Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-06-23
GRAY Clad MEN
OF THE SOUTH
TAKE RICHMOND
City Gives Heart To Be-
loved Men In Great
Parade
100000 WITNESS 1T
Tears in Eyes Of Reverent Thousands
AS South's Veterans Proudly Pass
in Review.

Richmond, June 23.-Age and frail-
ties of flesh forgotten, trudglng lit
tie group Of the South's most valorous
sons brought tears to the eyes of rev.
erent thousands yesterday as they
proudly, although with slowing step,
followed their tattered battle flag
through the streets of Richmont in the
grand finale of the thirty-second re-
union of the United Confederate Ntt-
erans-a parade surprising in mag
nitude and impressiveness all expec-
tations of people whose hearts were
overflowing in pride and glory for
the survivors of the holy cause OF their
fathers.
Few of the aged veterans were able
to stand the long march down the
avenue of monuments dedicated TO the
men whose names stand for the brave
deeds they wrought. What few did
march were met with the mixed feel
ing of reverence and desire to cheer
Justify, but the SPECTATORS usually
found an unexpected lump in the
throat and tears in the eyes, and al
most in silence saw the thin gray
line" paS by.
For once the weather conditions
were ideal for the street pageant. A
cooling breeze continued through the
day. and while occasional clouds COW
cred the sun. they only diminished h-s
strong rays and brought relief to the
spectators and participants alike.
Starting practically on schedule time.
the parade required nearly three
hours to pass the reviewing stand
where Governor f. Lee Trinkle and
staff, General Julian s. Carr and staff
together with the official women OF the
Confederate cause. reviewed the spec
tacular procession.
More than $500 veterans were in
the line Of march. and many others
watched the long procession, stating
that for once they wanted to see ore
Of the "shows" IN which they had
themselves taken part so often. Only
handful of the veterans marc%d,
the intrepid band being followed by
their comrades, row on row, in Payly
decorated automobiles and trucks.
Pretty women We'd with the veter-
ans in interest as they rode with the
aged warriors. Every section of the
Southland was represented on the
gponsorial stats and every section
came in for cheers as the representa-
tiveS passed through the living aisles.
In fact. Richmond outdid itself in at
tempting to show the veterans Just
little of the pride ard love the city
holds for the wearers Of The gray. All
semblance of order among the specta-
tors was lost along the long route,
and men, women and children broke
from the sidewalks TO touch reverentlv
the old men who followed Lee, Jack
son. Stuart. Davis and other valiant
leaders whose spirit hovered over the
avenue of monuments Yesterday.
Not less than 100000 persona Wit
messed the parade, the grand finale Of
the greatest reunion of a decade.
Trains from every section today
poured in thousands Of visitors 70 adj
to the thousand' already here. Busi-
ness was pyacticallv suspended for
the OCCASION in order that nobody
would miss the great spectacle, which
Richmond has only been fortunate in
Witnessing three times before.
More than 1000 automobiles were
in The line bearing the veterans. the
girls and women. who stand sponsor
for the Confederate cause. The vet
erans were in FIVE divisions. First
in order came the handful Of survi-
vors of fhe Cor federate navy. headed
bv Admiral A. q. Wright with Corr
pander ". D. Cardwcll, L. s. n. r.
r. as MS chief Of staff. Then came
the Forrest CavahT Corps under the
command of Major-General William
4. Collier: the army of the Trans
Mississippi. under command Of Lieu
tenant-General f. W. Fitzpatrick; the
Army of Tennessee. under command
nf Lieutenant-G General lanes A.
Thomas. ard the Army of Northern
Virginia. under command Of Lieu
tcnant-General e. 7. Hovry.