The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-01-07
THE SMITH MISSOURI.
y Soldier Boy's description of -
Review at savannah.

Review at Savannah.
We clip the following from the
Dunklin Democrat:
From a letter of Lieut.. Gibo2ey
Houck the Democrat is permitted to
make the followii e extract concerning
the 9th Missouri ct the grand review
at Savannah. on Saturday December
Il. before President Mckinley. Since
about one-haif of the companies of
the 9Th Regiment are from Southeast
Missouri. and one from this county.
We feel satisfied tnat Lieut.. Gihoney
Houc!.' graphic account of the review
will interest many OF our readers. He
says:
''On Saturday was the big review.
The Second L s. Artillery, with red
lined overcnats and capes hooked
back. as q whole We're magnificent.
The 9TH Missouri uen with their pom
chos folded over their blue uniforms
were net baC.
"1'he re. les was held in Forest
Park. The morning was cloudy and
misty. When the president came up Il
salute of q guns was fired by the
Georgia Light Artillery. The guns
and gunners could not be seen for the
fog and smoke. brt :. res. flag nrfc"3-
| Ing each report indicated lie v.'..u,. vi
the firing CUR.
Our regiment seems to have passed
the reviewing stand in fine style. The
president co2.rlireatcd Col. Earde-
mani. anG II: Savannah News. pub
lished 5y Pleasant S.nnal, says:
tandor cumpsls u 20 ;.Gi:!;. that he
6@f Missouri r.a, 9 the test appear
"nr., a. in.5 = Company front
Jus - the f'isst Hegi:nert's band
!com .c.o 10 play AMI n. corps Le-
gan t"ia 'vc, i,,e sur in lis southern
glory dISpel.el she clouds and mist.
and far across the pari, from where
we stood. WAS displayed the reviewing
stand, bricht with American ttacs,
checkered hy the gay costume ni he
w"maE and the somi'er b!aci, ever as
sGate,l hy the public man
Our regiment was among the very
last TO pass. / saw nearly 'he whole
parade. Ten regiments. each with its
colors unfuried, zen thousand men.
each with bayoncts fixed, ten bands,
each ponriug out iss profuse strains
of martial rn',sic passed, before we
moved down the field When It came
our turn 10 march The measured tread
OF enc hundred caU.panies shock the
Tearth. 'ihe vociferons cheerin. of enc
hundred thousand people bedimnlsd
our ears and the towering statute Of
Robert Z. Lee, that stood Oh our left
half hidden III the battery smoke,
seemed to sway to and fro.
Ne hHv- moved nov. 40 the rinht of
the reviewing stand. "Fours left, is
the coEilnand. Forward" Take
full distaDce." Guide right" and
March" comes next. The 9th moves
off. The avenues that skirts the park
are crowded with pedestrians, horse
men and carriages. The ranks are
soicpisi, steady and stera. The crowd
loud. -slmultoRs and riotous. Nothing
defpit' can te Disseminated save
now and then 4 cry of a child or the
neigh Of Il horse close at hand.
The reviewing stand is very near
now. We are passing the carriages
just vacated by the president and his
staf. Port Arm5.' and We are at |
the stand. l drive my spurs into my
horse, make him career, look to nv
right. see tho president and salute.
he has smile on his face and bows
| notice Col. Hardemann by
his side and see nothing else until |
am past, Once past [ rise in my STIR
rups and look before. Nothing as far
as the eye can reach but blue uniform
bayonet. I glance be-
hind me and can just make out the
ed cloaked artillerymen in the rear.
How stupendous, how inspiring, how
magnificent the scene. Bands, bayo-
lets, music, men. The president. his
and secretaries-the flower I
If our volunteer army-the elite of t
,ur land. e
For hero bound for Lattle strife. :
Or bard OF martial lay,
'Twere worth ten years OF peaceful life ,
One glance on that array" >
THE president has a sad and some
hat melancholy look, and beautiful
'lue eyes. By the way he bowed to
ach passing officer. his manner must
e sans reproche.' His eyes seemed
D be looking everywhere so as to miss i
obody." [
smokers Ueart-Burn I,