The Washington herald., 1907-05-03

Under the gray and blue canopy OF ths
skies. with martial sound Of march and
cannon. the CLINT Of gold trappings and
arms. and the futtering folds OF Old
Glory TO kindle the nre~of patriotism in
their hearts. a great gathering witnessed
the splendid ceremonies attending the un-
yelling yesterday afternoon Of the heroio
bronze statue OF Gen. George Brinton BIe-
CiellaE, former commander Of the army
OF the Potomac.
Magnificent as was the spectacle and
amply provided as they were with every
excuse for outbursts of enthusiasm, the
dense mass Of citizens restrained the pa
triotic feeling that may have burned
within them and left il TO the bent, griz-
zled. and crippled veterans OF the great
war to make the demonstrations
Backed by the towering walls Of the
Highlands from each window of which
the flag flung its stars and stripes 20 the
breeze. stood "a triangle Of buntng-draped
thousands Of in
the stand the
7ped with its
ANS leader.
'deu in the
hat hung
sil1en
ue lay
Witn
tch
curb by Ions
Back of the
lions dotted the
estate with gola
their springtime pe
President in
In the center stan,
President. on whose rig
Fred d. Grant. and on
Gov. Edward c. Stokes. on
there thronged a body Of a.
tinguished public men now ia
ton. On either side the stand va
ed with prominent citizens. IT,
Of whose garb was
uniforms Of grouF
army officers and
American officers. ana
behind the statue str stand oc-
eupied by the member oI the Society OF
the Army of the Potomac. the grouping
having been arranged 20 suggest the
picture of Gen Mcclellan leading his
| Iegions.
Such was the picture when Bishop SAT-
terlee arose TO deliver the invocation,
after Brig. Gen. Henry C. Dwight, presi-
dent Of the Society Of the Army Of the
! Potomac, had formally opened the exer-
cises with "a short address of welcome.
Then. followed Brig. Gen. Horatio c.
/ King, who gave "a brief history Of the
statue, dwelling upon the difficulties that
| the statue committee. appointed by tie
Army of the Potomac, faced in securing
/ satisfactory sCulptural design and in
/ raising the necessary subscription.
Nephew Breaks Out Flags.
At the conclusion of Gen. Kings re-
marks. Assistant Boatswain's Mate T.
/ Schmidt. L. 5. n. one Of the squad de-
/ tailed By the government TO string the
| ingenious unve'ling rigging passed the
/ end of a long cord to DIR. George McClel-
liam. nephew Of Gen. Mcclellan. The Presi-
| dent. members of the Cabinet and dlpl0-
/ matte corps. and the greater part of the
/ assembled spectators stood with barred
heads while DIT. Mcclellan tugged ar the
cord which was to separate the great flags
yelling the statue. BOatswains Mate
! Schmidt came to DR.. McCleIlsn's assis-
| tance and broke out the edges of the
/ flags.
| A detail of uniformed members of She
| Army of the Potomac. who served under
/ Gen Mcclellan. stepped forward and re-
moved the flags covering the large bronze
/ eagles about the base Of the pedestal.
/ Then, as the Marine Band sounded the
/ opening bars OF the national anthem, the
/ naval detail in charge hauled slowly
away at the flag halyards, which were
/ so rugged that the colors slipped back
ward in parallel position, while the great
mounted bronze figure slowly emerged
/ into the view of the spectators facing it.
Field Piece BOOms Out.
! The deep, throaty boom Of a field piece
rumbled above the crashing chords OF
| ''The Star Spaugled Banner" and a great
cheer shot from the throats of the aged
followers OF the dasEing leader as he ap-
peaTed before them, glinting in the sum
light, his familiar yizored forage cap
tilted forward on his brow and his slen-
DER Well-knit form sitting IN immOvable
! grace IN the saddle of his charger. The
flags spread open like the leaves OF a
book behind the statue, and then parted
one huttering upward. over the Presiden-
tial stand, and the other being drawn TO
its position over Columbia road.
/ Thirteen times the pieces of the Fourth
Artillery roared their salute. the final
gun sounding just as the last chord Of
music died upon the air. and for a mo-
ment all stood silent Then the cheering
began again among the old boys IN
blue" and continued until the President
replaced his hat and took his seat.
Veterans Cheer He'll.
Then a squadron of mounted police,
headed by Capt Mathewson. appeared al
the head of the military parade that
was 10 prove the most interesting foa-
ture of the spectacle. The President
arose and responded TO the police cap
tain's salute The stirring strains of "A
military march heralded the approach Of
the first division of the parade, and Cen.
/ Bell appeared, riding at the head of his
staff. lie was cheered by all the old
| soldiers.
First came the regular infantry. cav
airy, artillery, and marines, followed by
the local National Guard organizations.
and a fine representation of the Ma
uonal Guard Of New Jersey, headed by
! a magnificent band. No better equipped
rou4fuuoss nm Fsaua = Column. z