The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-04
TO Be AT HEAD OF
VIRGINIA TROOPS
Corps Will Carry Only Correct
Flag of Commonwealth in
Existence.
Especial to Tho Times -Dispatch.I

loPeciai TO Tho Times Dispatch
Lexington. Va. March 3.--The corps
OF cadets of tho Virginia Military In
sthute. $50 strong. entrained this
morning OH 4 special train for Wash
inston over tho Chesapeake and Ohio
railway. The train of seven coaches
ana two baggage cars carrying tho
corps, tho officers Of the faculty, the
quartcrmaster and commissary depart
ments. was due to arrive in tho capt
tai city about $3.50 o'clock In the after
noon.
In command OF the corps is Colonel
H. w. r. Eglin. l.. S. G.. a. G.. tho army
officer detailed AZ professor OF mill
sary science mt the institute by the
war Department. on his staff are
Captain NJ. +. Edwards. post adJutant
Cadet Adjutant Waddcy: Cadet Q. NJ
Satteriield and Cadet Sergeant Major
Nash. The commandant of cadets,
Colonel J. g. Wise accompanies tho
corps, and Will establish his headquar-
tiers In tho old Masonic Temple. Ninth
and r Streets, where the corps win
also be chartered. General Nicholas
the superintendent. left for Washing
ton yesterday and VIII also have his
Headquarters OH the second floor OF
tho old Masonic Temple
Mann. OF Virginia, tho cadet battalion
OF III" Virginia Military Institute will
march In the parade his personal
guard Of honor. This puts tho cadets
at the head OF the Virginia troops. and
as Virginia is VOL up In the let of
those States which ratified the Con-
stitution. the Virginia boys will not
be far from the head OF tho Second
Division.
One notable fact connected with the
attendance OF tho corps upon tho In
auguration ia that II will carry tho
only correct flag OF tho Commonwealth
in existence. This nag bears the seal
OF the state on background OF oeru-
lean blue. fr'ngod with gold lace. Dur
ing Governor pierpont's administrn-
tratnn tho seal was perverted. The
last Legislature. however, desiring to
restore II, appointed tho Governor and
the Secretary % the Commonwealth Il
commission to do the work In the
task assigned them General Thomas
Munford was OF much assistance. a
correct portrayal OF Tho original seal
being found on tho diploma granted
him by tie V NJ / Ia 1852
Last June during the ceremonies at
tending the unvciling OF Ezckiers
statue OF Jackson. tho Governor pre-
scented tho corps WITH the Nag as re-
stored but again an error Was made
III mo tIlpltln. virginia Dclng rCpre-
scented without tho single breasted
coat OF mail and with a scarlet tunic
whereas the latter N the words OF the
poet should bc as unsullied AZ tho
falling snow Finally. the flas pre-
sontcd by Tie Governor has been
changed and ~ now. after many vlcis-
STUDIES correct. The beauty and puri-
3,y o. the whole design IS far superior
20 that OF the one which mas so long
l. "A mo. .-tl g,
dong by u granddaughter OF General r.
Iindsay Walker. who was ono OF tho
irst N!rginians TO he commissioned in
the military service OF the State in
1851. leaving Richmond in February in
command ot the famous Purcell Bat
tcr+ and later : l.. lIiils CHIEF Of
artillery. General Walker was a grad
uato 'of the institute in the class OF
als4s.
flag is. after all, only tradition
hut j; is cminently hitting that this
Tradition should be preserved in cor
rect form by tho Virginia Military IN
dsututc. which represents the ma jesty
i of Nirsin!a's sovereignty In way
that no other institution does
II will be recalled how earnestly
and persistently Governor Henry 4.
Wise after the war. sought to restore
tho original seal OF the Commonwealth
III is interesting To note that It has
; been finally done under the immediate
orders OF his grandson. Colonel j c.
WISE. commandant Of the institute