Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-06-08
The Parade.

at their head.
The procession was the grandest
and greatest one that ever took place
in Memphis, or in the entire South,
for that matter. 1t was composed Of
an army of heroes. The blood that
flowed through the veins Of its march
ers was the blood that was SO freely
spilled at Kings Mountain, at Cow
pens, at New Orleans and at Chepulte-
pee The sires of the men who kept
step to the drumbeats yesterday were
the men who have marched in the van
OF all the armies that have been mar
shalled in freedoms cause.
The $1,000 men who took part in
the great parade yesterday represented
1ntieally all that is left in the flesh
OF the armies of defense that were
thrown against the legions that the
North had recruited from the nations
of the earth. 1t was all that Survives
of the hosts that made Manassas,
Chickamauga, Shiloh, Missionary
Ridge ald the Wilderness more bloody
that Thermopolae. 1t was the frag-
ments of the armies that gave the
world and posterity its sublimest in
spiration and devotion to principle.
1t was knowledge Of this that
made the great throbbng heart of the
multitude that gazed on the parade
yesterday beat in sympathy with the
marchers. 1t was this that caused the
tear to come to the eye and the cheer
from the throat.
Never before in the history Of
Memphis were the people so enthused.
The whole population Of the city
turned out and this was augmented
by the thousands upon thousands Of
visitors who are here from all parts
of the country. The parade, which
took two and one half hours to pass a
given point, marched through solid
walls Of human beings, who cheered
themselves hoarse in efforts to shout
acclaim to the veterans. 1t was really
awesome to those isolated from the
marchers and the crowds to hear the
constant roar of the 100000 blended
human voices as they rose and fell
like the waves of the ocean.
The crowd was lavish with its ap.
plause. 1t gave Gems. Gordon, Fitz
hugh Lee and Joe Wheeler regular
oyations and then cheered each army
division, each camp, each bivouac, the
States, the sponsors and even indivi
duals whose characteristics would
make them noticeable, as they passed
The crowds were there to do honor
to all that is palpable of the Confed
eracy When the battle-scarred flags
yynro bnrpn ,,oct bot Uora 1iftad apd
the crowds gazed on them reYerently
and with barred heads.
The parade was the most pathetic
spectacle that was ever presented in
Memphis. The weight of forty years
rests upon the shoulders of the boys
who wore the gray from the first
Manassas to Appomattox Courthouse.
1t has bowed and enfeebled the bodies
that were once as straight and as Wig
orous rs the hickory saplings. Its win
ters have frosted the heads of the
old soldiers and it was apparent to all
who saw the parade yesterday that on.
ly a short time will elapse before such
an event will be physical impossi-
blity.
However the men who were in
line were splendid specimens of Amer
lean manhood in its old age. They
walked with a vigor and with a car
riage that shows that the fire still
burns strong within them.
As the veterans marched and coun-
termarChed through the Court of
Honor a sight was presented that will
live forever in the memories of all
who saw it, The long line of march
ing soldiers, afoot and mounted. the
music of bands and trumpet corps, the
vehicles containing the beautiful spon-
sors, their maids of honor and chap
erons, the standards of the States, the
divisions, corps, brigades and Compan-
les the tattered battle flags and the
vociferous multitude made up a
tabeau the like of which had never
before been seen in the South.
Then there were amusing scenes al
also, scenes to bring the smile in the
path of the tear. One of the Nashville
uniformed companies had a number of
eX-slayes and negro veterans march
ing in its rear. The two that came
last were as black as the ace of spades
but their old faces were shining with
pride. One carried a saber and his
stride was that of a stage hero. The
other had fat pullet thrown over his
shoulder and looked as though he had
inst returned from a foraging trip
that had caused some ones chicken
roost to suffer.
The bands that headed the various
divisions were of more than usual
excellence. OF course. they plaved the
airs that are dear to the hearts of
Soutberners and every time that the
soul.stirring tune of DIXIE was play
ed cheers would 90 up that threatened
to rend the heavens The old soldiers
seemed TO be remvenated every time
tbo grand old melody was plaved. for
their feet would move in time TO its
rollickinr iovous notes.
The martial music of tho trumpet
corns was greatly enioyed The Sons
of Veterans trumnet corns of this
citv covered itself with glory II was
one of the hest drilled organizat1ons in
line and its music was f9uItIess The
Atlanta fire denar ment drum corps
one of the very hest ORGANIZATIONS in
the Sontb made a great bit The natty
uniforms of tbe members and the old
time helmets lent a hit Of color 10 the
narade that was very agreeable to tbe
eve
Tho Charleston c q trumnet corns
was opotbor snIondid organization lis