I know what this is. This is the pass and review of Confederate Veterans for President Woodrow Wilson. All Confederate States were represented. This was taken on the corner of 15th Street NW and Pennsylvania Ave. NW as they approach the South side of the White House lawn to pass in review of the president.
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PROCEEDINGS OF THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1917.
THE CONFEDERATE PARADE.
[Reprinted from the Confederate Veteran of July, 1917, Nashville, Tenn.]
Washington was in expectancy about the parade and was not disappointed, for the Confederate veterans staged a pageant more moving than had ever appeared on its streets, and the like of which will never be seen there again. Up historic Pennsylvania Avenue, where the victorious army in blue had passed in review before President Lincoln more than 50 years ago, the veterans of the Confederacy now marched, a pathetic remnant of a once glorious army. Not in the consciousness of defeat, but with faith still in the right, they followed proudly their old banners waving by the Stars and Stripes, and were none the less loyal to the one that another was now their flag—the Stars and Stripes forever. Such a sight was never before seen and could hardly be repeated in the history of the world. It was a moving spectacle, pathetic and inspiring. The Confederate veterans, marching to the music of "Dixie" and other thrilling southern airs, aroused enthusiasm that had never before been stirred by the magnificent spectacles of the Capital City.
At the head of the parade floated the Stars and Bars in unison with the Stars and Stripes. Following close came Chief Marshal Hilary A. Herbert, with Col. Robert E. Lee, assistant marshal, and attendant aides. A richly decorated auto bore the Commander hi Chief, George P. Harrison, with Adjutant General William E. Mickle and former Commanders in Chief Irvine C. Walker and Bennett H. Young. In the Grand Army escort, led by Col. Myron H. Parker, were Gen. E. W. Whitaker, who was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee, and other prominent members of the organization. In the auto following were the sponsor for the South, Miss Mary Custis Lee; the matron of honor, Mrs. F. G. Odenheimer; Mrs. Josephus Daniels; and Misses Storey and Green, maids of honor. The Confederated Southern Memorial Association came next, with Mrs. W. J. Behan, president, and her staff.
The line of veterans was interspersed, as usual, with leaders on horseback and in autos, with attendant fair daughters of Dixie representing different commands and divisions of the U. C. V. When the Louisiana division came in sight, Chief Justice White, who was one of the "boys in gray," left his seat in the reviewing stand and joined his comrades, marching past with them. The naval veterans in autos made a good showing and were liberally cheered. The Sons of Veterans, a thousand strong, were led by Commander in Chief Baldwin, with Adjutant hi Chief Forrest. A pleasing feature of this section was the float bearing the Confederate choir, singing patriotic anthems and the songs of the Southland, led by Mrs. Hampden Osborne. A children's choir filled another float, the pretty little girls dressed in red, white, and blue.
Moving between two solid lines of cheering humanity, the veterans hi gray finished their march by passing in review before President Wilson, who was attended by prominent persons connected with the Government and representatives of foreign countries. It was a proud moment for them to come thus before their President, who so evidently enjoyed their enthusiastic greetings and smilingly received their offers to go to France or anywhere he wished to send them, also the suggestion to "Call o'n us if the boys can't do it." And he paid them the tribute to remain in the reviewing stand until the last veteran had passed, notwithstanding the heavy downpour of rain which made the last participants in the parade do a quickstep for shelter.
Many noted commands were represented in the parade and brought out rousing cheers. The Stonewall Brigade, the Orphan Brigade of Kentucky, Cobb's Georgia Legion, Kershaw's South Carolinians, Barksdale's Mississippians, the Louisiana "Tigers," and Washington Artillery, Forrest's Cavalry, the uniformed companies from Tennessee, and others received enthusiastic attention.
The military of the present day made a magnificent showing in the parade. More than a thousand cadets from the Virginia Military Institute took part and were especially admired and applauded. The High School Cadets of Washington were equally strong, while 2,300 young soldiers from Fort Myer, near Washington, gave the opportunity to see the result of their intensive training. This section was under the command of Brig. Gen. William E. Harvey, commandant of the District National Guard, and brought the parade to a close.
AS SEEN BY A NORTHERN WRITER.
[Reprinted from the Philadelphia Press.]
One of the best accounts of this notable and ever memorable Confederate Veterans' parade was written by a northern newspaper correspondent for a northern newspaper—Richard J. Beamish, in the Philadelphia Press:
To-day I saw the Grand Army of the Confederacy on its last great parade. It came as the climax of the last national reunion of those who fought for the lost cause with Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
No more pathetic spectacle ever has been witnessed in Washington than that which unfolded and dissolved like a dream this morning. Like a dream it will remain in the memory of those who looked with seeing eyes.
THREE FLAGS THERE.
From all parts of the South they came, these who gave their all to follow Jefferson Davis and his generals in their unavailing effort for secession. Above the creeping line flew the rebel Stars and Bars. Rebel battle flags that had flashed forward to victory at Bull Run and that had been driven from Pennsylvania soil at Gettysburg showed their shell-torn tatters through protective webs of silk as they were lifted high above the stooping ranks. But beside the cross-oarred flag floated Old Glory and upon the withered chests of the men in gray gleamed the tricolor that spells both France and America.
No inauguration procession within the memory of Washington brought forth enthusiasm that compared at all with that which swept over the hundreds of thousands who saw the thin gray line to-day.
It had no shimmer of gold lace, no rich investiture to vie with hundreds of parades that this city of gorgeous spectacles has known. But it did have more poignant humanity, more direct appeal to the American heart than all the processions that have preceded it.
Every rank had its distinctive note. Every little gray group held a cheer-compelling or a tear-compelling motive.
Never can I forget that last rank of the Arkansas division. We were waiting opposite the President's stand fronting the White House. There was the usual flutter of rebel flags, the usual applause as the fine, old commanders of the division on their sedate liveried horses paced by. Then came the ranks on foot. Clad in the peculiar gray of the southern backwoods, they came with the slow, silent movement of oncreeping age. Almost involuntarily my eyelids narrowed to get the full effect of the drifting gray haze.