Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/358

 354 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the Richmond, Va., Dispatch, Jan. 20, 1898 ]

GENERAL LEE'S BIRTHDAY.

The Anniversary very Generally Observed in Richmond.

LIGHT OF THE CAMP FIRE OF R. E. LEE CAflP, NO. i, C. V.

Many Veterans Gather in its Genial Glow Captain R. 5. Parks deliv- ers a Splendid Oration Howitzers Salute the Monument.

The anniversary of the birth of General Robert E. Lee was cele- brated in Richmond yesterday by the closing of the State and city offices, the banks, and many commercial institutions. Salutes were fired in honor of the event, and from the masthead of nearly every flagpole in the city, the colors of the Confederacy floated to the breeze.

The holiday was generally observed. The particular celebrations of the anniversary, however, took place at the Soldier's Home, and at Lee Camp, where orations were delivered, and carefully prepared programmes were carried out. A salute of seventeen guns was fired at the Home at noon, and a platoon of the Howitzers fired another salute at 5 o'clock beneath the shadow of the monument to the great General, erected in the western portion of the city.

AROUND THE CAMP FIRE.

At night, Lee Camp kindled a camp-fire, the genial glow of which shed nqthing but radiance and charm. Within the magic circle were gathered distinguished veterans from all over the State, and the guests of honor were the members of both houses of the Legislature.

The yearly celebration of the birthday of General Robert E. Lee, is the prime event in the calendar of the Camp, and no effort is spared to make it delightful and successful. All along the Southern lines, the camp-fires are lighted on each recurring January igth, in honor of the great leader, but no fire burns more brightly than that of the Richmond camp, or attracts to it a more distinguished body of men. It was a night of great festivity; a genial and whole-souled