Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-23

ried out if it had been daylight.
| The little depot would not hold
one-fourth of the visitors and they
were hard to find on the platform, and
some of them struggled up into the town
in search of the Opera House. There was
confusion, but the committee worked
manfully and in spite of the adverse cir
cumstances carried out good part Of the
original programme.
| PATIENT UNDER ADVERSELY.
Our people owe the 2S5h New York a
debt of gratitude for their patience under
circumstances which it was not in our
power to improve. On the road a night
and day, with little sleep and less to eat,
with numerous disappointing delays and
at last tumbled out of the train in the
darkness and confusion attending the ar
rival of large party, the Ladies and Gen.
tlemen of the excursion showed patience
and desire to look at the best side Of every
thing that doubly entities them to the title
| we have given them. 1t requires a good
deal of good breeding to preserve ones
equanimity under such series of annoy
| ances, but our visitors brought it with
them, and it made the work of our recep-
ton committee an easy task even under
the drawbacks they encountered.
GOING INTO QUARTERS.
After time the line was formed and
| the procession was started for the Opera
| House. The streets were brilliantly light
| ed by myriads Of lanterns suspended from
the buildings. Main street looked very
| bright and handsome. at the Opera House,
which was brightly illuminated, list of
the visitors was called out from the stage
by Mr.. W. H. II. Lynn, and their homes
| assigned them. This closed the proceed
ings of the day.
The Formal Reception Yesterday.
Stanton has never had as large gath
ering as met here to see and welcome the
| 2Sth New York. The sidewalks were i'm
passable and pedestrians had to take to
| the middle of the street. The county
never poured her people into the town so
before. BY 8 clock the streets we're alive
with people, and by 9 O'Clock crowded. A
half-hour after that the procession began
forming, the Chief Marshal being Col.
Hayes J. Williams assisted by Col. A. W.
Hartman, Capt. P. E. Wilson and
Capt. James n. Mcfarland. The
Staunton Artillery were in the line.
Next came the 5th veterans. and
then came the New York 2Sth, with
their old battle flag riddled with bullets,
borne by the color-bearer. The 29sh were
fine body of men, though the plentiful
gray heads and wounded men in the ranks,
showed the work of twenty years and
war. They were uniformly dressed in
black and marched with the regularity,
no, the steady irregularity that marks
veterans. The Fifth veterans had the
most pleased look imaginable and the 'old
boys' were evidently enjoying the reunion
to the full. AS the tattered banner of the
2Sth was borne along the street, itreceived
many hearty cheers, which its followers
acknowledged by uncoverlng their heads.
The march was accompanied by the firing
of the artillery and the music of the
Stonewall Brigade Band. The speaker
of the day and others rode in coaches.
AT THE OPERA HOUSE.
| 1.-The Opera House was beautifully deco
| rated with festoons end htreamers, and on
each pillar and prominent point was a
making thirty eight in all. The stage was
| handsomely decorated. AT II o'clock the
procession commenced entering the hall.
The band was playing march, and on the
stage was little three year old child of
Mr.. Geo. W. Hewitt dressed to represent
America, and waving national flag.
When the 5th and 2Sth veterans got in,
the public was admitted and there was
not standing room left in the immense
hall. The proceedings were opened by the
following
REMARKS OF MAJOR NEWTON.
Gentlemen Of tile 28M N. Y. Volunteers, and
18th Virginia Infantry.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The object of this meeting is so we'll and
widely known, that it is needless for me to
consume time in giving it further explanation.
The saying is a common one that 'swe are in
| the hands of our friends" Let us reverse the
| order of the speech and say-Our friends who
! have been our enemies and, now in truth again
our friends, are now in our hands. APP.
| plause.
Twelve months ago amid the thunders of the
| waters of Niagara-when I had the honor of
standing before the 2Sth New York Veterans
| [ said [ thanked God had lived to see the
| day that enabled me to view those surround
ings, to meet you and to greet you. as friends
and brethren of a common humanity and dis
charge the most pleasant duty Of my life. If
happy then what must be my feelings now,
| W hen about to call to order this meeting-in
| the leading city of the Shenandoah Valley,
under the shadow of my own home, in the
county wherein I was born and reared, and
the home Of many of the surviving members
| of the gallant and warworn 5th Virginia Infan-
| try, whose guests you are to day I congrat-
ulate myself and my friends that we have this
peculiar pleasure of looking into your faces
again and extending the fraternal greeting
and when utter the words, 1--WE are delighted
to meet you," do not aim to use the mere for
NAL terms of courteous expression, but speak
forth the words of truth and sincerity.
| This occasion is one of prime Importance,
for the reason that it is the first time since our
late bitter struggle that we have received a
visit of courtesy and friendship from the SOL
diers of the North. This kind and humane
appeal to our better feelings, affecting as it
does, our better Judgment will not be without
its fruits. For if by nature we are not more
susceptible to the influence of kindness and
Cancellation than we are to force, we would be
unworthy the name of Freemen. Therefore
we take you by the hand with warm, firm
grip as members of the common human fam
lily, and would to God that Uncle Sans large
and extensive family knew each other more in
mately, as it would beget more kindly and
lasting relation Applause.
Need I say that [ rejoice to day in the honor
of presiding over this assembly, as it recalls to
my mind so wildly the scenes and incidents
that TRANSFERRED one year ago, when I stood
before you at Niagara as the representative of
the 5th Va Infantry, Stonewall Brigade, A. N.
Virginia [applause], to return to you that
banner-the ensign of the nation, the flag
| of OLE common country. and beneath