The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-15
WARRENTON INVADED
THE OLD CONFEDERATE VETERANS CAP
TURE THE TOWN.
A Large Gathering Of the Old Soldiers and
Their Families in an Annual Reunion
and Picnic.


The good old town of Warrenton was
invaded to-day by Il great army of old
Confeds and they literally took the town.
There was no conflict, and yet there
was great loss of life occasioned by the
immense gathering. Hundreds of loyal
Warren county lambs, chickens and 9th
or patriots of the farm and barn-yard
yielded up their lives that an immense
grove full of old veterans, their wives
and daughters and sons might feast and
be filled.
1t was one of the annual reunions of
tie old soldiers and their families of
Warren county, gathered together in
their hospitable county town to talk over
old times and rekindle the sentiment
of Southern valor and chivalry that
burns in the bosom of every Southern
soldier and Southern soldiers son. Nor
is there any treason in it. These were
Americans that assembled at Warrenton
to-day, loyal to the stars and stripes as
they were to the stars and bars, when
they thought that duty called them to
it's defense, they would fight for the
one with the same heroism and fOrti-
tude that they fought for the other if
the occasion should arise. / looked at
these old soldiers to-day and | could but
think what q man a Confederate soldier
was.
He was man enough to fight until his
flag went down and then man enough to
take up the conquered emblem wash the
blood Gains out of it with his tears,
wrap it around his former hopes and
aspirations bury them all hallowed tombs,
planted about them evergreen that will
never wither, and then wather upth frag-
ments of a war-wrecked section and with
in a few years make himself and his Sec
ton powerful factors in the patriotic
endeavors of a reunited nation.
1t was these kind of men that crowd
ed the streets of good old Warrenton to-
day, they began coming early in the
morning from every quarter of the coun-
ty, they brought their children and
grandchildren, and by 10 o'clock from
fifteen hundred to two thousand had
gathered in an immense grove on the
outskirts of the town. There was soon
a delightful mingling together of neigh
Dor with neighbor, of town people with
country people, of the gallant town lad
die, with the pretty country lassie, of the
sturdy country beaux with the charm
ing town belle 1t was all very beautiful
very delightful.
Capt. w. B. Shaw, of Henderson, was
to deliver an address. He did it and
splendid address it was, eloquent, chaste,
refined, patriotic, touching. Capt. Shaw
is fine speaker and his speech to-day
was an uncontrovertable evidence
of the fact. He was followed
by Rev. James Battle Averitt, who made
a perfect gem of a speech. Capt. f. NJ.
Fits was the next speaker, and then
Capt. J. J. Laughlin gave some charac-
teristic "reminiscences of prison life on
Johnson's Island as he saw it.
After the speeches the crowd, led by
Miss Helen Foote, one of Warrenton's
charming daughters, sang the old soul
stirring songs, "The Old North State"
and "Dixie." Then dinner was served.
And what a dinner! Great tables, bas-
kets, boxes and buggies loaded with the
richest viands from hundreds of larders.
The rural mother and maiden had cooked
and brought a bountiful repast, and we
did all eat and were merry.
After dinner Capt J. p. Leach in a
hort speech proposed an organization of
a Warren county Confederate veteran
camp. In a few minutes it was organized
and Capt. w. J. White elected COM
mander, Capt B. M. Collins first
lieutenant For second lieutenants Capt.
Lewis Watson and Capt. w. B. Fleming
were elected, with Rev. Mr.. Herman
chaplain, DIR. G. A. Foote surgeon and
Dir. Henry A. Foote adjutant. More than
a hundred members were enrolled.
Warrenton was glad to see her neigh
boring veterans and the good old town
for several hours ceased business, went
out to the picnic grounds and Joined
heartily in the gayeties of the occasion.
+. b. ARENDEI1L.