Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-23

IT IN ftaNC Oy JuuEeC JdChSCus u Tic
Enthusiusm-Richm Promi.
WYTHEVILLE. VA, October 22.-(Spe-
ciall-The reunion of the Grand Camp Of
Virginia Veterans is in full swing here.
The town is blaze of bunting and Con-
federate flags. Brass bands sound inspir-
ing strains on every corner, and lovely
women, young men, veterans, and noun
taineers jostle each other with good-na-
tured enthusiasm.
The old soldiers are as happy as school
boys in holiday; for they are meeting and
talking with the comra des of those brave
days of yore when the blood coursed
through their veins like old wine and
when they would have marched into the
gates of hell, inspired by the martial
notes of Dixie and by the burning genius
of Lee and Jackson.
Along with the more serious business
of the old veterans, and growing out of
it as naturally and beautifully as bios
SONS bud on gnarled trunks in spring,
the social entertainments prepared by the
ladies are filling in every spare moment.
This afternoon Mrs. General Terry, Mrs.
Major Green, and Mrs. f. II. Terry gave
a reception at the home Of the latter to
Wythe-Gray Chapter of the Daughters OF
the Confederacy, sponsors and maids OF
honor SO that they might have an op-
portunity of meeting each other inlor-
mally. Hours, from 8 to 3. The recep-
ton was largely attended.
Daniel Speaks.
While this was in progress several ad-
dresses were made under huge tent
erected for the occasion. Senator John
W. Daniel was the first person to ad-
dress the great crowd. and as usual
charmed his hearers He said that he had
not expected to speak, but that he had
learned in the army that it was neces-
sary to obey orders. "At present." he
continued, "I am skirmishing through
the woods for an idea"
Speaking of General Jackson, he told
the following anecdote:
"a Hebrew was telling an old Confede-
rate soldier what a great man Moses
was to lead the; lsraeltes through the
wilderness in forty years.
s ..In forty years! and with mama, toos"
said the old soldier.
"Why, If old Jack had been there he
would have gotten them through In three
days on half rations.'
THE men who drew blade be-
hind the plume of Stuart" con-
tinued our silver-tongued Senator
"have as good right to be proud OF
their achievements as, any man In the
world. 1 carry accounts of their noble
actions about in my satchei with me to re-
fresh me for my legal work, and to get
inspiration from them to be better and
a stronger man.
Year by year, history is getting nearer
to the TRUTH, he went on land | want to
see it truly written before the present
general ation has passed away"
After noting how ma gnificently Virginia
compared with other States in point of
troops furnished, he suggested that one
man of each command in the army should
be appointed to write an exact history
of the command to which he belonged.
The Term "Rcbcl."
Speaking of the use of the term Rebel"
Major Daniel said he would be proud of
the name Of Rebel, just SO he came by it
fairly, and then mentioned many good
men who had taken their lives in their
hands to rebel against tyranny.
'Many men up North," he continued.
who speak sneerinSly of us as rebels.
would go all the way to London to prove
that they are descended from some old
Virginia rebel Of the American revolu-
tiCn."
In conclusion Majo: Daniel said he
would not mournfully mention hov the
old Confed was dying out for he was not
dying any faster than any body else and
was as ready to meet it as most people.
When the Lion from Lynchburg'' stepped
back among the Westerners, he looked
truly iike an old Roman surrounded by
grand citizens.
When the Senator had concluded the
Wytheville Confederate chorus sang.
We've Drunk From the Same Canteen"
to great applause. The words stirred all
breasts to such degree that a perfect
fusilade of speeches. stories and jokes
followed. Prominent among these. Judge
Lamb made fine address, in which he
eulogized the Sc0tch-Irish of the Valley,
and begged them TO remember that we
are under the same flag through blood
and fire. He said further that the local
speakers referred to themselves as back
woodsmen but that judging from their re-
ceptions and dinners, they We're surely
cavaliers.
By the time the crowd left the tent
their blood was keeping time to the
rounded periods of the ora tors and in
spring strains from the bands, and all
were on the aui vive for the further meet
ings at night
Sons oP Vofororu
9 Eight P. N.-The Opera-House is rapid
ly filling for the meeting of the Sons OF
Veterans. The hall is beautifully decorar-
ed and over the center of the stage hands
a picture of General Robert E, Lee On
the stage are the officers, the sponsors
and maids Of honor, a lump of concentrate
ed loveliness, and the Blacksburg Band
There is a large and enthusiastic crowd of
veterans present, and the gallery is filled
with ladies and their escorts. The band
is giving magnificent music, instrumental
and vocal combined. Mr.. F. H. Terry.
commander Of the local command of Sons
of Veterans. the Charlie Crockett Camp
presided. The meeting twas opened with
prayer by Rev. John S. w. Neel Mr.. E.
Leslie Spence. Jr., of the Richmond Divi-
sion, Sons Of Veterans. then introduced
Mr.. r. Lee Trinkle. who delivered the
address of welcome to the delegates of the
Sons of Veterans from other camps.
In eloquent words he assured the visi-
tors that speech could not express the
pleasure Of greeting them to their noun
IA in town He then showed how the sons