McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-07-11

greeting.
A remarkable coincidence of the
camp was the meeting of two men Of
exactly the same name, coming from
towns of the same name, but In differ
emit states. One fought on the union
side in the battle of Gettysburg and
the other with the confederates.
These two men are John Carson of
Burlington, N. j., and John Carson Of
Burlington, N. C.
They met by the merest chance.
The Jersey Carson was walking along
one of the streets, and saw a man in
gray. Just to be friendly, the Jersey
man stopped him and gave him a
greeting. 1t was not until they had
talked for several minutes that they
discovered their names were identical.
One bearded veteran of an Illinois
regiment told of an incident that hap
pened 80 years ago.
"As we rode through Gettysburg
that last time" he said, ~ remember
a little girl stopped my horse and said
she wanted to give me a bouquet.
got down and she pinned ribbon-a
little purple ribbon to my coat. Wear
that in the next battle you go into,'
she said.
We're not going to have any more
battles around here told her.
Yes, you are she insisted. Those
hills back there are full Of rebels
I wore that purple ribbon through
the battle. never saw the girl after
ward, but I've kept that ribbon, and
It's back at home In Illinois today"
A striking contrast Is seen In the
menu provided for the soldiers fifty
years ago and what they enjoyed this
year:
1863-Breakfast- bacon,
beans and coffee.
Dinner-Bacon, beans, bareback and
coffee.
supper-Beans. bareback, bacon
and coffee.
1913-Breakfast-Puffed rice, fried
eggs. fried bacon, cream potatoes,
fresh bread. hard bread. butter and
coffee.
Dinner - Fricascee chicken, peas,
corn, ice cream, cake, cigars, fresh
bread, hard bread. butter. coffee, iced
tea.
Supper - Salmon salad. macaroni
and cheese. fresh bread, butter and
coffee.
When the house OF representatives
recently undertook to name a commit
tee of its members to represent It at
the reunion of the blue and gray at
Gettysburg 1t was found that not
veteran of the Civil war sat on the Re-
publican side Of that body. The only
Union veterans in the house, three In
are all Democrats, and six
veterans of the Confederate army also
sit on that side. In the senate, how.
ever, there are six Confederate veter.
ans on the Democratic side and six
Union veterans on the Republican side.
As indicating the passage of time, 1t
today In congress more veterans of
the Spanish-American war than of the
Civil war. Nineteen members of the
senate are veterans of the war with
Spain. One member Of the house, who
has not seen war service at all, served
Ave years In the signal corps OF the
army as private, and Delegate
Quezon Of the Philippines was stan
officer under Aguinaldo during the
rebellion.
My heart beats faster tonight, said
Gen. Daniel E. Sickles. The throng-
Ing hordes who have motored and
walked and trolleyed to my camp to.
day have swept their hats of and hail
ed 1t az "Sickles Day"
And SO have always regarded
July 2.
It was on this day half century
ago that God gave me strength to
serve my country and my maker bet.
ter than ever had been able to serve
them before.
1t was upon this day In $50 that
lost my leg and did my little part by
the mercy of God to preserve the
Union.
July 2, 1863, broke hot and clear,
Just as In the early hours today mOf-
ten sun poured out of a sky but
trifie overloaded. / had retired
shortly after midnight the previous
evening and slept the quiet, dreamless
sleep that is generally attribute to
babes.
Last night ! enjoyed just the same
kind of sleep. But that is to be ex.
pected Of young fellow who at nine
ty-three is still able to read without
his glasses, Ell?
Many men who came today to
shake my hand told me they were too
busy to do SO 80 years ago-that their
whole hearts and minds were
up in the conflict to come.