The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-18
OLD FIRST" BOYS
HOLD ANNIVERSARY
Indictment Weather Keeps a Few
Away, But Half Hundred
Survivors Are Present
DINNER SERVED AT PARK
OF the Seven Hundred Who
Marched Away to War Only
One-Seventh Now Remain.

Survivors of the "Old" First Viz
Einia Regiment battle-scarred vete-
rams, who for four years went through
countless battles fighting for the right
as God gave them the light TO see
the right met Monday at beautiful
Forest Hin Park and common GRATED
with appropriate exercises the forty
ninth anniversary Of the battle Of
Bull Run.
Scarcely half hundred of the he
rees Of 81 and SO gathered at the
park, the weather preventing several
from attending the exercises, and age
OBTAINING others. But those who were
present let memory have its sway.
and for hours the scenes az hfty years
ago were brought wildly to mind,
And ever and anon the famous, the
stirring the celebrating rebel yell
was echoed from the fiiis
But One Out of Seven.
or the 71s men who enlisted With
the Old First at the beginning of
the war not more than 100 are now
living. Half of this number. per
haps. participated i'm the anniversary
celebration Monday. They began to
gather at the park shortly after 10
o'clock in the morning and by !
cseIock they were ready for the din
ner that was served them In STEMS
pavilion. Pleasant toasts were re-
spondea TO, and no thought was given
to the Indictment weather. for the
boys" were together once again.
Following the dinner the roll was
called. tears sprtnging to the eyes
ct all as the names Of those who had
fought the last battles were called.
Colonel w. I'll. Palmer, of Rich
mond. the only surviving field officer
OF the regiment, attended the exer-
cises and delivered an address in the
afternoon. Mr.. Gus Chapman. who
went all through the war with his
comrades, whom he greeted Monday.
came all the way from New Orleans
to be at the reunion. He was one
VI the happiest of the crowd.
The old First Virginia Regiment
Was organized in May. 1851. II was
then composed entirely of men whose
homes were in Richmond. The his
tory of the regiment is an integral
part of the history of the city and the
State.
More than seven hundred strong,
the members of the regiment marched
away To war in 1851. ten years after
1 being organized. At the first battle
OF Manassas thirteen were killed and
twenty-seyen wounded During the
& entire engagement the command was
wavered Writing about this hight.
General Longstreet said that the First
q Virginia Regiment bore the brunt OF
the battle and did much TO win the
victory.
In every battle fought in this sec
n ton the regiment participated. Al
Seven Pines Williamsburg and at
Second Manassas all Of the soldiers
distinguished themselves for their
bravery and valiant service. Around
Eharpshurg no other regiment bore a
more conspicuous part.
Carry Battle Flag
Floating above the little band that
gathered at the park was the bullet
pierced flag that was carried through
all OF the conflicts. This flag was
presented to the regiment by General
Baanregard. and though it shows
numerous bullet holes, il liz in a splen-
Y did state OF preservation. and was
saiuted by the veterans Monday II
i is priceless heritage with them.
The celebration at the park was in
formal IN nature. A general joilitica.
4inn mas INDUCED la by the .bess
4 deapite the weather They had carte
4 blanche TO the park The rain pre-
! vented them from taking strolls. but
n II served to keep them together and
ali talked at once. Many we're the
ntories of the days OF long ago they
II recifed. Some were sad, some were
humorous.
The sight of the grizzied warriors
81 touched the hearts of all of those
who went to the park to see them.
Officers will be elected Monday af-
ternoon after the speaking and the
/ @stcry-telling is through with.