Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-08-13
THE CONFEDERATE REUNION.
A Pleasant Occasion at Greenville for the
Survivors OF the Confederate Army.

ouftbofS OF me COnIeuerate Army.
Greenyille. August 1.-THE reunion
convention adjourned sine die at o'clock
last Thursday evening, after harmo-
NOUS session of two days. The election
of officers resulted in the unanimous
choice of Gen. Thos. w. Carwile for divi-
sion commander; Gen. Zimm erman Davis,
first brigade commander; Gen. B. III.
league, second brigade commander. In
like manner the following veterans were
chosen to serve on the State pension
board: w. ID. Startling, Columbia; w. III.
Hardin, Chester; B. M. Lobby, Charles
ton. ~
The meeting place for next year was
Maj. w. M. Foster, of Spartanburg, and
w. w. Lumpkin, of Columbia, made
beautiful and entertaining speeches Just
before adjournment, and the convention
called up yonder." The benediction was
pronounced by Maj. w. NJ. Foster, and
thus was ended one of The most delight
full sessions ever held by the veterans.
The best of order prevailed throughout
the meeting.
The second day of the reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans of South
Carolina dawned clear and warm. Long
before the sun rose the streets resounded
with the STEADY tramp of the veterans,
whose numbers were greatly augmented
by arrivals during the night. The hotels
were crowded to overtlowing, but the
hospitable homes of citizens were thrown
wide open.
While the business meetings were enjoy
| able, the veterans seemingly preferred
| the social intercourse on the streets and
| in their temporary homes, where scenes
and incidents that long since have passed
into memories were recounted with the
same interest as if they transpired only a
| few days ago.
Col. j. NJ. Austin, of Atlanta, addressed
| tho veterans. He is South Carolina
| boy and his father and mother, DR.. and
| Mrs. w. III. Austin, were perhaps the
most interested listeners in the audience.
| His was an able address and commanded
closest attention. When he painted the
| scenes surrounding the Southern homes
| when the soldier boys, then in the vigor
of young manhood, responded to the call
| audience was moved to tears. When he
| said that the motto of the women from
Maryland to Texas was: 81 would
| rather be the widow of soldier than the
| wife of coward" the audience arose
and applauded.
In the midst of his speech Gen. M. G.
Butler entered the hall and some one
| yelled, "Butler," which was the signal
| for an ovation.
The event of tho day was tho mem
orial on Gen. Wade Hampton, which was
unanimously adopted by rising vote.
This memorial was presented by its
| author, Col. Jas. A. Hoyt. Col. Hoyt
was followed by Gen. M. Q. Butler, who
spoke in high praise of the illustrious
dead.
At tho conclusion of Gen. Buffers
nn,
lesion, and u. II. Brooks, of Columbia
added to the tributes paid the chieftain,
AN INTERESTING SCENE.
Col. James Armstrong addressed the
meeting. He was at his best. His witt
cism kept the audience in an uproar OF
laughte He spoke of his life of ''single
| blessedness," and candidly admitted
that it was not his fault. In his despe
ration he appealed to the ladies to take
pity on him, referring especially to tho
| pretty young lady sponsors and maids OF
honor. He admitted that such unior
would be an exemplification of May and
December. But" said Col. Armstrong
81 repeat that if one of these pretty
young ladies will take pity on me and
come foreward I will gladly commit my
keeping into her hands,"
The words had scarcely fallen from
his lips when Miss Gertrude Epperson
| of Sumter, sponsor for Camp Dick Ander.
son, and bewitchingly pretty young
woman, walked mp beside him, extended
her hand and said: "Here 1 am, Mr.
Armstrong; will you have me?'
Col. Armstrong first turned as white as
his naturally horid complexion would
permit, then red and finally rs blue as ar
egg plant. The audience howled, many
pressing forward, extending their hands
| in congratulation, while the young lady
| looked into his face enjoying his con,
| fusion. Col. Armstrong became des.
| perate.
The crowd continuing to shout and
applaud with one convulsive effort, he
| reached out and put his arm around hel
waist, and before she could release her.
self from his grasp, implanted kiss or
her left cheek. 1t was then somebody
| else's turn to blush.
MEMORIAL TO HAMPTON.
Col. Jas. A. Hoyt delivered an eloquent
eulogy of Gen. Wade Hampton. He said
| in part: Wade Hampton was not unlike
| his great commander in many respects,
and in the province of God he was
| called upon to pass through perilous
scenes and endure trials that were akin
to his experience in the tide of war. AS
a soldier he was the equal of any man in
gaining the confidence and respect of his
| love for his person substitute for food
and clothing when naked, starving
band was to be transformed into fight
ing host.
Hampton came back to a desolate
home, when he found fair city laid
waste and in ashes by the ruthless hand
of an implacablo enemy, and almost the
first words that fell from his lips were
wise, patient, gentle counsel to the
n moi fnI lat l. >.
in poverty, ignorence and prejudice.
His tender, compassionate heart went out
in sympathy for their needs, and even
unto the last hour of his existance came
yelling up from heaving bosom tho falter-
ing cry: "All ,-y people, white and
black"
WITH RARE FIDELITY.
No element of his nature was deeper
ingrained than sympathy and affection
for the people whom he loved and whom
he served with rare fidelity, and it is not
difficult to understand the poignancy OF
wounds that for a time bore the impress
of alienation from his person. =
South Carolina made ono of the grandest
contributions to the spirit of unity and
concord as supplanting strife and discord
in the person of Wade Hampton, and in
every emergency he was four :. bearing
aloft the banner of peace with the fidelity
which marked his career when The Stars
and Bars floated above him in the hour
of victory.
1t was his undoubted fitness for the
rescue of PROSTATE and oppressed
State that led men to turn with eager
impulse toward him when dire necessity
said that wickedness in high places
should no longer make people mourn,
and it was his calmness, placidty and
unyielding firmness that drove back the