Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-06-03

Virginia Volunteers, infantry, and the
First Regiment of Cavalry. The
Richmond Light Infantry Blues were
especially noticeable. After the pass
ing of the Virginia infantry, a vast
field of yellow plumes announced a
troop OF gray-clad Virginia cavalry,
who rode by with clanking sabres, to
give place to the red trimmings of the
artillery. Among the batteries the
Richmond Howitzers and the Norfolk
Light Artillery Blues came in for
much admiration.
The great showing of militia found.
a sudden contrast in the coming of
the Farmers Alliance organizations.
The bronzed tillers of the soil made
but little attempt towards uniform
dressing, but each carried a bunch of
wheat at the coat lapel.
But when all this had gone by there
remained five thousand veterans of
the lost cause to pass, and nobody
could see the end Of the line. There
were veterans in neat gray jackets
and white SLOUGH hats, carrying canes
and marching company front. More
and still more came pouring along, in
white helmets, brown helmets and
straw hats. Some made no attempt
at 6ne marching, and as scores of
them were in line with but wooden
stumps to tell where legs had been
laid down upon the battlefield, it was
hardly expected that grace was their
strong point. All along the line they
were accosted by friends who in
many cases had not seen them for
twenty-five years and more. Their
friends would rush into the ranks,
and two big fellows, inspired by tie
surroundings, would be found hug
ging each other like loving children.
Hardly had a scene of this kind
closed at one point when it was re-
enacted twenty yards further off on
horseback between Capt. Coiston, of
Baltimore, and some old friend whom
he had encountered unexpectedly
riding down the line. Armless men
by hundreds dangled empty sleeves
in the march, and one old bearded
warrior beat time with the remnant OF
a limb to the classic tune of Annie
Rooney"
At the head of the veterans the
Fifth Maryland Veteran Corps, act
ing as escort to the Maryland vets,
marched during a part of the parade,
but the line was so immense that the
connection was not carried into effect
throughout.
r. E. Lee Uniformed Camp of Vet
Grams, of Richmond, came next, and
the line was continued down through
the thousands trooping after. Veal
thy business mel trndged beside ex-
soldiers in tatters, and here and there
a colored Southern ex-soldier was
seen. Handsome bodies of men. uni
formed with gray sacks, white vests
and black trousers, would he sadly
married in appearance by some poor
fellow with no uniform at all, or with
a short army jacket or overcoat that
had sheltered his form in t~roublous
times. when all men of a rank dressed
alike.
The New York veterans marched
with a broad company front, claspfng
canes in a continuous line across the
street. Many sons of veterans were
also on the march. Old battle-fags
were numerous.
Cheer after cheer greeted the tat
tered ensigns of the Nineteenth Vir-
ginia Volunteers, the Williamsburg
Volunteers and the Thirty-ffrst vir-
ginia Regiment, which was presented
by Stonewall Jackson. The flags OF
the Georgia Legion, Parker's Bat
terry, Maury's Battery, Woodfolk's
Battery and Moody's Battery and
others were there.
In passing the "Lee House,
where family of Gen. Lee resided
during the war, Col. Preston Chew,
the gallant commander of the Stuart
Horse Artillery, with the veterans OF
that battery bearing a flag which was
presented them by the ladies of Char,
lottesyilIe in recognition of their gal
liant defence of the town against the
Federal cavalry on the occasion knowr
as Clusters Raid" stopped and
stood before the bust of Lee with
reverence as if to pay their duty a
the shrine of him under whose ban.
ner they had done cheerful and will
ing service.
The boys of the Washington anc
Lee University, in tennis caps of the
bkus and white that form their 'varsit,
c)olors, came along with college yells
William and Mary College bows wer,