Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-14
F1TzHUGH LEES CAVALIERS.
From the Il. Y. Sun.

speaks eight times Il week and spends most
of his time in riding from one hamlet TO
another. now on horseback al the head ci
great cava!cades, now in wagon jolting
over reads. now undergoing tho usual hand
shaking ordeal with the multitudes that
everywhere instle and crowd TO get near
him, and always farng much rs 4 soldier
might upon whatever he can get to eat,
wherever or whenever he can get it, and
resting in any sort of bed that the end Ct 4
days journey leads to-.
To say that the people are wild family de-
scribes the tumult of excitement here.
They say that no such receptions have been
accorded 10 any man in Virginia since
George Washington's time as Gen. Lee has
received everywhere on his triumphal p;o-
gress throughout southwestern Virginia.
| The democrats are the respectable people
of Virginia, and they realize that at he next
election Mahoneism is to die or Virginia 10
| be ridden for an indefinite period by Malone,
the false prophet, and his horde o.! Bedoun
republicans The issue is one that stirs the
old Commonwealth to lis soul, and all Fee!
that the struggle is desperate one. Ihe
fight is now transferred to the Legislature.
Ii the republicans succeed in getting Il ma
jority OF Senators land Asscmblymen Ma
|
Senate. 1t is to prevent that that The dem
ocrats are now bending all their energies.
Gen. Lee is telling every one that his cleo
ton is not nearly OF so much consequence as
the election of tho county representatives.
But, on the other hand, Malone is up TO all
the tricks of the wiliest sort TO secure neW
lease OF life for himself.
On Friday Gen. Lee spoke III Burk'a Gar
den. Side BY side with the men women rode
out over the mountains to meet the General.
Tho peope had band Of music at their
head, and many Of the horsemen ard horse
women carried large United States flags in
| their hands and little ones on the head OF
their beautiful horses They met Virginia's
favorite son on his way from TazewclI Court
House, surrounded By mountaiaecrs Gil
horseback and they set the mountains echo
ing with q shrill cry Of welcome and enlhu'
siasm.
When Burk's Garden was reached night
was falling, and the reporter turned back
and waited at Sharon Springs for The Gen.
cral to come there for q nights rest. Night
had fallen when Gen. Lee and fcw DEVOTED
followers on horseback gailoped into the
dooryard, and dismounting, warmed them
selves by The cracking fires. The General
shock hands with all who were waiting FOX
|
to cnliven the company with CHEEKY stori>s;
of his singular campaign experiences than
TO eat the meal before him. He tells ,ahcu;
tno accompanies !of cavaliers who meet him
everywhere, aboua'. the flags and bands, the
bugle calls, the woudrous u.i-plays OF horse
flesh, the ticipation Of the lstt,.a:,~--o ..i
Of the OVERLOOKING measure OF esteem poured /
out on all sides, with the Zest aud relish Of
o tourist who finds himself amid new scenes
and among people more hearty, more kind, |
and more hospitable than he had ever
known the world contained. He says moth
ing about it to any one, but he occasionally |
sees the slender and not always orderly |
meetings of the Republicans in his path
and hears how differently tho people be-
have toward his opponent, ard this has It's
effect in stimulating him.
Imagine a stout man, Of medium height, |
wearing soft black felt hat, creased IN
the top like cavalry chaplain, with q
black broadcloth overcoat over business |
suit of speckled tweed. Imagine under the
hat handsome sodierly face, half hid IS ::
great brown moustache, and long brown |
beard blue eyes and thick brown hair con-
plete the outline Of the picture. For the
details one must imagine man with proud |
and confident carriage, with tho manner Of
q born leader, and yet with eyes whose VA
rying lights are expressive OF the utmost |
gentlencsS and good humor, as we'll ~ enr"- |
estncss and lirmncss. He looks every inch |
a soldier, and he was one FROM boyhood TN
til full manhood, but sircn Tho war he has
been a farmer 1t was Tic farmer who hat |
night at Sharon Springs said 10 the report
er: well, sir, if you will pardon nle, We |
will resume our conversation in the m"rE-
ing. Nine o'clock, my ted time, has ar
rived" Next morning early it was III"
soldier who spoke. Gene OH bGys!' ho |
shouted, and putting the toe Of q shoe im;o |
the stirrup Of q great ma;tiesom" hI"c!; !
led The way 10 what the EirEinianS call |
"the speaking
Not in Washington's time. nor during the |
war time, nor at any ether time, did that |
valley witness such scene as the Generals |
eyes rested on as he turned to mount his
horse He had ridden from Sharon in :,
buggy wagon ut the head Of II queer batlal
ion of admirers. Nearly al! were mounted |
Ahead rode David O. Wright, with a beau
trul floral design raised high in the mir
upon pole resting in his horses saddle.
There was wreath and loops OF dahias
and wild flowers with five little Nlgs,
one for each candidate Oh The ticket,
and with a democratic ballot for the |
centre piece of the whole design.
There were mounted men riding two BY
twos on blooded horses, On mules, OH plough
horses and livery hacks. These were main
" farmers and lahorers. Some wore rio
bons in their buttonholcs and some
wore sashcs of six. Some carried flags and
some had waving plumes above their heads.
Also riding in couples, scattered among the
men, were the young daughters Of the val!
ley and the mountains, with roses in their
cheeks that paled the flowers they wore.
and with eyes swapping with pleasure and
excitement. All these had gathered at Sha-
ron Springs to accompany Gen. Lee, aud
all had halted half way to Crab Orcbn'd,
where the speaking was to be, in order to
wait for the land owners, the storckeepers,
the professional men aud the white work
ingmen and laborers of that thriving to#n
to come out and meet them.
Presently the strains of q band oil music
were heard. Capt. Grcyson's black thor
4 L. r.. IL ~, |