The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-03-02
THE UNIFORM RANK.
FIRST PARADE AND REVIEW OF
THE VIRGINIA REGIMENT.
The Several Divisions Formed In
to Three BattaIions-Two
Banquets.

From the Richmond Dispatch, 22nd.
The first annual parade and review o
the First Virginia Regiment Uniform
Rank, Knights of Pythias, occurred her
yesterday afternoon. Fully $50 uniform
ed knights were in line, and the column
reflected credit upon that exponent o
the order of Pythianism. There wer,
represented eight divisions, and eacl
was commanded by its own officers.
The parade through the streets occur
red between $3.50 and 4:3O o'clock ant
was witnessed by thousands of specta'
tors. The tall red plumes, the brightly
trimmed uniforms, and the glitterins
blades of the Knights commanded tn.
admiration of the large crowds congre,
gated upon the sidewalks.
THE REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.
The regiment forme for the march al
Old Market Hall at 8 o'clock. It was
headed by squad ron of fifteen
police under the command of Sergeant
Matthews, of the First Distrit. Then
followed Colonel D. J. Turner, of Nor
folk, Commandment of the regiment, and
his staff, consisting of the following gen
tlemen: Commissioned-Lieut Col
onel G. Collins Taylor, of Clifton Forge
Major J. H. Featherstone, of Roanoke
Surgeon r. s. Wiley, of Clifton Forge
Assistant-Surgeo R. W. Fry. of Roan-
oke; Chaplain E. w. MacCorkle, of Cliff
ton Forge; Adjutant T. H. Virnelson, of
Portsmouth. Non Commissioned-Ser
geant Walter A. Edwards, of Norfolk;
Commissary Sergeant H. E. Smith, OF
| Suffolk.
Behind the regimental officers came
the Blues Band with sixteen instru-
ments, which discoursed delightful and
inspiring march music.
| FORMATION OF THE DIVISIONS.
This is the manner in which the sew
eral divisions were formed:
Atlantic Division, No. 1. Portsm outh,
Captain B. F. Vaughan; % men.
ID. J. Turner Jr., Division, n, 8. of
Hampton. and Hines Division, No. 10, of
Newport News, Captain George NJ. Rich
ter; 40 men.
Withers Division. No. Z, of Suffolk,
Captain r. c. Crumpley: 35 men.
Roanoke Division, No H. of Roanoke,
Captain E. D. Tucker; 35 men.
Syracuse Division, No. 4, of Richmond,
| Captain V. Donati; 33 men.
Rathbone Division, No. 8. of Alexan>
/ dria, Captain e.. L. King; 90 men.
Virginia Division, No. 2, of Norfolk,
/ Captain w. q. WiIburn; As men.
The line of March was up Main street
to Fifth, thence to Franklin, to First,
to Broad, to Nineteenth, and back
to Old Market Hall.
REVIEWED BY PROMINENT PYTHIANS.
| As the procession passed down Broad
street it was reviewed from the Veranda
at Ford's Hotel by an assemblage of
prominent Pythians, including many of
the officers of the Grand Lodge of Vir-
| ginia, which net here last night
Among those who inspected the parade
were Supreme Chancellor w. w. Black
well, of Henderson, KY; Major General
J. r. Carnahan, of indianapolis, Ind.
and Judge Lindsay, of Baltimore, past
supreme chancellor. The officers of the
regiment and the divisions saluted the
Pythian dignitaries as they passed them
by.
| WELCOMED BY THE MAYOR.
After the march the column disbanded
at Old Market Hall, where lunch was
served by Syracuse Lodge, of Richmond
The Pythians were formed around long
tables which were teeming with hot
coffee and sandwiches, but before par
taking of the spread they were given a
formal welcome by Mayor Ellyson. Mr.
George E. Bowden presented the Mayor
in short but appropriate introduction !,
at the conclusion of which some Knight
proposed three cheers for Taylor Elly>
son. and the response was vociferous.
| Mr.. Ellyson, in bidding the visitors
welcome, spoke of the great and common
interest of Virginians in Virginians,
which, he said, was due to the pure,
fraternal feeling which existed among
them. He was glad to meet SO gallant
an army of Pythians within the gates of
the capital city and hoped that they
would always feel that Richmond was
pleased to have them.
Colonel Turner responded to the adj
dress of the Mayor in very fervid and
happy style. He was touched by the
cordial and sincere welcome which haG
been rendered to the regiment by bott
the Mayor and the citizens, and he felt
sure that no Pythian would fail to APP
preciate SO warm greeting. At the
conclusion of Colonel Turner's remarks
the lunch was enjoyed.
THE REGIMENT DIVIDED.
After the dispersion at Old Marke
Hall the regimental officers assembled
at Odd Fellows Hall, where a very i'm
portant business session was held. Col
onel Turner presided. On motion tn
regiment was divided into three battal
ions as follows:
First Battalion to consist of Division
Nos. 10 of Staunton, II of Roanoke,
of Clifton Forge and 3 of Danville.
Second Battalion to consist of Divi
sions Nos. of Portsmouth, of Norfolk
Z of Suffolk, and 8 of Hampton
Third Battalion to consist of Nos. o
Richmond, of Leesburg, s of Alexan
dria and 10 Of Newport News.
Major j. II. Featherstone was electe,
major of the First Battalion, Major W
6. Wilburn major of the Second, AM
Captain V. Donati major of the Third.
The regimental officers were re-electe
as follows: Colonel d. j. Turner, G
Norfolk; Lieutenant>Colonel, G. Collin
Taylor, of Clifton Forge; Adjutant, I
II. Virnelson, of Portsmouth; Surgeon
r. s. Wiley, of Clifton Forge; Assistan
Surgeon, R. w. Fry, of Roanoke; Chal
lain, E. w. MacCorkle, of Clifton Forg,
This regiment has only been formed
short while and has accumulated gres
strength since its organization. A
Pythians look forward to great accom-
plishments from this branch of the ordt
in Virginia in the near future.
THE BANQUET AT THE OLD MARKET.
Syracuse Lodge and Division, Uniforl