The National tribune., 1890-07-24
cH1cIlAm 4UGA.
Dolt0n Reunes with thr United Confederate Vet.
Grams on The EIeld.

Grams on The Field.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: attended the
meeting of the United Confederate Veterans"
rs they call themselves, at Chattanooga on
July and 5, for the purpose of meeting with
them on the battlefield of Chickamauga on the
9th to locate POSITIONS etc, of the different
commands in the battle.
had previously had little correspondence
with Gen. g. @. Conner, Chief of Artillery of
the Confederacy, and he had sent me one of
their souvenirs-R very neatly printed PAM
phlet-and / had also read an article from his
pen published in the Tennessee Farmer, of Nash
vile. In the latter he had promised to those
attending view of the rebel flag and grand
reproduction of the "rebel YELL" which, he
said, of yore caused so much dismay to the
foe. From what I read supposed that the
various reasonable meetings that have been
had through tho South in the last few years
were to be repeated.
reached Chattanooga Mt p. m on the 4th,
| and from then until far into the night mingled
very freely with x-Otlcers and privates, and
visited nearly ali parts of the city and all of
their headquarters, taking observations l
saw no flag of any kind from the time | left
ST. Louis on tho evening of the Sd until
reached Chattanooga Creek. There I saw one
small muslin u. s. flag on the roof of n small
factory; nor did hear any sound of salutng
the Fourth on the whole trip, except one fire.
cracker at stevenson, Ala.
When l emerged from tho depot at Chat
tano0ga, / found all the buildings of all the
principal streets profusely covered with the
Red, White and Blue of the Republic and one
or two small muslin limitations of the old rebel
flag. | also saw two portraits on muslin of
what | suppose, from tho name underneath. to
have been intended TO represent Jefferson
Davis, and occasionally one of similar nature of
Lee, Johnston, Grant, Sherman, ct al. / was
do Airr tod for \ h,I al IN
see fully az many rebel flags as "Stars and
Stripes" And l WAS still further disappointed
in not hearing one unpatri0tic word uttered by
anyone. 1 was dressed in gray and wore the
badge of the Grand Army of American Vet
erans having left my GAR. button at home,
and comparatively few knew me- so that it
could not no said that they suppressed their
treason on account of the presence of "Yank."
On the morning of the 9Th took the special
train with them TO the battlefield of Chicka-
manga ] was among tho first to board it, and
in the next seat behind me was tall, heavy
built shaggy, long -side- whskered man of
about 30, who said he was from Clinton, Ind.
On account Of my gray suit and broad brim
hat, he took ii for granted that was an ex-
Confederate. (3y the way, they leave off the
Tex" part, calling themselves "Confeder-
ates."l He began to tell mo all about Z" our
party" in the North, and what Voorhees, and
others were doing for us" and added: Yes
i am doing a heap of work for our people up
there" l drew him on until he had we'll ex-
hausted himself, and then turned "Old Bat
terry OH him, after which | entered into
conversation with various old Johnnies about
points on the field.
visited many points on the field with many
Of the Confederates who fought there, posi-
lively locating quite a number Of places pre-
viOusly in dispute.
The point of Reunion on tho field was at the
foot Of South Spur, at the east end Of Snodgrass
or Horseshoe Ridge, where Gracie's Brigade
made its heroic charge and lost so heavily.
Abont noon 4 man mounted rude platform
which bud been built, and with hundred or
more hearers, began speech. lie continued
for possibly three minutes. when there wasa very
struggling attempt at "a cbeer-not the faintest
resemblance to tho rebel yell when the
crowd dispersed aud gathered around the many
refreshment stands.
Chattanooga was we'll crowded. There wero
about half as many old confcderates as there
were OF the GAR boys az tho Reunion Of tho
Army OF the Cumberland last September. but
OF women. young men, young girls. children
aud American citizens of African descent"
tho number was legion.
Everything passed of rs pleasantly and
periodically as ono could wish. so far IA | could
discover. / hope that the organization of tho
cx-Johnnics into tho united Confederate
fcheIHns DFSius n now era III the south, ana
that We shall hear no moro of the old rebel
yell and tho Haunting Of the rebel flag and
tho raising Of monuments that make treason
and disunion honorable.
/ had quite little chat with the editor aud
publisher of the Confederate Veterans Magaziae,
published At Atlanta. He appeared 20 be q
young man of fairly good sense. but when /
came TO read the contents of his magazine.
thought that tho climate of Mexico would
W. I'M nj Ia afpfi Tor
This Republic Ia no place for q person who
claims 10 DO a rebel still aud vows he will
never shake hands with Yankee. We do
not care 10 shake hands with such, but we
should make them shake the dust of this
Nation with big NJ frem their feet rs soon
rs they can be kicked 10 the border We do
not want the yonth of the South to be fed on
such stuff as is found in that magazine. But
will not encrOach further on your valuable
space.-a +. DoLroN, - South Main street,
ST. Louis 30.