Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-09
THEIR ANNUAL FEAST.
The HoVitzeT Association Have
an Enjoyable Reunion
GATHER ROUND FESTAL BOARD
They Fight Their Battles Over and
Tell War Stories.
SOME INTERESTING SPEECHES.
DR.. Page Reads Paper on the
Peninsula Campaign. Drs. Dame and
Jones Talk of the War, and Major

iHt INltHlHpllu ilDNllLtiS hoS'Nie'NiS'i
held their annual reunion and banquet at
the Howitzer Armory last night, and as
is customary on these occasions, the vete-
rams, together with their guests, the men,
bers Of the present battery, enjoyed them
selves to the fullest extent. War stories
were hold, battles were fought over, kind
words OF praise for the gallantry Of those
who wore the gray were spoken, and due
credit was given the gallant followers of
Lee and Jackson for their devotion to the
cause of the Southland in the four years
struggle for States rights.
The banquet was served in the large
drill hall, and covers were laid for 1S0.
The tables were beautifully decorated,
and a most elaborate and tempting menu
was served by caterer Zimmerman. Full
| justice was done to the choice viands,
! and after the tables had been cleared
| away and cigars produced the members
| of the association and their guests set
tied themselves in their chairs and listen,
ed to the speakers of the evening. some
Of whom thrilled with their "reminiscences
| awakening memories long since vanished,
and others appealing to the emotions of
the battle-scarred veterans who too well
recalled the scenes described.
THE TOASTS.
Judge George J.. Christian acted as
| POSTMASTER, and in neat speech spoke
of the pleasure these occasions always
afforded him and his old comrades. He
| spoke with pride of the glorious achieve
ments of the old Howitzers, and after
| paying a high tribute to the young men
now serving the guns, he introduced Pro-
fessor John r. Page, of the University of
| Virginia.
DR.. Page read highly-interesting paper
on the Peninsula campaign, giving many
| thrilling incidents OF the fighting done in
| defence of Virginia during the first two
| years of the war. He started with the
| firing of the first gun in the campaign,
| and told of the movement of the gunboat
| Yankee up the York river and Of the
| fight which followed at Gloucester Point.
| This gunboat was fred on by a detach-
ment of fifteen Howitzers, sent from this
| city under command of Lieutenant j.
| Thompson Brown, and the Professor en-
phasized the fact that they were the first
shots fred in defence of this old Com
monwealth, asserting that though the
fact was not generally known, II was
worthy Of commemOration i'm history.
Succeeding events were rapidly traced
by Dr. Page, and I'm his most interesting
paper he showed that in the advances
and fights that followed so closely upon
each other the HowitZers were cOnspcu-
ousy i'm evidence. The gallantry of the
Richmond Artillerymen was frequently
referred to in the paper, eliciting much
applause.
e To- hp
thanks Of the association were rendered
to DR.. Page for his admirable address,
and he was asked TO deposit a copy of ii
in the archives of the association.
Letters Of regret were read from Gov
ernor Tyler Captain w. Gordon McCabe,
and Rev. S. Taylor Martin.
DIR. DANES HUMOR.
Rev. William Dame was introduced,
after the letters We're read, and made
most feicitous talk. He told several eX-
ceedingly humorous anecdotes, some OF
them at the expense of his old comrades.
Speaking OF the fun-making capacity OF the
men of the Army of Northern Virginia, DR..
Dame said that this helped very mate
rally TO buoy the soldiers up, and he had
often thought that this fun-making was
worth at least $1,000 soldiers TO Lees
army.
CAPTAIN John Z. Laughton. commander
of Lee Camp. was presented. and an
nounced that tonight at Lee-Camp Hall
a portrait Of the gallant Howitzer, Ed
ward Mccarthy, will be presented TO the
camp. He then invited the Howitzers,
both old and young. to be present on this
occasion. Captain Laughton then gave
very interesting retrospect Of army life.
interspersing it with several highly
amusing anecdotes.
BLUE IS BLUE AND GRAY is GRAY.
Rev. John William Jones who was in
troduced by Judge Christian as the "ad-
ministrator de bonis non of the Confede-
racy." next addressed the gathering, and
paying a high tribute to the HowitZers
of the Confederacy, said that he was sure
the younger Howitzers would prove
worthy sons of noble sires. He paid
glowing tribute TO General Joe wheeler,
which was greeted with loud cheers. and
then having his respects 10 Professor j.
woodrow Wilson, referred to his recent
utterances In this city. He took issue
with that gentleman. and said he would
never agree with him that in the civil
struggle both sides were right, for,
said he:
''Blue is Blue and Gray is Gray,
And will be so til the Judgment-Day.'
MAJOR STILES TALKS.
response TO lOuO ~ A'iA's
Major Robert Stiles was presented. ana
he made a thrilling talk Illustrative OF ire
horrors of war and the hardships endured
nv the soldiers of Lees heroic army. lie
emphasized the sentimentality ana IN
dnite pathos which was at all times eV-
dent among the soldiers. and told of seve-
raj incidents of this nature which came
under his observation.
Captain r. A. Williams, Of the present
uowitzers. made a short talk. in which
ne told OF the conditions now existing,
asserting that the battery was fearful
mat its future would be interfered with
bv the reorganization of the virginia
State militia. The impression. he SAID
oh,ained that in the reorganization the
battery would be required 10 convert i'ssii
ir,o heavy artillery and this the present
members were unwilling TO do
the final speaker OF the evening was
Mr. William Kean, of Louisa. VINO, In
,deorous terms denounced the committee
now investigating the conduct of the war
Win Spain, asserting that the attempt
70 show that the soldiers were not pro-
or,,, cared for was ridiculous. Ihey