The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-07
COLOR BEARER At LOUISVILLE
John Wesley Bears the Shattered
Banner Of the Old 51st.
Nothing Could Take the Worn. Old
FIaG from Him-The Molmfaincer
Boy Seeks Ills Fcrtunc-Thc HyDo-
condriac-Blessinys on the "Daugil-
tors" and the "Scns."
For The Messenger:

One of the pleasantest and most
amusing incidents of the veterans re-
union al Louisville on the 14th ms,
was related by some of the visitors on
returning home; and the central fig
ure therein was John w. Carroll, o.
Fayetteville, Familiarity and affection
ately known by his old comrades as
John Wesley" a brave Confederate
soldier, member of Company B, Col
onel J. B. STAIRS 18th North Carolina
battalion Of light artillery. The cause
is as dear and sacred to him now in
his old age as it was forty-one years
ago, when he was No. 4 at the Napo-
leon six-pounder in the field; and, in
his view, no assemblage of the people
can surpass in interest and Importance
the annual gathering of the United
Confederate Veterans. Consequently
no man of all the vast host within the
gates Of the beautiful metropolis of
Kentucky enjoyed things with more
Zest than did Mr.. John w. Carroll.
Major A. A. Mcclellan, clerk of ths
superior court of Cumberland county,
and an officer in the 51st North Caro-
lima regiment of infantry, carried to
Louisville the ba.tle-fag of that regi-
ment. On the morning of the grear
parade, while the different commands
were gathering to take their places in
line, Major Mcclellan said: joan
Wesley, | wan you to be colOr-bearer
today, and carry the flag of the old
51st."
Carroll will bear down the scales at
225 or 230 pounds, is a mar of hercu-
lean build and strength for his more
than three-score years, is very slow
and deliberate in movement and still
more SO in speech, and he chews to-
bacco in a way to keep the market up.
"Well, Major" he slowly replied, as he
elected a finger-thick jet of tobacco,
I'll tell you what's the fact. Aftr"
that morning dram Of fine old Ken
lucky rye, and that hearty Kentucl "
breakfast, | feel sassy but very lazy,
and | don't know about it. That fia5's
going to be powerful heavy to carry
this hot day, and I'd rather loaf along
and enjoy the sights" ooh, we'll, you
can carry it for a block or two, and
her some other fellow can relieve
you" Very well, Major, it's just as
you say. I'll take her a couple ot
hundred yards"
So, when the trumpets blared, the
bands crashed, the swords flashed, the
sharp commands rang along the line,
and the striking pageant moved MA
j~estically down the gayly decorated
streets, thousands of enthusiastic men
crowding the pavements, and other
thousands of beautiful women framed
in the doors, windows and balconies
of the imposing buildings on each side,
John Wesley slouched along at
trout" step, the flag carried at about
right shoulder shift" Major McKethan
marching by his side, and G. B. Nc
MILAN, mayor of Fayetteville, and w
C. Hall, ex-commander of Camp S5s,
just behind.
But mems eyes caught the futtering
of that tattered ensign @ a hundred
bloody fights, it's bars now only a blur,
and its stars dim and faded as the eyes
of the crippled veterans moving proud
" in it's wake; and they rushed from
the pavements, and wildly pressed TO
their lips it's frs yed and Smoke-staln-
ed folds, while they threw their arms
about the grim old North Carolinian
bearing this historic relic OF their -wor-
ship. And far above, fair women
leaned out from the lofty easements
of splendid mansions, and in sweet,
soft voices hailed it with glad &C
claim, wrapping banner and bearer in
an apotheosis of tumultuous praise Of
white hands saiuting, handkerchief
waving and fans futtering.
John Wesley" Strengthened as II
General Stephen d. Lee had sent from
the head of the column 1000 electric
volts right through the line into his
big body; his right foot came down on
/ the cobble-stones pat to the time Of the
martial music; his head went up, and
his eyes flashed. With a giants arm
he slung the flagstaff from his shoul-
der around to his side in his right
hand, as Napoleon rushed forward at
the causeway of Lodi. n wherever
cheers went up, before or behind, on
the left or the right, he greeted them
with the waving of the flag; and wher-
ever, from window and balcony heights,
sweet, silvery voices were waited down
like heavens. blessings, angel-senl,
upon it's grizzled head, he fairly tossed
the folds aloft, in homage to their
devotion and their charms.
And then another old soldier stepped
up and said: John Wesley I'll re-
lieve you now, and take the flag"
Scornful indignation brought the red
into the face of the old color-bearer.
You'll relieve Inc, Ell? Youth take
the flag, will you? All hell can't
take this flag fiji the parade's plumb
done"
And ever when the parade vas al
most frazzled out, John Wesley" was
still strutting along.
Early one summer morning, a year
or two ago., Rev. DR.. G. G. Vardell,
president of the Southern Presbyterian
College at Red Springs, was riding IN