The leader., 1897-07-21
CONFEDERATE REUNION.
The Old soldiers of the 2and Mississippi
Have n Great Time at Monticello.


The Old Soldiers of the aand Mississippi
Have Great Time at Monticello.
EDITOR OF THE LEADER:-Last Tues
day 18th inst.) will be day long re-
membered by the people of the grand
old county of Lawrence. Early in the
morning, the people began to gather
from different parts of the county to
participate in a reunion of the Con-
federatc veterans, something long de-
sired, but which never before assumed
shape.
1t appears that there was misun-
understanding with some of the old
Vets. as to the nature and object of
the meeting. Some came with two
days rations, provender, etc, for their
teams, while others did not so under
stand, it and hence this feature of the
meeting was abandoned The people
poured into the court house as long as
there was standing room. At the prop
er time, the splendid brass band from
Simpson county struck up on Dixie,
which brought forth repeated Rebel
yells which seemed to almost lift the
roof off the house.
The welcome address was eloquently
delivered by G.. \. Teunisson, Jr., a
bright student of the a. & NJ. College
at Starkyille. Dir. G.. A. Teunisson
then introduced Rev. Mr.. Scarborough,
of Bogue ChittO, and said of him that
being member of the same company
with him in the army, he knew him to
be as brave lad as ever shouldered a
musket. Mr.. Scarborough then pro-
ceeded to make what many of us be-
lieve to be the speech Of his life. He
held the great audience at his own will
for one hour and twenty-five minutes.
We laughed and we cried and went
away rejoicing that Lawrence county
may we'll feel proud of him as her
worthy son i'll exile. May the people
deal gently with him whithersoever his
lot may be cast. Below l quote from
memory few of his sayings:
1--WE are not here to discuss the po-
litical issues of - years ago, but to
rejoice in the record we made while
the other fellows were doing US up"
"35 years ago the North and the South
formed debating society on the great
question of States Rights, the North
taking the negative, the South the af-
tirmatiye. The question was decided
in favor of the negative, and | imme-
diately laid down my gun and have
never belonged to IA debating society
since"
THE arguments we held forth at Ma
nassas, Shiloh, Gettysburg, around
Richmond, Franklin, Chickamauga and
many other places where we met to
discuss the political issues of the day,
shows that our Southern people had
convictions, with a right good smath-
ering of courage to back them up"
"Any man who wouldn't fight for his
country is mean enough to chunk his
grand d-mother's dog"
"An Irishman from Lawrence county
joined the Confederate army and was
asked why he would hazard his life for
country in which he had nothing at
stake. He promptly replied, Faith
and bejasus if | were i'll HI and liked
the country, would fight for the devil.
His explanation was satisfactory"
'In poverty and rags many of us re-
turned home and in the GATEWAY our
loved ones met us, planted kisses of
welcome upon our cheeks and said
You have done well, we will trust you
still"
"Many aged mothers are yet weeping
over the absence of their beloved sons
whose bones have long ago bleached on
some far-away battlefield"
"We never did rebel against the Unit.
ed States Government. We only asked
for letters of dismiSsion, but were in
such good standing and fellowship
with our Northern brethren they
kicked"
"Will some one please write to oul
Northern brethren Hon. Mr.. S. waved
a United States flag that we are here
today, not as Confederate soldiers, but
as loyal citizens of the United States
Tell them that under these colors we
are doing business at the same old
stand, and if they need anything in oul
line they are at liberty to draw on US
as it we're"
"My comrades of the 22nd Mississip
pi, we fought much, we suffered much,
but it had to be a mighty rainy day il
any of us went to bed hungry"
Mr.. S. having delivered his speech
DR.. G.. a. Teunisson, the old orderly
Sergeant of Co. A., 22nd Mississippi
came forward, and after a few very
touching remarks, with fearful eyes he
called the old company roll, when Is
answered to their names. A Veteran
Camp was then organized, consisting
of GA, and will be known as the M. A
Oatis Camp of U. G. V.
Capt. Archie Fairly was elected Com
mander, and Dr. G.. A. Teunisson Ad
jutant. Thus closed one of the bes
days known to Monticelly in man!
years.
SPECTATOR.
| Monticello. Miss. July IA. 1897