Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-10-20
THE FEDERAL SOLDIERS REUNION
a Grand Day at sreenevilie Yesterday
Perma.ent Organization Effected.

FROM the DAILY Chronicle Of Oot 10
Owing to the rain which fell almost
necessarily on Monday, 1t was feared
that the Soldiers Reunion, which was
announced at Greeneville for yester-
day would prove failure, but such
was not the fact by any means The
storm continued until late in the night,
and yesterday mornings light reveals
ed the fact that snow had fallen during
the night and the majestic mountains
south Of Greeneville were capped with
ice and snow, while cold wind was
blowing that rendered overcoats a lux
ury IL not necessity. But the sun
rose and dispelled the goomier aspects
of nature, and soon the ex-Federal
soldiers from Greene and surrounding
counties began to pourin on the trains,
Ivy vehicles, on horseback and on foot,
SO that by 10 o'clock, the quiet town of
Greeneville was quite lively. There
were between two and three thousand
persons in town by the time the pro-
cession formed at l04 o'clock,
THE PROCESSION.
At 1920 the procession began to
form under the direction of Col. ]. NJ,
Thornburgh as Chief Marshal, assisted
by Col. A. J. Brown, Col. FJno. X.
Miller, Maj. Sam. w, Pickens, Capt.
T. II. Easley, Capt. David Caldwell,
and Lieut.. Will. A. McTeer. The pro-
session formed on Main street, in
front OF the Godfrey House, in the
following order:
l. Greeneviile Cornet Band.
2. johnson Guards.
8. Survivors of East Tennessee In
fsntry Regiments in the order of the
numbers of Regiments.
4. Members of the Tennessee Artil.
hery organizations, also members of
Federal Regiments of other States.
5. Tennessee Cavalry organizations
in the same order as that observed by
the infantry.
The old tattered
BATTLE FLAGS
of the regiments which had been sent
from Nashville for the purpose, were
borne in the procession by members of
the regiments, aud formed most in
teresting feature. Hundreds of eyes
were suffused ia tears on beholding the
glorious old flags which they had fol-
lowed so long under such trying cir
cumstances, and memories were re-
viveed which no doubt had been for
gotten. The procession being formed,
moved out .Main street to Depot street,
thence to Irish street and thence to
the Fair Grounds, where q stand had
been improvised for the occasion. The
veterans were moved up in regular or
der, being governed by military COM
manders as of old, when the order was
given, "break ranks, march," aud
they gathered around the stand.
EXERCISES AT THE STAND.
After music by the band, the exer-
eises were opened with prayer by Rev.
John r. Hughes, who served hOnora-
bly, in the Sth Tennessee Infantry.
After prayer, on motion of Col. Thos.
II. Reeves, Gen, S. p. Carter was CALI
ed to the chair. The General came to
the stand and was received with en-
thusiastic cheers. He stated that he
had not expected so distinguished an
honor, and returned thanks In a mod
est, soldier-like and appropriate man
ner. $3.50. ..I
Col. Reeves Chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee gave history Of how
the organization was brought about.
He concluded by reading the follow
ing letter from Gen, w. t. Sherman,
which was received with applause.
GENERAL SHERaIAN's LETTER.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE U. s.
.mJ ST. Louis, Mo Aug. 20, 1875.
T. II. Reeves, Esq, Joncsboro' Tonnes
see:
MY DEAR SIR-An absence OF two
weeks prevented my receiving your
kind letter of August 10Th, until yes
terday. / am pleased to see that you
in East Tennessee preserve u al love
for the Old Stars aud Stripes which
led so many OF you To adopt ana hghl
for the cause of the Right. when dan
ger threatened our common country
and when misrepresentation and ADJUST
obscured the judgments of so many
of your friends aud neighboTs, and
surely would be most happy to unite
with you in your contemplated cele'
bration, but 1t is impossible. Severa
Of the principal Officers of the army
are now absent, and mus be here OF
near st. Louis all of September anC
October. The number of army cele
brations this fall is unusually large
and of them can only attempt to'at
tend such as are within easy reach o
st. Louis.
beg therefore you will excuse me
and accept my assurance that ! fee
unusually complimenled. that yoI
should think of me in this connection
/ hope your meeting will prove al
that the most ardent patriot could ex
pect, for no where in our broad lant
were people 80 tried, as you in tn,
mountains OF East Tennessee.
With great respect,
Your friend,