The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-28
VETERANS IN GREAT PARADE Final Feature of the
 Reunion. MANY OLD SOLDIERS IN LINE Chief Objects of Interest to Thou-
 sands of Spectators. Generals Lee, Cabeii, MicIxie. Evans, and walker Are warmly Greeted --Marines From the Colum-
 bia Participate.
MANY OLD SOLDIERS IN LINE

New Orleans, Aprll zI--ror wy days the Confederate reunion has de- voted itself to business. Today was given over to the glorification of the cause that died long since. but still lives on.
 It is but little more than two score years ago that the close iiockade maintained by the Federal navy was driving the iron into the soul or the proud city of New Orleans. Her ships lay rotting beside wharves that were themselves falling to pieces. The grass grew in the doorways Of warehouses whose traffic had died and disappeared. The best and bravest of her young manhood was with Johnston in Ten nessee and Lee in Virginia and her heart and her old time gayety had in large degree gone with them. Socially the city was dying-commercialiy 1t was dead
 Then came the day when the iron blockade closed in and the black ships of Farragut sailed round the bend above Chalmt tte, the old field of pack sons glory, and officers of the United States navy walked her pavements to demand the city's surrender.
 Today the uniform of the navy was again seen along St. Charles street. this time shoulder to shoulder with the
  the cause against which 1t was then engaged in war. Side by side, past the same city hall where the men of the United States navy, cursed and exc crated by bowling mob. received the city keys and forced the head of New Orleans down into the dust of de- feat
 The men of that same navy marched today with the old soldiers of the Con- federacy along lanes formed by cheer ing thousands with the stars and stripes above them, and the stars and bars before them, behind them and on both sides Of the way. Out in the river where lay Farragut's black ships of war with broadsides bearing on New Orleans, there floated today a craft as different from them in color as in mission.
 hsfdence of Good Will. From end to end, there was no blcm- ish in her spotless white. over this giistening ship, the Columbia, as over Farragut's grim Hartford. Old Glory snapped in the wind, for she came as an evidence of good will from the very government against which the Con federates 'strove through four Song years with such desperate valor and sundaunted persistence.
 It was the signal gun from this war like messenger of peace that set in
 
 f the Confederacy.
 The day was ideal in all respects for ae event-perhaps little too warm or the sailors of the Columbia, who gre accustomed to the ocean breezes, tut none too hot for the men of the south. The wind was steady and strong, but not too high. It was just ne wind for a parade-one that lifted ne flags into things of motion and dancing life and would not allow them 10 droop despondently around the staffs.
 The hour set for the formation was Il o'clock and the time for the move ment of the column thirty minutes later. The line of march was from Canal street along St. Charles to the Lee Circle. three-fourths of a mile away, around the circle and back to Canal street upon Camp street, which is but one block from St. Charles street The greatest distance marched by any of the organization was little over two miles.
 An escort of mounted police came first and then Major-General Albert Estop- inal, the chief marshal of the parade, with a glittering stan in gray and gold After this clattering group of horse- men came General Stephen D. Lee, the commander in chief of the United Con- federate Veterans, and the members of HIS StdH. me ldOleS or the COnIeQ- crate Southern Memorial Association and the Daughters of the Confederacy in carriages were next. The old sol- diers were next in line, the trans. Mississippi department under General W. l.. Cabell. having the right of the line, and followed by the Tennessee department under General Clement A. Evans, and the army of Northern Vir- ginia, under General C. Irvine Walker.
 AHeetfOuate Welcome.
 The old soldiers were, as a matter of course, the chief objects of interest to the crowds that lined the streets and their welcome was most hearty and affectionate. They repaid their greet ing in kind as they strode along, yell ing and waving their hats.
 General Lee mounted upon a superb gray horse was an especial object of admiration and merely as picture he deserved all that he received. His great popularity added to his handsome ap- pearance produced continuous chorus of cheers as he rode along hat in hand.
 General Cabell rode with an old sol- dier holding his bridle, for the gem erals hands are none too strong these days and 1t is not certain he could restrain a fractious horse for any great length of time. He was the recipient of much attention throughout the pa rade.
 Adiutant General Mlckle who rode hay horse, fair to look upon, and difh- cult to sit upon, repeatedly proved him self a most accomplished horseman. ana early in the day while riding along Canal street, was compelled to throw himself from the saddle to nrevent his horse from falling over on him. o.
 General Clement Evans of Georgia, who Is the mildest of men in ordinary life. looked the picture of the fighting man he really is. as he swung his white Sractious horse from side to side. Gen eraI Evans was cheered most heartily as he rode along.
 of the veterans the Tennessee con- tingent evoked perhaps the most ap- plause for the reason that several ramps carried muskets and wore uni- forms of faded Confederate gray. Sew eral battle flags that had seen service in the Civil war were carried in the pa- rade and all of them were objects of nride and regard by the crowd. Among the flags were those of the Fourteenth Louisiana. Thirty-third Tennessee.