The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-14


carriage our imaglnations had pictured
a mounted warrior aud his attending
STAFF. aailaut In martial pcmp. coming 10
scf.,tInize with lra,ticcd eye this crude
array OF citizen soldiers. Not So however
The truth was Prince Louis Napoleon was
TOO fat 10 mount "A horse. AZ he alight"d
from the carriage his obese iigurc secmea
D. e 4xAa ea44 as hc
walked along. than to set squadron ~
the field.
Notwithstanding this cumbrous ana
awkward appearance. VIC could not ian
TO observe the strong. personality when
J 4.aei hin WITH tne' distinguishes
family he represented. The large head.
short neck and Atlcan shoh. .ers recalled
mt once the characteristics features OF
his iilustrious uncle
A4.cr the din and excitement conse-
Quent upon the reception of the Prince
had subsidcd, Ii was noticed that snort
consultation was held between BeauTe-
CARDS staff, who had come up from
Manassas with the party, and the officers
Of the review. This delay was soon ex-
planned. The Confederate authorities
were anxious to make the best possf-
bic impression uron the distinguished for
eignes, who had taken the trouble to PEN
citrate their lines for an apparently phi
waite purpose. they thought they had
right to take advantage Of this circufn-
stance At all events. they saw that he
WAS not only pleased at what he had seen,
hu. was as much surprised. He, no doubt,
recoHectcd that the South had no regular
army; that the troops in that review had
recently been raw levies taken from the
body of the southern people. who, though
unprepared for a great war. had, TO the
surprise of the world, proved themselves
III f1as. f...uf Of
He knew the fact that many of the very
regiments then before him had but lately
taken part I'm the battle which had in
fiicted defeat and disgrace upon veteran
regulars of the United States army, and
upon hosts of trained volunteers sent out
from the large cities of the North. The
Confederates We're, therefore, anxious that
he should understand why it was that
with such odds against them, they were
not unwilling TO try the issue Of war with
their stronger neighbors; and that their
hopes Of ultimate success were not with
out reasonable foundation. They did not
wish him, or any other person promi-
ncntly known, TO think that the war on
the part of the South was mere rising
of the peasantry, JacqEerie or mere
Garibaldian outbreak. 1t was proper that
he should appreciate and understand the
peculiar aptitude of the southern people
to military affairs To this end 1t was
thought best 10 give the Prince practi-
cal illustration OF the fact. He was to
be shown how, in short time, a body
of young men, whose daily occupation in
times of peace were not calculated TO
prepare them for the exigencies and de-
mands of actual war, had suddenly been
transformed into veteran troops.
For this purpose the first regiment Of
Richmond city, was Immediately with
drawn from the line of review, and re-
quircd to display the battalion drill, with
reference TO every detail Of modern infan-
try tactics In an hours time. and after
a severe experience on that August day,
the strangers and others VINO witnessed
the drill were more than pleased at the
proficiency and skill OF the newly organ
ICED troops of the South.
1t was now late in the day. So, soon
as the drill Of the First Virginia regiment
had ended, the carriage containing the
Prince and his attendants moved off on
the road to Alexandria, to be conducted
to the Federal lines by its gallant escort.
Thus occurred the first grand review OF
the army in this part of Virginia, the
incidents OF which ae as correctly mar
rated, as memory recalls them after the
lapse OF more than thirty years.
The noted Frenchman who had just
taken leave Of the Confederate lines may
not be known TO some Of our readers.
Had his previous career been as familiar
TO them at the time of this visit as 1t
afterwards became. 1t is doubtful whether
the soldiers of the South would have given
him so warm q reception THIS Prince
Napoleon was the son of Jerome Bona
parte, the youngest brother OF the great
Napoleon: consequently WAS rephew TO
Iii hon
quite young had married an American
lady. Miss Patteson. of Baltimore. Ills
brother. the EmpeI or, caUfed him TO
separate himself from that lazy, and from
ambitious motives, prevailed ul'or him
10 marry European Pincess. the danght-
ter OF the king of WurtembLrg. Imme-
diately after this union he was made
King Of Westphaia by his ambitious uncle
This took place in 1907, when the great
Emperor was in the plenitude OF MS
power. Prince Napoleon, the hero Of our
recent review, was one OF the children
Of this marriage. lie was never remark
able Tor anything but his extreme obesity,
and for entertaining Democratic opinions
OF the NEST radical character. Notwith- |
standing this, when the star OF his
family was again in the ascendant at
the accession Of his cousin Louis Napo-
leon to the throne of France, he became
q Senator OF the Empire, but ulu hotnlnS
in that capacity TO vindicate his claim 10
distinction. When the war between
France and England against Russia broke
out, every effort 10 make him useful TO
his country as a soldier or otherwise,
proved a failure
During the whole Of the Crimoan cam
paigns his conduct was pusfianimous
in the extreme. lie became the butt OF
the nation, and was first desisively called
"Craint-pIon," signifying. lead or bull
let fearer," and afterwards became conf
monly known by the more ouphonic and
sobriquet Of "Plo-Plon." He
inarried the Princess clotlda,
daughter OF King Victor Emanuel, OF
Italy, and passed his days in luxurious
care. until his death, which occurred but |
few years ago. w, l.. L.
NEW LODG F-oFFICERS.