Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-11-02
GENERAL F1TzHUGH LEE IN ALEXANDRIA


GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE IN ALEXANDRIA.
The reception Of General Fitzhugh Lac in
this city on Saturday night las: will lie just
Is looked upon as an interesting epoch in
our annals. The occasion which had been
i,yf1llv looked forward to for the past two
months was one indeed 10 which the reali-
2alion was in no way inferior to the an;ici-
nation. Alexandrians had during those
ty., months been reading and hearing Of
tn, movements Of the grand cavaiCades
throughout the various portions OF the State
anl the be Citing manner in W hich the stan
d,rh bearer of the democracy was being re-
;.I:,d everywhere, until they ionged for the
hour when the clarion sound should be
heard On the confines of old Alexandria,
announcing the arrival here, too, of Virgin
ia', next Governor.
A heretofore stated, General Lee reached
hi, city on Friday last Oh the steamer
Wakefield, after having spoken at various
faces in the over counties, and the same
Inv proceeded to his farm, in Fairfax Colt
- . short distance southwest of this city.
On saturday morning, in his own private
,ar.inuc, accompanied by. Capt. George 4.
A,n.hbpch. he started for Fairfax Court
House where he was greeted by an I'M
n4nse corcour2e, which had gathered from
all parts OF the country. His reception at
the Court House was on The same order
with those which have been accorded the
General wherever he has gone during this
u,,aor:hc canvass-the people being en-
r.,augli with enthusiasm, both 81 his APP
ur,!i.,ce AID the able addresses he ann! Capt.
MUsHbuch subsequently, delivered.
Lac. IN The evening, mpanled by q
mounted escort OF citizens Of Fai!f:x, Gen
era. Lee and Mr. Mushbs;ch started :"r this
city, 10 ill an engagement here. Tie es-
c3ri accompanied the party is far as Cats
cavern, in West Fad, where hunters from
this city were III waiting, among whom were
AIessrs. Lcuuard Marbury, chairman If the
,iy tiemo,ntiG committee, Capt T. b. Iooe
ANA TX. Mayor j. L. Beck haT, who ha,l pro.
t.,,t,yi thilhcr in carriage. The vehicles
and Tho large crowd which had gathered
there moved towards the Ci:i, eu,erinS by
King street. which was abl&Ze with lights
Ca the lot Of what was formerly kLoWn rs
pe,lc! > grove a colossal bonfire MS kin
died n, the cortege drew near, canaUn be
gan boomiug and inuunerah!c pyrotechnic
explosives shot heavenNari, ~hi:c the huge
bonfire sent up banks Of light visible fer
miles around. The brass band, which had
been on the alert for the signal cf Tie Gen
,rals approach played inspiring tunes,
and the cro"d made tirir ,:Grrahs
sound from one esd Of the city 20 the other.
The night WAS al tSat could Eo Wished
the heavens being devoid Of any scmb!ance
OF a cloud and TIC temperature comfortable
Although il was Saturday night time
generally supposed 20 he the least suspicious
IL, ~; al, t,,t,
do0ms NEST people to business pursuits CT
Que sort or anc::"r--;he interest in t:ic &C
rasior conld SCARCELY have been mulch great
c.. The streets were packed with men, wc
men and children. all eager 10 greet the eau
Gitiate for the gu'icrnatorial CHAIR. n"d de
string to add tn,f mite towaiG swelling
the enthusiasts: reclamation which ever and
anon went up. TIE cort"@e moved down
King to Fairfax street, many Of ihe houses
and stores along the rou.c being iillmlint-
"a. ard f;un, windows AID balconies hand
kerchiefs waved, and every Other indication
OF Joy and siahness was INDUCED In. 1t
helng too early fer the meeting purpOscd 10
he held at tire Opera House the General was
driven 10 The residence of ex-hiaycr Beck
ham. where be remained until eight O'clock,
at which hour he proceeded to The hall.
The Oncra House was filled to Overlooking,
the gallery being crowded with ladies, aud
the vast assembly depoited themselves in o
manner which indicated that they believed
the day of vrtuous politics had not passed,
and that they had not come together to see
or hear some hurly political tsicks;er, Jug
gIer or builoou, but the true type OF Nir-
ginia gentieman-onc whose profession Is
not politics, but who, like Cincinnati rs ofo!d
had been called from his pillow TO occnpy the
most exalted position in the State. General
Lees entrance TO the hall was announced
by bugle blast, when the widest hurrahs
and shouts were raised. Upon the applause
subsidng the band struck up Dixie" The
enhancing strains of which eathraled and
enthused the audience to the highest pitch.
After the band had ceased playing Mr..
Barbour introduced Gen. Lee to the audi
ence in few we'll timed remarks, saying
that no candidate Tor Governor had ever
received such ovations as had been rendered
Gen Lee throughout the entire canvsss and
that through it the General had 50 borno
himself as 10 win the plaudiia nf ii;.
Gen. Leo arose AMID tremendous applause
and the waving Of hats by the gentlemen
and hauGkerchiefs by the ladies IN the hall.
He commenced his speech by saying TEA
while he sat and listened to the band play
ing Dixie" he wondered what Sherman
and Foraker would say, if they were present,
and saw the enthusiasm that was awakened
by that tune. lie said he came homo after
travelling through the State and brought
GOOD news to the people of Alexandria, and
When he spoke in Richmond on Monday
night, aud was asked about this old town he
would assure his questioners that on election
day no uncertain democratic sound would
70 up from here. He said that John Wise,
when here few weeks ago, told, or at,
tempted to tell, (applause) an Alexandria
audience that when at West Poiat he 1.-THE
speaker) was dull and got only dement's,
but he wanted to tell Wise that he had
learned to tell an apostate when he saw one.
He loved West Point and his profession, but
when Virginia called he went to her side to
do battle in her cause or fall if necessary in
her defence, and for four years he had tried
to do his duty. He thanked heaven that
the war was over and that after Appomatt
tox, recognizing the fact that we were al