Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-05

Between tunes old friends met sHu
shook hands and recounted meetings OF
other DAYS and incidents of former at
uuaintanceship In this way the time
was passed until dinner was announced.
TESTING THE COOKING.
At1:30 dinner was announced. inc
band formed in marching order at the
arbor. and playing an inspiring medley,
which begins with "Auld Lang Syne,
marched to the dining halls, followed by
a PROCESSION of all those who felt inclined
to test the barbecued meats and other
edibles provided for the occasion. Six
long tables, capable of accommodating
1000 persons at a time, stood there
loaded with plenty of food Of as substan-
sial kind as hungry stomach ever
craved. and while the band PLAYED the
guests proceeded to fill themselves with
voracitv and dispatch which showed a
proper appreciation Of the efforts of the
providing committee.
ISenty-s six beeves, fifty-twO sheep and
a number of hogs had been slaughtered
and roasted, and the meat
was carried in cut, up and distributed as
fast as the hungriest. could wish. The
most conservative estimates placed the
number fed at 1000, and if anybody
failed TO find satisfaction for a craving
laziness, for there was no lack Of mater
ial. So generous, indeed, was the pro-
vision made that when all had Deen fed
the larger portion Of the meat cooked
still remained on the fire.
A great many people brought their pro-
visions in baskets, and, experimenting
them with fresh meats, brown and ten
der, enjoyed merry picnics under the
shade of the trees.
AFTER DINNER SPEECHES.
After partaking of the good cheer that
sticketh to the ribs, the crowd soon gath
cred at the large arbor to listen to
speeches and anecdotes Of camp and army
life.
Can't. w. G. Veal was the first speak
er. His remarks were few and pointed,
bearing both on war incidents ana topics
OF early DAYS in Texas. His could hard
" be called 4 speech, for it had nothing
of the oratorical flourish about it, but
was q simple, homeIy talk about those
matters in which his hearers were most
Interested. His remarks were listened to
attentively and heartily cheered through
put.
There is one man in Texas whom and
Of whom. the old soldier element never
tires Of hearing. Particularly do the
old Arkausawyers like to see him and
hear him and hang with loving atten-
ton upon his words.
The old brigade he loved so well,
Those gallant men who bound him
With BAYS of their own winning,
Ere a tarGier fame had crowned him
They knew him when sabeTs were
flashing and cannon were roaring and
muskets were rafting, and they love
him because in the face Of danger he
never blauched That man is Gen.
William L. CabeU, Familiarity known as
'OLD TIGE.
Gen. Cabell followed Capt. Veal and
was, in fact, the only speaker of the
day That Is TO say, he made the only
speech of any considerable length. lie
related q great many anecdotes and Incl
dents Of the war, all Of which we're high
" interesting He said for the truth Of
history he wanted to correct Pope 5
claim concerning the number of Confed-
crates captured by him on the retreat
from Corinth. Gen. Cabeu declared
that none but stragglers AMI wounded
men were taken by Pope. He said he
commanded the rear guard himself, and
from Corintn TO Tupelo ne formed in line
OF battle but once, ana that was to re-
pulse q cavalry regiment, which was
done in a few minutes, and no arms
were captured by Rape.
He paid a high tribute to the men he
commanded, declaring that whatever of
fame he may have achieved, they won
for him. Drawer men, he declared,
never went 10 battle. and the only time
they ever reiterated without an order
from him was when one or two regiments
were given an order to retreat by q
drunken aide-de-cGmp, and they were
Immediately checked and reformed in
10 II al q
brigade was touching and eloquent.
PERSONATING PAP PRICE.
The general told a very amusing anec-
dote OF q march through Missouri, dur
inc which, for some reason or other,
he pretended to be Gen. Price. he made
his Headquarters at the home of an old
lady who refused to believe he was ''Oid
Pop, - and every time a staff officer
would come IN and address him as Gen.
Price she would say: 81 don't believe
YOU are Gen. Price; he is q fine looking
old gentleman, and you are as hard q
looking man as l ever saw.
Another story was Of bit of stTategem
he worked when left with a small force in
front OF an overpoweriug number Of the
enemy. He was told that Gen. Jeff
Thompson wOuld come TO bis re-
lief. and when Thompson re-
ported to nun ms Iull COulLuduu
consisted Of thjrty-three officers and
tweuty-four pTivates. He expected re-
enforcement OF about six thousand, and
got less than sixty. The lion 5 skin be-
ing too short he pieced out with the
fox's. He issued an order to a large
number Of officers, assigning them posi-
tions as if for battle, had the orders
printed and allowed them to fall into the
hands he knew would convey them to the
enemy. Then he had the whistle of q
bic mill down on the river blown at short
intervals after which Il company of men
always a portion of those already II
camp would march mp to headquarters,
report. and be assigned to quarters. Spies
also carried tidinEs of these supposed
arrives by boat to the Federal com
mauder. The consequence was that the
latter thought ne was in the face Of an
outnumbcrIng Zoe, and so RETAINED from
attacking an army he could have ami
hilated.
GEN. JEFF THOMPSON.
Gen. CaveI told Of his first meeting
with JEFF Thompson. He had frequently
heard of Thomson and his exploits, and