San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-17
THE BOYS IN GRAY.

| Iuey nave DtSh WIN US lWo HlOIt
days. Their grey boards and un
steady steps evidence that they are
not as young as they once were
when they sprang to the charge al
the word of command or rallied on
the colors in the thick of the fight
Here and there an empty sleeve or a
wooden leg tells the story of the stub,
born struggle for victory and its in
evitable cost. There are no murmur-
ings over the sacrifices of the past,
no regrets for the unvailing effort to
make Roadway against destiny and
the armies of the republic. What
part they bore in that struggle was
borne under the idea that it was>their
duty, and they did it. What now re-
mains is their memories Of a gallant
struggle in which North and South
both learned a deeper respect for the
convictions of the other, as well as a
firmer faith in the destiny Of the ma
ton. These reunions of the "blue"
are no evidence of hostile feeling to
the Union that now stands forever
one and inseparable. Their chival-
rous consideration for their own flag
that went down in defeat after four
years of the most heroic struggle Of
the centuries, in no sense weakenS
their love of the flag of the nation,
'Old Glory" whose stars and stripes
float over a united and uncOnquerable
people. Since its recent baptism in
blood that old flag of the free is
doubly endeared to all, and none with
in the broad area of the national do
main are more loyal to it than the
Boys in Gray" Coming to this his
toric old city to revive the memoir
les of the days that have been, re-
joice in the progress of the present
and forecast the promise of the fu-
ture, these veterans of the lost cause
find a hearty welcome at the hands
of our people and our city. None are
more cordial in their welcome than
the Boys in Blue" who. upon the
other side of that great battle Tor
consolidated government, faced the
music during those long drawn years
of bloody conflict. There is a bond
between them that is only strength
ened by the years. There is no north
or south or east or west, only one
land, one flag, one nation. The pres
ence of these worthy opponents Of
their cause in our midst is made the
occasion of rejoicings. Around their
camp fires they recall the heroism of
other days and glory in the memories
of camp and field in which the chains
of deathless friendships were rivet-
ed fast, and the brotherhood that is
born of mutual dangers and privat-
ions grew nightly. Their struggle is
over Their deeds are the heirloom
of their posterity. Their courage is
the inheritance of the nation. Their
devotion to what they esteemed duty
a pledge of their loyalty to the gov
eminent as established for all time
to come. Their depleted numbers
through the natural processes of age
and disease and accident, but serves
to draw closer the bonds that bind
the survivors. AS they appear on our
streets all hearts reverence them,
not because of their mistake, but for
the deathless devotion to what was
esteemed duty. None recognize this
more freely than the old Union sol
diers. For their enemies on the field,
their fast friends in peace, the Blue
and the Gray" have mutual respect
and admiration and in many instan-
ces personal friendship of the closest
kind. The Light is glad to see their
numbers are so many, their step so
steady, their eyes so clear, their
hearts so warm, their bearing so in
dicative of temporal prosperity. The
Light welcomes them now, as it did
on their last appearance here, and
wishes them many returns of theiI
annual reunion without any serious
depletion in their ranks. To these
Veterans of the Lost Cause" the
Light lifts it's hat.