The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-05
Crowds Cheer as Thin Grey
Line Entrains - Blues and
Howitzers Accompany Them
to Station.
Meet the Militia
At Lee Camp Hall
AS Soldiers, Old and Young.
Swing Down the Street 10 the
Rattle of Drums, Business
Stops to Honor the Heroes
of the Early Sixties.

To the stirring notes of Dixie"
and with every sword and rife OF the
attachments from the Richmond
Light Infantry Blues and the
Howitzers at attention. q thin grey
line of Confederate veterans yester-
dav afternoon passed through the
gates of the Byrd street station and
entre{ned for Jacksonville, I La,
where the annual reunion OF the
veterans Is this year 10 be held
Occupying a prominent place In
their midst were the sponsor and the
maids OF honor. Mayor George
Ainsiie and Manager William T. Dab
ney. Of the chamber of commerce,
wAo are making the trip In an Ell
fort to secure the 1915 reunion for
Richmond. were also among the first
to enter the train. Behind them came
the delegates from Lee and Picket
camps. those from several camps In
various sections of the State and
nearly dozen camp commanders.
who were the sole representatives OF
their town veterans, And at the gate
Of the station halted the fife and
drum corps and the tletachments Of
the young soldier organizations while
one last cheer from the crowd out
side the gates babe the departing
remnants OF the Southern army Cod
speed.
Gather MT amp.
The scenes before Lee Camp hall.
on Broad and on Seventh streets.
which preceded the departure If the
old soldiers for Jacksonville attracted
the attention of hundreds of
pedestrians and workers In the vari-
Gus establishments along the line of
march business was practically at
a standstitl while the line formed and
as IL passed along the street to the
station.
Members of the various camps be-
gan TO gather at Lee Camp hall
shortly after : O clock and continued
to arrive until long past the minute
set for starting They gathered on
the sidewalks. III the hall and in the
street swapping war stories and res
newing acquaintanc~s. At their ell
bows in many instances were wives.
graudsons and granddaughters.
Mistah, are YOU all goinh to
i fight ?? asked street urehin of
crippled and frail old veteran. From
the prolonged farewells one weuld
( have judged that the question was
more than pertinent had not the evil
I dent physical condition of the sur
vixors of so many hard fought fields
belied the possibility.
No, sir" the veteran replied.
wistfai almost sad look coming into
his eyes our fighting days are
done Were just agoing to talk about
the fights We have fought" and in re-
Spouse tn "a summons he hurried away
to bid ~his wife another good bye
: over the telephone
Greet Militia.
Fut they We're soon all gathered In
line and waiting the arrival OF the
Blues and the Howitzers. First the
Blues appeared. me grey line
straightened Every mans back
stiffened. their eyes turned to the
/ front and slowly as the detachment
passed before them their canes came
slowly to the military salute. Be-
hind them and across the street the
sidewalks were crowded to the very
doors of the shops, and many III the
windows were crowded with spectA.
tors. Hardly had the Blues taken
their position before the rattle Of the
+ kettle drums was heard ana the
HoWitzers appeared. They received
the same salute from the Veterans
which had been accorded the Blues
Toe line WIS soon formed. with
General j. Thompson Brown. Mayor
Alnsiie and Manager Dahney in one
automobile and the sponsor and the
maids of honor in another They fol-
lowed the veterans in tho line In
the last car. too feeble To take his
Continued on Second page.)