The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-24
OLD BATTLE FLAGS WAVED.
Cheers and Applause as Their Bear
ers Marched.

Oheers ana Applause as Ihe1r Bear
ers Marched.
1t was perfect ovation TO the veterans
along the entire route. Whenever Gen.
Evans came 10 sight with his fine face and
noble bearing there was enthusiastic APP
plause, and this increased rather than di-
minished as each camp of old veterans
passed in review waving their tattered
battle flags, were objects of much interest
to the crowd, and never failed to be re-
ceived with cheers. Whenever the line
halted for any cause many inquiries were
made of the veterans as TO the histories
of these old banners, and the information
was always willingly given. 1t was evil
dent that the veterans enjoyed their re-
ceptioa and appreciation TO the full APP
plause showered upon them. The two Au-
gusta camps, with their uniforms and SOL
dierly bearing and their cluster of old
flags attracted much attention.
The demonstration accorded the veterans
at the De Soto perhaps exceeded anything
of the kind along the line The facilities
for massing the crowd and the opportuni-
ties for favorable views were better at this
point than elsewhere, and the crowds en-
loved il to the full. Some delay at the head
of the line gave the veterans rest of sew
eraI minutes at this point. This was not
on the programme, but it came in as nice
ly as if it had been. 1t gave the large
crowd a chance to inspect the veterans and
single out the different camps and flags
and give proper attention to each. Some
of the old veterans in line made short
speeches to the crowd telling what their
commands were and where those flags had
been carried in days gone by, and these
remarks never failed to provoke enthusi-
astic applause.
There were several old negroes to be
seen marching in line with the different
camps These were men who had gone
through the war with their masters, and
in each instance they seemed as much de-
voted to their commands as the white vet
Grams by whose side they marched. The
veterans were proud to have them with
them, and never failed to speak of their
devotion and fidelity. One of these, old
John Rocker, who accompanied the Att
lanta camp, aroused much enthusiasm
during the stop by calling the roll of the
company which he served, giving every
name, beginning with the orderly SER
geant and running through to the last
man. Old veterans of this company who
were in line answered to their names as
Rocker called them, and some answered
for others who were absent Rocker
repeated the call second time at the re-
quest of the crowd. He knew every name
by heart and has probably not seen the
master roll since the war closed. The COM
pany with which Rocker served was Com
pany c of the Sixty-third Georgia. from
Troup county. After concluding the call
ing Of the roll Rocker would announce
the general orders from headquarters,
Cen Hardee's that all accoutrements
must be put in order and the command
ready to march at a moments notice.
Among the spectators were many old
veterans who did not join in the parade.
some, perhaps, because they were too fee
BILE and others because they were the
only representative of their camps in at
tendance and felt that they could get more
enjoyment out of watching the parade
than by joining I'm with others similarly
situated. These were much affected by
the ovation rendered their comrades In
line and also by the sight of the com
panies In gray, marching together and
keeping step to the old familiar drum beat
The tears were seen to come to the eyes
of many of the old veterans as some we'll
remembered battlefiag passed and the WIS.,
ions of other days came back to them as
they saw the men in gray marching as
they did thirty-ive years ago.