The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-06-17
CONFEDERATE REUNION
TEARS AND CHEERS GREET THE
-,.. OLD HEROES.
Singing of ''Dixie" Sweeps the Great Gathering Off
Its Feet-Speeches of Eloquent Orators Add
to Remarkable Demonstration.

init me TO say that esteem this cuur.
tesy Go me as an exceptional distinction,
for am always proud and happy to
meet and to greet the friends and com
rades OF FIVE and forty years ago. A
King, much less my humble self, might
well be proud To stand uncovered before
the venerable fragments Of as brave and
heroic armies a. ever stormed q citadel,
fought hattie OF won victory.
Representatives from every battlefield
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande are
here. The followers Of lee aud John
stoh, Hill aud Gordon. % Stewart and
Hampton, are here. soldiers who fol.
lowed the two Johnsons. Bragg. Bcaurc-
gard, Hood. Polk, Hardec. :. ID. Lee,
Buckner, Chatham, Hindman, Wahhall.
Cleburne and CRANBERRY, Forrest. Wheel.
er, Morgan and Van Dorm, are here. He
roes that carried the flags Of Kirby
Smith and Price. McCulloch, Cabell and
Marmaduke, are here, a. also, perhaps,
seamen who we're with Semmes, Maifet,
Buchanan and other naval celebrities.
What foods Of heroic memories rush
upon us as these names and the valiant
exploits Of the men they commanded are
recalled.
Il welcome and bow to the revcrcd and
honored remnants of armies that fought
battles and won victories when bare
footed, ragged and hungry. And We
would marvel that men Of such mold
could ever have been vanquishcd, II We
did not know that they were finally over
powered more by the vast prepondcranec
of numbers and resources than bv rcncr.
alshiP, courage and prowess; more by
famine than by lighting. For four try
ing and sanguinary years you maintained
your cause against odds that would haze
driven the armies of Wellington or Ma.
Poleon to despair. II required four Fed.
eral soldiers, who were better armed. bet.
ter fed, better clad and better provided
in every important respect, four long
years 20 overpower Que ragged. barefoot
al and hungry Confederate. When the
disparity Of men and means, in war ia
cilitiss, appliances and resources Of all
kinds, are considered, IL must be admit.
ted that the South made a gallant fight
in defensce Of her right 20 independence.
congratulate the survivors Of her pass
ing armies not only on the gallant fight |
they made, but upon the justice or their
cause. Though self-interest aud power
denied US separate Independence, the
principle for which we contended still |
lives in the right Of self-governmcnt. / !
also congratulate you that the younger |
generations Of this country and the PEG
pie Of the world generally are beginning
TO understand the issue involved in our
great interstate war. Already the truth /
of history l. coming our way, and Il 10
not improbable that some Of us will live
to see our historic vindication triumph
ant and complete.
Il have the fullest faith that poSterity
will honor and perpetuate the story Of
your just and heroic struggle, and though
our hearts are beating slower than thay
did in the wild, stirring DAYS Of other
years, every throb is a conscious memory n
Of right and and an honorable cause.
No right cause can ever die. Finally.
| have no language strong
enough and ardent enough in which 10
greet you here today.
Again ! salute YOU and bid YOU thrice
welcome to the hearts and Inequalities
Of your friends. comrades and country
men here. Every flag that floats in this
city, every streamer that adorns build.
ing, every blast from horn or bugle. and
every shout that rends the air, proclaims
A welcome TO the veterans
Following Gen. Gordon's speech. Mayor
James ii. Malone, Of Memphis, was in
troduced and delivered an address Of wei. :
come on behalf Of the city Of Memphis.
Gen. Evans was introduced, aud once
more the cheers of the great assemblage
broke forth as the grizzled mmander-in. I
thief OF the United Confederate Veterans |
rose from his seat and approached the I
ipeaker's stand. .
Gen. Evans spoke deliberately. II G
eemed as though he were rather search {
ng faces Of his audience for flashes Of I
recognition than appealing to them other. {
wise. One looking and listening received I
ne impression rather of a personal ap- .
zeal than of a message 10 his audience. 1
{ was as though the commander-in-chief i
we're searching for the clew which would {
Fl him into the heart of hearts Of each n
nd every gray-uniformed veteran before n
i'm. II the impression was correct, he o
'as not long finding the response he '
ought. II rippled out in cheers as he
topped forward to open his speech. II {
Numbered 10 the pit when he made a
ceiling allusion to the privations and :,
Anglers which bound them all together. A
came forth like a paean when he stood :.
efore them at the close and said; II
Now you have listened TO my voice 81
H. L.. q. 81. - -. [ =.