Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/313

 The Monument to General Robert E. Lee, 305

LOOKED LIKE WAR.

The cheering having ceased, the firing continued. The artillery was stationed on the slope between the monument and Broad street, their guns facing west. The infantry was formed facing Broad street. The smoke from the guns became so thick the Exposition buildings were invisible from the monument.

Thousands oC muskets were fired at one time, and the memories of war times came to men who had been engaged in many a fierce conflict. Ex Governor Carroll, of Maryland, was seen to shed tears, and General Joseph R. Anderson was deeply affected. Judge F. R. Farrar ("Johnny Reb*0 remarked that the scene was grand beyond description.

A SHAM BATTLE.

The troops engaged in a sham battle, which stirred the hearts of the old soldiers. As the cavalry charged across the field some of those who had engaged in that branch of the service were seen to leave the stand and rush past the monument and out beyond the thickest of the crowd where they could get a good view of the spec- tacle.

The last feature of the great event surprised everybody. They were not prepared for it. The old soldiers did not expect to see a deadly battle so faithfully imitated, and the young people had never seen anything like it.

The sham battle ended the ceremonies and the vast throng dis- persed.

FIREWORKS.

At night there was a brilliant display of fireworks, set off on the vacant space north of the Lee monument. It attracted a large crowd.

The fireworks were unusually excellent. They embraced a num- ber of fine set pieces, one of which was a picture of Washington. Beneath this piece in fiery letters was the legend * * The First Rebel." This bon mot elicited much applause. The picture of the night was a very correct representation of the Lee monument. When this piece was set off the applause of the crowd was tremendous. There were a number of emblematical pieces and many humorous subjects. The display of bombs and rockets was very brilliant, and illuminated