The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-11-17
A GRAND REUNION AT CONWAY.

General Walker and Judge Hudson
Address Old CoInrades-Tho Tenth
and Twcnty-Sixth Regiments of
South Carolina.
In spite Of the wind and rain OF the
day before, and the threats of it's re-
turn in the morning, over $500 people
we're in the town of Conway on the 9th OF
November, many of them having driven
ten to fifteen and even twenty-five miles
20 participate in the pleasures Of the
day. They came from the quiet of
country homes to meet each other, the
veterans to enc old friendships,
their sons and daughters to form new
ones Old men came from the fircsides
to recall the camp fires Of army life,
from the plough handles to collect
again the memories Of q conflict OF
arms. But one could readily read in
the face and language of the veteran
that the man of var had become en-
tirely a man Of peace hat in his
mind sectional animosities have died
away as personal friendships of the
war have grown the stronger in peace.
The comradeship that was incidental
to the perfection of q machine of war
has become in peace the central idea
of an organized fraternity.
A stand had been built for the speak
ers, whore the veterans, their friends
n attendants were grouped to listen
to speeches from Gen. 9. |. Walker, of
Charleston, c~ommandant OF the South
Carolina Division, United Confederate
Veterans, and lieutenant colonel Of the
old 10th S. c.. w.; Judge J.. II. Hudson,
of Bennottsville, lieutenant colonel Of
the old Goth, both Of which regiments
contained companies from Horny.
nn~ TN~- Sr1, ,,~or,1- r A..
Confederate Veterans Association OF
Horny, introduced Gen. Walker, who
spoke in part as follows:
Comrades and Fellow Citizens: 1t
was at the sounding of the fret tocsin
of war, when the 10th South CAROLYN.
regiment assembled at Canp Marion,
that 1 first had the pleasure of meet
ingIa euGaiy number of the sons OF
Horny. During the loug and intimate
association of the four years during
which l had the privilege of being
with them, [ often heard warm and
enthusiastic descriptions of the beau
ties and charms of Conway. They
made me feel that | could not die
peacefully without having visited their
town Oh the banks of the Waccamaw.
Circumstances have heretofore pre-
vented me from carrying out my wish
to visit your lovely and venerable
town. | have been q busy man, bur-
deneded with many business cares, so
have not had the leisure given by
either wealth or poverty. The invita-
tion from the United Confederate Vet
Grams camc at d time when | could,
fortunately for me, accept it, and | am
with you to enjoy your bountiful hospi-
hands OF those comrades Of lS6l.5 who
have honored me with their confidence,
esteem and friendship. Thanks, com
rades, thanks, for your most hearty
and brotherly welcome.
Are we strangers? If such q feel ng
found a moments life in my heart your
welcome would have banished ct once.
But not for a moment can it be said
that the people of Horny and thch
brother Carolinians we're other than
the nearest OF kin and dearest of
friends. Have VIZ not worshipped and
fought for our dear old State, our
our heart beat in unison for her welfare
and glory? Have we not n common
heritage in the great deeds which
have illumined the proud cscutcheon
Of South Carolina?
Beyond all this, which so intimately
unites all the sons Of South Carolina,
there is a stronger tie, which draws
me closer and closer to you, the good
people OF Horny. BY the glorious
deeds of your heroes OF the Confeder-
acy who were my comrades; by the ten
der care Of your fair daughters, who
gently nursed to strength the sick and
wounded, my comrades; by the dan
gers, the trials, the victories and the
defeats which the gallant men of Com
panies b. G. G. and M. 10th South
Carolina regiment, bravely met by my
side; by my very blood, mingled with
that OF the sons Of Horny, shed in de-
fence OF our Gresides, our women and
IL God-givon rights, 1 can always
claim myself not a stranger to anyone
in Horny, but a friend, q comraae, q
brother.
Feeling thus, my comrades, OF the
many thoughts which the mere men,
ton of the 10th South Carolina regi-
ment brings to my mind, [ can not re-
strain myself from giving utterance to
Il few of these glorious memories of q
glorious past. Never can [ forget the
associations, tho events, tho life, of
those thrilling days. At Camp Marion
we had our play soldering, however
earnestly wo may have been working,
preparing ourselves for au honorable
and useful place in that bloody drama
OF war in which we acted our part. 1t
w~asstherc good, brave old Captain A.
H. johnson drilled his then updrilled
and undisciplincd men. There he and
his officers worked hard TO get them
into tactical snape aud worked under
the greatest Of Ginicultics-they had
first to lenrn VIVA they had afterwards
to teach their men. There it was that
Col. Manigault told him to change the |
direction of his company's march, and, |
mol being up In tactical lore, he quiet.
ly ordered, Cousin Armidie, (all OF
Company @ were, / believe, brothers
or cousins slant Il lcetle TO tho right
But, afterwards, when the enemy was
In front, notnCapt. Johnson, not Cousin
Armidie, no a man OF Company
wanted to slant" but they always
marched straight forward towards
taeir foe.
With Capt. w. j. Tolar and Com
pany b on tho loft of the regiment we
always felt absolutely sure that our
left flank would never be turned. Com
panies G and M as bravely maintained
their part Of the line when advancing
or repulsing an attack.
Pardon me, comrades, | named Capt. |
w. j. Tolar. ] CANNOT pass his name
without paying my tribute to 80 bril-
liant, reliable, stanch, fearless, intel
ligent and valuable an officer and 30
noble a man. True as steel, algays
ready for duty, and tho creator the
danger the more willing to undertake
II, kind, careful of and loving TO his !
men, his sterling character and loving
nnn1a yunt fnr HIM the raanoot nu1