The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-13
18TH
 HAD MEETING
Eighty-five Survivors of a Famous Fighting Command Greeted by Old C0mman- der, General Oates,
 and Had Inde-
 pendent Re- union.
ssssssssxsssssssss sss

.& y y 1 U y y v y y y v &SS SAS x Large majority of survivors . & of regiment commanded by & .& Gen. W. c. Oates had an in .& .x dependent reunion. v x Distinguished priest, Father Js .SBrannan, of Texas, who was . .e 1x drummer boy, present. S & Adopted resolutions com 1 .x mending General Oates for .e s&preparing to place . monument ~ .x on Gettysburg battlefield at Je < his own expense. 3 < Eighty-flve veterans had ss < photographs taken standing de < in front of the State Capitol. q X v < &&A& < & & .Is N 1 E & JsS k
 Eighty-five survivors of the famous 18th Alabama Infantry. c. s. A.. are in Mont gomery attending the State reunion and at the same time holding a reunion of their own, smaller numerically, but in point of enthusiasm and good fellowship just JAs big as the reunion of the entire division.
 These old soldiers are, in way. the guests of their wartime commander. Wil~ liam c. Oates, sometime Colonel of the 18th Alabama. Governor of the State. member of Congress and Brigadier Gen. eral. United States Volunteers. The old soldiers came to Montgon1ery from all over Alabama and from Ken- lucky in the North, Georgia in the East Texas in the West, and Florida in the South. Some of the veterans have gained distinction in civil life since the war but the most afliuent and highest in public favor, greeted the wornout and most for | lorn old soldier, who had journeyed many miles to shake the hands of his comrades. General Oates's office on South Perry Street. is the headquarters for the 18th and all of yesterday the office was a merry place. There they were received by General Oates and registered fsieir narness their present homes, and their company letter.
 Some of them General Oates had not seen since the war, but in nearly every case he readily recognized them and ceil- ed their names. These renewals nf ac- quaintance were most happy.
 
 Her part of the day. A general hand- shaking and some pleasant "reminiscences of the bloody days of old were exchanged. The survivors of the 18th attended the business meeting of the Division in body. After the adjournment of the big convention for dinner, the entire body of the 18th marched to the State Capitol under whose historic shade they were photographed.
 Distinguished Priest Present.
 Next to General Oates the old veterans rejoiced to see their war time drummers little Pat Grammar of the old days. now Father P. F. Grammar, a distinguished priest of the Roman Catholic Chutchs located in Weatherford, Tex.
 Father Grammar has had a varied bus successful career. He was born in Co., lumbus, Ga., on the last day of Novem- Der of the year 1S47. He has been drum mer boy in the service of the Confederate States, Mayor of Weatherford. Tex.s newspaper editor in Texas, one of the most prominent barristers of that States and now a priest of the Catholic Church.
 In appearance Father Brannan Is strik- ing. He has the frank, open face of tha Irish, a firm jaw. a reserved and priest- ly cast to his features. but the merry twinkle of the eyes of the prank-playing drummer still lights up the face of the reverend priest
 Father Grammar came to Montgomery yesterday forenoon. He Is the guest of General Oates at the home of the latteE son Ripley Street.
 He served throughout the entire strug- gle with General Oates. When the var ended he returned to Columbus. Gas where he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store. His spare moments were devoted to study. This he continued rn- til he had received a fair education.
 He then took up the law and after studying for some time in private. was admitted to the bar in November of 1868. He then moved to Louisville, Ky, where he formed a partnership with F. E. BramIett, former war Governor Of the State. In 1871 he moved to Cleburne, Tex. where he edited a paper and practiced law for a year. Here he met Miss Mary Powers of New Orleans. whom he mar ried in 1872. He then moved to Weather ford Tex where he practiced law edit ed a newspaper and was cashier or bank. Soon afterwards he retired rom the two latter occupations and devoted his energies to the law.
 Tn 1882 he was elected Mayor of Wealth. erford on the Democratic ticket ana served his city in that capacity two years.
 Tn 1SSS Mrs. Grammar died. The dis tine,,ished lawyer then decided to enter the priesthood and studied in St. Charle% College. Elliott City. Md, and St. Mary's Seminary, near Baltimore. He then took a private course under Bishop N. A. Gal lasher of Galveston. Texas, by whom he was ordained in 1888
 He first took charge of a negro Catholic Church in Galveston. Texas, subsequent- | Iv moving to his old home at Weather. | ford. where he was rector of St. Stephens Church. Later he took up missionary D,ork and has since that time preached |, every section of the United States.
 Father Grammar is highly cultured and is the author of several poems He is