The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-29
VETERANS AT A FEAST.
Maj. Ryals Royalty Entertains His old
Comrades in Arms.

N0--NaAE1 ia EAAAArs
The severe cold did not keep the con-
federate veterans away fro.i the house OF
Mai. Ryals last night. The veterans had
done duty on the fields Of Virginia on
colder nights than last night. and little
cold was not going 10 keep them away
from the home OF a cOmrade. especially
when they knew what kind Of forage to
expect
The veterans were present 20 the number
Of seventy-fve or more. and there has
certainly been no gathering during the
holidays which was more thoroughly en-
1oyaole. They were as jolly a lot OF gray
headed and baldheaded old boys as ever
got together. They were received by Mai.
Ryals, his brother, Mr.. L. II. Ryals, and
the majors three sons, Messrs. James W,
Edwin and Sidney Ryals. and were made
10 feel at home at once. The veterans
were delighted to find that Gen. Lafayette
McLaWs had braVed the weather and was
one OF the guests Of the occasion. Gen.
McGlashan was another hOnOred guest
and a number of prominent veterans were
present. Everyone seemed 10 feel at
home from the moment he entered the
house and the occasion was thoroughly
enjoyed. The veterans fought their bat
ties over together and many old war sto-
ries and campfire jokes were told. Cant
Mike Usina was voted TO be the youngest
man in the crowd. For that matter the
veterans are as hearty a looking lot OF
middle aged men as could be gathered to-
gether anywhere and are good for many
years yet, even If they do not draw pen
sions.
Supper was served early and a splendid
repast II was. Oysters, barbecued pork.
roast turkey Virginia ham. chicken salad
and numerous other things were supplied
in profusiOn and the LIQUID refreshments
included rye whisky, apple Jack, port,
sherry, coffee and butterlnills. The lat
ter was for those who did not prefer any
thing stronger. The cavalrymen especlal-
II partook freely of the buttermilk and
said that 1t reminded them OF the DAYS
when they skirmished ahead of the army
and drank up all the buttermilk before
the veterans arrived. 1t took sometime
to dispose of the bounteous repast and
when everyone else had been served Mai
Ryals himself sat down and showed that
ne knew how 10 appreciate good things as
well as any of the guests Between bites
the major told stories of the DAYS when he
was a dashing cavalryman i'm Virginia
He was quite light weight in those davs.
only weighing 200 pounds and acknowl-
edged that he knew how to hug the ground
as wen as anyone.
At 1880 o'clock the veterans filed into
the dining room, headed by Rev. DR..
Goodwin, who in their behalf expressed
their appreciation of the generous hospi-
tality and the kindly reception which they
had met Or. Goodwin said that in no
other country than America could such a
scene bewitnessed, where officers Of dis
tineton and privates from the ranks who
had fought together in one of the great
est conflicts of history were gathered to-
gether IN social Reunion as comrades
and brothers. He concluded by wishing
that Maj. Ryals shadow might never grow
less and that all present might be gath
cred in many such happy Christmas en-
tertainments.
Maj. Ryals made n warm and feeling
reply TO Or. Goodwin's remarks. He said
1t was one of the greatest pleasures Of his
life to have his old comrades partake of
his hospitality and that he considered the
presidency of the Confederate Veterans
Association a greater honor than to be
governor of Georgia. The veterans parted
from their host with many expressions of
good will and hearty appreciation Of his
hospitality