Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-10-02
PICNIC AND REUNION
WAS SPLENDID AFFAIR.
Many Confederate Veterans Enjoy
Saturday at Laurel Park-SeveraI
RAfHinfin Snannhns Mnhn hu OrnAn

Many Confederate Veterans Enjoy
Saturday at Laurel Park-SeveraI
Patriotic Speeches Made by Orators.
There was an enthusiastic reunion
OF Confederate Veterans at Laurel
t'ark last Saturday which was not only
attended by veterans but also by
Daughters and Sons of the Confeder-
acy. Commander ]. P. Johnson pre-
sided and after prayer by Comrade
Young, Hon. w. A. Smith was intro
iced and made the oration fthe oc-
casion. Mr.. Smith made an elaborate
address which was listened to very at.
tentativesly and which brought cheers
and other applause from his hearers.
His subject was "The Ideal Confed-
crate Soldier" and he spoke of the
greatness of the immortal Robert E..
Lee and the wonderful strategy OF
that mysterious Stonewall Jackson
and other great generals of the South.
He told how they with their master
full minds and brains could plan great
battles, but that it devolved upon the
men such as he was addressing to ex-
ecute the plans" The men in gray
who composed the batallions on the
firing line we're the men upon whom
Gevolved the success o. failure of the
undertaking. How we'll they did their
part, history tells" said the speakec.
Continuing he said that while he would
not detract from the laurels of those
who were in command, yet it was the
sublime nerve and courage of the pri-
vate soldiers who went forward in the
discharge of their duty, amidst the
storm of shot and shell. toward the
re6oubts and breast-works of the
enemy, with unfaltering steps up to
the belching cannons, were the heroes
of the occasion. These were men
whom the rising generation ought to
admire and their deeds be kept fresh
These were men who gave prestige to
the great armies of the South.
He spoke of the new organization Of
the children of the Confederacy. How
glad he was that this order was in ex-
isTence and how important it should
:)e to inculcaSC in their young minds
the deeds of valor of these same men
who have furnished the brightest pages
IN American history. Continuing he
said "Talk of the heroes of the Revo-
luton of the Mexican war; of the
Light Brigade at Balakclave. A COM
parison with that of the Confederate
.
and Fredericksburg and numerous
hattlefields, will show how insignif-
cant the former were. In closing he
said you have no idea how much
feel honored in being invited to ad-
dress the veterans and a privilege
which is appreciated beyond measure.
Commander A Cannon was called
upon and responded by saying that he
was proud of, the fact that he was
Confederate soldier and of the causes
which nerved him to stand faithful
amidst it all, which he said was at
tributable to the influences back
kome." The women of the South who
la5ored in the fields; who kept up the
farms; who spun and wove the clothes
and fed the army; whose husbands
and \sons were at the front, deserved
as much honor as those on the muster
roll. His remarks concerning the
wives and sisters Of the soldiers were
much applauded.
Dinner was next on the program
and never in the history of Laurel
Park has there been such a spread"
as was enjoyed. Boxes and baskets
we're sent to veterans of the neigh
borhood who were ill and there was
still much left.
Resolutions thanking the manage
rnent of the Laurel Park estate and
Miss Jordan, proprietor of the Laurel
Park Villa for courtesies extended.
There was photographer present and
Photographs of the veterans and other
groups were taken during the day.
Altogether the meeting IVES most en-
joyable and all who attended had
good time.
| Editors Note-The Democrat is in
| Gebted to w. G. Gullick, adjutant of
the camp for the above account of the
! rceeting.