Gen. Morgan in Richmond — his reception, at the City Hall.
--Yesterday morning, about 11 o'clock, the committee of the City Council to tender the hospitalities of the city to
Gen. Morgan visited the
Ballard House to escort the distinguished guest to the City Hall, where he was to be formally welcomed by the
Mayor.
The procession, headed by the
City Battalion as an escort, left the hotel at 12 o'clock,
Gen. Morgan being seated in an open carriage, with
Mayor Mayo and Councilmen Hill and
Saunders; the carriages containing the rest of the committee, and other citizens followed.
As the procession passed along Main street large crowds lined the sidewalk, and the most intense anxiety was exhibited to get a sight of the hero.--
Gen. M. recognized by very graceful bows the compliment paid him in the crowded windows along the line of the procession.
The reception at the City Hall.
It having been announced in the morning papers that at noon
Gen. Morgan would be presented to the citizens from the
South porch of the City Hall, as that hour approached, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, a vast concourse of citizens and soldiers began to assemble in the street in front of the
Hall and in the
Capitol Square opposite.
Many ladies filled the Hustings Court room in the
Hall, where it was under stood the
General would receive his friends and admirers after his introduction to the public from the porch of the building.
At half-past 12 o'clock the sound of martial music heralded the approach of the honored guest of the city.
Preceded by the Armory band and the
City Battalion, and followed by his Staff, the City Council of
Richmond, the
Kentucky delegation, and a number of distinguished military officers of the Confederate army, in carriages,
Gen. Morgan arrived at the building in an open barouche, attended by
the Hon. Joseph Mayo,
Mayor of
Richmond, and two members of the Council committee.
Loud and prolonged cheers from the assembled multitude greeted his arrival.
Gen. Morgan was at once escorted to the portico of the City Hall, where he was soon surrounded by a host of personal friends, among whom might be recognized many heroes of the war. --Among the latter were particularly noticeable
Gens. A. P. Hill,
Edward Johnson,
J. E. B. Stuart,
Branch of
N. C.,
Major Heros Von Borek, and many others of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Gen. Morgan was now in the full gaze of the multitude, and thousands of eager eyes were directed towards him. He was seen to be a man of commanding figure, of thirty eight or forty, bearing no traces upon his countenance of the indignities, hardships, and dangers he bad recently passed through.
He is full six feet high, with keen, dark eyes, and features which, though not regularly handsome, are indicative at once of benevolence, thought, and high physical courage.
His dark hair was stylishly cut, and he wore a moustache and goatee.
He was dressed in a citizen suit of black and a military cap.
So soon as the confusion incident to the arrival of the procession had subsided,
Mr. Mayo,
Mayor of
Richmond, advancing to the verge of the portico, said:
‘
Fellow citizens — When I gaze upon the spectacle here presented this morning my mind is carried back to the days of . Then we were engaged in a war with a civilized nation, and it pleased
Providence to raise up to us a Southern
Marion, whose valor and prowess carried death and confusion into the ranks of the enemy.
Now we are engaged in a far deadlier war — if a savage crusade against our lives, our laws, and institutions can be called such — with a nation whose acts are a disgrace to the age in which we live, and again it has pleased God to raise up to us another
Marion from the far
Southwest in the person of
Gen. John H. Morgan, the hero who now stands before you, and whose name and fame, already bright in history, have been rendered doubly dear to us by the base cruelty and indignity with which he has been treaed by our savage foes.
Fellow — citizens, I present to you
Gen. John H. Morgan, of
Kentucky.
’
Gen. Morgan came forward, amid deafening cheers, and said:
‘
Fellow-citizens — I thank you for this reception, and I hope my future career will prove that I am not unworthy of the honor you have done me. Not being a speaker, I will give way to others who are Again I thank you for this manifestation of your regard.
’
This brief speech, delivered in a clear, manly voice, elicited prolonged cheers and cries of approbation.
When the cheering had somewhat subsided, calls were made for
Gen. A. P. Hill, who came forward and bowed to the multitude and then retired.
Gen. J. E. B. Stuart having been loudly called for addressed a few words to the crowd.
