Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-10-03
Echoes from tho Great Reunion

Echoes from tho Great Reunion.
Lewisburg has not in the memory of
the oldest inhabitaut seen such crowd
upon its streets as gathered here on
Wednesday Of last week, and not since
the war have there been seen at one
time here so many military men. The
procession was Of unusual LENGTH
When the head of the column turned
into the Fair Grounds the rear was
away down town, climbing the hill near
the Methodist church, nearly mile
away.
THE COMMANDER AND HIS STAFF.
Majoy b. f. Eakle, Commander Of
David S. Creigh Camp, with his new
rank Of Colonel and his three bright
collar stars, the ruling spirit of the oc-
casion, rode at the head of the column,
led by the brass band from Staunton,
with the three carriages containing the
speakers, Col. Chas. S. Peyton, Com
mander of the Mike Foster Camp, Ed
itor Johnston of the Monroe County
Waterman, Chaplain Dobbs and others.
Lieut.-Col. 5. w. n. Feamster led the
long line of cavalry. Capt. Alex. G.
Handley, of the 22nd Regiment, COM
manded the infantry. Capt. James
Knight formed the procession into line.
Capt. JAS. w. Johnston, of the Goth,
Lieut.. Commander of the Camp, had
charge of the escort of ladies who rode
with their esquires. and Col. J. w. A.
Ford, his assistant, made himself gen.
orally useful along the line.
EDGAR's BATTALION,
the largest infantry command present,
the same that thirty-three years ago
saved Lewisburg from the memorable
night attack of cavalry and sent them
| broken and defeated back to Charleston,
had the post of honor, and with 100 men
in line, under Capt. T. g. Morton, of
Staunton, the senior officer present, led
the column. This battalion and the
22nd Regiment following it. as they
marched between the double line of
cheering citizens on the sidewalks, were
frequently reminded of the summer
day 1858, when they marched through
the same streets returning from their
| signal victory oyer Averill at the White
Sulphur, saluted and cheered by the
grateful citizens as their saviours and
defenders. There were no gay stream
ers or fiag-bedecked arches overhead
then, but the "God bless yous" from
the gray haired old men and the way
lngs of handkerchiefs and glad smiles
of fair women made hearts feel prouder
then than ever before or since.
AT THE GBAND STAND
the crowd was a perfect crush-the
sight was impressive and the audience
splendid one. Every foot of space
under the roof was occupied. The es-
cort of ladies with their long red and
white sashes, circling the crowd, made
for it bright and pretty border, while
the old vets, with their badges and ban
ners, massed Oh the low seats on front
and packed right up to the speakers
stand, with their grey heads and white
boards and bronzed, upturned faces,
made up an audience we'll calculated
to inspire speaker or loosen an ora
tors tongue.
THE SPEECHES
were all good and appropriate. The
welcome from Mr.. John A. Preston,
brief, but timely, and from the heart :;
the introductions of Capt. Bumgardner
by Mr.. A. S. Johnston and of Mai.
Woods by Mr.. Il. III. Dennis, compll-
mentary, but not fulsome the address
of Capt. Bumgardnei, well prepared
and eloquent that of Maj. Woods, or
nate and Astounding in thrilling Incl
dents, in many of which his hearers had
participated, were all the right things
said at the right time and we'll suited
to the place. One incident during the
speaking is worthy of notice. The low
seats where the old veterans were
massed, overweighted, went down with
a crash to the ground. There were NO
women there TO scream for help, so the
old boys went down quietly with the
seats, and there they sat without even
an cutlery, many of them without a
change Of countenance or even moving
their eyes from the speakers face
They had heard many crash before.
and they had gone down, too. They
were used to it.
IN THE DINING HALL
was the grand climax. At the INVITA-
tion, the great crowd of veterans poured
into the building, and every man found
his place without confusion, and In o