Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
"YANK" "REB" MEET
REVIVAL OF MEMORIES OF THE
CIVIL WAR.

Quite number of former johnny
Rebs," who have been to Richmond attend
ing the big confederate reunion passed
through Washington last evening on their
way to their homes in the valley of Vir-
ginia and in Maryland A group OF them
was found in the lobby of a downtown
hotel discussing with several G. y. r. men
features of the war, and some unwritten
history Of the civil war leaked out during
their conversation. One of the southern
ers. whose name is Thomas and who fought
with the Louisiana Tigers" declared that
history erred when it stated that the
Tigers participated In the battle Of Get
tysburg and made a charge there, as de-
scribed In some of the histories of the civil
war
1T is true" he said. that there were
many Louisianians in the big fight: but
the organization known as the Tigers was
not there. AS matter of fact the Tigers
went out OF existence during Mcclellan
campaign against Richmond on the penin-
sula. They were almost wiped out at the
time of their desperate charge at Malvern
Hill, and were never afterward reorganized
as Tigers Some of the Louisiana regi-
ments were afterward given the name OF
the original organization. but the real
Tigers went out Of business as l have
stated"
Another Error.
He also said there was popular mistake
as to the uniform of the Tigers" 1t being
generally believed that they wore the
zouave uniform. when as a matter of fact
but two companies wore the wide red
trousers, red fez and blue jacket in the
French style. In the original Tigers" were
many Irishmen and men of French descent
Gen. Wheat, their first commander, having
been rollicking, gallant son of the Elmer
aid Isle.
One Of the confederate veterans was
former gunner in one of Pelham's artillery,
and at Antietam all the men of his gun
were either killed or wounded, and he
loaded and fired the cannon for fifteen min
utes in the face of storm Of bullets until
other artillerists were brought up to man
the piece.
Il remember" said one Of the G. A. R.
men, that you fellows fired hammers,
tongs and scrap iron at us at the close Of
the Antfetam fight and one of our boys
remarked that the Johnnies would be firing
anvils into our line next"
Ammunition Was Low.
Yes" replied the man in gray. "our
ammunition was giving out and we made
raid on a blacksmith shop near Sharps-
burg and gathered up all the harseshoes,
tools and the like we could find and used
them as projectiles. We would have shot
the anviis at you. too. but they wouldn't
tit into our guns"
The things you did shoot at u.s." re-
Joined the Yank, AS they howled through
the air made the most diabolical noises as
though the demons of the inferno had taken
wings and were flying over US"
During the laugh which followed this sally
the former Yanks and Johnnies adjourned
to a nearby refreshment place to again re-
view the awful times during the battle of
greatest carnage in the civil war.
Some of the old confeds wore their war
time uniforms Of faded and moth iddled
gray. and all of them declared they had
enjoyed the time of their lives during the
reunion at the late confederate capital
They were particularly proud of their
medals of honor, which had been pinned
on their coat front by the fair Daughters
of the Confederacy.