Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-01

SURVIVORS of the 28th New York Volun-
| teers headed BY their hOnOred commander
Col. E. F. Brown.
Through the drizzling rain the process
sion moved to the Prospect Park Pavilion,
where the reunion exercises were held.
THE EXERCISES IN THE PAVILION.
The veterans of both organizationsoccu
! pied the seats in the centre of the hall,
these on the south side being given up to
the members of the escorting posts. and
those on the north side to ladies and citi-
zans. The cheerlessness of the stage was
relieved by festoon of flags, and the
speakers table was entirely concealed in
I the folds of the Stars and Stripes. Occu-
plying seats on the stage were Major j. W.
| Newton and Sergt. 7. M. Smiley. presi-
Col. E. E Stickley, chairman of the Ex-
ecutive Committee of the 9Th Virginia
| Infantry Associat ion Capt. Benz. Flag
Ter, president, j. Byron Lowell, secretary,
| Col, e. F. Brown and Col. E. A.. Bowen
| of the 18th New York regiment Veteran
| Association: Gen. James E. Curtiss of
Buffalo. members of the chorus and others.
| President Flagler called the assembly to
order and invited the Rev. George F.
Rosenmuller Of st. Peters Episcopal
Church, Niagara Falls to offer prayer.
THE WELCOME.
| President Flagler's address of vel come to
| the guests Of the day followed the prayer.
It was frequently interrupted by applause
and cheers, and it's conclusion was greeted
with prolonged applause. After explain
| ing the custom of the survivors Of the
28th, of renewing old associations by meet
ing each year in reunion on the anniversa-
| ry of their muster-in. Capt Flagier said:
l 10 &C. 81 Snu IN mi
| edge that the survivors Of two opposing
regiments have met together under the
circumstances Of to-day; that thoee who.
| have met face to face In deadly conflict on.
| the battle held have come together as
| friends, to take each other by the hand,
] and to show to the world that there re-
mains among them none of the bitterness
of the war. And we feel that in thus COM
| ing together, We do no dish0nor to the
memory OF our dead comrades or to our
cause. From the battlements of heaven
there look down upon Us to-day the spirits
of both the Union and the Confederate
dead. In the. clearer light of the fair land
they can distinguish the right from the
| wrong, and believe that they rejoice in
a reunion like this, and believe that they
rejOce with us that the issue of the war
was nationality and liberty"
| In closing his words of cordial welcome
the speaker extended the hospitalities of
Survivors of the 28th, saying: "Our homes,
our hearts, and our hands shall all be laid
under tribute to make your stay pleasant.
We know your bravery. gallantry and gen.
tlemanly bearing, for which old Virginia
is proverbisl. will entitle you to all the
hospitality we can offer; and we trust
that you may SO enjoy yourselves that you
may always cherish pleasant rec0llections
Of this reunion and of your visit to MIA
CARA Falls.
COL. sTICKLEY' 3 RESPONSE.
Col. Stickley of the 9th, of Woodstock,
made long and eloquent response to this
address. In closing he said: ''ln coming
together as we do to make our second &C.
Quaintance after this great lapse of time,
not as warriors, not as enemies, bat as
friends, to talk in the light of reason over
the unhappy past and those great events,
reiterate it is high time we began to for
give even if we do not forget, and it un-
necessary to forget. You have rendered
US your hearty forgiveness, as is evidenced
by our presence here at your hospitable
call, and we as heartily accept it, and in
same to you. Why not ? Why should we
not come together? Why stand at dis
lance and look obviously across at each
otherP Truly, we did what we conscien-
tiously thought was right, and we give
you credit for the same. While We over
came and captured you at Cedar Run, you
in more sweeping and comprehensive style
by your wholesale methods, overcame and
captured the whole of us at Appomattox. y
After the applause and cheers had sub
sided, a mixed chorus, with Mrs. Jesse
Peterson as soioist, sang America"
THE RETURN OF THE FLAG-sPEECH BY
MAI. NEWTON.
Following the song came the return OF
the battle flag of the 28th Regiment, which
was captured by the 9th Virginia at the
memorable fl st meeting at Cedar Noun
tain in August, 1882. This delicate and
patriotic task was assigned to Major J.
w. Newton who was received with cheers
stout gentleman. rather above the average
height, dignifed in demeanor, and possess
log frank. open countenance that marks
the man of large heart and generous i'm
pulses. Dressed in the full uniform of the
Confederate Army, his appearance CON-
manded instant attention. and breath
less silence filed the hall as he prefaced
his words by apologizing for the use OF
manuscript, owing to the unavoidable alb
sence of Capt. James Bumgardner, the
gallant Adjutant of the old 5th Virginia,
the presentation.
I'VE come now to perform duty In it.
self unique, and one that presents indeed
beautiful anomaly" said Major New
ton. I'm the annals of the times, In the
roll of the ages. in the history of the
world. in all the experience OF men, varied
and extensive as it has been, this peculiar
and significant act of fraternity has never
before been exemplified or demonstrated.
Aud for this, if for no other reason, 1
thank God have lived to see this day, to
view these surroundings, to meet you and
greet you as we do, and to discharge the
most pleasant duty of my life. This grand
and beautiful act that We now propose to
perform has never before been illustrated
or witnessed in a fraternal assemblage of
men like this-the return of flag to the
regiment from which it was captured in
war by the regiment that captured it., on
! an occasion In peace where the latter are
the honored guests of the former"
While these words were being spoken
Sergt. I. NJ. Smiley opened ribDon-tied
package, disclosing the long. lost banner,
and after unfolding, passed it to the
speaker. Scarcely had the veterans caught
sight of its well-remembered and now
bullet-soarred folds. when a shout Of joy
went up that shook the building to its
foundations. Cheer followed cheer as the
emblem of victory was waved aloft, the
shrill yell of the Virginians miDgling with
the joyous recognition by the survivors of
the gallant band that first followed it to
the fields of strife Many heads were bowed,
also, and many tears shed. After quiet
had been In a measure resumed. Major
Newton continued; "You do not fail to
remember that on the 9th day of August,
1852, we. in bitter antagonists, opposed
you on the famous battle-ground of Cedar
Mountain, when and where we nightly
commended with each other in the terrible
ordeal of battle, and among other results
of that well-remembered conflict, this
banner became one Of our trophies, which
we bore in triumph from the field az part
| nj fho of tho uio nd in met