The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-26
"ON TO RTCHNOND."
An Alabama Veterans Description OF
What He saw and Did at the Reunion.


What He saw and Did at the Reunion.
Editor of The Times:
Sir.-At 2.4O l.. NJ. June 10th. with
heart elatei end flled with dreams .,
pleasure In meeting old comrades,
boarded the train for Richmond TO tnc
L. &. V. reunion. Upon reaching AtiahIh
l began 10 meet Oil conrad IS. The hand-
shake and merry greeting went tn'
rounds II / missed shaking the hands
OF any one on train going or coming, l
am not aware OF II. and | take this OPP
portunity OF begging his pardon. be
sides discussing the events OF more tndih
thirty years ago and then GUESSING NhN
present hardtimes, We had 10 nave soho
amusement TO while away the time. J.
had To- tell all OF how / expected friend
whom | had never seen. They were de-
slrOus 10 understand how / would Know
him. by his knowing me. III ne naS
never seen. how can ne KNOW you L
wrote him 20 meet this train, ana 10 look
for the tallest lankcst and ugliest man
in tho crowd. and then he could maks
no mistake. Before | LEFT the steps OF
the car. Captain +. W. Sydnor, my iilthu.
STEPPED ny and said. y on are the ma
l am lOOking fOr-cOme on Lcdbetter.
But few can boast OF personal character
iStics that will enable them 10 be known
by strangers. Were not the rates pioP-
tiOus 10 me2 ! amused many comIaut9
by showing them the place where Anto-
uy's Ice Cream SalDll was ln war tlitlt1'
where 1 ate twenty-five saucers OF leo
cream and scytuty-iIye pieces or cake a.
ono sitting-nnd did not sit long.
Many OF the scenes about the city were
famlliar-lOokiug much as they ild tulI-
ty-three years ago. Among these mo
Capitol square. Jefferson DAVIS mansion,
bridge across Franklin street. the oll
railroad depot. &c. Spent saturday nlxht
in city very pleasantly AT the nome o.
Mr. L. r. Eubanks, sunday morning nl
company with my old friend ana com,
radc. jake Williams, was OF ior 'io
lattlonelds. ] met Mr. C.. b. Baseler, a
noble. true gentleman OF typical south
ern character. He carried VS. over the
battlefield al Gaines Mil As we pro-
ceeded. the scenes became iahitl'Hi
though thirty-fOur years almost 10 Il
day since 1 fen there wounied. ne
recollectlCns Of those days come troopinS
up. and tears Flow inyOimlatily. par
took OF Mr.. Baselers hospitality ahN
qnlrfanimOus generosity. lie Is truly ~
ROYAL host. He was the lcailhg nuSl-
clan in COrsc's Brigade, Army Northern
Virginia. lie played the last piece play
cd in the army 10 was, Hood-Dy' olu
boy. good by" as General Lee mounted
his horse and rOae away from Appomdt-
tOX. he RECALLED us with TINS anu man!
other picres on the same lnStiumtRI
used when bidding adicu TO our nome
and beloved chicftain. HIS noble Mlle
and lovely children partake fully of hii
mnunnuimOus nature. Win tears lh our
eyes ye hade him g0od-py with Il piVm-
Use 90 visit again. May heaven '""l'
est louOlictlOus cluster about nm d"A
his. and make their lives useful ana nap
by Also the other comrdles VINO d'
con pauicd MS. Messrs. Geo. H. Snllh anu
r. q. Fuller. / met Mrs. j. Nicholson
barney of Fredericksburg. She Is one
of the South's uoblest women. \ more
uleasaut. interesting, ana csImdhle I-uH
1 have never met May the iateS ued'
gently with this lovely anger on mel ~
and may the sunshine oil N9u iv. g.
D. .aNf nf
gagged bon gathering statisucs OF Sleitl,s
of kindness. utility. and interest," uulin6
tho war She promises 10 get the haIio
of the noble lady who gave me a pan
which 7 wore when wounded az James
Mill June p 1852 When We Wouli Know
of tho most generous and accomplishing
men. the uOble>t. pretuesi ana b,St w
men in the world. let MN 20 10 tte,.o5
mOud. Va for they are there. ENJOY t"
AN the ceremonies OF the reunion lll-
meusclv I met the famous scout. Jonh
Cusscn. one OF the noblest. puIest men
OF EARTH met j. g Sufiatt' I'ial't ~
the Inflated Mrs Surratt, who was naHs
sl lv the Fclcrals. Met FRANCES a.
W00lf. of Barlow. Fla. hero oil tNv
wars. lie was "A member or the #
Mississippi Regiment under Ooionel IL III,
went through tho entire war Win thr
Amy of Northern Virginia. am suiren
dored at Appropriations. Met t"e WI
his injury. Col j g.. Martin. 'har ,otlS,--
Vile. va. who was shot through inc
body and one can See through me "'l' o'
through a reed. Met many none com.
r3des too tedious 20 mention. II was Z.
grand love feast. SO 10 speak., n ieasi ol
reason and flow Of soul" All were "in-
,,lr. Goodwill was the ruling passion
of the occasion Those veterans VINO lalt
10 visi. these rcrnions miss the ereaiI,. ...,
events Of the age. Iney are enno.l. l,.-,,
ana olcvatinr. and besides carrying i".i'
back to the scenes Of 1sGi- L., "a, ana t9s
aer,i~.tfons and they go forth intN
tbc frtnre with renewed energies. con
flonce ln their cause. and trust ~ 1p,'.
ON the home run the parting OF com
-, gt fhe stations with henedictions.
Was IKE the par'inssl Inf, Of m sna tears 9
oo riir an we reached home. having
fourhf over the war again. AMI Weif
erected by friends and loved ones
'''' NJ r.. LEDBETIEh'
Piedmont. Ala. July i6. 1870.