Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-02-26
pared to attend the grand reunion

Heaven.
Twenty-one little girls of the public
school were then marched upon the stage
and following the piano ACCOMPANIMENT by
their teacher, Miss Matte Dashiel, sang the
first stanza of the "Bonnie Blue Flag, which
was waved by little girl dressed in Whit
and blue representing the first state that
4 seeded from the union, and following in
the order in which they seeded as the song
proceeded they came cut from behind the
scenes and Joined in the chorus until there
were representatives of all the seeding
states uniformly dressed, taking their places
in front of the 81 girls of q larger size that
had began the song. AS each representa-
tive Joined the Confederacy, the old Yeter-
ans rent the air with their war cry.
Judge Garrett next introduced Col. D. G.
Giddings, who referred first to the appropri-
steness of this historic ground, from which
the declaration of Texas Independence emf
mated, for this reunion, and warmly well
coined them, extending them a welcome as
warm, true. cordial and tender as mother
extends her arm around son returning
from battle. He referred to the fact that
back of these veterans was no government to
erect monuments to their memory, but that
their record of heroic deeds stood as mon
ument to them, which was more lasting than
brass, more enduring than marble. He ex-
tended the hand of welcome across the
chasm to the ex-Federals and paid a
glowing tribute to the true soldier Of both
armies, which he characterized as the high
est type OF manhood. He beseeched them
to keep alive the memory of the past strug
giles, for its principles we're that of local self
government the same the union should now
be permitted to re-instate to its former posi-
ton, a government not of force, but by and
for the people, for the strength of govern,
ment lies in such equal distribution OF bur-
dens that there is. no complaint. He con-
demned allacts not justified by civil warfare
and gave each side, who looked through the
sights of gun barrels at each other, equal
honesty and sincerity of purpose and
thought, though We owed no apology to
anybody. -.. -. --.
The response to the address of welcome
was delivered by Major j. NJ. Crosson, of
Livingston, but owing to the deafening ap-
plause the reporter was unable to catch
enough of the address to give synopsis of
it, from which the readers can form fair
conception of it. He referred touchingly to
the heroes of the war that reside here, and
when he referred to the gallant Tom Green,
one whose name was written upon the
scroll of Confederate heroes, the Opera house
shook with applause. He extended his for
giveness to the Federals, but asserted that
they were wrong. He branched off on the
force bill and bit It blow below the belt,
andsaid he hoped to see it sunk so deep in
obliyioA that the eye of fancy might
never reach Ii. The principles for which he
Lad fought were home and liberty, and if
they. were overwhelmed by numbers the
effect of it was now passing away and we
were united people dovetailed SO that we
were inseparable. He then paid a glowing
tribute to the fair ladies present and closed
with tribute to the veterans present. 1t was
the spontaneous outburst of an overlooking
heart, delivered without preparation, for he
took. the place of Hon. Seth Shepard who
was unable to attend.
The orator of the occasion, Judge S. R.
Blake, of Bellville, was next introduced, and
spoke on 1.-THE Achievements of Green's
Brigade" HIS address was from manu-
SCRIPT and will be published in future issue
hence we refrain from giving synopsis, but
suffice it to say it was gem.
Following the Grafton was the reading of
the appended poem by Miss Jesse Cakes,
the beautiful and accomplished daughter Of
Captain, P. ]. Oakes, of Columbus
ODE TO GREENS BRIGADE.
Behold that barge upon the tide,
That, smooth and quiet seems TO glide
Gondola-like, with but one oar
Its rudder CRATES upon the shore.
i seems alone upon the stream
Whose turbid waters rush and CLEAN;
Nor looks the sentinel that halls
From any shore where war prevails.
While all on board droop calm and still,
As though of strife they feel no thrill,
And silent wait till clarion words
Shall bid them raise their cruel swords.
When soon we hear the signal gun
Proclaim aloft the strife begun
While answering cannon believing roar
On narrowing barges down the shore.
And soon the belching thunderS roll
As II to sound from pole to pole;
And foemen stand upon each PROV
Like pines upon the mountains brow.
And we brave comrades drawn in line,
Are there al mOrn's first bluShing shine
And stand where bullets showering fly
Like meteors through midnight sky.
And Green, Oh, Fates. we see him now,
With calm, brave mien and placid brow,
Ride up and down with e'er fear
Tho knowing well that death was near.
All! giant-hearted, brave Tom Green
Who deemed all towards low and mean
And only worth place in earth
To hide from all that knew their birth
His manly tones had cen trill
Whose echoes live in memory still;
Whatever zone, whatever cline,
lis ours through all the years Of time