Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-01

SATURDAYS REUNION.
The reunion of the One Hundred and
Fifty.fourth, senior, aud Thirteenth Ten
nessee Confederate regiments at Estival
Park on Saturday, the 29th nit wal all
that the surviving members and the
friends of those gallant old commands
could have wished or pictured. 1t a
their first meeting of the kind held since
the war, and while some still living were
absent from necessityit was evident that
death had invaded their ranks sadly ever
in the days Of peace. Such thoughts as
these must have passed through every
reflective mind. The noble dead we're
not forgotten even in the midst Of
smiling throngs and cordial greetings.
The sight of the old flags, tat
tered and faded, which had been fol-
lowed on many a hard-fought battlefield
and wearisome, hungry march, brought
back the tenderest memories, the strong.
est ties and hopes, the most ardent
of life. These are the Confederate sol
dier's only pension, ave when one car.
ries a wooden leg or IN empty sleeve.
Nothing so knits the souls of men 10.
gether as the heroic endurance Of COM
mon suffering and common danger.
These regiments we're composed Of the
the very flower Of the county, and were
splendidly differed. They we're in near,
ly all the principal battles of the West,
from Belmont down to the firing of the
last gun in North Carolina, and their
losses by death from disease and battle
were very large. Good soldiers, as a
rule, make good citizens. When these
veterans came home and took off the
gray forever, it was to accept the results
of the war and all that is implied in a
soldiers parole and word of honor. How
we'll they have acquitted themselves uu-
der the old flag. which was conspicuous
ly displayed Saturday; how they have
obeyed the laws and been the conserva-
tors Of peace, good order, and national
sentiment; maintained their dignity and
done their part as true citizens 10 their
respective stations; how they have
added lustre to the American character,
is a part Of the history Of this centennial
era. The survivors of these two regi.
ments personate in the highest degree
the great body Of men who bore arms on
the Southern side. First at the front and
last to yield in the struggle, they are fore.
most in enterprise, industry and public
spirit, 10 good citizenship, ia deeds Of
benevolenee and of patriotism. This was
purely a social gathering, without any
political reference or thought beyond that
go happily expressed 10 a national sense
by the two young soldier-citizens who
made the addresses Of the occasion.
While only two regiments we're for
mSlly present many others we're rep.
resented and entered as fully into the
spirit OF the occasion. Many who we're
in other commands, made the same
wearisome marches, fought through the
same battles aud endured the same ia
tigues and privationE, participated on
this occasion and recalled, along with
the renewal of precious friendships
many "reminiscences Of the long ago
which has become, as it were, a dream
but never to be forgotten. And woman
was there in her f%airest, noblest type
some who saw their sons and fathers
husbands or sweethesrts march away
Others who have grown up since tn,
war. 1t was a splendid gathering of on
best people, Tennessee's most gallan
sonH and lovely daughters. Hundred
Of ex.Federal soldiers, too, mingle,
with those who had worn the gray
aud but for the badges worn b
the latter a stranger could not have draw
a line between them. In fact the line
have been virtually erased in our seci,
aud political reconstruction. We hay
lived to. see the complete asceudaucy {
civil law over the military, and the rest
ration of constitutional government. FL
this let US all be thankful, and rememb,
the war only for its campfire frien
ships and endearing associations, for II
strength of American character it d
veloped, and the useful lessons it taugI
us and the world. We desire, on behs
of the thousands who attended the r
union Of the vetrans, to congratulate Il
committees and ell who took part in Il
management or contributed to the e
joyment Of the occasion, upon the su
cess which crowned their efforts. Ma
they live to celebrate many such ann
versaries, and each mellewing recurrent
renew more hRllowed memories.