Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-05-24
OLD CONFEDS PARADE.

Fifty-six years ago today Alexan-
drians who composed part of the army
of the late Confederate States OF
America were forced to make hur-
ried retreat from the city OF their
birth by the movement OF an over
whelming force of federal soldiers
upon Alexandria. This was done be-
fore the stars were out of the sky,
and while guns were frowning from
the U. s. man-of-war Pawnee, an.
chored off the foot; Of Cameron street
The corporaPs guard of those who
survived the clash of four years wal
and have ESCAPED the scythe of the
grim reaper will march through
some of the streets of the city late
today, assemble around the Confede-
rate Monument at the intersection OF
Prince and Washington streets, from
which i;point they took their hurried
departure, where Mr.. J. Randall
Cation will deliver an ovation.
There will also be a musical fea-
ture at this place, at the close OF
which the veterans will, as usual.
proceed to Christ Church yard where
a salute will be fired by the Alex
andria Light Infantry, this feature
closing with taps sounded by Miss
Dora Narney.
Martial music is again being sound
ed in our old city, as well as through
out the land, the third time in nifty
six years. The survivors of the Army
of Northern Virginia have watched
two generations prepare for war
They today marched with TIE Alex
andria Light Infantry. the High
School Cadets and the Indian Guard
Band, organizations flushed with
patriotism as were the SURVIVORS OF
the Confederacy over nalT a century
ago.
While times have changed and men
have changed with them, the survl-
vors of the Confederate army have
not forgotten the principles for which
they commended. and twice a yeal
(the 10Th of January and the 24th
of May) those in Alexandria gather
in reunions which are not only en-
ioyed by the veterans but by t9e
present generation who enter into the
spirit OF the OCCASION proud of theil
ancestors who, like all Americans,
were found in their proper places
when there was resort to arms.
The Southern Confederacy Is now
but memory, although some Of those
who followed Robert E. Lee ana are
still in the land Of the living pose IN
honest pride that they were johnny
Rebs. and have no apologies 20 MAKE
for the part they took in the days
when the country was divided ints
hostile camps. The decision, however,
was against them, and, as Represen-
tative Heflin. of Alabama, sad at a
recent reunion Of ConfeGerates in
Alexandria, after the scenes at Ap-
pomattox, when Uncle Sam beckon-
ed his better half to return to his
bosom she obeyed.
The country has long been reunited
and nineteen years ago, when TIE
United States was forced into war
with Spain none were more anxious
to don the blue than old Confeds.
General Joseph Wheeler, Fitzhugh
Lee and other prominent ex-Confede-
rates were quick to respond to the
call to arms. Many now in the sere
and yellow leaf, if their physical con-
dition made it possible, would mani
fest eagerness to get to the front in
France. But they have seen their
day: they must now be spectators as
Il new generation of patriotic Amerl-
cans upon whom their nantes have
fallen prepare for service.