The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-05

A Notable Gathering Of Old SoIdiers'
Eloquent speech Of WelcOme-boun.
tfful ~Crops-NOges Of News.

Correspondence OF The Messenger.)
Fayetteville. n. c., August J.
Tie confederate veterans went into
camp at the fair grounds yesterday
and the noble old defenders Of a CRATE
full country are enjoying themselves
right royalty.
They were welcomed in an address oil
rare merit. beauty and eloQuence by
Hon. Geo. NJ. Rose, at 1850 O'Clock IN
the morning and at 1850 O'Clock were
invited 10 do their duty as true men
and stalwart soldiers to a
dinner provided for them-and man
fully did they prove that they a q
stomach 10 h a fight
The remainder OF the day was pleas
antly passed in the 1ocund way 50
charteristic of the confederate soldier,
and in "reminiscences Of the battles
fought and the sieges passed This
morning Hon. and Mrs. w. j. Green
who have manifested a keen interest
in this gathering. gave a very pleasant
entertainment with the g~raphophone,
which was much enjoyed.
At a business meeting yesterday
morning the veterans were
as follows: Colonel. j. b. Starr. pres
ident and ~commandant; Hon. g. Nj
Rose. vice-president for Cross creek
J. T. Townsend. vice-president Tor
Seyenty-frst: for Cedar Creek. II. r.
Smith: Carver's creek, G. J. Byrd: Flea
Hill. w. J.. Seasons: Black River, n.
l.. Hall; Pearce's Mill. j. w. Carroll;
Beaver Dam, Alex. Simmons; Rockfish,
J.. r. Smith: Gray's Creek, Jas Kirk
patrick ;Quewhiffie, d. ]. Ray: Little
River, Alex. Smith; Jacksonville, Har-
nett county, w. NJ. Mckay; Secretary,
A. D. McGill. These are men true as
steel. and worthy of the honors con-
ferred. Colonel Starr. the president,
was a fine soldier, and from the day
of the surrender has never swerved in
his love and fealty to the south.
This morning the battalion was form
ed, Major A. A. Mcclellan command
ing (who, by h way. has been in
valuable, as he always is, in every good
work. in making the encampment a
success). and a photograph of the COM
mand was taken by Mr.. Winburn. Al
forwards a sham charge was made
over the field, with an old bottle-scar-
red confederate flag flying, which made
quite a spirited scene.
At noon, the men being again mus
tered in line, Mr.. A. d. McGil intro
duced a set Of resolutions which were
brief but full of merit" paying a hig
compliment to Captain j. D. McNeil
for his efforts in getting up the camp
and voting him an honorary member
of the organization. The resolutions
also very gracefully rendered the
thanks of the veterans to the people
of the town and county who had con-
tributed to their comfort and enter
tainment, and especially to Mrs. w. j
Green and Mrs. A. w. Ray.
Tonight the Chicora ministries will
give a variety entertainment in the
opera house, the proceeds for the bene-
fit of the veterans.
At noon today there were 315 old
soldiers present and enrolled-certainly
a very remarkable gathering.
Cotton and corn in this section are
very fine; farmers tell your correspond
ent that they will make enough grain
to last two years. The melon crop is
injured by the excessive rains.
Mrs. w. H. Haigh, very much es-
teemed here and we'll known in Will
mington, had a fall On the stairway of
her home this morning, n received
severe bruises.
The families of Colonel c. w. Broad
foot and Mr.. A. H. Slocumb are spend
ing the season at Wrightsville. Mrs.
3. r. Huske and children have gone
to Tybee Island to spend the summer
with Captain B. r.. Huske. Captain Of
Company A, Second regiment.