National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-17
eFoRaIAEs IN VIRGINIA,


Reunion Of the Third Georgia Regiment on
its First Camping in Virginia Virginia
Hospitality Extended in the Era Of Good
Feeling"
PORTSMOUTH, VA, August 4, ISIS.
To the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: On yesterday evening our city presented
one Of those scenes which fully demonstrate the
sttschment Of our citizens to the "old regime"
The veterans Of the Third Georgia Confederate
State soldiers arrived at Portsmouth TO have
their
GRAND ANNUAL REVIEW
on the site Of their first camping ground In 1851
Long before the arrival OF the Southern train the
principal thoroughfare (High street) was crowded
with men, women and children, and % soon IS
the locomotives whistle announced the approach
to the city, the guns Of the Chambers Fire CON-
pany "a political organiEation) commenced to
thunder forth Q salute Of welcome.
The streets were decorated with various hsgs
and devices and the Confederate ''stars and bsrs'
appeared in loving proximity TO the national dag,
the StarspaDgled Banner.
As the excursion train moved SLOWLY into the
town and through High street, the most eonspic'
uous objects presented to view were two of the
Georgia veterans on top Of the carso carrying
the tattered and torn, shot-riddled attle-nag Oh
the regiment,
Al RED SQUARE WITH CROSS AND STARS,
and the other waving Q beautiful new Georgia
State flag. They were greeted with cheer after
cheer, and doubt II that nag received heartier
welcome In 1851 than II dd yesterday. IH sPPes.
mentary upon the attempt made in Congress and
some of the States to remove all battleh ags from
national armories and erase the names OF battles
The Georgia veterans were received with
speeches Of welcome from A. s. Watts, John II.
These speeches were ali short, well-studied and
prepared, moderate and conservative In their
tone, and will read very well: They were re-
piled TO by several Georgians, In mutual somlr-
alton strains, and eulogies
OF PROMINENT SOUTHERN SOLDIERS
and statesmen, after which they adjourned to
the refreshment hall where collation. with re-
fre.hments solid and fuidl was spread IN pro Pro,
fusion Tomorrow the veterans visit Old Point
and the capes In the steamer George Leary, and
next day yisi-t Petersburg via Atlantic, Mlssis-
sippi and Ohio railroad: OS@PIets sITanss
during the whole week, and learn that the com.
mandant at the navy yard ordered the Post band
the occasion. Dixie and the bonnie Blue
Flag" with "My Maryland" BY way Of Varia-
ton, were the favorite tunes performed.
the funeral Of Confederste General Pickett. The
Marines were also ordered out, but ratn-storm
prevented their attendance. The people may
think this Y all highland IL may Debut II So
why not at once restore the Confederate officers
to their positions in the United states army and
navy, and provide pensions for their u.s. 'led
soldiers? Let US have no halfway acKno' ~
/ should not trouble your readers with an &C.
count Of this Confederate reunion but for the
fact that heretofore every reunion OF the
National soldiers, every eulogy Of National
Officer has been denounced by the Democratic
press as an effort to keep alive the animosities Of
the war, and every publication Of
THE VIRTUES OF GENERALS GRANT,
Sherman, Logan or other Federal generals is
treated BY the Democratic press as an insult
offered TO our brethren Of the late Confederate
States, and thought as Confederate reunions
have become 80 common throughout the South,
with Herald correspondents prepared to make all
Southern Union men appear as scoundrels Tor the
cheap reward of q hand-shake from q rebel gen.
eral or captain, or an invitation to the Vestioule
Of q Southern gentleman's residence, would ask
If there Is no significance in these Confederate re-
unions? Don't they keep the people separate
and spar2 The colored people can't participate
in them, and If Union man attempts It he finds
himself branded as q traitor, and is forced by his
seltrespect TO retire.
Take all the gatherings which have been had
in the whole South since the war, or take those In
the last twelve months, and you will find the only
onces which
ENCOURAGE THE COLOR LINE
and separation Of the people are Democratic meet
ings and Confederate reunions. hope the Dem
ocratic and Ultramontane newspapers Will go with
mo 30 far as to admit that while 1t may be bad
policy to encourage the keeping alive the MEM
cries of the war, or the eulogtZing constantly OF
those who made reputation by their connection
with the army, nevertheless successful Federal
generals are as worthy Of consideration as de-
feated Confederates, and that there Is no more
harm In q reunion of blue jackets under the Stars
and Stripes than in the same sort Of gathering CT
gray-Jackets under State flag and the Con-
tederaie ensign.
God knows have no bitter feelings but think
It is time to cease reminding the country that all
the virtue of the nation lie possessed BY those
who rebelled against the national authority. II.