Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-29
ACORN ORCHARD.
COnfederates Celebrating on His
tOric Grounds.
Change in the Scene Of Thirty
Years Ago.
Great out-Pouring Of the People
Speeches by Gen. Quarles and
Butler Boyd.

|
Butler Boyd.
The boys who wore the grey, those
that are left of DR.. 1. B. Walton's old
command, Company G of the forty
second Tennessee, Quarles' old regi-
ment of Quarles' brigade, had q
grand reunion yesterday near Hen
rietta, this county, on the historic
grounds known as "Acorn Orchard"
which brought together the largest
crowd that has been seen in the
county for many days. 1t was in
deed a great out-pouring of the PEG,
pie. The woods were full, and they
came from all parts of the country
with great baskets and wagon loads
of good dinner to celebrate in royal
style the events of thirty years ago,
and do honor to the brave men who
left home, friends and loved ones,
sacrificing the comforts of life and
the joys of happy tireside to do bat
tie and suffer all the tOrtures OF a
cruel war for principle and Southern
honor--the Lost Cause-and yet a
cause not wholly lost.
The gathering was yariously esti-
mated from $500 to 5000 people.
There was no such thing as forming
correct idea of the crowd until din
ner time, when fully two acres OF
ground was literally jammed with
people, big, little, old and young
gathered around the magnificent
spread of all the good things
that could be desired.
ACORN ORCHARD
Is an historic spot to the people of
that vicinity. 1t is a place where
they love to gather and recount the
scenes of other days. 1t is located
near the Cheatham county line and
adjOins the farm of the Montgomery
county Asylum.
Some forty years ago the owner of
the land cleared off the underground
and every stick of timber on The
level hill top, except the big white
oak trees, which were numerous,
making a beautiful lawn, and af-
forded large masts for fattening hogs,
and which makes the sweetest meat
any one ever ate. Squire Ed. l.
Williams, who figured prominently
yesterday in the management of al
fairs, bought the land few years
later, and when the tocsin Of war was
sounded in 1861, turned the lot over
for drill grounds to Capt. /. B. Wal
ton, who raised one of the finest com.
panies in that vicinity that went into
the Confederate service, and il was
on this charming spot that DR.. Wal
ton drilled his splendid company OF
brave boys, and it was here the PEG
pie gathered almost daily with
anxious looks and prayful hearts t.
watch with pride the first military
education and performance of thei
gallant youth, whc afterwards won
high honors upon many fields OF
carnage. Thirty years ago, Sept. "a,
these boys were sworn into service in
the Acorn orchard and bid farewell
to home, going into camp at Camp
Cheatham, Robertson county, as com
pany G, in Quarles' regiment. How
the scene has changed How differ
ent are things now; no longer the
Acorn Orchard of thirty years ago,
but a vast wilderness, a thicket
of underground, small trees and
overshadowed by The
glory of those same old stately forest
oaks.
Still another scene in wide contrast
with the gatherings Of other days
sweet little babes, bright-eyed rollick.
ing children, beautiful lassies, happy
lads and fond mothers and fathers,
children and grandchildren, Of thC
boys and girls who gathered in the
old orchard at the sound of the drum
thirty years ago to witness the steady,
soldierly step of loved ones preparing
for the fray, altogether presenting q
sea of upturncd faces TO the speakers
stand that was beautiful to behold.
Mingled with these were those stur.
dy, Overshadowing old oaks Gall that
are left of them), the gray haired
veterans and heroes Of the Acorn
Orchard, whose presence, though
some were lame, was the glory of the
scene.
Among those still left Of the com
pany residing in the community we |
gathered the following names: DIR. |
|. b. Walton, captain of the COM
pany, and still an active, practicing
physician Capt. George w. Weak
ley, f. j. Gupton, j. d. Council, j
Ii. Balthrop, j, d. Nicholson, j. j.
Everett, w. II. Pace, j. w. Fielder,
q. f. Sherron, Barley Walker, Thos.
Miles, Jas. Kelley, G. p. Mallory,
Wash Stewart, d. G. Pardue, G. b.