Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-04
The Proposed "BIue aud Gray" Parade
Declared OF.

place In this city on July next, IN WHICH
the Union and Confederate veterans were to
take part, and which has been so widely dis
cussed by the press and otherwise in all
parts of the country, will not be held. This
result was brought about by an interview
in which Capt. Ivan n. Walker, command
erin chief of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, was quoted as saying that the Grand
Army was opposed to the parade, and ad-
ding chat the Grand Army Of the Repub.
lie could not as an organization join in any
public demonstration and march with those
who fought against the Union, clothed in
the uniform of the cause that was shot to
death by the Grand Army of the Republic
thirty years ago"
Col A. G. Dickinson, commander of the
Confederate Veteran camp Of this city and
president of the Southern Democratic AS
ISOLATION, when shown a copy of Captain
Walkers statement to-day, said:
That of course puts an end to the parade.
The work Of arranging for it will stop at
once, and regret that have been promi
nent in working up interest in it in the
South. OF course, no parade such as was
planned could be a success when feelings
such as those expressed by General Walker
exists in the Grand Army of the Republic.
"The idea for the parade originated in this
fFI,r1o- A n r,tl ffol
John J. Garrett several months ago that he
would like to see parade in this city of all
the ex-Conlederate soldiers living here
Colonel Garret told him that he would sug-
gest the matter to me as commander of the
Confederate Veterans Post. He did so, and
/ was takan to see Mr.. Dana regarding the
matter. He asked me how many men there
were in the Confederate Veterans Post and
how many -Confederates could get out
in n parade I told him that there were
only about 225 members of the post, but
that | thought 500 ex- Confederate soldiers
could be mustered in this city for such a
parade as he suggested. While the matter
was being discussed the suggestion was made
that it would be good idea to invite the
Confederate veterans from all the States of
the South to come to this city and join in
the parade, and it was then suggested that
the Grand Army of the Republic and Naval
Veterans of the North be invited to join in
the parade. Mr.. Dana thought the idea
capital one and urged that the work of car
rying out the plan be at once begun. He
said he thought that such a parade would
be one of the grandest things in the history
of the country.
Accordingly invitations were sent out to
200 prominent citizens, including such men
Of affairs as Chauncey NJ. Depew, J. Pier
pont Morgan, Mayor Strong and men Of
that sort, to attend a meeting in the Gov
ernors room in the city hall. The meeting
was largely attended aud committees APP
pointed Mr.. Dana was appointed on one
of the committees was appointed on the
committee of plan and scope. We were told
by several gentlemen prominent in the fnau.
cial world to 90 right ahead with the work
and that ali the money needed would be
forthcoming. While | was in Atlanta dur
ing the exposition made speech to Con-
federate veterans regarding the proposed
parade, and found it met with their hearty
favor.
80 far as General Walkers objections to
the Confederate uniform is concerned, will
say that there are now very few Of the old
uniforms in the South As an evidence of
this, in the city Of Atlanta a fund was raised
to buy 100 gray uniforms so that city might
be represented by that number of veterans
"The whole idea of the parade was to in
crease the fraternal feeling between the old
soldiers Of both sides, bu. after General
Walkers expression to attempt to have the
parade might accomplish an entirely differ
ent result"