The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-22
SOUTH SIDE VETERANS.
A FINE REUSION BY i. a. ARMf-
STEAD GIMP.
A Living Member Poses as a Statue to Rep.
resent the Proposed Monument-Their
Old Cavalry Commander.


Thursday tho fifth annual reunion OF L.
a. Armistoad Camp G. ", took place
here. The meeting was one Of the best,
largest and most harmonious ever held
by the camp. Captain r. u. Jcffress re-
ported having collected forty dollars.
which he asked might be placed IN bank
10 he used especially for the completion
Of the monument
The Camp elected the following officers
20 serve for the ensuing year: G. Alexand-
-, commander. r. ID. Joffross. first lieu
tenant-commandor: G. +. Tarry. second
acknowledgements; Henry Wood. third
lieutenant-commander y. Il. Goode. adj
1utant $. l.. Graham, quartermastor Dr.
J. r. Leigh, surgeon, Rev. j.. l.. Bap-
list. chaplain.
Early in the day the crowd began to
gather from all directions and by noon
tho town presented n lively scene and u
was refreshing TO see the cordial greet
Ing between the old veterans.
BOYS AGAIN.
Mono but those who have experienced
me years Of hardships and suffering
these old soldiers endured can properly
appreciate the genuine affection
they feel for each other and
they seem 20 catch new inspiration as
they gather together at these reunions
and rotate the many war scenes and mar
row escapes they have made, while their
wrinklcd brOws are overspread with gen
uine pleasure and the och)s OF tho merry
laugh passes through the crowd az the
many amusing war stories are related
Al these reunions ali restraints are
thrown aside and tho boys are bent on
having a good time. ] do not mean they
have "a good time by drinking. etc. for
ala not see but ono drunken man and he
was not a veteran. The day was pleas
ant aud the shady square surrounding the
courthouse added much 20 the comfort
OF those attending the reunion.
a LIVING STATUE.
Tho soldiers monument al this place
erected as a memorial TO the valOr OF the
Mecklonburg sold,ery, was placed here
about five years ago, but the statue has
never been placed upon 81 and some or
the friends Of the cause. desiring 10 have
a picture Of Il. as II will appear when
completed. procured tho services or that
young genius in the work Of art Miss Mat
tie Field 20 make a picture.
The taking Of this picture interested
tho old soldiers perhaps more than airy
thing that occurred during the day, "a
many Of them expressed desire 20 have
a copy Of the picture and the interest was
increased when that brave and intrepid
soldier. John Wesley Bowen, with an
empty sleeve. mounted the monument, 10
represent the Confederate soldier and 80
we'll did he represent a figure or statue,
as he stood. musket in hand, that a gen
tleman present remarked 10 me that when
he looked at the old soldier he could not
divest himself Of the idea that he was
locking at a genuine statue.
THE BOYDTON CAVALRY.
After the picture Of the monument was
taken, a picture Of the surviving mem
hers Of the Boydtcn Cavalry was taken.
An. this picture was indeed n sad one asI
the writer compared them TO that splendid
chivarous band Of young soldiers as they
paraded our streets on the eve OF their
departure In 1861 and then teheld the sad
picture OF fhinncd ranks and tho hoary
headed veterans to the number Of fifteen
as they stood I'm line one interesting
feature OF tho meeting Of the Boydton
cavalry was that their old Captain, w. T.
BOYD. now a resident Of west Tennessee,
who has been away twenty-seven years
commanded tho cavalry and was with
them al the surrender at Appomattox
Courthouse. wa. present and Joined most
heartily I'm the festivities Of the day, and
the greeting between the Captain and his
old comrades was truly touching.
CAPTAIN BOYD.
CAPTAIN BOYD 80 VS. he has enjoyed m' ny
reunions si1co he left his native Virginia,
but none compared with the JOY he eX-
perionced at icing with his old c)nrtics
yesterday. An he, said, these are my
people. they were with me I'm those try
ing hourse Of the war" lie has Joined the
Camp here as an evidence Of his fidelity
10 his native county and the love for her
people
After dinner Captain II. D. Jeffress de-
iivered a most interesting and inspiring
speech 20 the camp In which he said the
veterans ought TO glory I'm having worn
the gray. Captain Jeiiress Is 1uent
speaker and was at his happiest lie IS
an ardent Confederate and IS always pres
ent at the reunions. lie commanded a.
volunteer company during the war