The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
GRAND AND GLORIOUS.
THURSDAY IN RICHMOND EClIPSES
ALL FORMER OCCASIONS.

ALL FORMER OCCASIONS.
Unparalleled Enthusiasm-south Carroll
pas Place--Coveted Palm etto Branches-..
Gen. Hampton and Our sponsor--Tom
Woodford's Response.
RICHMOND, July o. Today has been
beyond all question the greaest in
the history of the historic city OF Rich
mond. It was the crowning event of
the notable sixth Confederate reunion
when nearly all of the living leaders
of the war were present and when
they had for their distinguished guest
that we'll known Union soldier and
patriot, Corporal Jas. Tanner. The
three days meeting of over 100, ,OOO..
Confederates ended in the laying OF
! the cornerstone of an imposing monu..
ment to be erected to the memory OF
Jefferson Davis, the President of the
late Confederate States.
This was what called from the north,
the west, the east and the south every
old Confederate soldier and sympa-
thizer.
| For four days and over they came,
thronging in on every line of railroad
until the hospitable city of Richmond,
with its grand hotels and open doors
of every private house, were so taxed
that the overflow reached the city of
Petersburg and adjoining villages,
and filed their homes with welcome
guests. During these four days the
streets and houses of public reception
here have been packed by a living
mass of Confederate humanity. The
demonstration surpassed all previous
events in the history of the city, and
as far as the crowds present were con-
cerned, overshadowed all former oc-
casions, when the south sent her rep
resentatives by the thousands to honor
the memory of her distinguished lead
ers and sons in the ex-capital OF the
southern Confederacy.
FALL IN LINE.
No sooner than General Gordon had
announced the adjournment OF the
Confederate reunion convention sine
die with three expressive raps OF his
Chicamauga tree gavel, than there
was a rush of the veterans to get into
the appointed locations in time to fall
into the line of procession, which
moved promptly at o'clock p. m.
There were 90, 900 men in line with
100 bands of music and 200, 900 or more
on the streets to witness this grand
parade of youthful military cadets,
stalwart militiamen, and venerable
gray bearded and battle scarr-d vete-
rams, who had seen service on the
hard fought fields Of Virginia.
ON HISTORIC SOIL.
The latter retrod the streets which
IS and 80 years ago resounded with
the martial footsteps Of the armies of
Lee and afterwards OF Grant. 1t was
great day and nobody who witnessed
the parade, the heartfs lit devotion of
the men in line and the enthusiasm OF
the people on the streets, would do
otherwise than declare that it was q
day consecrated toAmcrican manhood,
patriotism and valor. The spectacle
was inspiring, and as the bands
passed PLAYING "the Star Spangled
Banner" Dixie" my Maryland"
and Yankee Doodle, every man and
woman felt themselves truer Ameri.
can.
Nothing could have been more au-
spicious than the weather and all 9th.
er conditions for. such a grand occa-
sion. The procession, though prompt
in forming, was some what delayed by
divergence of the cavalry, artillery,
the Virginia and North Carolina regi-
ments Of infantry and the carriages
containing the distinguished guests
and young lady sponsors from the
States and territories, so as to take Ia
a portion of Main street.
A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
They joined the veterans at Fifth
and Franklin streets, and for nearly
two hours this grand parade of young
soldiers and old heroes, with It's bands
of music, flags and banners, marched
along streets ahama with national and
southern colors and greeted at every
point with the cheers and plaudits of
the women who were either daughters
or mothers of the old Confederacg.
The column, including as it did every
branch OF the military service, made a
splendid appearance, AMI would have
been deemed an American gem In
New York or Chicago.
| BATTLE-SCARRED MEMENTOS
In the line were numerous memen-
1 toes of the late war in the shape OF
bullet.holed and tattered Confederate
battle flags, uniforms that had been
worn on many bloody field, KNAPP
sacks, canteens, muskets and rifles
that bore evidence of service in many
a campaign. Two venerable old sol
diers carried fddles with which they
entertained camp life during the war.
Many had empty sleeves and many
others wooden legs, but they stood the
fatigue of the four hours march with
all the fortitude that characterized
them over 80 years ago.
| Gen. Gordon, chief marshal, and
staff headed the procession, and his
escort was the corps of cadets from the
Virginia Military institute.
! HAMPTON SALUTED EVERYWHERE.
Then followed the children's brig
ade, $50 in number. Gen. Hampton
and staff took position in front of the
Carolinians, and the old cavalry hero
was saluted at every move and turn OF
the procession, Governor O'Ferrall
was at the side of Brig. Gen. Phillips
of the Virginia State troops, which in
cluded the Virginia and North Carroll
ma regiments of State troops. Then
followed the Worshipful Grand Ma
sonic Lodge of Virginia, escorted by
the Commandery of st. Andrew OF
| l.. ,ln,