Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-03
TIE vIRGrIAva.

WcA Point. Va, and Miss Aylett arrived
Mt Che Br0ad-Street station at 6 o'clock
Yesterday afternoon. George and Mrs
Pickett came up on the Congressional
train an hour later, and were met 10y
Secretary James NJ. Whitecar and John
". Frazier Of the Brigade Committee.
They were escorted to the Hotel Lafay-
cite, where President Thomas ". Ack-
ley. Of the Thirteenth aud Fifteenth
Street Passenger Railway Company, in
vited the visitors to be his guests at the
Chestnut Street Opcra-House.
A walk was then taken 10 the hall at
Eighth and Vine streets, where the
brigade had gathered and filled the room
10 overlooking with members OF the
Sixty-ninth, Seventy-first, Seyenty-sec-
ond, AMI One-hundred-and-sixth regi-
mcnts. The Seventy-first Regiment AS
ISOLATION was holding regular monthly
meeting when Colonel Aylett entered the
hall. The boys knew him without intro
duction, and as the Nirginisn walked
towards President Richard 3. Brown
thew gave him a mighty cheer, and
when Mrs. Pickett came through the
crowd az the door the applause con-
tinued for several minutes, only to break
out afresh when the formal in;roductions
we're made. The Iegimental association
concluded the business Of the meeting
by passing a resolution asking Congress
TO pass the bill placing General Badly
Smith on the retired list.
COMRADES AND BROTHERS.
Captain John f. Reilly next called the
brigade association to order, and re-
marking that no Introduction was need
ed presented Colonel Aylett. 4 ringing
round Of applause greeted the southern
er as be said
Comrades and brothers, | did not
know that it was part Of the pro
pramme that should make R speech to-
night, but my heart is always large
enough and broad enough 20 respond
when YOU call. ] am among my friends,
and / have looked forward with the
greatest pleasure to this meeting. | dc
not feel as if was at meeting Of Our
late antagonists Of Philadelphia, but
rather like it was a meeting of Pickett's
division in Richmond. l came up here
TO see you ALL and am glad to
be with you. You had fastened such
chains around my heart at Get
tysburg last year that my thoughts
have been more upon meeting you
tonight than upon my lecture of to-mor-
row night. Many of us arc nearing that
river. which, once crossed, We can never
return. And we may not come together
AGAIN. But, my comrades, It is danger
ous to trihe with me at this time. ]
an loaded with a speech for tomorrow
night. and if keep on / am afraid will
LET out some Of my thunder before the
proper time. can only tender you my
heartfelt thanks for this reception IN be-
half of the widow Of our commander,
her SOD, and myself
COLONEL AYLETT - PAYMAsTER.
After Mrs. Pickett and Mr.. Pickett
had been presented to the association
Colonel Aylett announced that he had
come up to pay OF the brigade, and pro-
ducine q huge roll Of Confederate notes
OF all denominations asked that they
be distributed among the members Of the
brigade. He had written his name
across the backs OF the notes and wanted
it thoroughly understood that My en-
dorsement likes no pecunlary respon-
sibility upon myself. "
Your endorsement is all right, Colo
nell" shouted one of the boys.
"Yes. but | don't like to endorse O
broken bank"
Mayor Wilkinson, who was the major
of Colonel William L. Small's Twenty
sixth regiment, was presented as ga
Union soldier who went South after the
war, and was thought well enough of by
his neighbors to he elected mayor" The
Mayor made few remarks, after which
the visitors, with the exception OF Colonel
Avlett. accepted the courtesies OF Mr..
Ackleys private box at the opers-house.
The brigade then started campfire.
and it was close on TO midnight when the
last story had been told and the last song
had been sung.