The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-22
What a Reunion Should Be.


Sr,--I have attended several re-
unions notably tho reunion at Mem
phis, in 1901 and the one at New Or
leans in 1903. Neither Of these came
UP. to my conceptions of what a re-
union should be. and I, with hundreds
of other old soldiers, was disappointed.
| What l did see came far short of re-
| calling the old veteran in his former
glory. With the exception of few
old shot-worn flags, there was but 1T
past.
My idea of reunion is a gathering
of the old soldiers for the. purpose OF
pre:erving and reviving the recollec-
the history of which overshadows all
wars of which this world holds re-
cord; to preserve organization and
comradcship and to exhibit, as near as
conditions will permit. an exposition OF
| the history of that period.
In reunion. therefore, whether In
council or parade. there should be
nothing which savors OF the present.
The parade should be n retrospection of
the past None but the veterans--or
| those personating the old soldiers
should be permitted in the parade. eN.
ccpt it be the bands; and instead of
grating on to the parade carriages
laden with beautiful sponsors, many or
| whom were born more than two de-
cades after the war. they should have,
IL there must be Sponsors the wives,
and possibly. the few surviving moth
crs of the old soldiers.
I have always believed that sponsors
were out of place In parade, designed
| to represent the cast In fact. the
! Confederate veteran needs no sponsor
| He should be considered sponsor unto
| himself. and his record should be the
cartel which gives him right of
| way" without the filigree and lavish
| ness Of other adornments.
10 ral1p1 q veteran
radc when the veterans are not the at
traction? Who is he who cares to look
on the grim old fellows of four decades
ago. when he can feast his eyes on the
lovelinesS of the sponsors? What con-
nection is there between grim-visaged
war and these lovely representatives
of piping peace?
To me this commingling of the two
generations seems out of taste and III
assorted
1t would afford splendid object les
son for the younger generation, If there
could be formed several military com
panies or detachments to lmpersonate
the soldier of 1S6l-1S65.
This could easily be done at small
expense: for instance: Let there be
company bearing the banner Of 1861,
dressed up in their new gray uniforms
and with bright accoutrements. new
the initial stage Of the war
Let this company be followed by its
duplicate. bearing the banner of 1862.
with faded uniforms. with blankets
around the shoulders. in lieu OF the
knapsacks, and with reduced numbers.
Following this. with still reduced num-
bers, let another representative, pear
ing the banner of 1858. follow with
ragged uniforms and varied dress, with
greasy haversacks, the old blankets,
the pants stuffed into the yarn socks,
etc. Then with still reduced numbers
the same relics OF the original COM
pany. bearing the banner of 1864, and
finally with n mere corporafs guard
the remnant of 1865, with perhaps one
or more with arms In sling or cloth
around the head. ragged, dirty, etc.
Some old soldier could instruct these
in the foot cavalry" gait and in all
the details to make such a parade
living reproduction OF the fearful
shrinkage In numbers caused by that
war.
l know I am treading on forbidden
ground. but only echo the sentiment
of hosts OF others. who saw matters as
! did. Either l or some other "old vet
has to talk out in meeting. even at the
expense OF seeming ungallant. and l
simply do SO in order to present my
views as an old soldier who has never
forgotten the days of his golden
prime" and who desires to see the
younger generation see the representa-
tive of veritable Rebel" during all
the gradations incident to four years
of war.
l am tired of seeing the "old boys
"back numbers" and figuring alone as
side show, Il mere side line. The
fact is that at the reunions the old
soldier is not I'm it, He is outcassed,
when, in fact, nc should be the whole
cheese"
Let us have real parade at Rich
mond, illustrating rs far as possible
the war period. Let Parrot and
Napoleon precede the march For
heavens sake have some old fifer to
play the Gal / Left Behind Me-" I
have heard Dixie" played to death
with new quirks in 1t ! never recog-
n,.ed, and it was relief to hear some
venturesome bard start up "GooGo
Eyes"
do not wish to be considered as
throwing discouragement upon the
their Sons and Daughters of tho Con-
fedcracy, and can separately parade to
their hearts content
There is no one who bows with
greater respect than |. or loves more
the women of the South: but for all
that l really think that they-at least
the post-belium womcn-are out OF
place In veteran parade.
There is too much tendency now
adays to push away from the past and
it's traditions, and among some to con-
slider the past, as compared with the
present, q kind OF semi barbarous pc
iriod. which needs the touch and dash
Of the moro up-to-date present to make
it presentable I am not one OF those
who shares in such an opinion. The
nobler records of the past far excel In
splcndor anything that the present has
now or ever will have in store.
Let us. therefore. illustrate the past,
as 1t was, without lacking on to 1t lat
ter day trimmings, which ARE tangled
out of tune and harsh"
II the younger generation desire to
parade let them be allowed to do so,
and they will be welcomed as the de-
scendants of their heroic sres.
General S. D, Leo issued an order
against the appointment OF sponsors. I
notice, however, in this State. that
General Prudhomme proposes to APP
point such. l am satisfied it Is not
the desire of tho soldiers, and In my
judgment is done on his own respon-
sibility
am of opinion there Will be large
delegation from this state, and !
should like to be informed as to nc
commodations terms, etc, and would
thank the committee having such mat
tiers in charge TO inform me, so can
notify others.
Adit. of Camp 1929, Louisiana Division.
u. c. V.
Tallulah La.