Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-24

L L
cial)-The reunion of the Grand Camp of
United Confederate Veterans continues at
this place with all it's first vigor. Around
the scene of activity. the giant peaks,
bronzed by autumn. are basking in the
| genial sunlight Along their slopes stretch
corn fields studded with shocks, which
I look like armies of weather-beaten tents
| The sky is as blue as it is possible for
anything to be. and is guiltless Of q
single cloud. But the Sky is the only blue
| thing i'm the neighborhood, for from the
! gayest beauty to the leanest cur dog, all
| the world here is in boisterously good
humor.
! They Talked GLOSS.
Yesterday some of the veterans took in
the races at the fair. which is going on
Just outside of the town. To-day they
we're discussing it in their arm chairs by
the hotel doors They commented on every
form OF horse from the ragged plow
plug to the bob-tail hunter. Then one
! gray-hared man waXed eloquent, and
piped out in a treble key that he could
ride any horse, colt or pony he could get
his legs around. .'Theh can't nothin' git
me off Why, when I was 10 years old, |
rid a bucSing pony that had thrown every
man in our neighborhood Pap said then
thet he never seen sech ridin before,
and never expected to see sech again.
Anybody what were thar will tell We pap
said it. Why l.
Go way from here Dick an unsympa-
thetic comrade here broke in You could
not sit on a barrel if you were tied to it.
You look like mounting a horse. We would
have to dig hole in the ground and lead
the horse into it before you could get on
him."
Where are your uniforms. felows?"
said another graybeard, coming up to the
group Hurry and get them on; the
parade is forming to start
a Multi-Colorcd Throns.
BY the time the boys had uniformed
and hurried to the Courthouse, from
which the para;l" started i, many coioreu
throng had gathered there.
Looking down on the scene was the Old
Courthouse. built in the colonial style
of architecture, and displaying the white
window-facings, cheerful red front, conf
cal cupola, and bright weather-cock char
acteristic of that style. In the square
before this building is a great spring cir
cled by blocks of granite, and at this
point the crowd was densest Tall, gaunt
other men, picturesque in their slouch
hats, homespun thick boots and tanned
to deep brown by sun and wind. III
striking contrast with these figures were
the pretty sponsors with their pink and
white compilations and soft laces.
The Procession Forms.
BY o'clock this afternoon thousands
of people were gathered about the old
Courthouse. seemingly in hopeless confu-
sion. But in a few minutes the officers.
on their handsome horses, pushing about
through the crowd. had gotten the com
panies which made UP the procession into
form and motion. First marched the Vir
ginia Polytechnic Institute band, next
came the officers of the grand camp prom
inent among whom We're General Magill
and Judge Garnett. After these came
the officers of the Sons Of Veterans, who
were closely followed by the heroes of the
day. the rank and file of ''old vets, un-
der the command of Colonel W. O. Moore. |
To the sound Of the shrilling fife and roll
ing drum, old knees loosened up, and feet,
forsetful of weariness, rose and fell in |
perfect rhythm. Old. honest and steady /
eyes looked steadily to the front. as if /
obeying stern orders in the old days.
4 Sprinkle of Snowy Hair.
Here and there We're seen old white
haired men, wearing proudly the same |
old patched caps and tattered clothes |
which afforded them scant protection |
from bitter winter winds in the old camp
ing nights. and in which they marched
home after the surrender, broken hearted. |
Over the representatives Of the First |
Virginia Regiments dropped the shot
riddled banner which had run before them
in many e fierce charge
After the grizzled warriors came car
riages banked with beautiful sponsors.
maids of honor, and Daughters of the
Confederacy.
Those in the Parade.
General Wharton, from Giles county,
Captain Thomas Elicit, and Judge Chris
tian. Of Richmond, went by in the same
MIR. j. Taylor Ellyson, Judge
Garnett Colonel D. 8. Baldwin. General
Boiling General Smith, Captain ]. Tay-
lor Stratton, Judge Washington Taylor,
Colonel Fulton, ex-senator Withers and
many others were seen in the parade
"Jeb.'' the venerable coored veteran
from Lexington, won many cheers by his
,ourtly bearing and genial manners. Bless
ed with the buoyant disposition Of his
race, he is probably the only member of
the reunion who enjoyed its pleasures to
the FULL without mournful thought of
the past. His smile cleft his visage in
.specks' with the effulgence Of a harvest
moon.
A Captured and Recaptured Cannon
Another picturesque feature of the pa
'a0e was a cannon, the property of Cap
tain Teaney. of Pulaski. This gun was
and lccaptured several times
turing the war, anc. is now used exclusive
y for firing salntes at Confederate cele-
orations.
Before the new Courthouse the school
children of Wytheville. to the number
If 500, formed along the road in two long
ines, through which the whole procession
lied. The children then fell in behind
Ind marched to the disbanding point in
ront of the old Courthouse. The march
covered distance of about six squares,
,eing cut short on purpose, so as not to
Ire out the old men. The visitors after E,
he parade walked about seeing the town
IT sat chatting i'll their hotels until sup
,er time.
No Night Meeting.a
The opera house was occupied for other
purposes tonight, SO the Grand Chapter L
i United Confederate Veterans did not
lold the proposed meeting to-nigh but