they of the Southern States.
They lent their plaudits; they were high in the thoughts of the men
moving with precision beneath the great flag of Virginia, to the sound
of music, in the green meadow by the James. The colours of the several
companies had been sewed by women, sitting together in dim old parlours,
behind windows framed in roses. One banner had been made from a wedding
gown.

Look away! look away!
Look away down South to Dixie!

The throng wept and cheered. The negroes, slave and free, belonging to
this village and the surrounding country, were of an excellent type,
worthy and respectable men and women, honoured by and honouring their
"white people." A number of these were in the meadow by the river, and
they, too, clapped and cheered, borne away by music and spectacle,
gazing with fond eyes upon some nursling, or playmate, or young,
imperious, well-liked master in those gleaming ranks. Isaac, son of
Abraham, or Esau and Jacob, sons of Isaac, marching with banners against
Canaan or Moab, may have heard some such acclaim from the servants left
behind. Several were going with the company. Captain and lieutenants,
and more than one sergeant and corporal had their body-servants--these
were the proudest of the proud and the envied of their brethren. The
latter were voluble. "Des look at Wash,--des look at Washington Mayo!
Actin' lak he own er co'te house an' er stage line! O my Lawd! wish I
wuz er gwine! An dat dar Tullius from Three Oaks--he gwine march right
behin' de captain, an' Marse Hairston Breckinridge's boy he gwine march
right behin' him!--Dar de big drum ag'in!"

In Dixie land I'll take my stand,
To live and die in Dixie!
Look away! Look away!
Look away down South to Dixie!

The sun set behind the great mountain across the river. Parade was over,
ranks broken. The people and their heroes, some restless, others tense,
all flushed of cheek and bright of eye, all borne upon a momentous
upward wave of emotion, parted this way and that, to supper, to divers
preparations, fond talk, and farewells, to an indoor hour. Then,
presently, out again in the mild May night, out into High Street and Low
Street, in the moonlight, under the odour of the white locust clusters.
The churches were lit and open; in each there was brief service, well
attended. Later, from the porch of the old hotel, there was speaking.