The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1889-02-02
Southern Cavairthnen.

~ ASssH' VIA &ct b Special
treat around carnival times that will
be rich, rarc and piquaht and new.
1t will be something that the town
and its visitors have not seen in a
quarter Of century, and it will stir
up old memories and bring back re.
collections Of grim.visaged war.
Reference is made to the forthcoming
grand parade of the oavalrymen Of
the South on the occasion of their
reunion here just before Mardi Gras,
which is to be made one Of the prou.
inent humorous features Of the DAYS
Of merriment that Immediately pre.
cede the Lenten season.
Last year the cavalrymen gave q
parade that was interesting to look
at because the men who made up the
ranks were familiar figures in the
war and had smelled gonpowder and
reveled in the dangers of the great:
est struggle Of modern times. This
year the parade ie to be larger, spi.
cier. and all together different, and
it the arrangements pan out as we'll
as there is good reasons for hoping
they will, many q displaced button
will testify to the heartiness With
which sight.seers enter into the spirit
Of the occasion.
A committee has been appointed
to arrange the parade after the man
ner in which the soldiers returned
when the cruel war was over and all q
the amenities of the Confederate
soldiers life Of four years will be
brought forth in ludicrous but faith.
fol exemplication. 1t is expected that
700 men or thereabouts will take
part in the parade. Each is to be-
in atteauated garb and most Of the
700 will be astraddle attenuated
horses. The cavalrymen are to wear
the torn, tattered aud abbreviated
and much'used gray uniforms they
wore during the long years Of weary
marching and fighting and the re.
turn Of the beaten troops, ruined and
heavy.hearted ia 1865, will be as
nearly initiated as possible such
homecoming. The famous marches
will be marched over again on the
streets Of this great growing and
prosperous city. Many Of the caval-
rymep have preserved the uniforms
they wore ss mementoes Of the strife.
and old chests will be opened and
old garments ovephauled and old
caps hauled out-untii the Uniform
is complete. .tt....
There will be many amusing fea.
!ures in the parade. Household, or
rather, camp utensils, will DO siung
over the backs of the tnarchers and
skillets and pots and knives and
forks and pans will be carried in
promiscuous confusion. Here and
there will be q veteran with a par.
tally nssticated ham, or other
cooked or hncooked remainder of
days long since gone BY, and can:
teens in every manner Of abused and
broken shape will be carried with
out regard to the proprieties. and
with every evidence of stoH, in
order to conceal the idcnty'M the
veterans it has been decided that
each soldier ehall wear a mask that
will effectually hide his face. .ate
1t has been the aim of the cavai.
rymen to mount as many lean ami
mails a. it will be possible to rescue
from the boneysrd, and horses half
etarved and with PROMINENT Sibs'
will drag their weary length afong..
burdened down with the saSpes Of
half.starved Confederates. There.
will be no OVERRIDING of the NATTER
and the aim Of Tie committee will
be to make the parade as. nearly
like to what they were in 1865 a.
the possibilities of the idea will per.
nit. The reunion Of the cavalry
men is being advertised thYouahouts
the country, and it is believet' that
thousands Of people will fock hither"
to witness the novel march. Neorly,
every cavalrymen living away from
here who can come will come, and
tho celebration will eclipse the
splendid reunion Of last year. His
Majesty Rex has ratified the Louis
lana Cavalry that they have been
;selected' az his household. guard