The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-05-06
TAR HEELS At DALLAS
Mai. London's Review of the
Confederate Reunion.
North Carolina Headquarters More Attractive
Than Other States. Former Tar Heels
Glad 10 See Old Comrades.

men who followed Lee and a .eadins
spjrit in the United Confederate Neter-
| ans Association, MAS IN Raleigh y%cster-
day. Speaking of the reunion o. the con-
federate Veterans at Dallas. he said il
was one of the most delightful occasions
! in the life Of all who wore the gray
| whose good fortune it was 10 he present.
In his paper. his weeks Chatham Re-
cord, London gives the most interesting
account of the Reunion Yet printed. 1t
is as follows.
the twelfth annual Reunion Of the
United Confederate Veterans Was Eeld
last week at Dallas. Texas, aud it Was
| an occasion that Will never be forgotten
by any who were SO fortunate as to at
tend. The only objection to it, or rather
the only thing to mar its pleasures, was
that too many persons were present
! the crowd was 700 great for comfort.
But it was a good natured and orderly
crowd. and all seemed bent OH having a
good time and enjoying it ID the utmost.
1.-The number Of visitors in attendance
was estimated at nearly 10000, but real
Nv there was 10 way Of accurately esti-
mating the number. Wherever anyoHe
went he thought everybody else Went,
I LOT 90 NltItNeI 1od Hooll Sot NOoi'
fire q mass of humanity. In every part
of the city could be seen greater crowds
han are seen on any 'Tuesday of court
week at any county court house. OF
course all these people We're not veter-
ans, for the low rate given by the rail
roads could not be confined TO veterans
only. Hence many thousands Of persons
from other States took advantage of the
va 49, o,I r-ort ~ -ricit I bai,t friends,
and relatives in Texas.
Thus it was a reunion not only Of old
army comrades, but of g-separated
friends and relatives. brothers ard SIS
ters and other near relatives met there
for the first time in many wears, Old
schoolmates met after 4 long separation
and renewed their childhood days. Some
Of these meetings were quite pathetic.
For instance, we saw the meeting be-
tween a brother and sister-each nearly
seventy wears old-whO had not met in
twenty years. They We're born in Moore
county, but when children had moved
with their parents to Alahama-travel-
ling in wagons for five weeils-an1 after
the war the brother had moved from
meeting was that between two brothers
oSt4i ~ soy NAN' AiA>A $3.50
not met in many years. They
Rugged and kissed each other repeated
ly. and with tears streaming down their
rugged checks sohhed for JOY.
"Mcst of the veterans were e%ncamped,
in army style, in tents that had been
provided for the occasion. This camp
was at the State Fair Grounds. about
two miles from the entire of the city,
and was very appropriately rameG Camp
Albert Sidney Johnston, whose untimely
death at Shiloh changed victory into de-
feat. TIL camp was laid OF in regular
army style with streets running be-
tween the tents allotted to the different
States, and thus the veterans from each
State We're together. Every State lad
it's headquarters tent, where a registry
was kept and the names written therein
of every veteran from that State who
was present. In this way old comrades
could find one another. Another way of
finding anybody was quite amusing. A
veteran would mount a box or barrel at
the headquarters tent and III a loud
voice inquire if anybody FROM such aid
such a Ompan or regiment was pres
ent. or he would inquire il such and
such a comrade was present and il an
affirmative answer was given the two
old comrades would rush to sfcet each
other. On each tent W+s placed tie Lame
Or number of the regimen to which It's
occupants had belorgad, and thus long
separated comrades in arms could more
easily meet.
"The tent for the North Carolina
headquarters was crowded all the time
with visitors inquiring for old friends,
and all were made to feel at home.
Gen. j. S.. Carr, with his thoughtfulness
and public spirit, had made our head
quarters more attractive than those of
any other State. In front and on each
side of our tent We're suspended aloft
white cloth. banners on which were
painted in large red letters appropriate
sentences, extending a warn welcome to
everybody at the Tar Heel headquarters.
1t was this writer's privilege to have
charge of the North Carolina head
quarters as chief of staff to General
Carr, and it was a great pleasure to
bring together long separated comrades
who came there inquiring for one
another. Nearly 500 veterans registered
at our headquarters, who had belonged
to North Carolina regiments and after
the war had moved to Texas. Few Of
them had visited their old homes since
their removal. and this was their first
opportunity to meet some of their old
comrades, and of course these reunions
were greatly enjoyed.
LAS is usual at all reunions the parade
was the most attractive feature. and for
2 wonder 1t was not dispersed by a rain
storm as has SO frequently happened.
Inc weather was most favorable and
consequently the parade was enjoyed
more than heretofore. The North Car
DINA veterans occupied a prominent part
IN the parade and were Justify cheered