The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-07-11

ives on a platform IN tne Dis-Ieh' on"
ang to the weeping soldiers In the
Ieats below. =,
"1,m afraid we can't sing like we
lang 80 years ago." said the ma
.ronly woman who acted as leader as
ske led the way up the steps to the
platform.
I'VE don't care; just sing again
shouted the veterans. AS the nrst
notes of the wartime melody came
from them in quavering tones, the vet
Grams both of the north and OF the
south sat quiet with eyes fixed upon
the singers. The hum OF the chorus
came from every side, and the old men
wept openly.
Aside from the old soldiers them
selves, an interesting figure Is MRS
Longstreet, widow of the commander
at the front of the Confederate lines
In the third days battle. Mrs, Long
street walked mile through the
broiling sun out to the old Rogers
house to interview General Sickles.
Some time ago Mrs. Longstreet sent
a long telegram as representing the
southern veterans in protest against
the old Union veteran being thrown ID
iail in New York because OF some
financial affairs. 1t was said that
Sickles misunderstood the spirit anu
his pride was so hurt that their meet
ing today would not be cordial.
General, / have written an article
about you for publication" said MIS-
Longstreet at the meeting, ana she
read several pages of the highest trlo,
ute to the old corps leader. whom she
characterized as having come PACK
and being once again in the saddle
Half a hundred old Sickles' men gath
cred on the lawn and the reading be
came dramatic. General Sickles lean
ed back In his big chair, closed Nil
eyes, and looked back to meeting VIII
Longstreet. :,
l Here his widow was praising to tn
!, world the valor which she claimed MAJ
1 gone unrecognized by the government
Tears flowed down the Slckles cheek
!, now tanned by his ninety-third sun
h mer and his old followers dotted the'
d hats and mingled their tears VII
those OF their old leader, wetting tn
ii ground upon which long ago had bee
d soaked by their blood.
lanes H. Lansberry Of st. Lou
Of Mo-. who enlisted in the Third indial
q cavalry from Madison, Ind, reclted
~ his comrades the details OF his ca
II ture in the town OF Gettysburg
ne Confederates SO years ago. Foilowl
ce tbe skirmish just outside OF toy
at which marked the opening OF WI
rs was to be world-famed engageme
on he had been detailed to assist IN c
I'm rvins a wounded officer to the
ed seminary in Gettysburg. While
he town frantic women focked about
aus and begged that he tell OF the pa'
no He remained to tell the story, with
result that he had to spend seVe
icy davs In following the Confeder
uia army as a prisoner. After tramp
SOL so miles over rough country with
tne shoes he succeeded in escaping
the hna,,v made his way back to Get
burg. where he remained till Aus
in assisting in the care OF the wo'
the cd. which were housed In the SCI
OF nary. churches, barns and public o.
.on ings
non One OF the unadvertised reunion
anu the celebration occurred In the
federate section of the camp. A
" and drum corps Of men in blue trs
L u cd nm and down the streets OF the
Yederate part Of the city OF tents
'nce. They stopped before the tents,
lons I'd such fanfare as only drums
N ~ afes can make, summoned forth
lses occnnants and shook hands, Z
their arms about the gray shou
. na1 and In a dozen other ways sn'
.ne; their feelings of friendship.
.aca'' They kept it up for hours anf
W. tied practically every "rep
Their reception was as warm az
Key, a.oa,,rg
Ban.
Key. !, tho most interesting I
;, anu IN camp was the lost and foun
Ma1s. reau, located under the benches
army big tent. Everything found OF
catlle grounds was brought there and
'pins' sands applied every day for m
ettys- al ~, .,ora q. least 100 or,
piled up in the bureau, dozen or
plicants having called for them
= en who come to redeem their
7is y crutches seldom can recognize
yealS and most Of them go away with
LIN body else's.
"l.a There was one wooden leg a
.smen Ing unclaimed 1t was brought
spsa a Boy Scout. who had found 1t
: than q tree.