Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-10-09
FITz LEES CkVALCADES /!
As Described by Hon. John s. Wise in
His Great Speech at Luray, Page
County, September %, 1885. N

Fellow Citizens, Sat last my sou
has been satisfied in q great long
ing and my eyes have feasted on a
great pageant. I have beheld one
of those "splendid" and "enthnsi'
asticr cavaIcades which, according
to the Bourbon press, greet "the
nephew OF his uncle" wherever he
goes in his triumphal progress
through Virginia.
At Madison, on Thursday last,
the sun rose bathing the historic
hills and valleys Of Pied mont with
foods of mellow autumn light,
which seemed to concentrate with
peculiar brlliancy and warmth at
the quiet farmhouse honored as
the resting-place of Fitzhugh
Smith. Like the Star of Bethle-
hem hanging DER the humble
manger,, the monarch OF light
paused in its diurnal course to gaze
upon that noble visage which,
illuminated by some hidden fires
within, returned its stare with a
conntenance scarcely less ,ruddy
than its own, and acknowledged
the compliment of the call by a
conscious glance which said "GOod
morning, God of Light, we meet
on equal terms; you are the ruler
of earth and sea, but [ am leader
of virginia 'chivalry' and nephew
of my uncle" The sun mounted
his chariot, Fitzhugh Smith adj
iusted bis adipose to his uncle's
saddle, and each filed with sublime
consciousness Of his way 70 'till the
world With wonder, joy, and glad
ness.
Madison county Quivered with
tie Consciousness of the presence
of these rival monarchs, and all
vent merry as a marriage bell,
save now and then when the ruddy
Ivisage of Fitz. Smith was mis-.
taken for the noon-tide splendor Of
Old Sol, and rice rersa.
Below the quiet village, which is
the ,county.sest, the chivalry of
Madison assembled. The knights
of RappahanOcK, Fauquier, Orange,
Culpeper, Greene, Albemarle, and
Madison had gathered to their
rendezvous to greet the hero of the
hour. From east and west, from
north and south, hurrying troops
of horses over twenty.one years OF
age and youths under twenty-one
proceeded to the trysting place. A
weary traveller toiling in an humble
vehicle over a shocking road was
overtaken by a gang Of halt-starv-
ed horses and yelling men and
boys, led by a stalk captain,
filled with corn,juice and "enth1sl-
asm." His martial bearing, scream
ing "Close upr as if advancing to
a mortal charge and rudely shout
ing "Rah for Lee ~ would have
made corpse laugh at its own
funeral.
With Comanche yell and rude
and knowing discourtesy this
tatterdemalion route swept past
in trotting, pacing, ambling, gal
Looping confusion to join the throng
upon he turnpike. There in martial
array stood the Bombastes Furioso
army awaiting the arrival of the
great chieftain. Tiny pennons of
home manufacture, at an average
cost of two for cent, were distrlb-
uted to decorate the fieebitten
ears OF the raw-ribbed jades. Not
National emblems! Oh, no The
stars and stripes are not at home
in the ranks of Bourbonism. Here
and there the starry emblem might
be seen reluctantly displayed for
effect, but the favorite decoration
was a meaningless mixture OF blue
and red, or red aud white, to graft.
fy the sight without offending the
prejudice of the "chIvalry."
While awaiting the arrival of
its great commander the army pro-
ceeded to ''loadnl From bootleg
and saddle.bag came forth the
"pocket-pistol,' loaded with new
made apple jack; from fence cor.
ner and decayed stump appeared
the old oaS bucket and tln.dippers;
and ever and anon the champion
was cheered and toasted until
bottles were empty and man was
full drinking eternal happiness to
Fitzhugh Smith and deep damna-
ton to every Radical on earth un.
iii the inhamed throng was pre-
pared to go mad at the sight of
Fitz. or to commit murder upon all
who opposed him.
At last a hush of expectancy
comes over the assemblage. Bot
ties are stuffed away Steeds are
mounted Keeling horsemen are
clumsily aligned . A vehicle ap.
pears bearing the precious freight
so long expected! The "wild,
sweet music Of the rebel yell" fills
the woods and valleys, aud Fitz.
hugh Smith stands uncovered in
the presence of his worshippcrsl
The unpretentious vehicle il set
aside the foaming stallion, gaily
caparisoued, is led forth the wad'
ding obesity of the "best horse.
mani ia aoon aytride: a mimic re.