The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1906-09-29
L AVS 30 COG Nc
COL. WEIGHS REPLY.

correct, to some extent, state
ment that appeared in your issue
Sept. 9Th, as special to TT.
Worth, dated from Columbus, O.,
in which the reporter must have
drawn largely upon his imagina,
ton. The facts of the occasion of
my being called upon to address
the comrades of the Fourth Ohio
Vol. Reg, was purely accidental;
before reaching Columbus, upon
the train comrade member of the
Fourth Ohio persuaded me to stop
over with him and accompany him
to their reunion; losing thereby
only one train in reaching my final
destination. Mt Vernon, o. Ihad
explained to him in brief the fra.
ternal feeling existed now between
those men who had worn the Blue
and those who had worn the Gray,
when we battled for what we both
believed to be right; the Supreme
Court of Arms, after four years
continuation, had decided against
them, and they. as good American
law.abiding citizens, had accepted
the decision as final and their re.
newed fealty to the Flag, should
challenge our admiration, as brave,
chivalrous, loyal men, Upon en-
tering the Hall I found that they
were engaged in business meet
ing; and as soon as the matter was
disposed of under discussion, the
president announced that a COM
rade from Texas was present; bus
mess was suspended and l was in.
vited to take the stand and address
them. After explaining that had
stopped over one train on my way
to meet with my comrades of two
regiments of which I had form erly
been member of the 87th and the
125th o. " L., who would convene
at Warren. Trumbull Co., o., on
the 18th and 18th; and that l
would trespass but few moments
upon their time, only long enough
to show them that Congress, had
by authorizing the return to the
Southern States of those captured
flags was benificent act; returned
to the survivors of the gallant and
brave men who had so bravely
borne them at the battles front,
now to be forever furled and laid
away as cherished relic of
cause which they had once loved
but was now lost. nevermore to be
resurrected; and under whose folds
so many of their bravest had fallen!
And now the Stars and Stripes
Old Glory, is the only flag to be
seen in all Texas, floating over
courthouses, postoffices and school
houses, and other places on gala
occasions, to please the multitude
whenever assembled. To reinforce
my statements as additional evil
dence | read to the comrades there
assembled the letter of greeting
from Dick Taylor Camp of U.C,V.
so kindly given me to be presented
and read when / should reach my
own regimental reunion; they and
they alone were authorized to re.
ceive it or to take any action
thereon. Standing as | did. at the
front of the platform where l could
see all over the hall, and hear as l
held aloft small silk representa-
tive of the Stars and Bars about
six inches square, [ affirm that the
only sounds | heard was a slow
murmur of two or three comrades
saying, Yes, that is the old flag"
heard no cries Shoot it!'' Fire
on the hag" If 1 had heard any
such cries from any of the comrades
there present who had worn the
blue should have resented it then
and there as a personal Insult to
myself and to my brothers who
had worn the Gray, who had voted
to instruct their commander and
adjutant to formulate the same and
given me to present in a spirit of
brotherly kindness; l say # had
heard, and | do not know how /
could have escaped the hearing if
it had been uttered by any one
present, l should have denounced
them in the most vigorous, scathing
language at my command, and
there might perhaps have been a
riot sure enough, for had friends
there who would have stood by me
as in the days of the Cos.
There was reporter present aud
his imagination, assisted by his
powers of invention. he no doubt
thought to fire the Southern demo-
cratic heat by telegraphing that