He said he was gratified to see
Virginia doing honor to the heroic son of
Kentucky.
Virginians did honor to themselves in honoring him. Some of his
Kentucky friends had just whispered to him that he and
Gen. Morgan were rivals.
It was true that they were rivals — rivals in a glorious cause; rivals in a game at which he hoped both would win. [Cheers.]
Judge Moore, of
Kentucky, in response to repeated calls, made a short speech — He was at a loss to find words to express his gratitude to the citizens of
Richmond for the honor manifested towards that beloved son of
Kentucky,
John H. Morgan, for whom he would say that he felt deeply, in every pulsation of his heart, the honor done him by the mother of States and statesmen.--
Gen. Morgan, of
Ky., and the gallant
Stuart were here together, and he fell he could say, for them both, that they would never their swords until our foes were beaten and our freedom achieved.
[Cheers]
Kentucky, the first, and once the fairest, daughter of
Virginia.
He had no blood in him that was not
Virginia.
When future generations should gather round the seines of
Washington and Henry, on yonder monument, equal honor would be paid to the statue and the memory of
Gen. Robert E. Lee.
[Cheers.] One word for
Kentucky.
The muster rolls in the War Department would show that forty-nine thousand of her gallant sons, such as have been led by
Gen. Morgan, had entered the armies of the
Confederate States.
But for the heel of the tyrant, that is upon her neck, one hundred thousand would now flock to our ranks to avenge their pillaged homes — their insulted wives and daughters.
Kentucky would never be identified with the
Yankee people.
Whenever we should be able to carry an army there, there would be a great uprising of the people.
Judge Moore again reverted to his gratification at the public demonstrations of honor and regard for
Gen. Morgan, and retired.
Ex-Gov. Letcher being called out, said: As a native Virginian, he took an interest in everything that concerned his State.
He rejoiced in the spectacle presented to-day in honor of a man who had suffered so much at the hands of our brutal foe. He, a son of the mountains, rejoiced to welcome
Gen. Morgan as the son of a daughter of
Virginia.
In conclusion, he hoped to see the day when
Kentucky, and also
Maryland, should break the power of the foe, and be once more free.
Gov. Hawes, of
Ky., was then introduced and spoke a few words.
He exhorted the people to strengthen and feed their armies.
Major Heros Von Borck being called, advanced and bowed to the assemblage.
Col. Robert A. Aliston, of
Gen. Morgan's staff, was introduced, and made some brief remarks.
He spoke of the gratifying manifestation of popular regard made in honor of his chief.
The applause of his country men was one of the things that most move the heart of the soldier in the hour of trial and danger.
He then alluded to the long account that
Gen. Morgan had to settle with the
Yankees.
He had ordered his regiments to elect each a barber, and hereafter to shave every Yankee they caught.
[Cheers and laughter.]
Gen. Edward Johnson--being introduced by the
Mayor as
Gen. Alleghany Johnson--said that he had been happy to meet to-day
Gen. John H. Morgan.
In paying respect to him we showed our condemnation of the enemy who had maltreated him. The enemy had shaved
Gen. Morgan's head, [laughter,] but he was glad to see that his hair had grown out.
Gen. Morgan having again come forward and bowed to the multitude, by whom he was enthusiastically cheered, he was then re-conducted to his carriage and was escorted by the military and citizens to his apartments at the
Ballard House.
As the vehicle which bore him passed down Governor street it was surrounded by an eager and tumultuous crowd, anxious to grasp his hand.
For some reason, probably because more time had been occupied by the speeches and the reception in the portico,
Gen. Morgan did not enter the City Hall, to the sad disappointment of a large assemblage of ladies who had gathered there to see the
Kentucky hero.
On his return to the
Ballard House,
Gen. Morgan was called on at his apartments by great numbers of distinguished visitors and citizens generally, who had not previously had an opportunity of paying their respects and offering their congratulations.
Gen. M. remains for the present at the
Ballard House.
It is stated that in a few days he will leave for the
West to reorganize his force, which has so often created terror among the foes of the
Confederacy.
