Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-24
THE HOWITzER TRIP.
THE MEN WHO WILL REPRESENT THE
CITY AT THE mARDl GRAs.
whs and what They Archie Associa-
ton ana the INTERPRETATION Of
ConrenIai spirits.

Biohmond " proud OF ner heu Ai"i-
ieryn
She is equally proud Of oil therest Of her
citizon soldiery, and she has reason to be.
Infantry, artillery. and cavalry made
gallant display on tho i9th--Gencral Loo's
birthday.
But Il rs probable that the Howitzers
we're subjected 20 the most careful and
searching public inspection. seeing that
they are 20 represent the capital OF tho
Confectionery at Mardi Gras IN New orleans.
And braycly they stood the Inspection,
both rs 70 movement and general bearing.
Fully they sustained the claim 10 be worthy
successors of the old Howitzers, whose
guns were heard on every battlefield from
Bethel 70 Appomattox..
The battery now numbers eighty men and
The old Howitzers Association seventy-hye
men. How many OF each organization
will visit the Crescent City is not yet
known, but il is hoped that every member
of both who can will do 50.
With both organizations Richmond can
well trust her name and reputation any,
whore and under any circumstances.
TIE VETERANS.
Tho Howitzer Association. composed Of
veterans of the three companies that
formed the battalion. have shown that the
war Howitzers was not only the school OF
the soldier, but the school Of oil else that
constitutes true manhood and goes 10
make up good citizenship.
The evidences of that are seen wherever
the eye is turned in the city.
Hardly one of these veterans had dol
lar tc bless himself with when his battle
flag was furled forever at Appomattox.
Yet after the surrender each and oil adj
dressed themselves 20 fighting the battle
for existence and for their mothers reha-
bilitation with the same grit With which
they served their guns at Bethel, at
fredericksburg, at Gettysburg, at Spotsyl-
wanna Courthouse. and upon every other
field of carnage in Virginia.
COULD SUFFER- AND BE STRONG.
They could suffer and be strong; they
neither sat in the ashes of desolation nor
put on the sackcloth of despair. Act act
IN the living present. was their motto, as
it was of ell the Confederate soldiers.
You cannot walk half-dozen blocks in
either direction from the Dispatch office
without meeting an old Howitzer who IS
prominent in business or financial circles.
Call the roll of the living and answers
come from the political arena, from the
ranks of the legal and medical fraternities,
and from the pulpit.
Go down into wholesale and manufac-
turing circles and you will find establish
ments that are OF once monuments to the
energy and enterprise OF old Howitzers
and pillars of Richmond trade.
A little over quarter of q century ago
these men we're prototypes of the majority
of the present battery. When they an
swered the call TO arms of Virginia as
some of them did from fsr-of States. they
were looked upon by the older citizens as
"boys." But what men dared do they
did" is written in lustrous letters all over
eha Of hQ nj
Now the hair of many of them Is
sprinkled with gray. Most of them are
married. some are even grandfathers; but
alas. not few are bachelors who should
be court-martialled.
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE.
The battery are following in the foot
steps of the association. There is no finer
body OF young men in any State, and in
war or in peace, in camp or III business
circles they are competent to uphold the
reputation of the old Howitzers
They are marching to take the places as
public-spirited citizens of the old Howitzers
aas these answer to the inevitable last roll
call. or by reason of their wounds and the
hardships through which they have passed
shall be compelled TO retire from active
service" They mean that the time shall |
never be when @ Howitzer is not on duty |
for Richmond's defence and Richmond's |
good.
The visit TO New Orleans will be pleasant |
TO both the association and the battery, |
and all Richmond is interested in seeing |
them start with full ranks. They will put |
credit upon Richmond.
The members of the battery are full of |
the trip, and though some of the veterans |
were slow TO move at first, they are catch |
ing the spirit Of the affair.
The Washington Artillery, whose guests |
the Howitzers will be. bear the same rela- |
ton to New Orleans that the Howitzers do |
to Richmond.
coHGENIAL SPIRITS.
The meeting will be one of congenal !
spirits in every respect. 1t will be the |
means of recalling scenes and incidents of |
that great struggle that are o part of |
history and should not be forgotten. IL |
Will cement the bonds of sisterhood between |
Virginia and Louisiana. 1t will be the me-
dilm of reviewing old friendships and IF |
aking new ones.
So conf IDENTIFY can the battery and the !
association be depended upon to reflect |
the fame, honor, and progress Of not only !
this city but the State, that Virginia in
commencing them to Louisiana can well
exelaim with Cornelia, the mother of the
Grachi, HRe Ornamental nied Slint."
Ii is understood that a number of Rich |
mond citizens other than members of the |
battery and the association will visit New
Orleans during Mardi Gras, leaving on the |
came train with the two organizations, |
though of course they will not be guests Of |
the Washington Artillery.