Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-10-01
MIscElIAnEoUs,
EX-CONFEDBRATE REUNION At
MORaAN'S SPRING.


The postponed meeting of the cx>COnfed
crates re>union took place on Saturday last,
b the 1ith, according to previous sunOuuce>
ment. the~object of the meeting being too
sacred and old associations too dear to deter
the assembling of these war worn veterans
and their friends, in the enjoyment OF day
repete with interesting "reminiscences of the
late war. aud which will hereafter be OBJ
served annually by the people Of this section
Of the country. in honor Of the deeds of our
heroic dead and in compliment to the survi>
vors VIC still have with US. The assembiage
steadily increased as the day wore on, until
n very large aud respectable concourse had
convened around the large dancing platform.
After dinner, meeting was called to order
by Col w. 4. Morgan, who nominated Capt
Lee II. Mnler as Chairmsu, aud j. Will
Taylor was appointed Secretary. Col. Nor
gan stated the object of the meeting, and re,
ferred to this spring as the sacred spot when,
a little over one hundred years ago. an infan>
try company, commanded by Capt. IT ugh
stephens, was Entertained by Col William
Morgan with barbecue. upon the day of
their departure to join the Continental Army,
commanded by Gen. George Washington,
then iu fortified encempment around the
| town Of Boston, aud closely bcsieged by the
British arpy-he bricfyreferred to the part
ing scenes between the soldiers and their
wives aud little ones, and the commencement
| of the march famous ss tho "lSco Line for
! Bo-ton"-the meeting and reception of them
| hy Gen Washington with tears in his ewes
| when. in the distance, as they approached
| camp, he deserted the grey hunting shirt of
| the Nirgiuians from the South bank of the
| Potomac But before leaving, the company
| formed iu circle, and after prayer offered for
! divine guidance and protection and safe re-
turn to all they held dear to them, a rcsolu-
ton was passed to tito effect that on that day
| fifty years hence all of that company who
were alive and physically oblo to get here
would assemble at this Spring. After giv>
| ing the history OF the union in 1925, and
| of the meeting of two old men. all who were
able to come the Bedinger brothers-who
had walked all the way from the Blue Licks
| of Kentucky to redeem their resolution
! passed fifty years previous. Ee spoke of the
sacred and friendly ties that bound this mob 0
band of patriots, and the good faith in which
they had kept their promise. and of the las,
one of this little band having long since
! passed away and answered the last roll call
| on earth, and then referred to the meeting of
the surviving ex~ Confederates to-day, having
| formed for each other in the late struggle for
| independence that friendly boud that naught
| but death can sever, and that it is proper and
right to perpetuate the friendly feeling. and
reunion and revive the memory ofour fallen
comrades by an annual reunion, and offered
the following resolution, which was passed
unanimously:
1heyenS, In representing portion Of the
| survivors of the Confederate military Orgau
cations Of the grand old army of Northern
Virginia, in commemoIation of the principles
we fought for. aud to revive the memory Of
| our comrades in arms, who were shot down
! by our side, falling with their faces to the
Zoe. with the firm CLEAN of determination IL
| lumining their eyes, and tie hoarse shout of
victory dying away in the death rattle as
! their life blood flowed out, thus sacrificing
I their lives in accordance with the stern die
tates of patriotic duty-have met hero this
day in friendly and social re. uuiou-13 years
| after the close of bloody struggle, unparaI-
! leied in the annals of ancient or modern var
| fare, for ferccness, courage aud determined
| endurance, in which the armies of the South,
| ern CoD:ederacy we're forced to succumb 10
the superior Numbers and appointments OF
! Federal armies, thereby presenting to an en-,
| ligh'ened world the utter faiiscy of settling
question Of statesmanship by mere brute
force. and subjecting a happy, noble aud
prosperous people social indignities and com.
nrercial ruin, Seprivug them of political
rights guaranteed by constitutional enact.
ments and reducing them below the stand
| ard of slaves
Therefore. We. as the surviving represen-
tatIVes Of the aforesaid army of Northern
Virginia. believing that by defending ou,
constItutiruaI liberties, our homes aud insti
iu'lnns, we discharged a duty incumbent
upon Us as American citizens, living under
republican form of government aud enti
tied TO the protection and respect Of thai
government, and although we failed to es
tablieh our national independence ard in &C.
comprising the object for which imperative
duty called us into the field, still, the con-
sciousness of knowing that We were discharg
ing that duty, and the appreciation of out
fellow ccuutrymen sustained Us in the dark
and gloomy hour of hardship and suffering
upon the return to desolated homes OF the
few survivors of y once grand powerful army
! although DO victorious wreathes crowned our
arms. nor fragrant chaplets woven by the fair
hauds of heroic women. decked our brows-
yet still hearty welcome and sweet smiles,
though sad, besmed out frou the symPsthiz>
| ing hs1rts Of Southern women, the warm, aud