Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/299

 The Monument to General Robert E. Lee. 291

voice cheered the gallant South Carolinian. It is such scenes as this that make such a day more of a reality than a pageant.

A CONFEDERATE FLAG ON THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

Persons passing the Capitol Square in the morning were sur- prised to see that the bronze Washington held in his hand a large Con- federate flag. The idea was originated by three young men, who, at daylight, climbed the statue and fastened the flag to Washington's stirrup. They might have placed it higher, but the approach of sun- rise and a fear of discovery restrained them. Later in the morning a boy climbed up and placed the flag in Washington's hand. It only remained for a few hours, when it was removed by direction of the superintendent of the public grounds. Major Gaines.

HONOR TO LONGSTREET.

As the parade was forming on Main street General Longstreet drove up the street in a carriage. As he passed Clinton Hatcher Camp, of Loudoun county, a number of the veterans left the line and proposed to take the horses from the carriage and pull it out to the monument. Owing to the fact that the procession then commenced to move, the gallant Georgian was compelled to decline the intended ovation and drive on.

WAR MUSIC.

The old war music — **The Bonnie Blue Flag," "Dixie,*' &c. — never failed to elicit enthusiastic cheers, and sometimes the unbidden tear, as hallowed memories of the past were awakened.

MAURY IN GRAY.

Colonel Richard L. Maury, in his old Confederate uniform, was at the head of a heroic remnant of the old Twenty-fourth Virginia regi- ment, whom he so bravely led until he was disabled by severe wounds. This was also General Early's old regiment.

THE NINTH VIRGINIA.

The veteran organizations which marched in the column excited profoundest interest and awakened tenderest memories. Conspicu- ous among these were the old Ninth Virginia cavalry, at the head of whom rode their former colonel, brave old General R. L. T. Beale, who was dressed in his old Confederate uniform.