Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-19
THE SECOND TENNESSEE.
The Re- Union and Barbecue at Gala
tin Thursday.

eises OF the Day-Pr0eeedIngs OF the
Ex-SOldier Society RESOLUTIONS 60
the Poinf-SOeisI El0quenee-Grand
Hop af the Sumner House In Honor
Of tine sBoys-"
The Sumner County Agricultural and
Mechanical Fair opened Wednesday with
slim attendance and display consisting
almost exclusively Of fine stock. The fair
this year is a failure and is attributable TO
hard times, the crops in Sumner being a
failure.
Nevertheless Thursday was a memorable
day at the fair grounds near Gallstin, it be-
ing the occasion Of the twenty-secOnd an
nual reunion Of the Second Tennessee
regiment, G. s. A; in whose honor an old
fashioned, free barbecue had been prepared.
Qt was impossible to publish anything
like full report Of the days events in yes
terdays UNION AND AMERICAN, as the last
mail came down before the most interest
ing part of the programme was reached,
and as there was no means Of sending a
special telegram from Gallatin, which has
dispensed with telegraph Office, by send
ing tax assessor around.)
All the morning the country people
poured in by every pike and by noon there
was a crowd of at least $500 assembled on
the grounds. They came by every mode
of conveyance, but conspicuous in the con-
centrating columns were the daughters Of
Summer, many Of them on horseback and
riding in large groups. Fair cayalcadeS,
thOsei AL Of these people were turning
out to pay their respects TO the I'd Tennes-
see and-to the barbecue. The gates to
the Fair Grounds were thrown open 70 ey-
eybody.
The first reunion Of this gallant and
lionOred body of surviving warriors took
place in the edge of Edgefeld on the 1lth
of October, 1873. They theI organized
themselves into a society with Gen. w. B.
Bate, the first Colonel of the regiment, as
President. Historians for each company
were appointed at that meeting.
At ten o'clock the members Of the Sec
Ond Tennessee, Of whom a large number
were present, representing every company,
assembled at the courthouse. They wore
blue badges with the white double crescent,
in HenOridm Pat ClaibOrne's battle flag.
The meeting was attended by large num-
Der of the ex-members Of the 10Th, 30th
and 54th infantry and Of the I'd and 18th
cavalry, all wearing red badges with ''Ten-
nessee Reg'tr inscribed. There was good
" accession to the representation by the
special train from Nashville, which did not
get in till / o'clock.
The meeting, which was presided over
BY Gen. Bate, proved peculiarly interest
ing. On taking the chair Gen. Bate sim
ply explained the objects Of the reunion,
which were, he said, 10 review the eyentful
days Of the past, promote friendship and
cherish the memory Of fallen comrades.
The meeting was held as that Of society
in a social capacity and with not the re-
mOtest political purpose to subserve.
j. W. Blackmore read a historic sketch
of Company l, Charles ID. Rogan, a like
sketch Of Company X, and DR.. A. G. Don
nohO, sketch of Company ii. These pa
pers were biographical, recalling the traits
and deeds Of every man whose name was
ON the muster rolls of those companies, and
showing what had become of them all. II
can be imagined with what interest they
were heard by the surviving members pres
ent. Many amusing, and many affecting
incidents were worked into the sketches,
and their reading was frequently interrupt
ed by supplementary remarks from various
members. There was not time TO hear re-
ports from the historians of the other COM
Ddulto. II - IilLtuuEu lAldL LDtSc shtLEnCS
shall be compiled into volume and pub
lished. 1t would be a book which every
ex-soldier Of the ID Tennessee would dear
" prize to the end of life. Gen. Bate re-
marked to our representative that he would
see il printed, If necessary, at his own ex-
pense.
THE BARBECUE.
At one O'Clock the meeting adjourned to
t1,a h.-i,ar4,a vrbfoy, tt-ac roadv
at the Fair grounds. Upon reaching there
the members got together in one section Of
the amphitheatre and heard beautiful adj
dress of welcome from Hon. J. A. TrOus-
dale. The amphitheatre was crowded
entirely around with visitors, a large pro
portion of whom were the ladies of Gala
tin and Sumner. The respectful attention
Of everybody was directed TO the Second
Tennessee, though not fifth Of the as
semblage could hear what was being said.
The ladies especially manifested a warm
interest in the regiment Of whose valor
they have heard and know so much.
The dinner bell rang at halfpast two,
and BY rising unanimous vote il was de-
cided TO repair Immediately to the inviting
tables. They were heaped layishly with
the products of several days careful and
skillful cooking. This barbecue was given
to the regiment and its guests by the sum-
ner county members. 1t was unexceptiOn-
ably prepared, and won for the giyers the
epithet Of "big-hearted.n Such was the
general and avowed opinion Of their hos
pitality.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
After dinner the Second was again called
to order in the amphitheatre, which was
soon refilled with lOOkers-On.
Capt. Robert Smith, of Columbia, was
elected President for the ensuing year, and
George Nelson, of Davidson, and Adjntant
Fowler, of MurfreesboTo, were elected Vice
Presidents.
Matt. Allen, Esq, of Davidson, was re-
elected Secretary, and James B. McFerrin,
of Davidson, Corresponding Secretary.
RESOLUTIONS.
Can't. Smith offered the following resOlu-
tiOns, which were adopted with emphasis,
Capt. Smith and Gen. Bate having spoken
on them:
GAS such meetings are eOftenmisconstrued
by certain parties, both North and South,
and used to the damage of the South,
sResolved, l. That our reunion has no
political significance whatever, and is simp-
ly meeting of comrades, who desire 10 re-
view in peace the many scenes of the past
'.2. Having surrendered to superior num-
bers in good faith, IL is our intention TO
perform our part Of the contract faithfully,
our chief desire being peace and that the
majesty Of the law may be maintained.
'3. We send greetings TO our former enc
mics and an invitation for them TO come
and live amongst us, promising 10 all law
abiding citizens the right hand Of fellow
Ship
Gen. Bate offered resolution in coun-
teractiOn Of an unjust criticism Of portion
of the Northern press upon the ex-COnfed-
crate soldier, touching the Outrages in the
South. The resolution declared that the
ex-Confederate soldiers were peaceabie and
law-abiding citizens, and that none frOwned
with a greater contempt upon Outlawry in
any shape than they, or would be so ready
to protect the innocent Of what
ever race or color, as they.
Mr.. Chas. Rogan proposed to amend by
declaring that men who now wear masks,
never appeared unmasked before the enc
mics of their country.
The resolution, as amended, was unani-
mOusly adopted.
ELOQUENCE AND ENTHUSIASM.
Upon retiring from the presidency, Gen.
Bate delivered one of the best exteinpore
speeches of his life. His remarks were at