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

UnparaleIled Enthusiasm-South Carroll
pas Place--Coveted Palm etto Branches.
Gen. Hampton and Our sponsor--Tom
Woodford's Response.
RICHMOND, July 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, 900,
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 filled their homes with welcome
guests. During these four days the
streets and houses of public reception
here have been packed by 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 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 20, 00O 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
35 and 80 years ago resounded with
the martial footsteps of the armies OF
Lse and afterwards OF Grant. 1t was
a great day and nobody who Witnessed
the parade, the heartfs slt 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 to American 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 8 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 somewhat delayed by
q 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 10
O 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 af1ame with national and
southern colors and greeted at every
point with the cheers and plaudits ol
the women who were either daughters
or mothers of the old Confederacy
The column, including as it did every
branch OF the military service, made 8
splendid appearance, AMI would have
been deemed an American gem ir
New York or Chicago.
BATTLE.sCARRED MENfENTOS.
In the line were numerous memen
toes of the late war in the shape oi
bullet .holed and tattered Confederate
battle flags, uniforms that had beer
worn on many bloody field, knap
sacks, canteens, muskets and rifles
that bore evidence of service in many
a campaign. Two venerable old sol
diers carried iddles with which they
entertained camp life during the war
Many had empty sleeves and many
others wooden legs, but they stood tn
fatigue of the four hours march will
all the fortitude that characterized
them over 80 years ago.
Gen. Gordon, chief marshal, AM
staff headed the procession, and hi
escort was the corps of cadets from tn
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 tn
Carolinians, and the old cavalry here
was saluted at every move and turn o
the procession. Governor O'Ferral
was at the side of Brig. Gen. Phillip
of the Virginia State troops, which in
cluded the Virginia and North Carroll
ma regiments of State troops. Thel
followed the Worshipful Grand Ma
sonic Lodge of Virginia, escorted b.
the Commandery of st. Andrew o