From the Richmond Dispatch, 10/21/1861, p. 2, c. 3

Anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown. – The public mind has been so engrossed with the war of the present era that it occurred to very few of our citizens that Saturday last was the eightieth anniversary of the battle of Yorktown, until the stirring music of the band, and the parade of the Public Guard, recalled memories of an event which has never passed by unnoticed. The day has been regularly celebrated in Richmond by a grand parade of the city military, who arched through the streets with waving banners and all the pomp and circumstance of a general muster, and terminated the proceedings with a salute of musketry and cannon. At present, however, all the volunteer soldiers are "off to the war," where they have found more serious experience in military life than appertains to holiday displays. The demonstration on Saturday served to keep up the old custom nevertheless. Captain Gay marched his company through the streets, and halted on Capitol square, where a variety of manoeuvres were skillfully executed, and a few rounds of musketry fired, to the manifest approbation of the assembled spectators. The Armory Band performed some good music on the occasion, introducing some of those favorite airs, which call to mind the good old times.

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