The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-24
ARE HOMEWARD BOUND
MONTGOMERY OLD SOLDIERS
 BACK FROM REUNION.
They Praise the Hospitality of New
 Orleans and Success of Meet ing-Flag of the 63rd : Tennessee Here.

With light hearts reflected in their beamng 1aees thousands of Confederate veterans home terday returning from the great reunion in New Orleans and railroad trains packed to their capacity.
 Many Montgomerans returned yesterday on separate trains and they were enthusiastic over the success of the reunion.
 Among those who came home yesterday were
 Judge J. B. Fuller. Miss Jamie Fuller, MT and Mrs. William Berney, W. $. Stokes Mai 3. M. Washburn and Miss Lucille Washburn, Frances Patteson, Miss Caroline Hannon, Miss Mary Kirkpatrick, MT. A. L. R. Thompson Maj. J. M. Riley and Miss Mamie Riley.
 MT. .Lanier. speaking of the reunion, said that in his opinion 1t was the most successful gathering in the history of the organization The veterans, he said. appeared to be more prosperous than heretofore. More of them wore gray uniforms and more camps had bright new banners
 New Orleans MT Lanier said, simply over Whelmed the veterans with hospitality and nothing was left undone to make the reunion a success and to contribute to the pleasure of the old soldiers.
 Quite a number of veterans from other States stopped over in Montgomery yesterday Among them were two from Knoxville, Tenn, Dr. R. M Rhea and John L. Rhea. They were broth CTS of, the late Lieutenant Colonel James A. Rhea. who lived here several years before his death and gained the high regard of a large number of devoted friends. His brothers stop ped fdf the purpose of visiting his grave in
 They had with them Confederate battle flag which has exceedingly interesting his- tory. It belonged to the gallant 63rd Tennes- see Regiment of Infantry and was captured at Battery 5 by Corporal Peter Mitchell of O. K, 18th New Hampshire Volunteers June IT, 1864. When General Johnston and a number of friends went to Portsmouth, N. H., during the second term, in connection with the plac ing of tablets for the United States warships Alabama and Kearsarge, on invitation of the Governor of New Hampshire the flag was returned to the Alabama Governor and it was the cause of much good feeling between the Southern and Northern people who pres ent on the occasion. It remained in Governor Johnston's possession until this reunion in New Orleans and there he turned 1t to Gen. George W. Gordon of Memphis. Tenn. to be by him turned over to Col. Frank Mo of Knoxville, who ensign of the 63rd Tennessee during the war.
 He delivered 1t to Dr. Rhea and his brother and they will take 1t with them to Knoxville and there it will be presented to Fred Ault Camp. U. c. V.
 It thus gets back into keeping of men in the community whence it originally and many of whom followed 1t into battle on many fields. The camp bears the name of heroic young soldier of the regiment who was killed at the time the flag captured.
 This 63rd Regiment was under the command of General Oracle who killed at Peters burg about the same time young Ault gave up his life. Grace's brigade in addition to the Tennessee regiment was composed of the fist, the 23rd Alabama Battalion It was a glorious command and there no nober commander in the Confederate army than Archibald Ora cie.
 Alabamians loved the 6Srd Tennessee Regi- 1nent and they will read with pleasure that its survivors agin look upon their beloved battle flag.