The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-12
Grand Parade of Confederate
Veterans Leaves Trail of
Tear-stained Faces.
A FITTING CLIMAX
TO GREAT REUNION
Songs of Camp Are Sung in
Happy But Quavering
Voices of Men Who
Fought Brave Battles
Forty Years Ago-The
Parade a Famous One.
Nv Associated Press.


Birmingham, Ala, June 1.-THE
parade of the heroes of the Confed-
eracy this morning was a fitting eli
max to what is generally pronounced
to have been one of the most sue
cessful reunions of United Confed-
crate Veterans. With SpIightIy step,
measured to the air of strains the
south loves. the old warriors, no ess
than ten thousand strong. traVerS ed
the two miles of the parade route,
between thousands of sympa hetic
and interested spectators. and there
was not an accident, not a Sisl Of
a lettering step
Loving hands served ice water to
the old men as they passed along
the route, fans were distributed, and
everything possible done to relievs
the long tramp of its tedium. That
the heroes were in excellent Spirit
was shown by the fact that many Of
them sang old favorite csmp songs.
as they marched, such as '.Buttermilk
Cavalry" old Time ConfederaTes, $
and Bonnie Blue Flag" Many of
them along various parts of the route
ran foot races, while others j2n ped
up and cracked their heels together,
to show the exhuberance of tLeir
feelings.
- - Vt -F7ho"
They were happy, aud they left a
trail of tears among the spectators
for everyone was touched by the sch
tmental appeal naturally made by the
appearance of The idols OF Dixie
Land. And yet, there were those in
the parade who coUad not jump and
skip; many who had left a leg or
perhaps both legs, on some bloody
battiehel2s-~hatsthe - o!ssd the .oc-
casion as much as the others, though
they were carried in vehicles; their
appearance drew forth. if anything,
greater applause than the sight of the
foot soldiers.
THE PARADE FORMATION.
The parade formed shortly after
eleven o'clock, and required an hour
and fortyfive minutes to pass a
given point. In the advance guard
were eight companies of the local
national guard. including one battery
of artillery and one troop of cavalry.
Chattanooga also had one troop of
cavalry in line. Governor B. b. Co
mer. of Alabama, with his entire
staff was next in line. General
George P. Harrison, commander of
the Alabama division. was chief mar
shall. and Colonel z. !. ,McCrossin, of
Birmingham, chief aide Veterans OF
the line as visitors of honor, these
being followed by the trans-Missis-
sippi and army of Northern Virginia.
Among the more OnSpicuous COM
Danies were the Forrest Cavairv-
Corps. mounted, and a mounted troop
from Nashville. which have attracted
great dead of attention during the
reuion. These companies are regu-
lar members of the national guard,
being the only Confederate bodies
who boast of that distinction
Probably no one person in the pa
rade attracted more attention IMAM
Miss Tommy Gentry. full blood In
dian maiden, who accompanied the
Indian Territory department as Spon-
sor. Her escort was AdjTtant Gener-
al I. d. Coleman.
General Clement A Evans, the new
COMM was at the head
of the column with his entire stan,
consisting of General J. F. Shipp,
General W. E. Mickle. Col. j.. H.
Bankhead. Col. w. B. Leedy. Col. J.
Thompson Brown. Col. J. W. Reed
and Col Baas. The Sons Of 'eter-
ans followed the veterans themselves,
the latter accompanied by their
sponsors.
FAIR SPONSORS WALKED.
A noticeable feature Of the para
was the fact that a number OF Spon-
Sors preferred TO walk witt the COM
panies ther represented, rather than
ride in the carriages provided. To
night thousands of veterans attend
ed the big ball given al the Hippo
drome in honor of the veterans and
their maids and sponsors.