Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-06-03
ROBERT B. LEE.
The Great dwelling Richmond.
A Day Long to be Remembered
The Old City BY The James in
a Blaze Of Glory,


time being at least the Mecca of the
South. Thitherward all eyes were
turned, and in that direction thous-
ands took their way, bent upon wit
Messing the unwilling of the bronze
equestrian statue of the great Con-
federate commander, which took
place on Thursday afternoon.
The great procession of veterans
and volunteers, distinguished civic
societies, fremen and distinguished
guests vas SO great that it can be
called nothing less than a gigantic
outpouring of the entire Southern
people. With a blaze of trumpets
and the flashing of swords and ac-
coutrements the parade passed down
the streets between solid masses of
spectators. Thousands of men, of
whom about eight thousand were an-
mated relics of the war, were in line,
and though the head of the process
sion arrived at the monument prompt
ly at two O'Clock, the end was not at
the disbanding point at five o'clock.
Never was a procession more
fraught with interest; never was
one more inspiring; never has one
evoked more spontaneous enthusi-
asm. The cheers and cries of the
popuIace burst forth afresh With
almost frantic vigor whenever some
new sensation was stirred and some
old association revived. Everybody
seemed to feel it a personal business
to cheer and keep cheering, and cheer
they did to their hearts content
Hurrahs were caught up far adown
the avenues, and they rolled in mas
sive reverberations far in the other
direction, until the source was no
longer known. Then, when the stir
ring troop of veterans, the beloved
leader of old, the majestic marching
of some young company of braves or
some ancient war relic hove into view,
the sound that started again was
aroused with greater intensity than
ever before.
After the advent of a platoon of
police and the famous Stonewall Bri-
gadeBand of Staunton, Va. which was
given the posto of honor at the head of
the procession the yelIow-sashed chief
marshal, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, appeared.
The waiting throngs greeted him with
honors unusual to a prophet in his
own country. Behind Lees aides
came the carriages containing the
Confederate commanders of the war.
Their course along the route was a
continuous ovation from start to fin
ish. Next came the militia of the
States in the order of their withdraw
al from the Union, with the fifth
Maryland Regiment behind all but
the West virginians and virginians.
The Governors of Virginia, West
Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina,
and South Carolina each rode before
their troops.
Gov. Gordon in the saddle was
again Gen. Gordon, and his was a
marked figure among all others
stately, calm, dignifed, and straight
as a statue. South Carolina lads,
with white helmets, marching stead
lily, were in the van. A forest of
paIm-leaf fans was carried in the muz-
zIes of their muskets. Then came a
waving field, which was soon discov-
cred to be more C%arolinians with pal
metto leaves for plumes in the tops OF
their helmets.
Mississippi passed with steady
tramp; then Alabama, then louisa
ma and Texas.
North Carolina furnished a large
number of men, and in their ranks
was borne aloft a hornets nest, that
was a poem of war in itself. The
Charlotte boys, in dark blue, moved
along in serried columns and helped
to swell North Crrolina's quota tc
twenty-five stalwart companies that
did honor to the State.
Their dark blue gave way to the
brighter array of the Washington
Light Infantry, who marched beauti.
fully and won much applause along
the route.
Then came the Fifth Maryland
Regiment of Baltimore city, behind
its band playing maryland, My
Maryland until the whole throne
of Marylanders in the streets shouted
so loud and started so many Others tt
shouting that the music was at time.
drowned.
The Washington Sharp Shooters, .
compact set of fellows in dark blue o.
regular army cut, then came along.
and attracted the attention of mill.
tary men by their exact marching anc
business look.
westyirginia had a fine body of uni
formed militia, under Col Ford, com.
prising the Monroe Guards. Hinton