The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-14
GRAND MILITARY DISPLAY
HgTcH T0Ok rfAcE ar CRNTRE-
TfLiE ~ IHEiFdE fs6f
In nonor Of n French Prince, Who sreet-
Cd the Confederate Troops aud was
Pleased win Thcir tmoioncy.

\ former COMMUNICATION, Tue inoho'V"S
Of camn.llfc at the same place was varied
2, an Unexpected lat Interesting event.
qh.s was a grand review. gotten MP in
honor OF Prince Louis Napoleon Bona
nsrtc oar comnany, the FIRST Richmond
u5viacfe had Just returned from Wen
,a % which place they had been i'd
,.n.ei dusine tho latter days Of July,
With General Bonham's brigade. Captain
fl k,mpcrs company of artillery hcinS
also With I0nham at Vienna. our battery
v.. soon relieved from that duty. and
adj f0red 60 report TO Gcncrl Longstrcet.
all Ccrffcvillc. p; was during our service
nlef this officer that the review took
paO. This was TO be n novel experience
o. us. We bad frequently been subjected
io Inspections by hirh military officials.
which bad therefore ceased 10 interest
us These were always hold on Sunday.
and to ass untutotcd soldiers seemed only
military excuse for violating the sancti-
81 of the day. When sc FIRST went ont
o. thc war. the impression prevailed that
sunday was 10 be as much day OF rest
On the army as IL was az our homes IN
peace fines. This Illusion how'ver. was
soon aspciicI on the occasion referred
a. the company was paraded ia full UNI
Comm The men wore white cotton gloves.
looked as Glenn as they could. stood stil
ard sta ass possible. while the inspecting
.Er and his STAFF rode horseback all
POUND thc company. After he had gotten
back % the place from which he started,
D. and his staff halted in front of the
las and the troops were then required
g. march by him, in order that he might
,ileo Of their military training and
A f.F
Iles ON Sunday there was always left
.r the mind "a residuum OF regret that
- much preparation and effort had been
made ON that day for sucn small results.
THE visit Of Prince Napoleon TO General
T.urcsard just at this time excited the
minds. OF our people very much. All
sorts Of rumors got afloat in the army.
some said that the French empire was
doubtless more than willing TO recognize
The Confederate. and had possibly sent
tits scion of that great line 90 open the
subject with Beamegard. lie had been
considered the hero of the late victory
OF Manassas. and being himself a French
man by descent, 10 was natural that
many others saw IN this fact a reason
Why that sympathetic people might wish
90 express their Partially for the south
cru cause Under all the circumstances
tls coming event now occupied the at
tention of the soldiers to the exclusion OF
an other subjects.
IL was early in August The Prince
had already passed from Alexandria down
o. Beauregard's headquarters at Nanas-
fas. and was now about 20 return. As
soon as the review was determined upon
orders were sent 20 all the neighboring
commands to prepare for the occasion
The country around CeEtreville was COW
cred ty the tents Of the troops. Long
streets bIlgade occupied the hills i'm
medlate'y about the village. This was TO
D. the hrst grand review held by the army
and tle trouble was 10 ind room for
such "a military pageant. The country
was billy and rough and so occupied by
l'-e bodies Of forest that it was scarcely
possible 20 arrange the troops so that the
display might be made effective upon
Or distinguished stranger 1t was re-
n,mhered that he was a B0naparte, and
therefore was presumed TO have an eve
Toe military affairs. The very thought Of
"a Visit from one OF that iiiustfious house
created AN itcnse interest IN the affair. 1t
was almost aa az Ne We're about TO look
upon the image Of the extraordinary man
whose appearance Oh the earth the century
before had created q new and special epoch
IN It's history. Here was one of his near
est collateral descendants, his own neph-
CIV, and cousin of the reiguing emperor,
Napoleon III, and, as many believed
might az some future day ascend the
imperial throne of France. He had played
conspicuous part Ia the affairs OF his
country, and was supposed TO possess
s me N the personal characteristics Of
mat iate-endowed race. For these and
many other such reasons the approaching
review was TO our imaeinations fraught
WIN extraordinary aaticipations.
At length the day was fixed for the
event All was hustle and activity in the
Wv was with the artillery.
ue First Richmond HoWitzers being ex-
tecled 10 occupy the extreme right Of
me liue The troops were now busy pol
ishing their arms busting uniforms. ana
elung together all the store" collars
ana white gloves that could be found in
camp. Cur harness was cleaned the
n'rses were always kept in good condi-
uon as long as the proper food could be
procured The old Institute brass guns
We're FURNISHED up until they shone like
t'id' ana every chain and stock and
p'nue-hook scrupulously clean. IL had
peeh determined TO establish the line of
review over the hills north and eastward
from the village. its extreme right resting
not far from the latter and the left ex-
Ndine 20 point on the Little river
turnpike in the direction Of Fairfax court
mouse. The five brigades of infantry
zen lying near CentFeyille including
itlleFy ana cavalry, made up about III.
zen thousand men, the largest body OF
confederate soldiers We had ever been
able to see together AZ one time. IT was
now early Ia August. The weather was
hot and dry. On the morning of the re-
view the entire line was established nv
I'D A d., ready TO receive the French
IFInHH
in command and with his stan was now
in the field. Officers ana men We're in fuu
dress. their recenuy-made uniforms of
confederate gray cloth not yet having
given way 10 the wear and tear Of severe
service. The yellow light of that burning
cay shone, tx seemed, with more than
ordinary herceness. OF course there was
ine delay always incident TO such affairs
hoar after hour passed. and no signs of
me Prince.
Tho troops had been in the habit of
messing as lightly as possible during
''o very warm weather; ana now as they
''''i tnc4sed IN thick clothing under the
ehm5 neat, they suffered greatl,
-il-aay arrived. but still no signs of the
petled cortege from the direction of
..' mass as. As the time wore on the men
~NI animals became painfully impatient;
eouid the sentiment Of our little army |
-eFe heen freely expressed the popularity |
VI 'ne bOnaparie family and the rest OF /
~' ilcnen princes would have been |
touAa seriously impaired since the Morn |
,,-f OK that day. For more than four
t'lis they had been waiting, when at /
e. 'ir arrival Of courier announced |
se coming OF the strangers. A cloud of |
49,. on our extreme risht heralded their /
' = Nellate approach. An open carriage |
NIdNu bv two horses o,a ..,.o... a - -