was the military
parade. All day long the day before and
until late hour in the night the officers OF
the First Virginia regiment. together with
! those OF the Virginia Agricultural Society,
had been busy receiving military visitors,
aud doing their best to quarter them COM
fortably and show them every courtesy pos
sible. While this was being done mot en-
tirely to the satisfaction OF the officers, nor
half so well as their hOspitable hearts
wished preparations were also being made
for the parade which was to take place yes
terday.
The last company arrived about 10
o'clock A. NJ. yesterday. II was the Cor
donsville Grays, numbering about thirty
men and commanded by Captain j. e..
Gentry. The programme published the
day before was faithfully carried out. The
cavalry formed on the right, the artillery
on the left. and the four battalions OF in
fantry in the centre, between Ninth and
| Twelfth streets inclusive. General Fitz-
hugh Lee and his staff took their positions
and seemed busy in getting everything in
order for the smooth execution OF
the programme. On the Generals staff
was Lieutenant William Kirby. OF the
Thirteenth New York regiment. Of
| DrOoiylyp Tho Eoufopopt Itapppne1 tO
be in the city and was invited
to act as aid. The command received the
order to move forward 4 short while be-
fore 10 O'Clock. and to the sonnd OF drum,
the merry music OF four brass bands, and
the applause OF thousands OF admiring peo-
pie, moved down Broad to Thirteenth
street. Rarely has it been the case that
as many people have been seen on the
sidewalks. Even these could not hold the
crowd, and the windows and hOuse-tOps
were crowded with people. The soldiers
looked well indeed, and the spectacle was
the pretties one that has been seen on the
streets Of Richmond perhaps since the war.
The presence Of the gallant war-cavarv-
man. General Ftzhugh Lee and his staff,
riding at the head Of the command, the
tramp Of the cavalry horses, the sight Of
tired i'm their pretty uniforms, and the
brave bearing of the dauntless riders from
! Gloucester, together with the soul-stirring
sounds Of martial music from the brass
bands and drum-cOTps, served to send 4
thrill Of enthusiasm through the veins OF
those who had been watching so anXiously
for the imposing pageant. Men and women
Of all sizes, sorts, sexes, ages. and condition.
| Of ola n pb :
each other, frequently making perfect
gorge OF living humanity OH the streets.
Broad and Main streets both presented this
sort of spectacle After marching up Nam
| TO Fifth the command turned northward.
and upon reaching Broad prepared to take
the train for the Fair-Grounds. The Ca
louisville Md.) Bond Guard did not 20 out
to the Fair-GrOunds, but returned TO their
quarters, and took the train in the early
afternoon for home.
THE COMPETITIVE DRILL.
Another attractive military feature was
the competitive drill for five prizes OF
81 900, $500, $3.50, $3.50, and 500. The
grand prize OF $1,000 was open only to
companies outside Of the State. When the
military embarked on the train Il perfect
rush was made for il. The squeezing was
terrible. Men chung to the outside OF the
clrs and even after they moved of there
were people so crazy to get out to the Far
that they ran after the cars and jumped
upon them ut the risk Of their lives. The
engine and tender were even packed. IL
|, really remarkable how so many reckless
peope could have been transported and
none injured by accident. Yet it is true
that nothing OF the kind occurred.
tl,. Il gh
FAIRGROUNDS it was marched to the open
lawn between the Virginia House and the
quarters occupied by the officers OF the
Agricultural Society. Here hollow square
was formed by the military, and immedl-
ately behind the soldiers 4 dense mass of
human beings five or six ranks deep was
Immediately formed. The following COM
panieS then announced their intention TO
compete for the prizes:
For the 81, O00 prize. the Raleigh On. CO.
Light Infantry, Captain c. ID. Upchurch,
twcnty-four men; Reedsville (N. C.) Light
Infantry, Captain A. J. Ellington, twenty
men.
For the first prize: IIarrisOnburg Guard.
90 men; Norfolk City Guard, Capt1in {. \.
Nash, y men; Company \, First regi-
ment. Captain Louis j. BOssieuX, - men ;
Company b. Captain II. c. Jones, "a men (;
! Company c, Captain w. ID. DAVIS, 90 men ;
Company ID, Captain Leroy L. Brown, 81
men: Company i, Captain a. i. Elicit,
Jr., 30 men-al OF the First Virginia regi-
ment: and the Richmond Light Infantry
Blues, Captain Andrew Plzzini, 20 men.
Lots were cast, and the Richmond Blues
won the right to drill first. A high wind
swept with bleak force the level plateau,
and this shook the heavy plumes worn in
the tall hats OF the Blues with force sufli-
cient to make their movements awkward.
For nearly four hours the drill went on.
Lieutenants Galbraith, Garrard, and
Strong, of the United States artillery force
stationed at Fort Monroe, acted as judges
and kept their feet all the while. and with
Great pains noted in large books held in
their hands the movements OF the compa-
nieS as one after another OF them essayed
To win the prize. Even the races could
moi draw the crowd away, and from the
first to the last the drilling was intently
watched by the great crowd, which stood
on tip.toe and looked over each other
shoulders from the ground, or gazed with
interest from the steps and porches OF the
buildings near.
THE DRILL OVER,
the Judges retlred 10 room III tue II
ginia House, accompanied by Colonel j. Il.
Purcell, and locked themselves in. After
a careful canvass OF opinion the door was
thrown open and the commands drawn up
i'm front Of the house. Colonel Purcell
advanced TO the front. Lieutenants Gal
braith, Garrard, and Strong standing on
his right, and announced the result by say
ing: -.
L have been requested to announce the
result Of the competitive drill, which Is as
follows:
Class First prize, $1,000, to the Ra-
| lo;o,k 4 ;o,bt INF