Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-04-15
Shiloh Reunion.

Inc morning Of the 9th of April
was quite cool and the earth
oamp from recent rain. 1t had
oeen announced in some of the
papers, and understood, that there
would, for several reasons, there
would not be a general reunion
this year; yet, about six or seven
hundred people assembled upon
SAlloh's sacred soil to take part
IN the commemoration of the
great battle fought here in sixty.
two. With few exceptions the
people were from the contiguous
country.
The following members of the
Shiloh National Military Park
Commission were present: Gen.
ID. Q. Buel, Col. r. F. Looney, Ma.
Jor D. w. Reed, Capt. j. w. Ir.
win and Mr.. Atwell Thompson,
civil engineer.
Col. Cornelius Code, Chairman
OF the commission, had notified
the othe- members that he would
be present but was unavoidably
detained and arrived on Monday.
The absence of Capt. Hedley
and James Williams, Secretaries
OF the Soldiers Association was
regretted.
On the first day Judge John M.
Taylor addressed the "Albert Sid.
ney Johnston" camp of ex.confed-
crates at Shiloh church. He
spoke with enthusiasm and gener.
ally his remarks were we'll receiv.
ed and heartily applauded.
The day was spent in the inter.
mingling Of friends in social con-
verse and in visiting points of in
terest on the field. The spry and
splendid little steamer, "Bessie
Smith," Capt. Tom Reeder,
brought an excursion from Shelf
field Ala, and vicinity. The Sa.
vannah people having been disap.
pointed in obtaining transpOrta-
ton to Shiloh, Capt. Tom Reeder
kindly consented to 60 to Savan-
nah that evening and bring up
those who desired to come the
next day. On the 9TH between
forty and fifty recruits embarked
at Savannah and joined the gath
ering crowds of the second day.
The weather had become balmy
and pleasant. Some wandered
out upon the battlefield, but the
majority preferred strolling thro'h
the well cared for cemetery with
its winding boulevards and shady
walks, and enjoying the view of
the always beautiied Tennessee
River with Diamond Island rest
ing upon it's bosom in the vista
below. Much laudation was
heard of the marked improve
ment of the grounds under the
care of the indefatigable Superin-
tendent Capt. j. W. Shaw. The
picnic dinner upon the grass was
especially enjoyed by groups, who
with Owen Merideth had high con-
ception Of the cuisine.
In the afternoon Major D. W.
Reed and Capt. j. W. Irwin were
conscripted to make speeches
from the canopy in the cemetery.
Cant. Irwin introduced Major
Reed and as they stood side by
side. blue and grey representing
the opposing forces ON this hotly
contested field, they took each
others hands in friendly grasp,
emblematic of the reunited coun,
trv, Both speeches were frater-
nal nal patriotic, and seemed to salts
fv TO the crowd, which were as
inclined to let the day go by with
ont some oratorical ebulition.
The fact that the people would
observe the anniversary with or
without public notice seemed TO
be demonstrated, as they pleas
antly said: swell we've mad q, a
s sirt6 and seventh" anyhow. The
Young people enjoyed the outing;
The movement toward horses ana
vehicles indicated that the day
was over.
The aBessie Smith sounded
nor four o'clock signal, passen'
n ners hurried aboard and ID thirty ,!
Eve minutes the staunch il..,e
c elm safely landed her ' excur.
s oiapf at the foot of Main Street
Savannah, and sped her way TO
the Gland of cotton" May we al
he there next time.