Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-08-16

| lOllOWtu bht Noll loBO NIlNl NOllNNy tb
Colonel Tracy and the command to the
reunion grounds.
Colonel Tracy was welcomed to Texas
by S. A. Castles, and was also welcomed
by Capt. j. E. Anderson, who was born
in Ohio in an adjoining county to Colonel
Tracy. Colonel Tracy responded in
well-chosen remarks bringing greetings
from the old soldiers of the Green Noun
tain State, his home since the war be-
tween the States. and greetings from
Ohio, his native State. His speech was
well received as evidenced by rapt at
tention and hearty applause. Through
long and vouminous correspondence
of three or four years between Colonel
Tracy and Mr.. Castles in which time, by
thorough investigation they each estab-
lished their right to the honor of being
the youngest soldiers in the Northern
and Southern armies of the war between
the States. Mr.. Castles finally induced
Colonel Tracy to travel the 2900 miles
to visit him during this reunion. Col
onel Tracy was born May l, 1851. Mr..
Castles was born December 20, 1852.
Another pleasing feature of the day
was very fine address by Judge Nor
man G. Kittrell.
The United Daughters of the Confed-
eracy of lakewood chapter carried out
an excellent program. The reunion was
Il h. -
county. The camp voted Buffalo the
honor again for 1913.
Here is Colonel Tracy's speech in
response to the addresses of greeting
and welcome by Adjt. Castles and Capt.
Anderson:
Soldiers Of the Confederate army,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have saying up in the North
that young men are to be seen and not
heard; therefore, all that you will ex-
pect of this Union Kid is that he stand
up while you look him over, and then
sit down.
think | now know how Pat felt
after his introduction to an audience.
The chairman said, "Pat, all this audi
ence wants of you is silence, and
'domed little of that"
The generosity and warmth of your
greeting overwhelms me. You will not
misunderstood me when | say that it
pleases me great deal better than the
reception you were wont to give the
: boys of the North so years ago. There
was too much pepper and ginger in that
to suit my taste.
There was a story going through the
North about the South during war
times, and soon after that | could hardly
believe was true. There were two or
three stories going about you up there
that were not altogether founded in
fact, and this may have been one of
them. They said: THE people of the
South robbed the cradle and the grave
to recruit their vanishing lines"
never could quite believe that. Now
there has been a wicked story going
about me, since it has been proved that
| was the baby of the Union Army.
They say that my nurse carried me in
her arms to the battlefield This is a
barefaced lie. | was weaned quite a
few days before enlisted.
From the beginning of the CORE
spondence which has led up to this
occasion and my coming to you, the
enthusiasm, zeal and fraternal spirit of
Comrade Castles, the youngest surviv-
ing soldier of the Confederate, has
been simply superb. We seem to have
been brothers from our earliest begin
nings. 1t is almost beyond belief that
he and | could ever have been opposed
in battle, and set to fight each other to
the death. His kindly interest and wise
forethought, and that of those con-
nected with him, in bringing about this
meeting and my visit to this place on
highest appreciation and deepest graft
tude. The response to this most cor
dial welcome to this Empire State,
and these happy greetings from the
Veterans of the Civil War; l throw up
both my hands and unqualiiedly declare
ITO your generous and warm hearted
hospitality Internationally surrender
myself"
l bring you greetings from the
soldiers of the North: from Ohio, my
native State, that never appeared to me
so great and glorious commonwealth,
as it has just now seemed to me to be,
after two weeks spent within its
borders. can feel now as never be-
!, fore that if man wants to be president
of the United States. he needs to go tc
Ohio and be born there.
bring you greetings from the Greer
Mountain Bows among whom | have