Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-24
IT WAS A FAR CRY
FROM JACKSONVILLE no THD cozH
TEDERATE REUNION.
BUT The CHANGE hot sfIR1IR&
A Dispatch Correspondents sta6y g
the veterans-A school ef Psts1a
osl.m--Aasa,ratlon for the Ola De,
n,inion--our Girls.

an army OF the United States TO the
! reunion of grand camp OF Conkederato
veterans, and when the Dispatch tsIe-
graphed me to go to Atlanta from Camp
Cuba Libre. ut Jacksonville, where had
the Virginia troops reached Florida, {
could not help feeling somewhat amused
The change from Camp Cuba LLbrs -
the reunion OF Confedcrates was not
however. startling. One saw the gray be-
fore his eyes constantly; he saw the
Stars and Bars lying everywhere; the
| principal piece in the repertoire Of every
band was "Dixie." but 4. was easy to
imagine the old uniforms. only faded by
age; the Stars and Stripes were always
close to tho Stars and Bars, aud the band
Of every regiment in General Lees Corps
played Dixie almost as frequently as
THE Star-spanged Banner. And the ola
fellows here cheered America" just as
do the boys in camp.
And the young fellows down at Camu
Cuba Libre, or Tampa. do not discus1
the campaign In Cuba with keener In.
tcrest, nor dwell on the American trt-
umph with greater enthusiasm than did
the old boys. as they went over the de-
tails of General Skaters operations
against Santiago, or of Dewey's or Samp<
sons destruction OF the Spanish fleets.
Ii was surprising TO find how closely they
had been studying the war. many OF tha
criticisms, favorable and otherwise. being
almost exactly those L had heard mado
by regular army officers, who spoke from
theoretical knowledge The knowledge
upon which the old Confed. based his
opinion was obtained under fire. lie had
been there.
We all believe America has given to
civilization the highest type OF man the
world has known. 1t Is no dsloyalty 10
country to say tho ex-Confederate Is not
only the most remarkable but Is at the
same time the most aimira BILE character
in American life. Tho manner In which
he has performed the feat OF remembers
ing. yet forgiving, makes him not only
unique among men. but stamps him as
possessing a character representative %
the worlds noblest men. Though Z
mingled much with the old heroes who
wore the gray. in hotel lobbles. at State
headquarters, In knots on the streets.
and I'm the parks. and heard their stories
of bloodshed and hardship and suf-
fering, i have yet 10 hear a word unbe-
coming an American who loves his coun-
try. / am bound TO say | found some.
very many. In fact, who disapproved of
the war, i found, perhaps, more who
are not in favor Of having America enter
upon a career of conquest and territorial
expansion but / found none who did not
express sentiments OF sturdy patriotism,
that made the deepest impression upon
the listener OF another generation.
1t would startle the people who reside
north OF Mason and Dlxon's line 10 hear
1t. perhaps, but IL Is my deliberate opinion
that there is no better school for patriot
ism than at a reunion OF tho men who
received their baptism of blood and fro
while wearing the Confederate gray.
found the drudgery and monotony OF
camp life rather calculated to dampen
the military ardor OF a young man. but
the fire and the glow OF these soldiers OF
forty years ago. their modest recital of
death-struggles for an idea. and quiet
profession OF patriotism could have but
one effect--make dearer this land OF tho
free of ours, and fan love OF country to
n fercer fame.
II is fashionable, and has been for seve-
raj years. TO speak OF the nearness OF the
time when we Will see the last Confedc-
rate veteran. The day Is years distant.
There are thousands Of him yet. and the
brightness of his eye. the flrmness Of his
De
give assurance that the day OF his dis
appearance IL far in the futura II was
an affecting sight to see many OF them
barely able 10 totter along In the parade.
but the thoughtful observer must have
been more impressed by the far larger
number who stepped so quickly and easily,
hale. hearty men, good for years OF USE
ful life
IL would be conventional to speak Of the
4 IL tsftf fgh hA s.f1 f,Iy
when they get together, dwell on the
events of lS6l-65, but It would be false.
)ne cannot find jolier assemblage than
hat made up OF these old heroes. Az
natter Of plain fact. they do little serious
alklng. There is no repinIng. One hears
thousand stories illustrative OF the
lighter side OF army life TO one OF the
arker. Even the stories OF battles where
Of their comrades fell. and os
harges made glorious. and hallowed by
he blood OF heroes. whose names adorn
he brightest pages OF history, are told In
ocular fashion. However much he may
eel, and Il may be HIS lightness OF man
er is intended TO. disguise his heayiness
heart, the Confederate of to-day POSI-
vey and persistently refuses 10 be down
asst and sad. He spois a dramatic pic
lre by not being so. but II would not be
que 10 life to paint him otherwise.
or course, reunions afford many in.
tances that stir him deeply. IL would
OF be human for him TO fall TO feel un-
loyed at meeting again. after a lapse Of
yer u quarter OF a century. men with
HON he had slept and marched, and by
hose side he had fought for four years.
is true he then gives up a hve-minuteD
hugging his old comrade, and maybe
reds a few tears I'm tho shock Of meet
& but II is not long till the Jokes begin
nd the tears OF Joy are replaced by
hers brought by humorous reccllection.
think nothing gives one a better con-
ption OF the manner in which Virginia
regarded by the people OF other States
ian 10 witness the ovation accorded her
d soldiers and her flag at q Confederate
union. There were loud cheers for tho
vision OF every State represented In the
eat parade Friday, but the, appearances
none called forth such enthusiasm az
at aroused by a sight Of tho vetsrann =
the Old Dominion,
A Georgia veteran expressed 70 me In
cuiar way what seemed tho general
ntiment. Virginia Is the old block"
said, "the others are tho chips. ApdI
ink the quality OF the block better than
" chips have seen yet"
The affection felt by the veterans foP
e old State is undoubtedly largely due
the fact that the great majority OF
EN- saw so much hard service on her
OF them enrichIng her
i with their blood, many OF them nurses
ck 70 health by her loyal daughters.
rhe average veteran Is also a lover %
E Dispatch. Numbers OF them told me-
how they first began reading Il while
rying with the army In VIRGINIA and tha n t|