The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-29

feunicni very far from H.
Lev me aoo, right here. that Ii was
tend soldier gathering where there
was higher degree Of harmony;
"here there was manifested a kindlier,
or better fraternal spirit: where the
hand clasps were more cordial and the
greetings mere earnest heartful and
convincing; where Courtesies atten-
tbs and hospitality were more album
dant and charming, where there was
such an absolute absence Of look
speech and act that are calculated
to mar and disturb the pleasure Of an
occasion; where all OF tho speeches.
ana there were many OF them, by men
Of both armies, breathed a deeper
richer. aincerer spirit OF a broai ON
p pre- nation Wide patriotism;
where there was shown deeper, more
abiding love for the one great unit
cd country. where there was heartier|
applause or Hustler cheers.
As looked. listened ana thought on
me Memphis occasion wished that
all of the survivors OF both armies
were present TO enjoy H.; that the
splrlts OF the dead Of both sides could
behold their comrades clasping hands
In nuine fraternal greetings; that all
In the redeemed, strengthened and In
mahy Ways bettsred nation, could view
the inspiring pageant
Like the later reunions and encamp-
ments, department. and national. the
Blue and Gray reunion ut Memphis. so
far as the veterans were concerned.
was made up OF old men. There were
none under sixty, some over ninety.
Der over seventy.
How short the time. to them-thc
old boys OF the South al the old boys
~ the North, both. now, old boys OF
threads in their hair. no wrinkles on
their faces. no defects in their bright.
searching eyes-when their hearing
was perfect. their shoulders unround-
ga. their steps prompt, firm and rapid
when they could march all night and
fght all day: when ratons were plenty
ana rationB we're short and when there
were rattons; when they could sleep
Ike babes in mothers arms while the
Siege guns roared at Vicksburg and
Petersburg. forgot their hunger: the
nays when they cheercd over victor
les and grievcd over defeats. To them
the past fifty years seem more like
hfty short months, or so many weeks
-T mt hey stand before mirrors.
The delegates to the Memphis con-
vention. or reunion. haied from IT xas
tennessee and Mississippi: New York.
Ohio and Pennsylvania; from South
carolina. Georgia and Kentucky; Wis
consin. Minnesota and Kansas; from
virginia. Alabama and Florida; Michi-
gan. Massachusetts, and Maine; from
Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana:
Rhode Island. Connecticut and Yer
mont from North Carolina. West Vr-
sinia and Missouri; New Hampshire,
New Jersey, Indiana and elsewhere
Their manner OF registering. DOMINIC
badges and being assigned did not
dlHer from the customary reunion or
ehcsnpment. except, possibly, there wes
more jollity In the eremony--mor.
Confederate cross let no wearer OF the
little bronze button escape warm
greeting, and usually the wearers OF
different badges renewed old army
acquaintapceships of the days when
they looked at each other along the
glialenlng barrels of their muskets or
rifles; talked of the roaring old days
when they faced each other in hat
tic.
What Jolly. happy band of young
old boys 1t was In that register hail.
and what good time they had in the
b.sine5s mems club. where General
meeting was held, over which General
cDoWeIl, OF Mississippi, presided, and
editor Cunningham. of the Confed rate
veteran. WAS secretary. When II SEEM
ed as II the chairman was going right
on with the business, an Arkansas
delegate on the crutches he has been
using ever since Shiloh called out
General Mcdowell, havn't you forgot
be opened with prayer"
That is So Is there a minister
present
Never mind the chaplain, general,
you pray for u.s." said man with an
empty sleeve from Texas. and the old
general In gray made a beautiful pray
err Among other things he said: God
bless these aging soldiers OF the two
old opposing armies. now friends,
brothers of our one great, strong, unit
ed country; bless the president OF the
United States, and all OF tho nations
good interests" The fervent nmens
recalled Methodist camp meeting.
After the chairman had made an en-
own and the absent mayors behalf,
former Governor and former Command
er-jn-Chief Van SAINT, OF the Grand
army of the Republic, of Minnesota,
sterling representative OF the North
ern soldiers, and the people of the
North. as well. made an address that
touched the hearts and appealed to the
reason of the appreciative and patrio-
tic audience.
AS the Governor resumed his neat
there was combination applause, cheers
such as were heard at Gettysburg and
'yells" such as were heard at Second
Bull Run.
Then spoke general WHO surrand-
cred with Pemberton, at Vioksbirg,
He was so mad when the Confederacy
went down that he hurried to South
America. but didn't remain there very
long; he had yearning for the land
OF MS Dlrth, and came back, rolled
up his sleeves and plunged into the
work Of retrieving his fortune, land
am glad / did. 1t regenerated me.
My SORROWS Were buried; Pm proud or
our country; the war ended as 1t should
have ended" This brought more
yells. cheers and hand-clappIng.
I'VE Will now hear from another re-
preventative of the Grand army of
the Republic, Adjutant- General Koch "
said the chairman, and tho adJutani
general gave message that was time
ly and joyfuIly received. He told OF
the commander-in-ch chiefs inability 10
be present, spoke OF two other Visits
he had made to Memphis. the first ono
during the Civil War and the second
when no came with his regiment for
and declared this to be by odds the
most pleasant Of the three visits, co.
onel Koch re1oiced Mt the beautiful
and hrotherly way in which the men
otthe two old arrios had Some together
come In fraternal spirit hll as Ameri-