The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-10-11
THE OLD THIRD.
Reassembled after Twelve
Years. FurlOugh.

Living Heroes Homer the Mem
DRY Of Dead Brothers and
Recount Each Others
ValOrOus Deeds.
Reorganized to Perpetuate the
Memories of the Past and
to Prosecute q Peaceful
Struggle Under the
Old Flag.
Patriotic Addresses-Immense Multi
tude-Grand Dinner-SpIendid
Music--I mmeasurabie
Satisfaction.
After the lapse of sixteen years
years fraught with innumerablt
changes and marked with events
that have swept nations into obliv
ion and overwhelmed States and
communities, obliterating principles
and bruising the heart of the race
of chivalry-the old 3rd Tennessee
Volunteers, c. S. A, met almost
beneath the shadows of the same
trees that sheltered them at the first
organization. The hosts that then
assembled and left this spot with
marshal tread, after years of bloody
strife, and years again of patient
suffering, and still other years OF
peaceful and patriotic labor, reas-
semble to call the roll. A response
here and there indicates the pres
ence Of a battle SCARED veteran,
and an interval of silence here and
there tells the melancholy tale of
death, while the absent comrade is
keeping silent watch upon ramparts
in an Unknown World.
Last Wednesday morning dawned
cloudy and drizzling and threw a
pail of regret over thousands of
hearts. Nevertheless, the people
thronged into Lynnville upon every
road, until by IL o'clock the throng
was so dense that no man could
number them. About 10 O'Clock
the clouds lowered more densely
and emitted a ceaseless shower OF
rain that continued two hours or
more, driving every body to shelter.
At 1890 the regiment fell into line,
and headed by Pitman's Silver Band
and followed by over 1000 people
men, women, children and darkies,
in innumerable confusion-proceed-
ed from the square to a grove about
a half-mile up the railroad, where
the barbecue was spread upon sew
eral hundred feet of tables, and
where a speakers stand had been
erected, surrounded by seats for the
multitude. Here, when the crowd
had composed itself, Maj. Jones of
Culleoka announced that Capt. Jno.
S. Wilkes would make a welcoming
address. Capt. Wilkes, on behalf
OF the Committee of Arrangements,
then spoke as follows:
1t is my pleasing duty to welcome
to this reunion the survivors of the
3rd Regiment of Tennessee Volun-
teers and it's host of friends scat
tered throughout Middle Tennessee.
Upon this spot, sixteen years ago,
the regiment was organized, and en-
tered upon that memorable struggle
into which our entire country was
so soon to be plunged with such
fearful results.
1t was composed of men as brave
and officers as gallant as ever en-
tered their country's service at their
country's call.
Upon almost every battlefield Of
the West, from Fort Donelson to
Bentonville, its history was written,
oftentimes in disaster, always in
blood, but never in dishonor or dis
grace.
During the whole of its eyentful
career it was baptized with the tears
and consecrated by the prayers of
this people, until that memorable
month of June, 1866, when small
number of its survivors, footsore
and weary, disbanded, and, dis
heartened, returned to their homes
among you.
There was no vast concourse of
friends to greet them on their re
turn and bid them welcome; no tro
phies of victory were borne aloft
over their serted ranks; no CRATE
full government met them with its
pensions and plaudits, but as pris
oners of war, with their flag furled
but not dishonored, they silently
returned to find tho Union armies in
possession of their desolate homes,
their friends scattered and their
property destroyed.
The strong arm of military power
was upon the people and the coun-
try, private property and lie itself
was at the mercy of camp followers
and spectators who, like vultures
upon the eagles tract, lowered upon
the footsteps of the victorious I'm
ion army. There was no law, no
order, no civil government, and
good men everywhere with bated
breath asked the question, What
should be the future of this peopleS
1t was indeed a period of fearful
anxiety; but soon the moral hero
ism of the soldiery became mani
fest on every hand, as they quietly
laid aside their soldiers garb and
entered upon the task Of rebuilding
their shattered fortunes, of restor-
ing the waste places Of their coun-
try, and renniting into a common
bond of brotherhood the people of
every section.
Brave as they had been upon the
battlefield, they were found to be
no less courageous in the interests
of peace; tireless as they had been
upon the march, and watehful as
they had been around the camp
fires, they became no less earnest in
their civil pursuits; fearless as they
had been in the charge and in the
seige, they became At once the firm,
unflinching supporters of law, order