Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 10.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

So pleased were the visitors at their hospitable reception that soon after their return home they sent a committee to Richmond, bearing gifts and a hearty invitation from Wilkes Post to visit them in Trenton.

The kind invitation was accepted and arrangements for the visit entrusted to a committee. Captain David N. Walker was made officer in charge. About seventy-five men, representing the three organizations above named, composed the visiting party.

We left Richmond April 12th, on the 5 A. M. train, all hands having been made “Colonels” by the officer in charge. It was a jolly party “on pleasure bent.”

At Baltimore we received several recruits in the persons of old Otey battery men resident there, and at Philadelphia more still. Here also the party was met by a committee of gentlemen from Wilkes Post, who had been sent on to meet and welcome us at, as it were, the outer wall. The enthusiasm there was great and evidenced great heartiness of esteem. Captain Wilkes, the genial commander who came with Wilkes Post to Richmond, was with this committee, and his countenance was radiant with pleasure as he grasped the many hands extended to greet him.

The arrival of the train at Trenton was announced by an artillery salute. The entire military force of the town were in waiting for escort duty, and Wilkes Post and its auxiliary corps were out in full force.

The lines was formed, military and Wilkes Post in front and the ex-Confederates following. The line of march led through the principal streets of the town, which were filled with people, cheering, waving flags, and indulging in every possible form of welcome. The whole town was out. Bells were rung on engine-house, churches, locomotives and fire-engines. Whistles were blown in the workshops and cannon fired from the house-tops. Many residences were handsomely decorated.

After the march the visitors were left at their hotel long enough to brush up and lunch, and were then taken to the Wilkes Post Industrial Exhibition at Taylor's Hall, where they were received with marked courtesy by the ladies and gentlemen in charge.

The visit to the Exposition over, at about 10 P. M., hosts and guests assembled at the hotel, and arm in arm marched into the banquet, spread on three immense tables in the dining-hall. Senator John Taylor, of Trenton, presided. Toasts were read to “The South,” “The old First Virginia,” “The Otey Battery,” “Our country,” “Richmond,”