The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-06-10
DISTINGUISHED ALABAM.
IAN is REELECTED
COMMANDER.
PARADE A FEATURE
President Wilson Watches Old
Warriors Pass Down Penn
sylvania Avenue.

washington, June 9.-The Con-
| federate Veterans reelected Gen.
George P. Harrison of opelika, Ala,
commander-in-chief and selected
Tulsa, Okla, as the place for the
1918 meeting, after marching up
Pennsylvania avenue to the martial
strains of Dixie" and passing in re-
view before President Wilson and
Vice-President Marshall. Escorted
by Union soldiers and followed by
United States regulars, national
guardsmen, cadets from the Virginia
Military Institute and the Washing
ton High School, the hosts of the
south paraded in triumph through
the streets of the capital to the ac-
companying cheers of the thousands
of spectators who stood on the side
walks and occupied all places of
vantage along the line of march.
Escorted by band of Union vet
Grams, commanded by Col. Myron M.
Parker and led by the commander
in-chief, Gen. Geo. p. Harrison, and
his staff, the remnant of the men
who wore the gray formed in their
old commands under their surviving
leaders and with steady step and
military demeanor marched in tri-
umph while a hundred thousand visi-
tors and thousands of residents who
crowded every vantage point cheered
them to the echo.
The veterans rose early to prepare
for the climax of their reunion, and
an hour before the pageant was to
move they began gathering at 18th
street and Pennsylvania avenue,
where they assembled. As the va
rious commands would form and,
led by one of the numerous visiting
bands, march to the place assigned
them, the crowds would cheer and
applaud. More than one of the Con
federate battle standards was borne
by gray clad old hero, and none
more thoroughly enjoyed the day.
During the waiting hour bands
would strike up Dixie" and the
thousands of veterans would wave
their hats and flags and give the yell
that resounded upon every battle
field from Manassas to Appomattox.
The day dawned dark and dreary,
but before the thousands began their
march the sun had broken through
the clouds, though not entirely dis
persing them.
Rousing cheers greeted many Of
the famous commands as they passed
carrying their battleflags. The
"Stonewall" brigade, the historic
foot cavalry" of General Jackson,
marched at the head of the Army of
Northern Virginia, and over them
floated the battle-scared emblem
which they followed from the first
Bull Run to Appomattox.
Two divisions of Forests caval-
ry, one from Tennessee and the other
from Mississippi, dressed in their
drab uniforms, aroused great demon
strations. Two companies of Con.
federate infantry from Tennessee,
fully uniformed and carrying their
rifles, drew enthusiastic attention
from the thousands of spectators.
Cobb's Georgia legion, Kershaw's
South Carolinians, Barksdale's Mis-
sissippi Riflemen, the "Tigers" and
Washington Artillery from Louis
lana, the Squirrel Shooters" from
Arkansas and Mosby's raiders were
well represented in line.
With the Kentucklans, known as
the "orphan brigade" were many of
the men who followed Morgan on
his raid into Ohio. The brigade
was headed by Gen. W. B. Halde-
man of Louisville, KY, the Demo
cratic national committeeman from
that state.
Men who followed Lee, Jackson,
Stuart, Hampton and other great
leaders of the Army Of Northern
Virginia, survivors of the Shiloh,
Chickamauga. Atlanta and the other
battles in which the army of the
west won renown, men from Texas,
Arkansas and states beyond the Mis-
sissippi who served under Kirby
Smith and his lieutenants, were par
ticipants in the greatest parade held
by the veterans of the Confederacy
in many years.