The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-07-22

ed me.n
And then the colonel turned to
talking of the PROCESSION that
marched to the ground for the IN
yelling Of the monument. 1t took
the old veterans, many of them i'll
line of march for the last time be.
fore the grand triumphal march to
the great white throne, just two
hours and half to pass a given
point. On a hot dusty road alone
it might hsve taken but a few OF
the men that time to pass u given
point, for the column lilnped from
inany bullet aud much rheuma.
tism, its breath was short from
sleeping nights with bank of
snow for pillow and blizzard
for a blanket, it was footsore from
marching barefoot days over froz.
Ell rocks, and 1t was tottering from
age, but for the time they had
found what Ponce de Leon sought
in vain; again they stood in line
under the unfurlel stars and bars,
they marched the same streets
that they had defantly marched a
third OF IL century ago; women,
mature with age, who lbs beautiful
girls, had thrown kisses to them
before, did the same now and were
joined in by their daughters; tens
of thousands of hands strewed
their pathway with flowers and
tens Of thousands of VOICES shouted
their welcome and praise. This
was what rejuyenated the old men
cat the head Of the procession,"
continued the colonel, "tllere was
the remnant OF a North Carolina
brigade. For guns each of the
men carried upon a long pole
white disk, surrounded by wreaths
of laurel and cedar, and bearing
the words, 'First at Bethel anil
last at Appomattox.' They had
opened the skirmish fire at the
first fight and had been the last to
lay down their arms, aud were
justly entitled to the right of the
line. Behind them came nine of
us out OF our old brigade. 1t was
one of the old Stonewall brigades,
and among the nine men there
were but nine legs. Four had lost
the right and five the left. All
but myself walked on straight
pegs. The committee of arrange.
nIrnts had supplied us with nine
lutte girls. They were clad in red
caps, white dresses and red shoes
u d stockings, making the CONTEXT
er to colors of red, white and red.
and we were preceded toy Il juve-
nile fife and drum band clad in the
same manner. These nine men,
With one in front, marched by
twos with the peg leg on the out.
side. By the side of each man
walked one of the little girls, lead
ing him 10y a finger. 1t was a
mcst touching sight.
A FLAG INCIDENT.
cat one time during the march
TO the statue we We're halted III
front of a house in which there
lived some people from the North.
Away up OH the top of it there
Was a little Confederate flag, bu,
} it was literally covered with col.
OTIS of tue Union There WAS one
tremendous Federal flag that hung
within seven feet of the sidewalk
. Right under this our brigade Of
. niue was halted. The men cam.
, out OF the house, several Of them
, wearing G. A. Il. badges. We
I shook hands and talked pleasantly
about the fights that We had been
in. All was in tho most pleasant
manner until one OF them com
planned at the scarcity of Union
. colors III the city. This house
: was really the only one on which
, there was visible anything bu,
, Confederate aud Virginia State
) flags. l told the Yankee that il
= he wanted to see Union flags
> he had better so North Of the Pc
) tomac river, for Richmond haG
been aud WAS again the head Oi
the CoEfederacy. About this time
| the little girls looked up and saw
that we were under the Union
!, flags. They with enc voice, cried
} for us to pail them down, aut
) when we refused the little on.
I. that was holding my hand tried tc
= pull me out from under it. Sh.
= cried that She would not stand un
der it. But the procession sool
l resumed its march, aud during the
] whole time there was not singl,
incident to mar the pleasure 0
the OCCASION
The colonel would have still
: been talking about the reunion
= and the war incidents that j
: brought up, but there was othe
work for the reporter to do aht
! the interview WAS brought to
!, close. AS they were walking dowl
, the steps at Gaston's together, til,
+ colonel preferring this to The Gle
i, vator, the reporter asked if hi
, wooden loo hnthnrpd him in Cn,n,