The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A GREAT DAY.
Annual Reunion of Camp 396, United
 Confederate Veterans.

NBA&EuEk4fE tCAEEAAAas A
 Editor The Advertiser:
 On Thursday, the 9th day of August 1906, the Camp of U, c. V.s No. 396, which was organized at Robinson nual reunion at the residence of ]. B Stamps. and will continue to hold them as long as the camp exists.
 I propose to give you a slight sketch of the program of the day under the families and neighbors of the camp Imagine to yourself a beautiful grove of large spreading oaks underneath which were erected tables which were soon filled with boxes and baskets ol various kinds, with each arrival ol vehicles, the number was swelled until it looked as If some of the tables would collapse under their burden. Nearby ssSS stsSS of a raaa d siamps snnsy aronnd about were thronged the representa- lives of more than three generations of the family and connections.
 Under some of the largest trees had been erected small stand and in from of this were seats arranged for the comfort and convenience of the guests They were crowded with beautiful looking young girls and sober. sedats look indicated the great interest they had in the proceedings about to take place. There were also gray-haireo veterans and their boys interspersec
 
 varied Kaleidoscope only seen or such occasions. Last but not least scattered around were numbers of lit tie tots. and children who by then bright, innocent looks gave to the whole a charm that Is indescribable.
 The program was opened by the singing of Dixie land by the ladies and joined in by the veterans and mosi
 Capt. A. T. Goodwin. that gallant Confederate soldier, than whom none were truer and who was master oi ceremonies, introduced to the audience that gallant gray-headed veteran whose name is known all over Alabama anc under whose magnetic oratory thous ands have stood spellbound, Col. Johr w. A. Sanford, who for more than ar hour gave to his audience treat thal rarely falls to the lot of men anc women to enjoy. He not only gave ts them that never to be forgotten theme of the heroism, hardships and endur' ance of the Confederate soldier, bu went back to the days-of his young manhood when he was a resident ol Robinson Springs and listened at tha place to the burning eloquence or ( Yancey, Watts, Dowdell, Hilliard, Chit ton and Clopton. and others too m. nerous to mention He also spoke IT glowing terms of the noble woman | hood of the Southland, their heroic sac rifices during the war. He paid specla tribute to the heroine of Alabama, Miss Emma Sansem, as well as to heroines of both ancient and modern histories Taken all in Tall it was fine address and fully appreciated py ms auoiencs ,I,,,s Flag was rendered by the ladies and then the Hon. Mo. A. Smith of Pratt. vile was introduced. who entertained his audience for more than an hour IT happy, eloquent, earnest and feeling style. He went into "reminiscences ol his boyhood days, claiming Elmort Couty .as the place of his nativity and his earliest school days were spenl within a half mile of where he Wal then speaking and he passed every day within sight of the place where we were assembled. He also gave l detailed account Of his services as Confederate soldier and his various en | deavors to get into the service whil' | vet too young. He also spoke of thu | fact that when in ancient days th' | Roman factions fell out and went t' war that immediately after the fight 1 Ing was over they burned and destroyed l aAl evidences of the differences tha | led to the war, destroying records | etc, and that he thought at one tim | that this was the policy that ough | to have been pursued in regard to ou war, but that he had changed hi mind, and that these reunions by tn | old Confederate now being taken ui hv the Daughters and Sons. were in structive lessons to the world and vii | proclaim the old soldiers as example of patriotism unexcelled in history.
 The next was Maryland, My Mary land," sung by Miss Minnie Watt Pearce, which was beautifully an feelingly rendered and appreciated b her audience.
 Mrs. Hines Hall read a poem, Q rather an ode to the Confederate Bh which she rendered in fine style.
 After this came "Lorena" by quar tette, and the reading of a poem, o part of 1t, at the unveiling of the Le monument at Richmond in memoriar | nF nhfaffain and leader a the South. This was recited by Mrs A T. Goodwin in a most interest wa. and was greatly appreciated by her in terested audience.
 ing of the names of all persons wh joined the Confederate service rroE the neighborhod of Robinson Spring by the adjutant of the camp. MT. Whel stone. According to the records ther were 119 of whom only seventeen ar now living, and perhaps not that man, as some are carried on the roll a alive until certain they are dead,
 The next on the program was dime
 and it is useless to attempt to describ all the good things in the shape chicken pie, friend chicken, barbecue meats. salads, pies eustaras; eake se
 You will have to be at one Of thes entertainments before you can begi to appreciate what 1t was-Just twent steps off is large p9bbling spring ( nectar), which was a delight to a who were present. Just at this sprin
 was and is a curious freak of natur' near if is a bay, and a limb of tn holly has gone through the bay. an both trees are green and fiourishlnl
 To enjoy the cordial welcome given you bv both hand and eye of the en fertainers and the solicitous way i | which they waited upon you at tabl and ths manner in which they enter tained you in conversation was we
 worth the ride of twelve miles in
 hurgv 10 be there. Wish all you readers could enjoy one such day. The would live longer, feel better and better fer having spent the day wit those people Long may they live an
 prosper and may I, too, live to mee
 with them all again. In Hall stampsJ Jones. smiths. Graham