Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-29
ALIVE WITH TROOPS.
The City of Richmond Crowded With
Ey-Confederate Soldiers.
STARS AND STRIPES WAVING,
And the Old Rebel War Flag Scarcely
Recognized When Seen.
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ON HAND
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsPArcH.l


RICHMOND, May 2S.-Residents of Rich
mond have never seen, since 1861, the city
present such a military appearance as it
now presents. The remark has been
frequently heard 'this looks like '61."
Then it was that the city was alive with
troops arriving every hour in new uniform.
though the city was not then decorated as it
is now. At no time in its history has it
been so literally bedecked. There are
numerous small Confederate battle flags and
a smaller number of the Confederate Gov
ernment flags and the camp flags.
The rebel Government flag is the one
least known to the people here. Even the
veterans wonder what it is when they see it,
the only Confederate flag to their knowl-
edge, and apparently to the knowledge of
the Southern public, being the st. Andrews
cross battle standard.
THE FIRST NOTABLE GATHERING
down to breakfast in the Sam Jones taber-
nacle. This building holds 10000 people
and tomorrow plates will be placed for
1.5OJ. As the veteran camps entered the
city to-day they were marched to the taber-
nacle. The scene was one of general hilar-
ity.
Another sight which filled Confederates
with enthusiasm was the spectacle of Gen
eral Joseph E. Johnston promenading the
fashionable boulevard, Franklin street,
with Miss Mildred Lee, daughter of Cen
eral Lee. General Johnston has aged
greatly since ne was in the city last. He is
now "a years old, and the oldest ex-
Confederate General living. The present is
10 1rct ho nd hau ~
since they were together in Lees army.
Both men are so much changed that the ma
jority of their soldiers have failed to recog-
nize them. Neither has gone about much
to-day on account of the fatigue of their
trip. Longstreet arrived on an early train,
and was received with great enthusiasm.
1t is safe to say that if he does not get the
ovation of the occasion he will share it with
Gordon, Early and Johnston.
MANY WEARING THE BLUE.
One of the notable sights Of the morning
was the arrival of the Pickett camp of vet
Grams, attired in the uniforms IN which they
surrendered at Appomatto1. A signif-
cant feature of the occasion further is that,
despite all the talk about the Confederate
gray. half of the companies thus far arrived
wear the blue, many of them bringing their
old battle flags with them in addition to the
United States flag.
The Wilmington IN. c. company brings
its original "camp negro" and two negro
drummers are with another organization.
The negro battalion here were willing to
participate in the parade if asked by the
committee, but as yet they have not been
asked. It has been decided BY the COM
mittee to have no singing at the monument
unwilling; that is, they have made no ar
rangements for it. The crowd present will
be SO vast that they think they cannot
handle IL. This omission causes no little
dissatisfaction. The idea of singing Lees
favorite hymn was especially popular. The
bands will, however, play Confederate airs
on the march. The Stonewall jackson
Brigade Band, of Staunton, will be among |
them.
CROWDS WAITING TO COME
The absence of the widow of Jefferson |
Davis is greatly regretted. Mrs. Stonewall |
jackson has wavered about coming. She is |
in deep mourning, on account of the death |
of her only daughter, and she shuns noto- |
riety. and is at the same time anxious to see |
her husbands soldiers. She has written |
that she expects to reach the city tonight. |
A great problem now troubling the commit |
tees and railroads is the matter OF trans |
portation. Every available car on the |
Chesapeake ana Ohio is in use, but is in
adequate to get the crowd to the city.
At each station hundreds have been wait
ing all day, only to learn that they could |
not find standing room on the trains. Care
full estimation places the number of
strangers in the city tomorrow at $4,000.
One does not hear war talk from the crowds
of these veterans save in the shape of
"reminiscences and inquiries after former
comrades. -.