The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-18

reminiscent HAAS anu olI9I1S O1
Patriotic Songs-Larscst Crowd
Ever in the Academy There Last
Nicht-Movement InauSurated to
Have the Government do Something
With Fort Fishcr-The Visit There
Yesterday wa Greatly Enjoyed by
the Old SOIdiers-Things Greatly
Changed i'm Appearance During In
tcrycnino Years.
No fairer or more perfect day could
have been desired by the veterans, than
was yesterday, for their trip to Fort
Fisher, where the Blue and Gray sur
lvivOrs Of the memorable conflict there
during the civil war; gathered together
to celebrate in fitting manner the 42nd
anniversary of that conflict, which
occurred on January Is, 1865. Nature
Itself, as one expressed it, seemed to
shine a benediction upon the reunion,
beaming with especial brightness,
lit seemed, on this day. Not a cloud was
lin the sky and the day was n that
is regarded as typical Of Indian sum-
|mer. To the visitors from the far
north, who left their homes only three
days ago, with the mercury only II
degrees above zero,> this being regarded
as mild for the season, the transforma-
|tion to this land of sunshine was al
most miraculous.
The days of the reunion have been
blessed with almost ideal weather and
this in a large measure has contributed
to the pleasure and happiness Of ali
THE guests. at
The veterans gathered early al the
Nv. L. l. armOry yesterday morning
land marched in impressive phalarfx
down Market street to the steamer Will
wharf, the business street
being lined with interested sightseers,
who felt a natural reverence in wit
messing such a spectacle.
/ The Wilmington left her dock at $3.50
with more than 500 persons on
board, and the Atlantic left an hour
later with probably 300 more bound
iGcr the Fort. On arrival at the
Rocks, practically the entire body of
, veterans and their friends left the
boat and walked owe the narrow plank
way built over the rocks to the site
OF old battery Buchanan. Many halted
there, but hundreds tramped. on the
llCng line of beach, a mile and a quar-
ter distant, to the site of the big
mounds and bal terles which formed
fpart of the Fort itse'f.
To those who from Within battled to
Withstand assault Ge& to those from
without fought to g u the fort, there
is little in the prese1' lw-lying sand
hills and "stubbly'7 Craed Beach to
remind them of the FIJI q it original
lily existed. Points OF i4Esr< t, however,
were quickly located ! the spots
pointed out where the lost interest
ing incidents had Occurred. e
All the old veterans were surround
led by interested groups who listened
attentively to the graphically told SO
ries of the bombardment, assaults, and
Surrender. The place where the at
ttacking feet lay, and the location from
whence the land forces came were
Ipointed out. and the spot where stood
big cannon which sputtered~forth de
Ifance and death to the attackers wera
ISl1O w L.. III I1CA VI INC O41C LIZ -
1.-THE gray lived over again in painful
memory the fight Of AZ years ago, ana
these old enemies, nee fighting to the
death, now met as friends and gTeeteG
each other as comrade.
Whatever n may think of the wa
land it's results, it cannO be doubtC I
THAT the spectacle witnessed hundrec5
of times yesterday, old federal and coll
Ifederate survivors arm in arm, VS.
AN impressive sight hat can not he ,
but be of tremendous influence n
welding together again the bonds b.
tween the two sections of the common
country. =
After spending two hours going Oger
the old fort, the party made the ions
"trip back to the steamers and the TIP
TO the city was begun.
There was no speech-making, an
where. the day being given up solely
Ito the enjoyment of seeing the Cd
sights again.
The Wilmington arrived in the city
lat 5 o'clock and the Atlantic came Ii
AN hour later. both ~discharging tired
but happy crowds.
4 large number of others than vet
Ierans made the trip, several hunGFed
Wilmington citizens going as an IS
lcort OF honor. The boat ride To and
from the city was the occasion for Inc
Iswapping of war tales and reminls
licenses. that made each group Of veteI'
Ians a center of attraction for crowds
Eof people.
At the Academy of Music last night
1.-THE most remarkable gathering ever
iheId in any CITY in the land occurred
when more than 800 survivors of tnf
Fort Fisher battle, both wearers or tbs
blue and of the gray, met together IN