Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-30
PICTURESQUE FEATURES.
Note, and observations on Men and
Flags sc.

PICTURESQUE FEATURES.
Notes and Observations on Men and
Flags sc.
When the head of the great column
reached the top of the Main-street hill the
view. looking down the street, was pic
turesoue in the extremes A surging crowd
of eazers made thick dark border on
either side of the roadway, hemning in the
moving column. Hundred on hundred of
bevouets elinted in the MONDAY sun,
and everywhere the colors of the Confed-
eracy mingled with the Stars and Stripes.
OLD BATTLE-FLAGs.
One Of the most interesting features OK
the parade was the number or old BATTLE
FLAGS that hoated above the line. Most OF
these were carried by veteran organlza-
tions. though few companies of militia
co7.r;ed tbe Haos under which tho command
FOUGHT during the war. Altogether there
we're more than fifty. Some of them were
state or company flags, some camp flags,
INT the larcer number of them were the
familiar fagg that foated where bullets
few the thickest and marked the tide OF
! southern fortunes.
API.AG THAT WENT TO PRISON.
Above the few survivors of the Third
Georgia regiment there foated an old
battle-hag that has had an unusual expert
ence. When the regiment was surrendered
in 1865, Colonel Claiborne cut the flag
from the stan and hid it inside his shirt.
During his confinement IN a northern
prison he still kept 1t, and when lie was
paroled brought it back to Dixie.
Near this flag were two OF which little
rernained but a few scraps of faded silk.
| These were the flags of Cobbs Georgia
Ieolon and the First battalion of North
/ Carolina Sharpshooters. Both Of these
| commands had a fiery baptism, and but
| few survivors remain to tell the story OF
| their prowess.
| Thirteenth" of North Carolina Is so full
| OF bullet. holes that 1t scarce holds to-
! cether. 1t was carried by the man who
| bore it the last two years Of tha war. An
other famous North Carolina lag Is that
| Of the Eighth Colonel Shaw'sl regiment.
| 1t was buried at Sugar Loaf, Va, at the
| close Of the war 70 save 1t from capture
and afterwards dug up by the coior-ser-
| geant, who has preserved 1t ever since.
THE sroyEwALL BRIGADE FLAG.
Over the famous Stonewall brigade
footed the dag that went with StoneWall
Jackson from Manassas to charlottesville.
Private d. p. Carver, a grlzzled' scared
veteran OF the Tenth Virginia cavalry, who
bore it. marched with a conscious ar
which seemed TO say, "We-uns are the
! bows who did the fighting"
Wise's brigade carried two fags-the
| headquarters flag and the nag OF the Fifty
ninth Virginia. The latter was the Tag
that was twice captured and recaptured 1T
| Williamsburg, and cost the regiment so
many men at that tight.
~ TIE JOIN BROWN RAID.
+ Company Association, First Virginia
repiment. carried their old company nag,
under winch the company marched into
| Harper's Ferry with General (then Colonel
I Robert r.. Lee. Ii vas most probably the
| only flag in the parade which was used at
tho capture OF John Brown.
| PALMETTO LEAVES AND oRIoLE FEATHERS.
/ South Carolina, the first of the States
| which seeded. was well represented IN
I the line The Palmetto (kershaw 81 brl-
/ gade had over seventy-fyc veterans IN line.
most of them from the Second and nth
/ Cavalry regiments. The flag OF the
/ Second. the gallant Pickens command
| and the flag Of tho Fifth. which was com
manded by Senator ii. &. Butler, tuttered
! over the brigade. All of the South Caro-
! lima fags were festooned with long grace
| full palmetto leaves, and all OF the men
wore badges constructed from the same
plant. Several infantry companies from
| That State carried palm-leat fans in the
mouth Of their muskets.
! Over the veteran Maryland line evil
| dences of southern fealty waved in the
| light wind The flag of the First cavalry
regiment and the celebrated Bucktail flag
/ both had evidently been IN the post OF
| honor-the forefront of the line OF battle.
ONLY TATTEErD REMNANT.
OF ell the old flags in the line there was
none so ragged IS That of Alassenburg' )
| Georgia battery. Only few tatteTed rem
nants chung TO the staff, and these were so
| faded that the co!ors were barely d-stin-
| suishable.
THE CRACK COMPANIES.
There were several volunteer commands
| in line that occupy distinguished positions.
One of these is the Montgomery Grays, Of
/ Montgomery, Ala, company whose ban
ner ls adorned with the trophies of twenty
seven competitive drills and ranks as high
as any volunteer organization ia this coun-
/ try. The uniform is one that would at
| tract attention anywhere-a blue, gold
| laced coat, and an enormous white shake
with gold tassel. The Grays bad thirty
| five men in line under command of First
Lieutenant u. S Watson. They have an
enviable war record and several veterans
marched with the company yesterday.
Another fine command was the Washing
ton Artillery, of New Orleans. They march
ed in three cOmpanies-the veteran COM
pany in front and tAe volunteer companies
/ following. This company has a record in
both the Mexican and the civil war. Their
flag, elsewhere referred 10. was made by
Miss Cary, of New Orleans, out OF her
dress. and was carried all through the war.
Behind the Paris Pickets company with
the flo-closers Palmer Leigh, a little boy
of eight or nine years, with long, haxen
curls and dressed in O white duck suit,
marched, carrying n sword thst was as
tall as the little soldier. The eyes of the
ladies on the street fingered on the little
boy az he passed aud several times he was
seized ii q ar8lis and kissed.
The uniform that we know so well--that
| of the Richmond Blues-was undoubtedly
I the most striking in the entire column.
| and the BOYS never appeared to better adj
vantage. They were accompanied by the
white-haired veteran, MIR. Richardson.
PATHETIC INCIDENT.
| There were several incidents yesterday
| that were pathetic III the extreme. One of
them was remarkable as an evidence of
the deep feeling that years cannot oblite-
rate. As General Il. NJ. Law, VINO was on
| horseback IN the advance and wore his old
Confederate uniform. passed General Lees
house there was q slight commotion on
! tho sidewalk 1t was an Old veteran, fee
bic and almost blind. who had fought with
Law. When he saw his old commander
pass he cried. There's Law; God bless
him. Raise ME and let me see him." lie
staggered 20 his feet, and waving his old
| hat, in weak voice cheered the gallant
| South Carolinian. 1t is such scenes as this
that make such day more of reality
than pageant.