Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/260

 252 Southern Historical Society Papers

THE MUSIC WAS GOOD.

One of the features of the evening was the excellent rendition of southern airs by the band of the First Virginia regiment.

The band consists of about fifteen well-trained musicians, and the music was very generally complimented. Chiefly marching tunes were played.

The band came just after the marshals and in front of the veterans^ who were in the lead of the column proper.

The last piece played was * * Dixie. ' * This was begun just as the last command was given to " forward ! " The leading pullers were then nearly up to the monument pedestal, and as the first notes of this delightful old southern melody floated out on the evening air cheer after cheer arose from thousands of throats. Some of the old veterans were especially demonstrative, and the populace generally joined in the cheering, which was genuine and vociferous.

VETERANS IN LINE.

The veterans of R. E. Lee Camp, No. i, and George E. Pickett Camp, Confederate Veterans, were given the post of honor.

These bodies met at their respective halls earlier in the afternoon^ and were at the point of rendezvous some time before 5. They did not march separately, but the two organizations blended, and were under command of Colonel W. P. Smith, commander of Lee Camp. There were about one hundred veterans in uniform, and perhaps double as many more members of the two camps, who appeared in citizens dress, not having had time after leaving business to go to headquarters to change their attire.

It was intended that the veterans of these camps should man one of the ropes of the foremost wagon, but when they arrived on the spot they found every inch of all four of the ropes taken and hun- dreds of persons, men and boys, scrambling for the honor of having their hands on the cords when the start was made.

MORE ROPE.

It was therefore decided that lead ropes should be attached at the corner of Franklin and First streets for camp members to pull by.

The veterans then marched down Broad street to First and thence to Franklin as escort to the column.