San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-08-05
col. WOODS AppRrsG.

Survivors OF tho 32d Texas Cavalry, Com
rades in War, Friends In Peace!
| am grntihed that relentless time hai
spared 50 many OF you to participate in thi'
/ reunion.
As look over you see the youth OF q
years ago, now in many cases with silyered
head, aud the man OF the same day, nov
shows tho weight of years
| |, too, feel tho lapse Of time, and nm nd
monished that the suns Of summer aud the
irosts Of winter since we biyouhced aud
marched together, have loft their impress
on mo | feel that the sere aud yell
low leaf OF life IL imminent but to-day / ain
thrilled with the recollections Of our army
associations. and step with firmer tread;
feel I'm extra heart beat, and stand proud
man, in your presence, rs recall tho SER
vice we jointly rendered.
Others may have seen more OF actual war
may have seen moro Of battlcs-but no
body of men rendered their Services TO the
coufodoracy who were possessed Of Drawer
hearts or more soldierly material than tho
officers and men had thu honor 10 CON-
mand.
Since we were organized many. Of course,
have paid the debt of nature-some fell in
battle, others from other causes
cannot, of course, make personal men
ton OF all who have gone before. but | am
mpelled to pay tribute to the lamented
Capt. Carolin, who died ero no felt the
shock of battle--a man earnest in purpose
and faithful in duty. /. X. Stevens, Cap
tain Co. , dauntless soldier foil at the fore
front in battle.
The gallant Benton, Northumberland,
,,tns,pI. ,nsaiuaI dial a aplIiar,G
death
Sergeant Major Swnnzey, German by
birth, but southern American by adoption
give his young life to our cause and died
on the field of battle.
Ed Steven, Porterville, Sherwood, with
others, whose names | do not now recall,
are gone, but their virtues live in our hearts.
Green be their graves, but greener still their
memories.
1t was predicted that the soldiers of the
South would DO worthless AZ citizens after
the war. Your own observations give con-
tradiction to that prophesy. Go out among
our farmers; go among our stockmen; 90 to
the professions aud you will find in every
case men king the highest rank, who 20
years ago had naught but honor left them.
Defeat gave them new energies, and they
have built for themselves fortunes IN char
acter aud estate that place them among the
most prosperous in the land.
/ would he derelict in my duty did ] fail
to give word of welcome and of thanks to
you, noble women, who grace this occasion.
While your husbands, fathers and lovers
were Mt the front, you sustained us 10y your
industry and unfaltering love, aud tho maid
or matron who urged her dear ones to the
discharge of duty, and sustained them,
there is worthy n badge not less honorable
than is worn by us. Your fidelity encour-
aged us, and if we had heroes in tho field
we had also heroines at home, and | feel
that but utter the sentiments Of this en-
tire assemblage in addressing you in words
of most fervid praise and admiration.
1t is proper, too my friends to pay the
tribute of mention and respectful allusion
to that man, the grand and central figure of
our ggle-who is to-day, worn by age,
and the trials of most eventful life, calmly
awaiting the summons to go up higher.
However he may have erred in Judgment,
in tho conduct of tho war, no question can
he raised as to his faithfulness to his peo-
pie, and though old and enfeebled, he
stands unsullied in honor and peerless rs a
repre- entatiye of the cause he upheld. Let
us send greeting to Mr.. Jefferson Davis,
lIindest messages of veneration. Let his
devotion to duty and to con-
viction commend him as an exemplar to the
youth Of our land.
To-day peace reigns. A gracious provi-
dence gives us green fields and promise of
rich harvests. 1t is proper i'll this hour of
orr prosperity to recall the cloudier days
of our lives and shed n tear for those whom
only Gabriers reveile can awake.
Comradeel Friends trust that we may
meet again in reunion, and now welcome
you to orr bospitnlities with assurances of
my unfalterinG regard and sincerest wishes
for your health, happiness and prosperity.