Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/271

 The Monument to General Bohert E. Lee, 263

The following were the leading events of the day :

Morning : Reunion of the Fifty-Sixth Virginia regiment of Ninth Cavalry of Corse's brigade.

Noon : Military, Veterans, Farmers' Alliance and Firemeiv

Afternoon : The ceremonies of the unveiling of the monument.

Night : Military banquet tendered in honor of visiting military ; reception at Major F. M. Bovkin's to officers of the Fifth Maryland regiment; banquet to Otey battery; reunion of Rosser's men, the Laurel brigade ; entertainment by the Hon. J. L. M. Curry. The cool of early morning found the streets already lively with weary- looking individuals, who, reaching the city late, had spent the night on their feet instead of being sandwiched in crowded rooms or hall- ways. By 6 o'clock the trains began to unload their burthens at all the depots, and this was continued all day. All kinds of vehicles from places within a radius of twenty-five miles rattled into the city and landed their occupants at the places most convenient for break- fast.

It would have been a warm day under the clear blue sky had not a gentle breeze fanned the crowds which began by 9 o'clock to secure favorable positions under the trees along the route, while the pennants, banners and flags were set afluttering in ever- changing colors. From the first beat of the drum in the morning until long after midnight the gay scenes on the streets were prolonged by the fifty thousand visitors and the one hundriid thousand population of Richmond, and everybody were satisfied with the great day of the South.

A careful estimate of those who came to the city by rail, boat, horseback, and in vehicles drawn by horses and mules, shows that it was the largest crowd ever assembled here for any occasion.

Militia from Southern States, veterans from States as far North as New York, representatives of the institutions of learning in the State, and ladies and gendemen from far and wide.

The city filled up rapidly the day before, but there was still room for more. The early trains brought in thousands from various points, and the streets were alive with nearly a hundred thousand people, citizens and strangers. People from every point of the Union were present, but the representative element came from the land that Lee loved, and that honors itself in admiration for him. The Southern States were nobly represented. They could point with pride to ranks of veterans, to the men who commanded in war, and who obey now by serving them in high positions of trust in the peaceful affairs of State. Men and officers from Maryland to Texas came to old Vir-