The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-05-15
THE STATE REUNION
Great Gathering of Old confe d
crate Soldiers.
THoUsANDsIN COLUMBIA.
Meeting Of Old Comrades In
Arms Who 6raveIy Fought
under the Stary
Cross

Columbia, May 11.-Special: Five
thousand survivors Of the armies of the
Confederate States came into Carolina
beautiful capital here gathered to tall
of war times, TO exchange greeting
that had not been passed in years, and
to show tie people of this erss,
country that they are not ashamed OF
'he pare they bore uhder Lee and Jack.
son and Johnston and BeAuregard and
Gordon and Hampton and their other
great leaders. The numbers here ex
ceeded the highest estimates of the
most enthusiastic. Barring fair week,
1t was the largest gathering seen in Co.
iumbia In very many years.
| DECORATION OF THE CITY.
The entire city was covered with
colors; not all colors, but the beautiful
red and white of the Confederacy.
Flags and emblems OF every kind per
tanning to the Confederaoy wers 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 higs
were Comic eierate and State flags, a
streak Of blue was often to be seen hung
beside Ihe red and white, aud mum bers
OF Unlon flags were sprinkled anon .
those of the Confederacy. The new
City Hall and theatre building was tn,
most beautifully decorated, and the
hotels were all thoroughly bedeok, d
besides all buildings on Main street.
Many private Ie sidences were ornament
ed with flags and bunting, and the CHI.
at large presented beautiful SD ,ctacle
to Southern eyes.
OPENING EXERCISES.
Tho annual convention of tho Sou,T
Carolina Division OF United Confed
crate veterauS opened in the new Co
lumbis theatre on Wednesday evening.
More than'2, ,00n people were present
The speakers occupied front
seats and the place of honor was giver,
10 Lieut.. Gen. Wade Hampton. Juss
behind him sat Mr.. w. A CLARK, who
escorted Gen. Hampton, Governor Ms
Sweeney came In with Gen. j. b. Cor
don, Mayor Earle came in with Justic.
Pope, Mr.. Augusta Kohn with Mis-,
ElIzaoe h Lumpkin, Chief Justic Nc.
lver With Con. West, Associate Justice
Gary and Jones and many other dis
unguiahed Carolinians were ON th}
] &AAs~ .xI.-I-s1--Ii,-- ..u
James G. Holmes;v houseliront sesa
and Oapt. w. ID. Startling Of Cam
Hampton had charge OF the gres'
gathering.
The opening prayer wss offered By
tho Rev. DR.. James Woodrow OF this
city.
Mayor +. s. Earle wei l,omed the vet
Grams and other visitors to the capital
city.
Then Commander Startling said that
he and the camp had selected the most
distinguished Veteran, member of the
camp, to respond In behalf of CamE
Hampton to the welcome. Slowly G en-
HAmpton's name was called and then
there was mighty roar Of applause
that made the very welkin ring, ant
again and again the applause went up
Gen. Hampton arose and again the yell
broke forth once, twice and more ant
finally when quiet came the singing O.
the Doxology followed and was render
ed with feeling.
GEN. WADE HAMPToN's SPEECH.
Gen. Hampton spoke out, and it wa
with clearness and decision, and ono
IN awhile with show Of youthful Are
Once IN awhile he looked around to
wards the box In which sat his daush
ter, Miss Daisy Hsmpto, and Mr.. Nc
Dathe Hampton. Lieut.. Gen. Wad
Hampton spoke as follows: My com
rsdes, | have heard that rebel yell be
fore and l wish that could respond t
1t now, as 1t was once my pride to do
and tell the brave men who were aroun
me to go IN and win, but time hs
marked many mile stone o
my march to my last resting plso
Perhaps there are some among you her
who knew the old Philips Legion. Th
lieutenant colonel of that legion wa
one OF the best fighters of the legior
but he was not much on grammar {
t drill and once, when his legion was
winter quarters, he fent an off GER to il
! spect and drill them. We'll, they wei
not accustomed to quick time, on foc
( and the old general compromised
, saying, Their spirits are good, br
? their winds are short" Now that
/ very much the condition of myself.
have had a very severe attack of gri
and that has left me very much in tt
Q same condition as those men. By ii
y by, that recall another incident. Whe
they came 10 South Carolina, at the Ia
G OF the war, they were sent down ne
BranchVllle and we're put one night
relieve some militia, who always cam
cd along srAnch, and the day aft
they camped there he found II
B. tederaIs had climed up the trees OF Il
@ swamp and fired down upon their bress
i works and next morning they went
the branch and commenced droppir
those Yankees like ducks One Yank
called out, What troops are those
he said, militia; aud he said, You a
a -- liar They are not militia
My comrades, l will say friends,
cause | am a friend Of every comrA
r. Who has been rue. You are L
d friends and | have been appointed
a the camp, which honors me my beari
Ie my nsme, to return thanks to you
,c coming, to welcome your here, as l
ie for them, for myself, for every bra
1t man in Columbia, for every noble q
W patriotic woman who still olings to t
20 faith which inspires us. welcome yC
Of and the mayor has extended to you I
Of freedom Of the city. You are welool
and the freedom of Columbia is Offer
you, and am sure that in 10 otl
g. place in the world, in the South, COZ
ID you feel brighter welcome. / hI
OF seen many of my old men from Geor
Ot and other States. We are honored
~ night by having an old soldier, G,
Id Gordon, from Georgia, with us.
to has come to do honor to Columbia VIII
he helped us so much in 1876 and