The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-06-13

1t would take week OF time and a
whole regiment Of writer's to tell about
the great Confederate Veteran reun-
ion at Louisville. Nothing like it has
been witnessed since the close Of the
civil war. 1t passcth comprehension.
This is Thursday, the second day, and
there are now here twice as many vet
erans as ever gathered any where. For
many years we were not allowed to
gather anywhere to iubilatc, but now
we go where We please and say what
we please and voice our old confcder-
ate sentiments and sing Dixie and
unfurl our banners and even the boys
in blue join in the general hilarity. I
remember when General George II.
Thomas was here in 1868 and l have
preserved letter from him in which
he said we Romans must not exhibit a
confederate flag any more in public
nor even keep one in private, for it
was the emblem Of treason and the
punishment Of treason death. Our
Roman young men and maidcns had
used an old tattercd banner in n tab
leau exhibition that was given in the
city hall to raise little money to put
back some pews in the city churches,
for the fedcrals had taken out the
pews and used them for horse troughs
anG used the churches for provcnder.
That old war-stained banner was the
one our boys of the Eighth Georgia
regiment marched into the first battle
Of Manassas with under General Bar
tow and our young people thought it no
harm to place it in dead soldiers
hand in tableau scene Of field after
the battle. Then we were allowed to
think what we pleased, but now we
can say what we please and do what
we please and there's no treason in it.
What good doctor old Father Time
is. Why he was federal soldier who
opened the ball at Phenix hell last
night and gave welcome to the vet
erans. Captain Pirtle was one Of the
boys in blue, but he paid tribute to us
and spoke kind and loving words and
would put US on the pension rolls if
he could. He is great, big hearted
gentleman, he is.
There are II, 900 veterans here now
sure enough veterans who wore the
gray, and they are the livest men in
dead cause the world ever saw. There
are twice as many here as were in
Charleston last year. Captain Pirtle
said in his address Of welcome: "The
city is yours" and it is. Such hospi-
tality was never witnessed anywhere.
Just read the papers and it will amaze
you. There are veterans here in bust
ness who entertain every one who is
left Of their old regiments. Here is
Captain Norton, who went out from
Rome with the Light Guards and has
accumulated fortune here since the
war. He wrote letter to every sur
viving member of the Eighth Georgia
regiment, urging them to come and to
be his guests. am proud to be one
Of them, and Colonel Towers is here,
too, giving orders from these head
quarters. A year ago we were lament
ing the rapid passing of the confeder.
ate veterans and we really feared we
would never more gather enough of
them to make it interesting. But
here they have doubled in number and
trebbled in life and it can t be accoun-
ted for unless the States have incrcas-
ed their pensions. Money helps to
prolong life, no doubt of it. Georgia
now gives half million year to her
old soldiers and they just keep living
on and on.
Time cuts down all,
Both great and small,
Except pensioned soldier,
They do not die,
But multiply
As fast rs they grow older.
1t may be, however, that Louisville
has importuned and reached out her
generous hands SO far and 30 wide and
been so lavish in her preparations to
receive them that they dropped every
thing and came. It was worth
pilgrimage to Mecca to hear DR.. Pal
mer's great address-great is the
world-great and grand. I want every
son and daughter Of confederate vet
cran to read it and feel inspired with
confederate pride. The truth is, we
have whipped this fight and the vic.
tory is ours; after SO long time we
are slowly and surely killing off the
slanders. Barbara Freitchio and
Sheridan's ride are dead and buried.