The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-09
MRS. Lucy STINSON. WHOSE
RELATIVES WOULD ALMOST
MAKE A REGIMENT.
HONORED.
ADAY OF 1LOQUENCE AND PATRIOTISM
The Reunion Of the tx. Confederates Recalls the
Vslyr and Glory Of the Men 0 l86l 65
The Origin Of the Old
Rebel Yell.
Rebel Yell.

10 the Editor: Several years ago,
largely through the Influence OF Major
II. A. London. of the Chatham Record,
the Confederate soldiers OF Chatham
county organized for annual reunion.
rThp rpunionS at once became very popt-
lar with the old soldiers and are now tn"
most largely attended meetings III our
county,. This year the reunion, on
Thursday. August 4th. was held ut Mt.
Vernon Springs in Western Chatham,
and was perhaps more largely attended
| than ever before. PittSboro, Sller City,
Goldston, people from the HaWfeldS ANA
| the Deep river and Rocky river sections
were there in force. and quite 4 NUMBER
from other counties. Not less than two
hundred Of these were old Confederate
soldiers. those in whose honor all the
others had assembled.
About II O'Clock they We're formed IL
line by Commandment Dram y. anner,
and marched to the Baptist church. On
| the way they gave that terrible 'on1ed-
crate veil that had 50 often struck terror
into the hearts Of their foes. "lley yen
like bows someone remarked. and they
lid. | rather believe that yell made some
of the veterans feel young AGAIN anu II
most made them believe they were cfarG-
ing ut Gettysburg. The rebel yell was
not learned in the war: it is Il production
Of the free outdoor life Of the Southern
hoy. He learned it rabbit hunting. rs
every Southern boy now learns it-rah-
bit hunting without imagining there IS
ANYTHING of the rebel about it. 1t has
the advantage of any other war cry and
greatly the advantage Of the "Hlp-hlp-
huzza,,' Of our Northern brethren. IN
that it is wholly spontaneous. 1t is only
an expression of the ardor Of the conflict.
while other Wells seem designed to work
up that ardor.
As the old soldiers marched into the
church ! took occasion to note the man
ner of men they are. Many Of them are
growing old now. but many are remark
ably younglookin@ for their age: they
were neatly. comfortably clad and their
faces betrayed such dignity and man
hood that one might easily have mis-
taken them for a band Of Roman Sena-
tors. Surely these were no "hlrefln@
troopS." There is truth in the assertion
that the Confederate troops We're the
bone and SineW of our land. Among
these were several ministers Of the Cos
pei h0norcd and cOnSecratcd in their
work. one of the best editors and lawyers
Ill the state. StNtTsl tAtt'litll ttdtlItlS.
and many Of our country'S most sue
ccSsful merchants and farmers.
After the older soldiers We're seated
there was 4 very beautiful service uf
song under the direction Of Mrs. II. \.
London. of Pittsboro. and every one feels
like thanking her for it. The soldiers
who had marched to Dixie" now joined
in singing "Carolina' and "Mv Country.
lis Of Thee" and other patriotic music.
Had 4 Yankee of the bluc-icanS stripe
been there he would have realized Il
larger patriotism than he knew before.
The address of welcome was delivered
hy Prof. X. L. Paschal. and responded
to by Major II. \. London. Major Lon
don showed an old muster roll Of Com
pany G.. Twenty-siXth North Carolina
regiment. which had been captured on
April >. So. and was sent from Cali
fornia last year. lie gave some very in
tereSting statistics Of the war. Chatham
county furnished more than 1.SOO troops
and had more than 400 to die on the bat
tlciield or in the army. Major London
has collected and published in the Rec
ord the roll by companies of all the sol
diers raised in Chatham county. and
many other interesting facts and reminiS-
censes of the war. They Will prove vaiu-
able 20 the future historian.
After Major London. Colonel Lane. Of
the Twenty-siXth regiment, was called
for. Tho Twenty-SiNth had three colon
els. The first was Ieb. Z. Vance. When.
after the seven days fight. Vance was
elected Governor. Harry X. Rurgwyn.
2 mere youth. took his place and was the
ideal Of the regiment until he fell on the
first days fight at Gettysburg. Colonel
Lane received the flag from his dyinc
hands and obeying his dying words led
tho paOEInnnt on 10 ri,tn,,y- ar1 fa-,l
One may see 4 good picture of the trio
III their regimentalS on the south wall Of
the reading room Of the State library.
Lane spoke IN terms Of great affection
for the soldiers of the old regiment. two
companies of which were from Chatham
county. and paid a fine tribute to the
valor Of the North Carolina private.
: Then the speaking was on Captain
Mcneil. Of Richmond county: Captain
{. X. Siler, Of Sanford: Mr.. W. =
J Wood. of Randolph county. CAPTAIN w
II. II. Iawhon. of Moore. Prof. G.. "
: PaSchal. Of Wake Forest. and Mr.. w
w. Edwards and others made short
? speeches. Many were the sallies
OF good-natured wit. many the express
SONS OF mutual love. many the tales OF
hardShlps. many the tributes to the vaInr
of the Confederate soldier. and frequent
the mention of those who fell on the hat.
tl6feld. They We're Il tender-heartcd
noble body of men. And patriots they
are. too. The mention Of the names Of
North Ragley and of Lieut.. Hobson. q,
q of the triumph Of our arms at Manil.
and Santiago would invariably elicit an
planso. How much better citizens. how
much better patriots are these men tha
u those pensioners who suck into their ov,
q NAV the funds that might build rs /.
o frst-class navy,
- One of the most tn11chinn ;no;lA