The Russellville Democrat., 1893-09-14
Ex-coNFEDERATE REUNION.
A Big Crowd, A Big Dinner and Big
 Occasion.

A Big Crowd, A Big Dinner and Big
 Occasion.
 The Ex-Confederate reunion or last Saturday was one of those large occasions that make you feel impo | tent to describe. Your very best vocabulary of words seems so utter lly poor that it makes you feel like you were belittling it by an attempt to describe it in ordinary language the only one at command. And yet it was so delightful, and filled the heart so full the mouth can but speak of it.
 The reunion was held at this par ticnlar time for the immediate pur- pose of perfecting an organization and preparation for the annual en component at Bentonville on the 26th, 27th and 2Sth of the present month, and also for the purpose of a permanent organization in the county.
 Early Saturday morning the town began filling up with these old vet erans from all parts of the county, anxious to met their old comrades in arms and to join them in an or ganization that will insure an an nual reunion of the "boys in grey from this time on till the last one is called over the river If you want to see jovial, good humored and enthusiastic crowd, wait till you see a crowd of ex-confederates. Their very reverses and sacrifices which they have been called on to make in the past, seem to have made them large-hearted and royal enough to laugh off any sort of calamity, and trample upon any sort of trouble. You couldn't look at the crowd of men in the courthouse on last Sat urday and tell they had ever been subject to defeat Their manhood was left to them unsullied because it was numbers they bowed to, and not prowess Odds considered they had more to boast of in defeat than their victors in victory. At any rate the bystander could not have detected by act or word but what he was among men who achieved their very highest ambitions in war.
 At 10 o'clock the house was call to order by Judge G. W Bergman, and the enrolment of names began and continued for an hour and until 166 names had been enrolled We will give the roll of names next week. Upon the completion of the enrolment an election of officers was held, resulting as follows:
 Judge Caleb Davis, 1st Comman- der.
 Capt J. R. H. Scott, 2d Com mander.
 Hon. W. L. Sibley, sd Command CT
 R. B. Hogins, Lieut.. Command CT.
 T. H. Elgin, Adjutant.
 D. c. Brown, Quartermaster.
 Dr. J. M. Yancey, Surgeon.
 Dr. c. L. Kirkscey, Asst. Surgeon.
 Rev. c. w Boyles, Chaplain.
 Capt. w M. Peeler, Officer-of the Day.
 James F. Darr, Treasurer.
 Capt. J. W. Russell, Sergeant Ma jor.
 At this point Hon. Jordan E. Crayens, of Clarksville, the orator of the day, was introduced and held the boys for an hour in the sweet embrace of an orators power His address was that of an able, loyal vet eran whose feet had trod the path that gave inspiration to his tongue. His tributes to southern chivalry were strong, but not more so than true, Many times during its deliy- cry did he meet the hearty response of his audience as evidenced by the rounds of applause which he receiv- ed.
 At the conclusion of Col. Craven's speech another feature of the days success was announced, and the ex- soldiers were soon placed in line by the officer of the day, assisted by his adjutant, ready for the march, with the Atkins band at their head, to the old factory building, where gen erosity sanctified by female beauty and
 and devotion was as large as these old ex confederate hearts could de- sire. Do you ask ifthese specimens of southern manhood and southern soldiery, were appreciated by our peoplef Go look at the dinner that awaited them with fair hands to answer every beck and call. The line of march was formed in front of the courthouse. Marched up Main to Jefferson, out Jefferson to David, out David to the factory building. Here by means of counter march they were brought up and in con tact with the .commissary stores which friends had deposited there, and true to their soldier instinct, they made full proof of an ex-con- federate appetite very much at va riance with tull many an occasion before at other points their maneu- yering may have been faulty, but in this you had but to look on to see they were perfect.
 The many expressions of appre- citation which we heard falling all around us was an adequate reward for the laherious zeal and the care ful interest which our women had taken in this occasion. There is nothing that lies quite so close to the hant Of frua cortharu 4~~,,.o.. z. ,.