The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-08-14
THE LINE OF MARCH.
some of the Most striking Features
of thc Process sion,

The column was five hours almost to min
ute in moving over the crest of Murray Hill
This was the most favored spot in the whole
town at which TO see 1T. The grade OF flith
avenue above Madison square gradually rises
till Thirtv-seventh street is reached, then the
Belgian pavements as gradually slope away
to a lower level, and a view is presented OF
the magnificent avenue to the north and to the
south that is unsurpassed. Thousands OF
New Workers who knew its advantages
sought the spot at an early hour and secured
positions along the sidewalks, on the lamp
posts, in the trees, and even on the arms OF
the tall telegraph poles. The people looking
out of their windows actually discovered the
walks filling up at o'clock in tho morning,
three hours at least before even the head OF
the procession could pass their way
1t was 1890 when Major-General Winfield
Scott Hancock rode past on his black horse
with his staff Gathering at its very heels Be
hind them, as far as the eye could measure
the avenue were masscd the regiments IN
their brilliant uniforms, their guns gllsten-
ing in the sun, their cOlOrS drapei and
their slow steps keeping time to the music of
many dirges for the dead. Companies or
United States regulars were at their head, the
batteries Of the Fifth rumbling over the
granite road in advance of the rest The IN
fantrymen swung along behind with thelr
machine-like tread. The faintest of taps
were sounded by the muiiled drums. The
bluciacllcts were the subject of many admir-
ing comments from the crowd. They
presented very attractive appear
ance in sixteen files front, clad in
blue brooches and white leggings, white
shirts with broad blue collars, ana white caps
with black bands. Although they presented
a steady front, their marching showed they
were more familiar with the rolling motion of
a ship than the slippery surface of the pave
ments. The marines were mistaken by many
for land soldiers. Their uniform was in
marked contrast to that of the blue jackets.
1t consisted of white trousers, blue coats with
bright yellow epaulets and white helmets.
Like several companies of the bluejackets,
they were armed with rifles. The Marine
band, of Washington, which headed the
naval brigade, wore a SNOWY uniform, con
sisting of white trousers, scarlet coats with
yellow epaulets and white helmets There
was an abundance of color in the naval force.
Perhaps the most attractive feature in the
ewes OF the crowd was the bluciacket battery
of artillery, with its eight small ships guns.
There was n gap i'll the column which re-
quire a long time to fill. The last white
sailor hat had disappeared over the brow OF
the hill when the national guard of the state
of New York moved up, and once more the
avenue presented an unbrokcn line of mill
| tary men. MaiOr-Gcneral Alexander Shalel
was in command, riding spritedhorse that
was hard to control The spectators had en-
croachcd upon the pavements, and the police
used force to crowd them back to theil
places. The First battery was at hand, anc
its wheels gra2cd the mass as it sullenly re-
/ treated before their ominous sound The
/ Twentv-second the Ninth, Twelfth and the
Eleventh regiments brou ght their guns to the
shoulder as they passed. Above the medley
of accompanying sounds rose the music o
| the "Dead March in SAUL rendered by thu
Ninths well-trained band.