The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-09-04
HAPPY REUNION
Caroline COnfederates Enjoy Annual
Gathering-Bi Dinner Speaking
Music and Other Pleasures.

Caroline County Camp. Confederate
Veterans, Capt. {. T. Smith. com
mander, when II attempts to do any
thing does II we'll II holds a reunion
each year and there is such an outpour-
ing OF people as 10 make the veterans
hearts glad. Men 10 the manor born
who have engaged in the work Of life
at other places come back and revive
the memories of the days Of Is6I-65.
The camp is in a hOurishing condition
and numbers over one hundred men. A
man 10 be a member has 10 show a
clean record. Caroline county sent a
iuil quota of men TO the front, who
were gallant soldiers, and the record Of
the valiant deeds of those who fell in
action and of others who lived through
the struggle are told by the survivors
at each reunion. There is a marked
difference in the appearance Of the old
veterans at each reunion. Their hair
has more of the silver tinge and their
walk loses its elasticity, but their eyes
still kindle at some story told. and they
come with eagerness TO each meeting,
bringing their share Of the big dinner
that is spread. IL will, however. be
only a few years more when these
happy reunions will be thing of the
past.
Elaborate preparations had been made
for this reunion. A speakers stand had
been erected on the court green by the
committee of arrangements. Capt. {.
I. Smith, Judge 4. &. Moncure, T. ID.
Coghill, John L. White. Geo. T. Boul-
ware f R. Coghill and others. Booths
for ice cream and lemonade were sta
toned at several points and sold by the
Daughters Of the Confederacy for the
benefit of the INDECENT COnfederates.
Confederate flags flutterd in the breeze
on nearly every house in the town and
the newly painted Lawn Hotel, with its
grassy lawn. presented pretty picture.
The crowd was late in coming. but
about ii o'clock every road leading in
TO the town was filled with vehicles
bringing old vets. staid matrons, happy
young mothers, pretty young girls, gal
liant sons. and all of the family down TO
the smallest tot. In each vehicle was
basket of dinner. By noon there
were 1900 people present. The Blues
band. Is pieces, of Richmond, came up
on the early train and they delighted
the throng with Confederate airs SPLEEN
didly played.
The principal speaker of the day was
Judge w. II. Mann, Democratic can
didate for governor Of Virginia, but by
his speech you would not have known
that there was such thing as politics.
Capt c. T. Smith was master of
ceremonies. On the stand with him
were Judge Mann, Judge f. c. Moncure
and the band. He made happy presen-
tation Of the orator of the day. Judge
Mann's speech was pleasing. it was re
plete with tributes to the veterans, the
Lost Cause. full of anecdotes and with
the usual sweet words for the Southern
women, old and young.
After his speech the dinner was
spread on the tables beneath the shade
trees and il was such as the house
wives of Caroline are noted for. Every
body had an abundance. The hour spent
at dinner was the social period of the
day.
At 2:30 a concert was given by the
band. which consisted Of every COnfed-
crate air. Next was singing by choir
Of nearly one hundred ladies' on the
porch Of the Lawn Hotel. This was
one of the big features Of the day AL
most the entire assemblage was gath
cred TO hear them. General speech
making followed. The speakers were
Messrs. Joseph X. Anderson Bruce,
Capt. c. T. Smith, X. l.. Beale, Rev
S. A. Parker, Judge f. c. Moncure
and Joseph Gatewood.
Aud Lang Syne was played and the
ceremonies ended. At night there was
dance and play at Billiards. Hall.