Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-07
TALK OF old DAYS
Annual Reunion of Confeder-
ates at Fishers Hill.
SPEECH BY MAI. CONRAD
From $4,000 to $4,000 Persons
Present.
VETERANS GIVE REBEL YELL
Outpouring Of People From the
Countryside-Band From This
City Furnishes Music.
VETERANS GIVE REBEL YELL
Special Dispatch to The Star.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
| WINCHESTER, Va, August 6.-Bright
skies and moderate temperature favor
| ed the grizZled veterans Of the six
| ties when they gathered for the
| eighteenth annual Confederate reunion
at Fishers Hill, Shenandoah county, to-
| day, and as the shadows of evening
| began to cover the historic valley OF
| the Shenandoah one Of the largest crowds
| of people that has attended the great
annual event on the Fishers Hill battle
grounds, began its homeward journey,
after day of picnicing. reunions, frat
| ernizing. speechmaking and feasting
on the fat of the land. The crowd in
attendance was variously estimated at
| from 1900 to 1900 and is said to have
| been the largest in the history Of the
Fishers Hill reunion.
The principal address was made by
Mai. Holmes Conrad of Winchester, who
served on the staff of Gen. Thomas L.
Rosser in the Confederate army during
the civil war, and who was solicitor
general of the United States during the
second Cleveland administration. AS he
stepped to the front of the speakers
stand to address the people he was
greeted with prolonged cheers and APP
plause, which was intensified by the
rebel YELL which was given by the
veterans in gray with an enthusiasm and
spirit that surprised thousands OF the
younger generation.
The exercises were opened with prayer
by Rev. DR.. John P. Hyde of Winchester,
chaplain general of the Grand Camp, Con-
federate Veterans of Virginia, and the
exercises, were in charge of Capt. H. H.
Downing of Front Royal, Va.
The speakers stand, the mess hall and
other buildings on the grounds were
a np1 cd wit he
and Confederate colors, and a spirit Of
| good feeling pervaded everywhere. Many
| Union veterans were in the throngs. as
has been customary since the Fishers
passing notice, and nothing occurred to
mar the pleasures of the day.
Grown From Small Beginnings.
| Eighteen years ago the Fishers Hill
reunion was inaugurated with a simple,
| unpretentious picnic, attended only by
| such as could conveniently ride or drive
| in private vehicles. and the promoters
! little thought that it would grow to the
present large proportions and be of such
! Importance to the griZZled and battle
SCARED veterans of the Confederacy and
| their friends as 1t is today. 1t is now
one of the largest Confederate gatherings
| in the south, second only to the annual
reunion of the Grand Camp of United
| Confederate Veterans.
| Hundreds of people who live in distant
parts of the country make their annual
| pilgrimage to the Shenandoah valley
about the time the Fishers Hill reunion
is held. For the past week many OF
the homes in the vicinity of Strasburg.
Woodstock, Winchester, Middletown and
other places in the Virginia valley have
been filling up with those former resi-
dents of the state from the west. the
north and east, while others have come
from the farther southern sections AL.
though held under the auspices of Con-
federate veterans, the reunion resembles
more a great family gathering. The
Southern railway, whose tracks run
through the battlefield at Fishers Hill, is
taxed to its utmost to carry the crowds
that gather every first Saturday in
August for this event. Special trains
were run today on the Southern railway
from Washington, Manassas, Front
Royal, Edinburg, Harrisonburg and other
| towns. and the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
| road operated a special from Brunswick,
Harpers Ferry and Winchester direct to
| the grounds.
For the past five years the music has
| been made a special feature of the Fish
| ers Hill reunion, one of the best bands
| in Washington being engaged for the oc-
casion. This year the Naval Gun Fac
| tory Band furnished the music, giving
| concert last night at large camp fire
| held by the veterans in Strasburg, and
several concerts today on the battlefield.
Dinner for Every One.
| AS early as o'clock this morning the
movement toward Fishers Hill began.
| The valley turnpike was lined with every
conceivable kind of vehicle, as we'll as all
| the country roads leading in that drec-
ton. all vending their way to that
| famed spot, and by noon a crowd esti-
| mated by some at 15OOO was on the
i or no oil cold Fon1
| the fortunes of Lee and jackson were
dined In large mess hall, and the menu
| consisted Of roast beef, tempting boiled
ham, hot roasting ears, Drowned pota-
toes, pickles, hard-boiled eggs, pies, cakes,
coffee and lemonade The others have
| their tables spread over the grounds
with everything the fertile valley of the
Shenandoah produces. and any man going
away from Fishers Hill reunion hungry
! has none but himself to blame.
The late Senator John W. Daniel seldom
absented himself from the reunions. and
one of his last public appearances was
| to make the principal address there last
| August. He was the idol of the old
soldiers, and their descendants loved him
| no less. Some of the most noted orators
| OF the south have delivered addresses
| at these reunions. Last year President
| Taft had made all arrangements to come
| when the illness of Mrs. Taft prevented
The Fishers Hill reunion is always held
| under the auspices of Slower Camp, Unit
| ed Confederate Veterans of Strasburg
! which Is the town nearest to the grounds
| In order to perpetuate the reunion the
| veterans have for some years been
| breaking in the Sons of Veterans, and
| the boys are responding handsomely,
! taking very active and prominent part
| this year. Col Josiah Stickley, COM
| mander OF Slower Camp, was chairman
| OF the committee on arrangements and
| the work OF handling the eight special
| trains on the Southern railway was in
| charge of Capt. {. Nj Borum Of Stras-
| burg.
The Sfudv of %ho HOW