The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-08-08

front gave way, then it collapsed completely,
its parts being wedged into the crowd al
ready packed on the Sidewalks or hurled into
the side streets The mounted squad brushed
away the remnants, and the granite blocks
were cleared for the column, now becoming
distinctly defined in the distance.
1t was 1890 when ajor- 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
their brilliant uniforms, their guns glisten-
ing In the sun, their colors draped, and
their slow steps keeping time to the music of
many dirges for the dead. Companies OF
United States regulars were at their head, the
batteries of the Fifth rMnbling over the
granite road in advance of the rest. The in
fantrymen swung along behind with their
machine-like tread. The faintest of taps
were sounded by the mufied drums. The
bluejackets were the subject of many admir-
ing comments from the crowd. They
presented a very attractive appear
ance in sixteen files front, clad in
blue breeches and white legging, white
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
\
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-
slstlng 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
eyes of the crowd was the blue jacket battery
of artillery, with its eight small ships guns
There was a gap in 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 unDroken line of mill
tary men. Major-General Alexander Shaler
was in command, riding spiritedhorse that
was hard to control. The spectators had en-
croached upon the pavements, and the police
used force to crowd them back to their
places. The First battery was at hand and
its wheels grazed the mass as it sullenly re-
treated before their ominous sound. The
Twenty. second, the Ninth, Twelfth and the
Eleventh regiments brought their guns to the
shoulder as they passed. Above the medley
of accompanying sounds rose the music Of
the dead March in Saul,'' rendered by the
Ninths we'll trained band
solid phalanx of men uniformed in white
appeared far down the avenue. In the dis
tance its formations were indistnguishable,
and as it marched up the incline the swing of
the companies gave it the undulating appear
ance Of a series of pillows rolling toward an
ocean shore. This was the famous Seventh,
whose full ranks and regular tread were
watched with the keenest interest till the last
line of cross belts went over the ridge. En-
erald plumes danced in the light breeze and
the Sixty ninth went past, followed by the
Eighth with struggling lines, and
the Eleventh Separate company with a step
that relieved this portion of the column
Of the criticism Of being unsodierly. Two
companies of the Old Guard in their swelter-
ing bearskin hats were commanded by Major
George w. Mclean. The company in grena-
dier uniforms was the Governors Foot
Guards of Hartford. Conn. commanded by
Major J. c. Kinnly. Its brilliant colors were