The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-09-04
4 Confederate Reunion in Western North
Carolina.

SuppleIueuG IL loIIeA VI 'Ao A'oo -
slant, with some items which may NO
be without interest to some of you
readers.
Some time age, the surviving sol
diers of the Confederacy living i
Haywood county, decided to have
reunion, opening on the 2Sth an
ending on the 3Oth of this month; t
this proposed reunion the surviving
soldiers of the other counties c
Western North Carolina were invited
Accordingly, Waynesville, for som
days past, has been the scene Of con
siderable animation, caused by th
arrival within and near its limits, Q
so many veterans Of the late war, AM
of others coming as friends of tn
veterans, and spectators.
A part of the program for the occa
sion, was that the survivors Of tn
several commands attending, shoule
go into camp about one mile south
west OF this place, but the heavy ane
incessant rain preceding and on tn
2Sth, allowed of only partial accom-
plishment Of this plan, and many o
the soldiers were quartered in tht
town, considerable body howeve1
going into camp, which was located OF
grass-covered elevated plain around
which meanders Richland Greek,
clear and cool mountain stream.
Owing to the rains mentioned the
main exercises of the reunion took
place on yesterday at the camp, when
there were present about fourteen
hundred surviving soldiers of the
Confederate army and about thirty,
five hundred spectators among whom
were included the mothers, wives
daughters, and other relatives OF the
veterans.
In the forenoon, after some prelim-
mary remarks, prayer, and a speech
of welcome, addresses were made by
Genl. Chrigonan, Hon. R. B. Vance
known as 'EBob Vance"-and others;
these speeches I did not hear, but in
fer from what I heard of them, that
they were worthy of the distinguished
orators who delivered them.
Dinner was next in order; three
very long tables held bountiful sup
DIV of substantial edibles, besides all
the spectators were supplied with
private baskets, from which dinners
were laid on every side upon the
green sward and under sheds to suit
the convenience of family groups and
their invited guests: to this meal, it is
needless to say, full justice was done,
and Western North Carolina open
handedness was fully illustrated by
the bountiful supply of food.
In the afternoon the ceremonies
were opened by the presentation by
Ex-Solicitor Ferguson of several vet
erans of No. Ca. regiments, who had
been conspicuouslv brave in battle,
winding up with the introduction Of
the fag-bearer of the 39th regiment,
bearing its tattered banner; torn by
bullets and begrimed and powder
stained by the smoke and dust Of
many a battle, this old memorial OF
the existence of the Confederacy and
the valor of the soldiers who fought
under it, was an object of great inter
est and admiration, and evoked the
loudest cheers and huzzas of the oc-
casion: this flag was saved by being
taken from its staff by its bearer
folded up and put in his knapsack and
was replaced by new one shortly
before the surrender.
Father Ryan's beautiful poem, "The
Conquered Banner" was then recited
by Mr.. Ferguson of this place, after
which His Excellency D. G. Fowle
the present Governor of this State.
was introduced and made what was
known as the memorial address of the
occasion. The Governor spoke at
some length, and his address; taken as
a whole, was full of fire and eloquence
and commanded close attention.
Next in order, came Ex-Governor
Jarvis, whose address though rather
long for the occasion, was fully up to
the expectations OF his listeners: it
was full of patriotism, and stirring
encomiums on the valor of the North
Carolina troops in the late unpleasant
ness, and the Ex-Governor carried his
State pride so far as to say: that these
survivors should be called "North Car
olina soldiers" instead of ''Confeder-
ate soldiers" The distinguished
speaker showed that he was an an
dent lover of North Carolina, and ad-
mirer of that part which her troops
took in fighting the battles of the
Confederacy, he himself having been
crippled in his right arm by a wound
received in one of these battles. The
speaker said that when, some time
back, he went as minister Of the
United States to Brazil, and explained
to the Emperor Of that country, why:
in saluting the latter, he offered his
left, instead of his right hand, the
Emperor was over-joyed to meet him
and throwing his arms around the
minister, embraced him, thus showing
his gladness to meet a genuine soldier
of the Confederacy.
The next speakers following in the
order named, were Judges Davis
Avery and Shepard, associate Judges
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
these three last named speakers, spoke
eloquently and to the point; OF course:
T cannot even give summary o.
their respective speeches, and will on
ly add that I am inclined to be more
L L al, ~ Irrr