The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-07
MRS. LUCY STINSON, WHOSE
RELATIVES WOULD ALMOST
MAKE A REGIMENT,
HONORED.
DAY OF ELOQUENCE AND PATRl0T ISM
The Reunion Of the tx. Confederates Recalls the
VaIor and Glory Of the Men ofl86l 65
The Origin Of the Old
Rebel Yell.


To the Editor: Several years ago,
largely through the influence OF Major
III. A. London. of the Chatham Record,
the Confederate soldiers of Chatham
county organized for annual reunion
The reunions at once became very popu-
lar with the old soldiers and are now the
most largely attended meetings in our
county. This year the reunion, on
Thursday. August 18th. was held at Mt.
Vernon Springs in Western Chatham,
and was perhaps more largely attended
than ever before. Pittsboro, Sller CITY,
Goldston. people from the Hawfields and
the Deep river and Rocky river sections
were there in force, and quite number
from other counties. Not less than two
hundred of these We're old Confederate
soldiers, those in whose honor all the
others had assembled.
About II o'clock they were formed in
line by Commandant Gran "A. Hammer,
and marched to the Baptist church. On
the way they gave that terrible Confea-
crate YELL that had so often struck terror
into the hearts of their foes. They yeil
like boys.'' someone remarked, and they
did. | rather believe that yell made some
of the veterans feel young again and al
most made them believe they were charg-
ing at Gettysburg. The ''rebel'' yell was
not learned in the war; it is production
of the free outdoor life of the Southern
boy. He learned it rabbt-hunting. rs
every Southern boy now learns it-rab-
bit hunting without imagining there is
ANYTHING of the .'rebel' about 1t. 1t has
the advantage of any other war cry anu
greatly the advantage of the Iilp-hlp-
huzzar of orr Northern brethren. in
that it is wholly spontaneous. 1t is only
an expression of the ardor of the conflict,
while other yells 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. hut many are remark
ably young-looking 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 "hireling
troops.' There is truth in the assertion
that the Confederate troops were the
bone and sinew of orr land. Among
these were several ministers of the Cos
pei honored and consecrated in their
work. one of the best editors and lawyers
in the State. several excellent teachers
and many of our country's most sue
cessful merchants and farmers.
After the older soldiers were seated
there was a very beautiful service Of
song under the direction of Mrs. III. a.
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 'My Country.
IT'S Of Thee" and other patriotic music.
Had a Yankee Of the blne-jeans stripe
been there he would have realized a
larger patriotism than he knew before.
The address of welcome was delivered
by Prof. r. l.. Paschal and responded
to by Major III. A. London. Major Lon
don showed an old muster roll of Com
pany G., Twenty-sixth North Carolina
regiment. which had been captured on
April 2. 1865. and was sent from Cali
fornia last year. He gave some very in
teresting statistics of the war. Chatham
county furnished more than 1,S00 troops
and had more than 400 to die on the bat
tlefield or in the army. Major London
has collected and published in the Rec
ord the roll by companies of all the sol
ders raised in Chatham county, and
many other interesting facts and remins
censes of the war. They will prove valu-
able 70 the future historian.
After Major London. Colonel Lane. Of
the Twenty-sixth regiment, was called
for. The Twenty-sixth had three colon
els The first was Zeb. =. Vance. When.
after the seven days fight. Vance was
elected Governor. Harry X. Burgwyn,
n 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 dying
hands and obeying his dying words led
the regiment on to victory and fame.
One may see n good picture of the trio
in their regimentals on the south wall OF
the reading room of the State library.
Lame spoke in terms of great affection
for the soldiers of the old regiment. two
companies of which were from Chatham
county. and paid n fine tribute to the
yalor of the North Carolina private.
Then the sneaking was on Captain
Mcneil. Of Richmond county: Captain
G. II. Sier. of Sanford: Mr. w. T..
Wood, of Randolph county. CAPTAIN w.
III. TT. Lawhon. of Moore. Prof. G. w.
Paschal. of Wake Forest and Mr.. w.
w. Edwards and others made short
speeches. Many were the sallics
Of good-natured wit, many the express
sons Of mutual love. many the tales of
hardships. many the tributes TO the valor
of the Confederate soldier. and frequent
the mention of those who fell on the bat
tlefeld. They were n tender-hearted.
noble body of men. And patriots they
gre. too. The mention of the names Of
Worth Bagley and Of Lieut.. Hobson. or
Of the triumph of our arms at Manila
and Santiago would invariably elicit APP
planse How much better citizens. how
ponch better patriots are these men than
those pensioners who suck into their own
NAV the funds that might build us n
first-class navy!
One of the most touching incidents Of