The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-06-04
The Unyeiling mt Richmond.
RICHMOND, Va, MAY 80,

and went to Greclcyyille to spend day
with my daughter, came back next morning
on the train and met the boys from Man
ming, arrived at Sumter 40 4. ~. arranged
for the trip through the day, and left Suu-
ter $50 P NJ for Richmond. Our party
consisted Of % in number, - from Claren-
don and Is from Sumter. The veterans
from Clarendon We're S. j. Bowman, NJ
Levi, A. NJ Brailsfora, I. 4. Bradham, and
your humble servant: sons Of veterans, J..
H. Rigby VI. T. Wilder, B. a. Johnson, T.
; J. Hogan, J. H. Lesesne, and DR.. W. NJ.
Brockinton. After a long ride We arrived
in this city about a. ~, 29th.
Now, then, do not know where to begin:
people from everywhere, all ages and all
| colors. Our crowd WAS met by the commit
tee of veterans from Lee Camp, No. l, es-
corted to large dining room on Main street,
No. 1913, where over 5000 persons were fed
during the morning. Everything q hungry
man wished for was before us, and assure
you, Mr.. Editor, our crowd 'took the cake. !"
After eating We scattered and commenced
TO take in the city Your scribe soon found
boarding house for himself and several
others on North Seventh st, No. 100, where
we were well cared for duung our stay Of
three days. Aftera bath proceeded to the
war residence Of Gen. Lee on Franklin ST.,
wEere found ont the whole line OF march
would pass on their way to the statue, and
took position. 1t took the crowd just two
hours and fifteen minutes to pass, steadily
moving forward recognized number of
old leaders in the column: first the great
cavalry leader, Fitzlugh Lee, whose hand
l had the pleasure Of shaking; next our OWE
Wade Hampton; then JOS E. Johnson, Juba;
Early, Longstreet, Ransom, and Bradley L.
Johnson Of Maryland When Gen. john
son came in sight announced his name,
whereupon cheer after cheer went up Tor
him, he with his smiling face, hat IN hand,
bowing on every side as he passed. When
said, South Carolina thanks you for your
help in '76," he bowed again and passed on.
I cannot describe the unveiling, 10000 to
100000 people present, cheering and
whooping, old soldiers with their tattered
flags, and uniforms Of gray with gold lace
trimmings more than quarter OF century
old with bullet holes and blood stains on
and through them: what sight You could
see hundreds of one-legged and one-armed
! men, and thousands of others with honora-
BILE scars received in battle, fighting for
what they believed, and still believe, was
right; some of them having travelled as far
as 1000 miles to get here.
After the speech by Col. Anderson, of Va,
the old hero, Gen. JOS. E. Johnson, unyell-
ed the grand monument erected to the great
est man that the world has ever produced
As the veil was removed such a yell wentup
| as will never be heard again in this or any
other country. A sham battle was then
fought OF the field just in rear Of the statue.
The cavalry charged the artillery, defended
by the infantry, and I assure you, Mr.. Ed
itor, it looked natural with their great COM
mander looking down upon them. After
the fight we felt like Richmond had been
recaptured, and the Confederacy restored;
so much so that q gentleman from Boston
inquired for the next train TO the United
States About the hospitality OF the city,
grand and superb. The like was never
equalled is the only way can express it.:
plenty to eat, cigars to smoke without
price pressed upon you from every side, no
liquor however. I have only seen one drunk
man in this vast crowd. At night grand
display of fireworks, but your scribe was too
tired to attend, and is now engaged in pen
! ming you these lines.
Friday morning, May 3Oth: City still
crowded; troops marching; bands playing
Dixie" Bonnie Blue Flag" "NIy Mary
land" etc, can be heard on every side. l
approached an old veteran from Texas with
his tattered flag, and took him by the hand,
when he shouted, South Carolina! God
bless you, and God bless everybody" with
, tears running down his face he could utter
nothing more. In the afternoon / went to
Hollywood, to the decoration of the soldiers
graves. Great crowd, 10000 OF more pres
ent. After the tender hand of woman had
placed flowers upon the graves, many Of
| them unknown, the crowd gathered around
the speakers stand 10 hear the speeches
There were only eight persons on the stage:
DR.. Hoge, of Richmond, who made the
opening prayer; Gov. Fowle, Of Norts. Car
oiina; Fitzhugh Lee, Of Va. Gov. Mckin-
ney, of Va, chairman Of the meeting; and
good old DR.. Minnegerode, of the Episcopal
church, who was President Davis's and Gen.
Lees pastor, while in Richmond; Misses
Mildred and Mary Lee, daughters of Gen.
r. Z. Lee; Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee; and Mrs
Gov. Mckinney. Gov Fowle made the first
speech. I discovered in this effort of his
| that there We're "sllyer tCngued orators in
other States as well as South Carolina Next
Fitzhush Lee, who I believe received more
honor and attention than any other man at
this great gathering After his speech,
| which was grand and sublime, the crowd
called for Hoge! Hoga Hoge! Good old
| Dr.. Hoge certainly has 4 warm place in the
hearts Of the Richmond people He tried
| to excuse himself, but they continued to
call, when he came forward and made the
grandest speech OF the occasion. He said
some men can describe history, other men
make history, but in his friend, Fitzhugh
Lee we had man who had made history
and who could also describe history. He
further said that he had great love for the
Confederate soldiers: without great follow
ers there never could have been great lead
ers TO this sentiment Misses Mildred and
Mary Lee, rs we'll rs the other ladies, clap
ped their hands, and on every side you
! could see love and esteem for the poor old
Confederate soldiers
would like to go on, but this article is
already too long We left Richmond Satur.
about daylight Sunday morning; and We
must now leave dear old General Lee to lie
resting in his grave, honored and loved by
everybody, until the resurrection morn
when we hope to meet his spirit in that
better land. Truly yours,
d. J. BIADHAM.