The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-02
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The Reunion OF Confederate Veterans
Some Things We Saw and Some Obser-
yatioas on the Trip-The Newberry
Party Delighted.

The Reunion OF Confederate Veterans
Some Things We Saw and Some Obser-
yatioRs on the Trip-The Newberry
Party Delighted.
I made brief mention last week Of
the delegates from Newberry for the
Reunion of Confederate Veterans held
in Birmingham, Ala. Our trip was
made in safety. From Atlanta We
went by tho Georgia Pacific, portion
Of she Richmond & Danville system.
The service was good and we arrived
at II o'clock the same night. AS our
train rolled in there was booming Of
cannon and the band was playing
Dixie. The city was full of people.
We soon had quarters for all Of our
party at the Florence House, except
Capt. Schumpert and myself, who Sc
cured room at the private residence
of Mr.. Finley. Our sojourn was very
pleasant.
On the outgoing trip we were joined
by many South Carolinians aud we
had no occasion at any time to feel like
strangers in strange land. There are
certain things that have a tendency to
make all the world feel akin, and the
trials and hardship of camp life is one
of those things, so far as it concerns
those who endured them, and the rest
Of US soon caught the inspiration.
It is matter of sincere and deep felt
regret to all Sonth Caroliniaps who
were present and not only to them, but
toveteraps from all of the States repre-
sented, that Gen. Wade Hampton was
not present. It would have done his
heart good to know and hear and feel
the enthusiasm that was created at the
bare mention of his name. From the
expressions that have heard and the
demonstrations 7 have seen the con-
clusion is inevitable that in all the
Southland no Confederate hero is held
in higher esteem and his presence
would have added great interest to
this gathering. When Gen. Under
wood in his address referred to letter
he had from Gen. Hampton saying
that he would be in Chicago on the
Goth Of May to make sn address in
connection with ceremonies appropriate
to the Confederate monument erected
in that city, there was a spontaneous
outbreak of enthusiasm and the wig
wan fairly shook with the old Confe-
derate yell. It was the same thing
coming over on the train from Atlanta.
Speaking of Gen. Hampton, I want
to say that I had the pleasure of meet
ing Gen. Miller, of Florida, who, by
the way, looks very much like General
Hampton, and who tells me he has
often been taken for him, and he too
expressed sincere regret that Hampton
was not here. He says that last year
be went all the way to the meeting of
Survivors in Augusta for the main pur-
pose Of meeting and doing honor to
Hampton. Is it not strange that the
vicissitudes of politics in our State
should have turned down man,aEd for
no cause, who is SO honored and revered
and beloved throughout this entire
Southland?
We had on our train General C. A.
Evans, whom all the Georgians talked
with say is to be the next Governor Of
Georgia. I do not know his comp etitor,
but from what I saw of him Geoagia
will make no mistake in elevsting such
a man TO the Governors chair. I
could not help wishingif We are to have
an Evans for Governor in South Caro-
lima that only we had one like unto the
Evans of Georgia-as gentle and kind
and humble as a child, and withal as
brave and courageous as it is necessary
for man to be. That is the impression
I formed from short interview with
hin.
We also had on the train DR.. J. w.
Jones, who was chaplain under Lee
He is enthusiastic on the subject of
history of the United States for use in
our schools, written by Southern man
and published by a Southern house,
that will give the South justice, and
when the admirable report of the COM
mittee on that subject was submitted by
Gen. S. D. Lee, DR.. Jones made al
inpassioned appeal on the subject,
which seemed to have a response in
every heart present.
The only idea in the plan is that the
South shall have justice and be given
the credit that is due for the part she
has taken in making the history of this
country, not only in reference to the
late war, but from the formation ofthe
Constitution, one that will give our
children the correct statement Of the |
causes that led to the war. hope that
the full text of the report of the COM |
mittee will be given wide circulation. |
1t is a good paper and needs to be read |
by every Southern man who has any
patriotism in his bosom.
The old Confederates are not all dead |
yet. Any one who was present at Bir-
mingham can testify to this fact, and |
I hope the spirit which actuated those
who had a part in that greatest of
struggles may never die. 1t was an III
spiratlou to be present at this meeting,
and so closely did attend the SESSIONS
Of the meeting that saw but little of
the city of Birmingham. I delighted
to look in the faces of those old vet