The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-28
1861 AND 1907
FORTY YEARS AGO
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The Confederate Reunion at
Holly Springs.
WEARERS OF The GRAY
Great Day For the Veterans of Wake
and Their Friends,
NORTH cAR0LlNAS RECORD IN THE WAR
Speeches Made by Prominent Men and Boun-
tiful Dinner Spread For All. The Stars
and Stripes Float Over a
United Country.
United Country.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Obseryer.)
Holly Springs, N. c., July 27.-1S61
and 1891. What memories are asso-
ciated with the former year, and as the
forty years have rolled on the affec-
tion of our people towards the actors
in that four year struggle have grown
greater and is becoming more pathetic
ss those actors drift to other scenes.
The boys who wore the grey are fast
passing away
Every year these gatherings show the
havoc that the common enemy is max
ing in the ranks of our veterans and
emphasizes the solemnity of these oc-
casions most distressingly.
| No one longer questions whether the
cause for which they battled was a
just one We know how bravely they
withstood every hardship and how
manfully they met whatever fate then
confronted them.
| The young people of our country will
never let such memories go unhallowed
and as the veterans take that last
march into earth and newcomers walk
this God-blessed lanad the inspiration,
amounting to alteration. of the noble
deeds, unparalleled valor and unques-
tioning sacrifice grows stronger and
more loveable.
| In all historical records no instance
| is recorded where people had so big
heart, so heroic a head as these grey
bearded veterans of 1901 and soldiers Of
/ NJ
The whole world now looks with ad-
miration and wonder at the tender So
licitatude and dutiful veneration felt for
these grey beared, grey coated men by
each succeeding generation in our
| Southland.
Ours is the best if not the biggest
nation of the earth. Our statesmen
may differ on policies but North can
honor her heroes of Blue and South
shall not be behind in honoring the
Grey. No enemy dare despoil nor in
| suit the land of the Grey and Blue, now
linked together as never before, one
heart ,one head, one people, one nation
Men may come and men may go but
I go on forever"
And just so will the sentiment go on
| forever commemorating the valorous
deeds of the Grey-Blues. Let us hand
down from "sire to SON. record Of
the heroic deeds of these old veterans
it is the beacon light which points out
the path to honor and glory for our
selves so that when time has counted
/ it's centuries the record of an uneX-
celled heroism shall still be immortal.
Such fuel of adulation as was ex-
hibited here today cannot be burned
too fiercely in the breasts of descen-
dants of those who wore the Grey.
Holly Springs, as those who have been
there know. is a pretty little town, pos
sessed by an energetic and hospitable
people. and today'S visitors will carry
away pleasant memories of delightful
and reverentially spent time.
The arrangements for the occasion
were well planned and well executed.
No untoward incident occurred to mar
the proceedings, but joy and sorrow
mingled together in love that appre-
ciated limits and respected the cause
of the gathering.
Mr.. G. b. Afford had hoisted the flag
of the Wake Guard-the same old ag,
on the same old pole and in exactly
the same old hole. Nature itself lent
a cloudy overhead to make joy the
more complete and sorrow the more
| solemn.
Through the kindness of Mr.. j. G.
Angler in giving reduced rates on the
C. F. and N, and the popularity and
| courtesy of the officers, this railroad
brought a great many people from the
prosperous little town of Angler and
from other points along the line-people
not only glad of an outing, but glad TO
assist in honoring such an occasion
old men and women, young bucks and
lassies and children; among the throng
that gallant old soldier, good farmer
and sturdy citizen, Mr.. j. c. Williams,
the worthy Mayor of Angler.
Mr.. Mills was not behind in kindly
reducing rates and his railroad also
brought a lot of people from Raleigh
and other points to help celebrate.
Fro mthe surrounding country people
almost poured in-in every sort OF
/ vabicle-and even in the shoes their
mother gave them-peculiarly appro-
nriate by the way, to the weather
According to best judgment could
obtain there were present 5000 people.
The picnic, or reunion. as the former
was occasion for the latter was under
the auspices of Holly Springs Camp,
Confederate Veterans, Mr. G.. B. Al
ford. commander, DIR. Utley and others,
lin conjunction with L. o. b. Branch
Camp of Raleigh and the Sons of
Veterans and Daughters of the Con-