The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-11-19
n GRAND REUNION AT CONWAY
General Walker and Judge Hudson
Address Old Comradcs-Thc Tenth
and Twcnty-SiNth Regiments OF
South Carolina.

South Carolina.
In spite Of the wind and rain of the
day before, and tho threats of it's re-
turn in the morning, over $500 pcopl,
were in the town Of Conway on the 9th OF
November, many OF them having driven
ten to tifteen and even twenty-five miles
20 participate in the pleasures OF the
day. They came from tho quiet OF
country homes to meet each other, the
veterans to renew old friendships,
thcir sons and daughters to form now
ones. Old men came from the tircslucs
to recall the camp fires Of army life,
from the plough handles to collect
again tho memories OF conflict OF
arms. But one could readily read in
tho face and language of the veteran
that the man of war had become en-
tircly q man OF peace that in his
mind sectional apimOsitics have died
away as personal friendships of tho
war have grown the stronger IN peace.
The comra0eship that was incidental
to the perfection OF a machine OF war
has become in peace the central idea
Of an organized fraternity.
A stand had been built for the speak
crs, whore the Veterans, their friends
and attendants wcro grouped to listen
to speeches from Gen. 6. |. Walker, Of
Carolina Division, United Confederate
Veterans, and lieutenant colonel OF the
old 10th S. G.. V. ; Judge }. IL. Hudson,
OF Bcpncttsvillc, lieutenant colonel Of
the old 26th, both OF which regiments
contained companies from Horny.
Hon. Jcrc Smith, president of the
Veterans Association of
Horny, introduced Gen. Walker, who
spoke in part as follows:
Comrades and Fellow Citizens: tt
was at the sounding Of the first tocsin
Of war. when tho 10th South Carolina
regiment assembled at Camp Marion,
that | first had tho pleasure Of meet
ing IL goodly number Of the sons of
Horny. During the loug and intimate
association Of the four years during
which had the privilege of being
with thcm, | often heard warm and
enthusiastic descriptions of the beau
tics and charms Of Conway. They
made me feel that | could not die
without having visited their
town on tho 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-
dencdcd 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 u time when | could,
fortunately for me, accept it, and am
with you to enjoy your bountiful hospi-
tality. am with you to grasp tho
hands Of those comrades of lS6i-5 who
have honored me with their confidence,
esteem and friendship. Thanks, com
rades, than ks, for your most hearty
and brothcrly welcome.
Are we strangers If such feel ng
found u moments life in my heart your
welcome would have banishcd at once
But not for a moment can it be said
that the people Of Horny and their
brother CarOlinians were other than
the nearest Of kin and dearest Of
friends. Have we not worshipped and
fought for our dear old State, our
common mother? Has not ever pulse Of
our heart beat in unison for her welfare
and glory? Have VIC not common
heritage in the great deeds which
have illumned the proud escutchcon
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
uccuS vi YOUR ncfOcS VI VIC Soulcu
acy who were my comrades; by the ten
der care Of your fair daughters, who
gently nursed to strength the sick ant!
wounded, my comrades; by the dan.
gers, the trials, the victories and the
defeats which the gallant men Of Com
panics B. G.. G.. and NJ. 10th South
Carolina regiment, bravely met by my
side; by my very blood, mingled with
that Of the sons Of Horny, shed in dc
fence Of our lrcsidcs, our women and
our GoG-givcn rights, | can always
claim myself not a stranger to anyone
in Horny, but Il friend, a comraue, a
brother.
Feeling thus, my comrades, OF the
many thoughts which the mere men
ton Of the 10th South Carolina regi-
mcnt brings to my mind, can not re-
strain myself from giving utterance to
a few Of these glorious memories OF a
glorious past. Never can forget the
those thrilling days. At Camp Marion
We had our play soldering, however
earnestly VIC may have been working,
preparing ourselves for an honorable
and useful place in that bloody drama
Of war in which we acted our part. 1t
was there good, brave old Captain A.
Il. Johnson drilled his then undrillcd
and undisciplincd men. There he and
his officers worked hard to get them
into tactical shape and worked under
the greatest Of ditliculties-they had
first to learn what they had afterwards
to teach their men. There it was that
Col. Manigault told him to change tho
direction Of his company's march, and,
not being up in tactical loro, hc quiet.
ly ordered, "Cousin Armidie, (all OF
Company G were, believe, brothers
or cousins,) slant a lcetle to tho right
But, afterwards, when the enemy was
in front, not Capt. Johnson, not Cousin
Armidic, not a man Of Company G
wanted to slant" but they always
marched straight forward towards
thcir foe.
With Capt. w. j. Tolar and Com
pany B on the left Of the regiment we
always felt absolutely sure that our
left flank would never be turned. Com,
panies G and Nj as bravcly 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 so bril-
liant, reliable, stanch, fearless, intel
ligcnt and valuable an officer and sc
noble Il man. True as steel, always