The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-06-12


home for the Memphis reunion. in
tended iodine with the family of J. w.
Bynum, but feared it would rain and
prevent me from getting to Shellman,
So hurried on. Arriving at Shellman
| found that Colonel Crittenden, Judge
Sasser and DIR. Bridgeman had taken
the cannon ball that morning. | was
also informed by Shellman's most DO
lite and obliging railroad agent that
there were no more tickets over the
same route which thev had gone, but
he dispatched to Cuthbert and had the
conductor bring ticket for me. S. P.
Chambers came in the afternoon,
and this very obliging gentleman
wired to Cnthbert to have his ticket
filled out so he could sign it and 60
with the Terrell delegates to Mem
phis. | met Mr.. and Mr.. Curry, who
invited me to dine with them at the
Hennie May Hotel. Mrs. Curry is
the daughter of the late Thomas ].
Ferguson of Buford. Mr.. Ferguson
was with me when | lost my arm, AMI
waited on me three weeks in the ma.
rine hospital at Wilmington, N. c.. A
better, Drawer man never lived than
Thomas j. Ferguson. Peace to his
noble ashes. | take this method of
returning my most sincere thanks to
Mr.. and Mrs. Curry tor the kindness
extended ne, who was once comrade
AMI messmate of their honored father.
Soon the shrill whistle of the iron
horse was heard and | Joined Judges
Murray and Quails of Terrell county.
At Eutaula, Ala, we were Joined by
several old veterans with their wives,
and also at Union Springs. | got hap
ply at Shellman and happier on the
way. On Monday morning the Ter
rell delegates visited the state house
and saw the magnificent confederate
monument and the star which marks
the identical spot upon which Presi-
dent Jefferson Davis stood when he
delivered his first inaugural address
as president of the southern confeder-
acy. At S:20 a. N. We boarded the
train for Memphis. Here we were
Joined by Colonel and Mrs. S. I. Jor-
dan of Dawson, D. D. l.. West of Shell
man and Williamson West of Mont
gomery. Time moves ION, so does the
train. We passed plantations,
cities and villages, coal mines,
and hot blasts of Birmingham,
crossing the Alabama, Black Warrior
and Tom Bigbee rivers. We passed
through Tupelo, the home of Private
John Allen. We wanted a speech
from him very much, but Private John
did not appear. At 1880 p. u. we ar
rived in Memphis, city of l02320 in
habitants. We stopped at the mess
hall. and when convenient took our
meals in the dining pavilion and when
not convenient at the restaurants. To
say that we drank in the entire situa-
ton but feebly expresses it.
To meet and snake hands with the
old veterans very handsomely rewards
one for travelling a distance of thuo5-
and miles, and to look upon the fair
daughters of the confederacy pays him
most handsomely.
Upon entering the headquarters of
the Georgia division | met the Rev.
A. M, HAYES, who is wei known in
Terrell county, who gave me the first
rebel hug; then [ met Gen. Z. A.
Evans, "Old Clen, you see, who gave
me the second embrace; later on met
General John B. Gordon, who gave me
the the third and last hug the first
day of the reunion. Colonel Critten-
den said mad immortalized my
self by being Rugged by three OF the
best men upon American soil. Some
great man, or probably great woman,
Said "at some time during ones life
time he could be immortalized, " and
the colonel said that that time arrived
in my case.
[ shall not pretend to tell your read
ers what occurred during the reunion
as the news papers TEEN with the acts
savings and doings of many. one
small brain cannot comprehend al
that passed in review. tried to see
and hear lust as much as possible ana
to enjoy the sights to be seen 20
my hearts content. =, -
S. p. Chambers went home WIN ms
brother, to Senatobia, Col. Qua,ls
came back as far as Birmingham, ana
Col. Crittenden and Judges Sassef anu
Murra visited the Hot Springs ~
Arkansas and left me in the mag 81 u
cant CITY of Memphis on the DUN Vi
the great father of waters.