The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-05-15
THE STATE REUNION
Great Gathering Ct Old confsd
crate Soloiars.
THOUSANDS III COLUMBIA.

Arms Who 5rs.vsIy Fought
Under ehe Stary
Cross
Columbia, May 1l.-Special: Five
thousand SURVIVORS Of the armies Of tht
Confederate States came into Carolina
beautiful capital here gathered to tall
Of war times, to exchange greeting!
that had not been passed in years, anc
to show the peopIe Of this grsat
country that they ara not ashamed o!
he part they bore urder Lee and Jack
son and Johnston and Beaureglrd and
Gordon and Hampton and their other
great leaders. The numbers here ex
eeeded the highest estimates Of the
most enthusiastic. Barring fsir Hesk,
it was the largest gathering seen in Co,
lumbia in very many years.
DECORATION OF THE CITY.
The entire city was covered with
cclors; not all colors, but the beautiful
red and white of the Confederacy.
Flags and emblems CT every kind per-
tanning to the Confederacy wero to be
seen floating gsyly from almost every
window, store and residence, and
though the prevailing colors were red
and white and the most Of the flags
were Confederate and State flags, a
streak Of blue was often to be seen hung
beside he red and white, aud numbers
OF Union hsgs Were .sprinkled among
those of the Confederasy. The new
City Hall and theatre building was the
most beautifully decorated, and the
hotels were all thoroughly bedecke d,
besides sll buildings on Main street.
Msay private residences were ornament
ed with flags and bunting, and the city
at largo presented beautiful spectacle
to Southern eyes.
OPENING EXERCISES.
The annual convention of the South
Carolina Division Of United Confed
crate veterans opened IN the new Co.
lumbia theatre OF Wednesday evening.
More than 2,00G people were present.
The speakers occupied front
seats and the plsce Of honor was given
20 Lieut.. Gen. Wsde Hamptoa. Just
behind hi:u .at Mr.. ". A CLARK, wao
escorted Gen. Hampton, Governor Ms
Sweeney c.ms il villa Gso. j. B. G,r
dos, Mayor Earle came in with justice
Top=, Mr.. Augusta Kohn with Mis-
E! zaDsth Lumps,n, Chlef Jlstic Nc
tser wi~n Gee. West, Assocls.e Justices
G~r5 and Joaes anc, many other ois-
uaguisned Carolinians We're on the
sta&e. Gen. y. l. Walker and Adjt
james &. Holmes, Here in front sset.
,4d Capt. W. D. S.arilng Of Camp
H4np on had charge OF the great
gathering.
The opening prayer was cffsred By
the Rev. Dr.. James Woodrow Of this
city.
Mayor F. S. Earle welcomed the vet
ersns and other visitors to tho capital
city.
Then Commander Startling said that
he and the camp hal selected ths m ost
distinguished Veteran, a member Of the
camp, to respond in behalf Of Camp
Hampton to the welcems. Slowly Gen.
Ham pton's name was called and then
there was a mighty roar Of applause
that made the very Welkin ring, and
sgain and again the applause went up.
Gen. Hampton arose and again the yells
broke forth once, twice and more and
finally when quiet came the singing Of
the Doxology followed and was render
ed with feeling.
GEN. WADE HAMPToN's SPEECH.
Gen. Hampton spoke out, and it was
with clesrness and decision, and once
in awhile with show Of youthful fire.
Once in awhile he looked around to.
wards the boz in which sat his daush-
ter, Miss Daisy Hampto, and Mr.. Nc
Dufie Hampton. Lieut.. Gen. Wade
Hampton spoke as follows: My COM
rades, have heard that rebel yell be-
fore snd wish that could respond to
it now, as it was once my pride to do,
and tell the brave men who were around
me to 60 in and win, but time has
marked many a mile stone on
my march to my lsst resting plscs.
Perhaps there are some among you here
who knew the cid Philips Legion. The
lieutenant colonel of that legion was
one of the best fighters of the legion,
but he was not much on grammar or
drill and once, when bis legion was in
winter quarters, he sent an officer to in
spect and drill them. Well, they were
not accustomed to quick time, on foot
and the old general compromised by
saying, 'Their spirits are good, but
their winds are short" Now that is
very much the condition OF myself. 7
have had very severe attack Of grip
and thai has left me very much in the
same condition as those men. Bg the
BY, that recall another incident. When
they came 10 South Csrolins, at the last
Of the war, they we're sent down near
Branchville and were put one night to
relieve some militia, who always camp
&C along a sranch, and the day after
dizzy oamped there he found the
FederaIs had clined up the trees Of the
swamp and fred dom upon their breast
works and next morning they went in
the branch and commenced dropping
those Yankees like ducks. One Yankee
called out, What troops are those?"
He said, militia; and he said, You are
li4r. They are not militia
My comrades, l will say friends, be-
cause l an friend Of every comrade
sho has been true. You are my
friends and I hsve been appointed by
tie camp, which honors me my bearing
my name, to return thanks to you for
coAiug, to welcome your here, as | de-
fer them, for myself, for every brave