The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-10-01
VETERANS IN LINE
Five Hundred Confsderates at
the Reunion.
A HIGHLY CREOITABLs PARADE

Large Crowd Listens to Governor
Mann and Colonel Herbert Music
and Dinner.
Nearly fifty years ago the flower of
Virginia manhood in this section leit
their homes at the sound OF war ana
with buoyant and elastic step went forth
to battle for cause which they be-
lieved was right. In sad contrast was
the remnant of five hundred old men,
which gathered at the courthouse here
Thursday for a reunion, where old
memories were revived, battles fought
over and camp stories told.
Men who had not met since the war
clasped hands in brotherly greeting.
All had passed the 90 mile post and a
majority were in the seventies. Some
wore their uniforms preserved since
AppomattoX, others exhibited as priced
souvenirs their paroles, also given at
Appomattox. A few marched with
springy step, others falteringy'
while others we're carried to the far
grounds in carriages. All showed the
/ mark OF declining years.
At ten O'Clock the old vets began to
gather at the courthouse, where hand
some badges were given each. A ma
jority were Of the 30th, 47th. 40th, 44th,
and 18th Virginia Infantry, 9Th Virginia
Cavalry. Fredericksburg and Cooper $
Artillery, while many other commands
were represented.
The flags of the Lost Cause, Nir-
ginia and United States were proml-
nent. All were carried in the process
sion.
A committee composed of Judge j..
T. Goolrick, eX-Mayor Nj. q. Wills,
Capt. NJ. b. Rowe met Gov. w. IL.
Mann at the depot and escorted him to
the courthouse. On his arrival Gov.
Mann was warmly welcomed.
The chief marshal was Col. f. D..
Cole, and his aids Capt. d. NJ. Lee, DR..
T. T. Arnold. Capt c. T. Smith, Lieut..
Hugh Adie, Major T. A. Harris, Capt.
r. Conroy Vance, Capt. T. Nj. Larkln,
and c. II. Hurkamp.
Major A. B. Bowering was IN com
mand of the infantry with Col. Thomas
+. Proctor assistant.
Headed by the Casino Island Band,
followed by Gov. Mann and committee,
ex-Sec. of Navy Col. Hilleary Herbert,
of Alabama, his daughter, Mrs. Benja-
min McCue, and John I. Callaghan,
commander of Confederate Camp in
Washington, d. c., in carriages, the
infantry and cavalry, the procession
marched to the fair grounds.
There were over $50 on horseback and
$50 on foot, besides a hundred of the
most feeble in wagons ard carriages.
On arrival at fair grounds Governor
Mann and Secretary Herbert, of the
u. s. Navy, under Cleveland. were es-
corted TO the speakers stand.
The Confederate Veterans were given
priority in the grand stand, and when
they were all seated the ladies and es-
corts were invited in and it was soon
filed and over 500 people faced the
speakers, while around the speakers
stand hundreds were standing. The
band was in the grand stand and dis
coursed Southern airs. Judge GOOlrick
not only made the welcoming address
but introduced the speakers. On the
speakers stand besides the distin-
guished visitors were Miss Price, cor
netist: Mrs. Keim and Mrs. Proctor,
vocalists. Col. + b. Cole, Capt. NJ.
B. Rowe. and DR.. J. Garrett King.
THE EXERCISES.
The program opened with a cornet
solo. Dixie" by Miss Price, which
was received with enthusiasm.
Judge J. T. Goodrich made one OF his
happiest speeches of welcome. Mrs.
Keim sung with fine effect Virginia.
Judge Goolrick, in introducing Cover
nor Mann, said he would not introduce
him as Governor; that this was no day
for Governors, Senators, Ex-COngress-
men, but for the Confederate soldiers,
and he so introduced him.
1t was generally conceded that Gov
ernor Mann's speech was the catehlesi
speech ever made before Confederate
gathering here. 1t was replete with
numor and feeling. His reference &c
Lee and Jackson as leaders, the
heroism of the private soldier
the privations and undaunted cour'
age of the Southern women
what has been accomplished by the
war, brought forth great applause while
his humorous anecdotes keep the Grove
IN roars of laughter. He closed with
tribute to Virginians.
Mrs. j. B. Proctor sang in pleasing
style Lest We Forget.
Ex-Secretary Herbert, of the Cleye
land Cabinet, was next introduced. HI
was in and around Fredericksburg il
command of the Sth Alabama regiment
and recited some of his experiences
told anecdotes and was warmly wei
coined.
Cornet solo by Miss Price.
A beautiful duet, "Tenting Tonight,
was sung by Mrs. Keim and Mrs. Proc
tor.
The mess call by the band closed thu
program.
THE DINNER.
The old soldiers were then marched
TO the northwest corner of the grounds
where dinner was served by commit
tee of ladies', Mesdames J. L. Goodrich
Mamie S. Barney, NJ. l.. Chesley, Al
WIN Hundley, w. L. Brannan, X. l.
Stoffregen, Sue Chancellor, F. H. Hart
NJ. 3. Tompkins, J. p. Rowe, X. l.
jenkins, w. A. Bell, G. Frank Timber
lake. Philip Stern, Natalie Smith, J
3. Smith, Alvin T. Rowe, F. H: Roo
inson, VIM. Hancock, Julia Wright
Misses Margaret Shepherd, Sallie n
Gravatt, Mary Braxton, Louise Blelght
Lizzie Carter, Ellen Williams, Grace I
Jones, Elite Barney, Mamie Wills
Mamie Goodwin, Susie Tyler.
The veterans were loud in their prals
of the hospitality and Of the ladies Il
} charge. all of whom were dressed il
Confederate colors. The dinner con
B., sisted of all the Observation-Disclosures
;. chickens, lamb, oysters, and sweets
ice cream, lemonade, cake, coffee, etc
Thus closed the reunion, which wa
> such marked success that it will n
= doubt be repeated next year.