The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-09-12
Enjoy 81 Pleasant Reunion in Johnson
city Last Thursday.

with their families and their friends
families, making altogether between
) 600 and 5000 people in the city.
There was considerable sprinkling
Of federal veterans present who were
equally welcome and enjoyed the day
fully as much as the men who wore
the gray. Johnson City was in gala
attire, being beautifully decorated
with flags and bunting, and did her
self proud.
The headquarters of the association
located in the Harr block, oppo-
site the Southern depot. 1t was beau.
tifully decorated with the stars and
stripes and bunting of red, white and
blue. Evergreen decorations sprink.
led with flowers were also neatly ar
ranged in the hall. The portraits of
Grant and Lee, side by side, were a
notable attraction in the hall, while
on the wall in front of the entrance
was displayed in large letters the word,
"WELCOMEw
Among the noted men present
were Gen. John B. Gordon and Com
mander John c. Brain, the last con-
tederate prisoner who did not know
the war was over for four years.
The crowd was estimated at from
1000 to 5000 people,
THE EXERCISES
were conducted in Loves grove, q
beautifully shaded park IN the heart
OF the city. A great crowd gathered
to hear the speaking and At 10 80 a.
M, the interesting program commenc.
ed.
In front Of the stage were fourteen
beautifully dressed young maidens
bearing white and pink flags repre-.
senting the Southern States.
On the stage were the president and
secretary of the association, the mayor
of the city, the speakers aud promi
nent citizens, and last but not least
prominent, some of Johnson City's
loveliest young ladies.
The Johnson City brass band dis
coursed lively music.
The president, w. A. Kite, Of John
son City, called the seventh confeder
ate veterans reunion to order. The
chaplain, Rev. G. d. French, led in an
appropriate and touching prayer.
A chairman of the day was elected
in the person Of Capt. F. NJ. Kelsy, Of
Greeneville j. II. McClister, of Morris
town, was elected secretary. cole
Dixie" with all its old time sweetness
and charms, was played. by the band
The welcome by Mayor HsC. Hart
was rendered, introducing xGov
Robt. L. Taylor. Mr.. Taylor said:
"Ladies and gentlemen and Mr.
Chairman-The pleasant duty of Civ
ing you welcome into our city hal
been assigned to me. 1t is not neces
sary for me to go through the formal
ty Of addressing you. The happy face
Of these fair women, of this magnifi
cept audience, breathes a welcome
The leaves Of the trees whisper vel
come. The brook ripples welcome ant
everything about US proclains hear
ty welcome to every soldier whethe
he wore the blue or the gray
In the course of this beautiful word
painting the choir behind the speake
on the stage sang "My Country, I'll
of Thee" and the Bonnie Blue Flag,
TIE response was made by Prof.
l., Bachman, of Sweetwater.
In the course of his remarks he sal
that while we loved the old confedel
ate flag in the days when we Tough
under it with a feeling of conscious
ness that We were right, yet when "
see the flag of our country unfolde
with its stars and stripes in all il
beauty we would not hesitate in
time of its peril to rally and marc
under it and stand for its protection
The address aboundcd in beautifl
flights of oratory, occasionally sprinl
led with enough of the spice of aneC
dote to make it lively. In conclusio
he said "But there were those on tn
federal side who were just as homes
just as courageous, just rs brave, an
let us stretch our right hand aero
and take them BY the hand for IL
upbuilding of this great and GOO
country. Set over on one side son
sheaves for the blue, set over on tt
= other side some sheave, for the grs
and when the great harvest comes Il
Great Commander will open the gat,
above for the final union of both Il
blue and the gray"
The greeting from N. B. Fore
Camp, Chattanooga, by T. DickinsC
was then rendered. He cordially i
vited al! to the ded cation of Il
Chickamauga-C Chattanooga Nation
Military Park, which he said was to