The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-07
Twenty Thousand People Are
Thrilled by Splendid Scene
Never Before Witnessed.
/ CHEERS AND TEARS
GREET BATTLE FLAG
Blue Ensign Of Forty-fourth
Virginia, Baptized in the Con-
flicts Of -Four Years and
Torn to Shreds BY Bullets,
Produces Wild Ex-
element. &
citen1ent.
laN- ~ u N
from a STAFF Correspondent.)

f ~ 4
From a STAFF Correspondent)
PETERSBURG. VA. Nov. s.-Twenty
thousand people gathered on the field Of
the Crater this afternoon. witnessed q
scene at once so stirring. so martial. and
yet so pathetic. as to beggar description.
The sham battle was sham to no one.
It was thrilling and realistic to the thou
sands OF onlookers. To the hundreds OF.
Virginia militia participating. 1t was tho
true life OF the soldier. To the totterinE
remnant OF Mahone's immortal legion.
it was as IL the hands Of time had been
turned back thirty-nlne years, and an
unloved present swallowed up in the he
roe past Sham battles have often been,
fought. 1t is rare that historic conflicts
are reproduced. :
The field OF the Crater is unchanged. II l.
is probably less altered than any other
great battlefield Of the war between the
States. 1t is, moreover, strongly mark
ed field. Ratines plough through II and
hNOllS anu IAlAlS1OCo k1SC w VII SSVSAy uAbAS~sN
Once seen, It Is a place never to be for
gotten. But all time could not erase Its
every line. when laundering cannon and
the groans of the dying accentuatsd eye.y
distinctive feature. e.s Of lt.s And 50. ilans
the thin line of survivors Of tho great.
light and glorious victory OF two-score.
years ago again took their position this
afternoon. the present was unreal to he; g
tear -bedimmed eyes. and the undyinG past
was be- ng lived over again To their LETT.
where Wright battery belched FIRE and
she'll, again guns thundered; from the LETT.
where Otey's men manned the guns OF
Davidson, the roar OF cannon came. In
front from the mounds OF the Crater, the
rattle of musketry was heard. and blue
coated figures were seen to-day as IN
July s0th. th!rty-nine years ago. h.ttingsto
and fro. Then the passing forms We're
bewlldered: northern officers frantlcally
trying to get their heightened whtefanda
negro soldiers to charge over the ruins
their bursting powder had wrought To-
day the enemy were r chmond boys OF
the SEVENTEEN Regiment and tha Blues5
Battalion.
A Splendid Parade.
The parade through the streets Of lPe-.
tersburg was one OF the most imposing
extended many squares. and fine cp-
pearance the old soldiers In gray AID
their sons In blue made. One colored man
was In line. 1t was Stonewall Jackson d
cook and servant. The grizzled old fell
low wore the gray Of the Confederate jsol-,
dier. and carried his army canteen.
marching by himself. the observed of all
obseryers. Frequently he was cheered.
The a. P. Hill Camp, OF this city form
ed a splendid line and the tens OF thou
sands OF the spectators who looked from
every window and packed tho sidewalks
all along the l!ne of march. cheered IL.
to the echo. r. E. Lee Camp, OF Rich
mond. had many men in line, and made
most creditable Impression. THIS exi
cellent looking body of men was enthu-
siastically received Governor Montague.
who rode in a carriage with Mayor Jtncs,
OF Petersburg; DR.. ]. William Jones, chap
lain OF the Grand Camp, u. G. W. and
Colonel 10. Lane Stern OF the Govcrno Is
staff were accorded flatter.ng reception
throughout the march But the climax OF
MI. the feature of the parade. as 1t should
have been, was the wavertng line OF Ma.
homes men. Tho Crater Legion was the
'leg!on OF honor" When the excited thou-s
sands saw the veterans. made up OF av ~
camp, all bowed. and many lamed. hear
lnE nIOtt tnelr Olu udtllSi AAah WH'G11 l1&AS1,
been torn literally to shreds by the dead
ly missiles OF the enemy, the; g arose aicry
from ten thousand throats which rest
the air and made every heart leap " tn
its contagton. A number of ladies wept
ut the sight. This noble. ever less Ming
band, was the guest of the city at large.
Petersburg did herself proud, II thera
was building along the line OF march
which was not decorated. II was so hlddan
BY the yards OF bunting and dozens Of
flags about 1t. that Its solitary shame
could not be seen. The decorations extend
cd to thousands OF pr vate residences far
removed from the eye OF visitors.
The entire city took holiday. and thars
was not even the prtense of BUSINESS.
Arrival Of the Military.
Veterans and visitors from Richmond
we're the. first to arrive this morning.
coming on the cannon ball train OF the
Atlantic Coast Line. From that hour
until noon militia, veterans and visi-
Underwater section was numerously repre-
sented by veterans and militia. and not
in many years. if ever before, have SO
many strangers been here at one time.
Despite the crowd and the continued
exercises not an accident occurred 20
mar the pleasure Of NIL. The morning
was gray and uninvlting. A chillinS
breeze was blowing out of the north
west, and throughout the morning hours
men shvered In their overcoats and
stamped their feet to keep them warm
Hut tho blessed sun shone brightly on
the parade. the first function nf the day
simultaneously with the moving OF tbs
Snvaps Line. az u arranged by SONS