Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-02


slant reminder OF the days he gave to the
defence Of the cause he loved dcarer than
life itself.
when the tocsin Of war was sounded
Mr. Hemphill was a youth Of - at his
home in Athens. the seat OF the State
University. Like the young men of Geor-
eia Virginia. and their sister states
young Hemphill thought life mere baga-
telle compared 10 the honor Of his home
and with the first beat of the drum ne
enlisted I'm the army, was ready for the
front and to the front he went. There
he remained without furlough or pay un-
I'll the second day Of Gettysburg, when ne
was carried from the field with half his face
apparently shot away. 1t was in the ar
tillery branch of the service young Hemp
hill enlisted, and in the famous Troup
Artillery-a company as famous in Geor-
gia. and Of which the State is as proud
as Virginlans are of the Richmond How
itzers-he fought throughout the war, eX-
cent while ne was in the hospital from
wounds. or in the prisons guarded by the
men against whom he was pitted
A SACRED CAUSE.
Virginians do not hold the cause for
which the veterans i'm that private car
fought more sacred than do the people OF
Georgia, so many Of whose sons now rest
in the soil of the Old Dominion IN whose
defence they gave their lives. SO II Is
that Georgia always sends large delesa-
ton TO these reunions ana theh loI 'he
rest of the year they THINK OF the next
reunion. when they shall meet to again
exchange greetings note the dwarfing OF
the line and count the missing For
months mast the veterans Of Georgia nave
been looking forward TO this encanlp-
ment with the most pleasant ANTICIPATION.
Manv have realized that II would, IN an
probability, be the last time they Wouiu
gather around the camp-iires win thcil
old comrades. while all have appreciated
the fact that at this meeting the mohu-
nent TO their great chieftain was to ne
.,,,-o,,ed Many too. who wanted to come
wore left at home because their purses
were not heavy enough TO warrant the
oxnense Of the trip, while many OF those
here are here through the Kindness OF
come comrade more fortunate as far as
money Is concerned. 80,
A week ago Colonel Hemphiil ATTENDED,
a meeting of the Confederate veteran
camp In Atlanta, at which the UP u
pichmond was discussed. and there as
certained that there were many VINO
conld NOT come because of their hnanclaI
condition. At the same time he observed
NV sreat would be the disappointment 10
those who could not see the cornerstone
OF the Davis monument LAID. lie hau
already decided TO attend himself Du'
when one veteran arose In the meeting
and with tears streaming down
his checks, remarked. Il want TO
co but can't / haven't the
money. But Ia willing charge them
heights again at Gettysburg to see the
cornerstone of that great mans statue
laid" the Colonel realized that ne ap-
nrociated the reunion less than others.
Colonel Hemphil heard the veteran
through He had been with him al Get
tvshure. and he knew what 1t was worth
20 charge those heights. for he had done
q himself. II was worth more IMAM
ticket 10 Richmond and return, ana
rising in his place. Colonel Hemphill said;
..IlI see that Brother oliver goes II !
have 10 stay at home myself"
CONFERRED WITH HIS WIFE.
That night Colonel Hemphill related the
incident to Mrs. Hemphill. for through lie
She mas been his confidant i'm all things,
and bv the time he had recalled more oil
those who were with him during the war
and who were unable 10 come TO kich-