Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-06-07
FIGHT BATTLES OVER AGAIN.
Great Confederate Reunion at Richmond Fraught
With Tears, Smiles. HandcIasps and
Thrice-TOId Tales.
GOOD FELLOWSHIP. GOOD FEELING, GOOD BEHAVIOR AND A
GENERAL GOOD TlME.-NCIDENTS VIVIDLY PICTURED.

Far exceeding the widest hope of
the local committees, the army of Con-
federate veterans which reached Rich
mond numbered fully 10000 men, and
with the forty or fifty thousand of
others who accompanied them the
seventeenth reunion of United Confed-
crate Veterans exceeds all others in the
history of the organization.
Writers of facts and faction delight
to say and sing "of the thin grey line
which is fading slowly away" but to
those privileged to watch the many
commands of old soldiers which in
vaded Richmond the. grey line seems
anything but thin, and the evidences
of fading away are entirely lacking.
1t was sight to stir the blood and
warm the heart-those bands of vet
rams marching once more along the
streets Of the city which was long ago
the capitol of the Confederacy.
The old soldiers, gay as lads and full
of fire and enthusiasm, marched with a
swing, cheering and crying aloud the
''rebel yell," greeting old friends and
quickly making new ones, going over
again the stirring times of war, re-
counting deeds of valor, and recalling
memories of campfire and battlefield.
For three days streams of people
poured out of the train sheds at the
three principal depots of Richmond.
From the far South crowds of people
came in on special trains at all hours,
several trainloads from the far West,
from Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, Okla
homa, Indian Territory, Arkansaw and
even Montana and California.
Missouri had a delegation of Veterans,
Sons, Daughters and friends more than
a thousand strong, and Kentucky and
Tennessee each seemed to equal Mis-
souri,. The Memphis sponsors and ladies
were voted the most beautiful contingent
next to Virginia, of course.
The Forrest Cavalry Corps was ac-
companied by trio of Sponsors and
half a dozen Maids of Honor which
filled touring car. The costumes and
decorations were the most striking in
the whole parade. Possibly the trio of
sponsors were the most beautiful trio
ever seen on Virginia soil. In fact,
next to the stirring sight of old heroes,
many legless and armless, the bower of
beauty which accompanied them in car
riages and on horseback received such
applause as has not been heard from
Southern throats since the days when
Lee or Jackson would ride before the
victorious ranks of Southern chivalry.
All this occurred on Thursday, the
first day and the big parade day. The
weather was beautiful. The heavy
rains and cold weather of Friday and
Saturday obviated all outdoor displays,
but the hotels, banquet hall, auditoriums
and public places were filled and each
had an occasion of splendid interest.
Owing to the inclement weather many
returned to their homes in the far South
but large majority remained for the
greatest day, Monday of this week, and
many thousands more came in Sunday
and Monday.
Five thousand old vets were accom-
modated in tents at Camp Gordon.
They had abundance to eat and camp
fires were going all the time, but the
sleeping under canvas in the rain, we
fear, will produce many casualties.
Richmond has never been called upon
TO handle such a crowd. This was the
greatest reunion ever held or that ever
will be held in the South because of the
'lost cause"
'No city has ever before been so
brilliantly decorated for Confederate
Reunion" This was the expression of
Commander Stephen D. Lee.