The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-16
"DIxIE BOYs' " REUNION.
1t Was Their First Since the Ending
of the Civil War.

OF the CtNtI war.
Thomasville, Ca, Sept 15-The Dixie
Boys" Company A, Georgia Volunteers,
held a reunion in this city yesterday,
the first since they surrendered with
Johnston in 1865. The company left
Townsville on Oct. s. 1861. and fought
throughout the war, taking part in many
bloody battles. There were 119 men in
the company, during the four years
fighting, many of them never returned
to their homes.
ID. l.. Temple opened the exercises yes
terday by reciting very feelingly THE
Last Roll Call" Then j. O. j. Lewis
called the company roll. Nineteen vet
Grams responded. They are: r. Smith.
James S. Smith, w. NJ. Smith, j. w.
Patterson, ]. 0. J. Lewis. N. S. Brown,
w. IL. Bib. v. l.. Bibb. A. b. Cone, j.
G. Miles, John Phillips, w. II. Rowland,
]. c. Standard, John Culpepper. John
Standard, J. S. Smith, Lewis Vann, Sgd
ney Williams.
Col Robert c. Mitchell made patri-
otto and eloquent address of welcome. Col.
A. t. MacIntyre Sr., and Judge II. w.
Hopkins also made appropriate speeches.
The old banner of the company inscribed
d. b. and beneath Victory or Death"
fioated above the little band, who carried
ii away 81 years ago fresh and clean. 1t is
now IhlIeiGu ana TORN anu pierced Dy nun
dreds of bullets, torn by shells and worn
TO shreds 1t was borne in the last charge,
by Underwood, who fell in that battle.
His son, +. r. Underwood, owns II now
At that time it was the regimental flag.
The flag was made by Mrs. James l.. Sc
ward, now an aged lady still living in this
city. She was the wife of the late James
L. Seward, and was presented by her
daughter, Miss Matte Seward, now Mrs
Johnson of California, in little speech to
the company on Aug. 10, 1861. The stars
on the banner We're painted there by Mrs
Armstrong. who still resides in this city
She was then a very young girl. The let
tering was done by the late j. l.. Wallcott
The old flag, torn and shot to pieces as it
was, but never captured, was pathetic in
its silent eloquence. Strong men almost
wept as they gazed upon its riven folds
and thought of those who poured out their
life blood to maintain it unsullied.
w. l.. Bibb and w. ii. Bibb are father
and son. The old and the young went out
together in that awful struggle, for even
the children were not spared. Young Bib
| was scarcely fifteen when he marched
| away. The complete roll of I19 men is be-
| fore your correspondent. on it are six
| Standards. four Cones. five Growers,
| four Phillips.
! OF the 11s. only q are now living of the
/ original company. Only six were present
| to-day. A letter was read from Robert
| II. Harris. the Dixie Boys last captain
| He is now distinguished divine, and his
| ministerial duties prevented his attend
ance.
The company went out under Capt L.
| c. Bryant who died some years ago in
/ Savannah. j. B. Oliverus, John Mcleod.
4 Joseph Stallings. T. 1. Humphreys, Red
4 den Smith, E. T. Davis, r. II. Harris,
/ William NJ. Smith. T. J. Ponder, ]. w
! Patterson served as ieutenants. ]. o. J.
/ Lewis and Mike Bryan as sergeants. w.
/ NJ. Smith acted as spokesman for the
/ company to-day.
/ The exercises were characterized by the
/ best of feeling, there being no bitterness
/ over the past. Many went up and shook
I the hands of the men who wore the gray.
His old companions We're entertained at
i dinner to-day by Sydney Williams, who
+ still attests his fidelity and courage by
moving through life on one leg.
/ An effort Will be made to secure the old
/ flag for Thomasville, where it will be I'M
/ furled in future reunions There cannot
be many more, for the ranks are thinning
fast.