Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-02-18


their tanned and wrinkled faces some
times quivering with emotion. stood
| up at the conference of the Gettysburg
| celebrat ton commissioners at the Phil
adelphia Union League recently to
plead for the privilege Of wearing their
old gray uniforms at the reunion in July.
The conference is composed of the
Pennsylvania state commission. repre-
sentatives of the United States gov.
eminent and veterans associations
and commissioners appointed by forty
states Of the Union. Nearly all are
veterans either Of the Union or the
Confederate armies.
Colonel Charles Burrows of New
Jersey, a Union veteran, introduced a
resolution for rule that no military
uniforms be worn at the celebration
| by survivors of either army. After
the plea Of the Confederate survivors
| Colonel Burrows withdrew his resolu-
| ton.
Pathos In Plea.
There was much Of pathos in the re-
quest Of the southerners. When Ma
| jor General Felix II. Robertson. COM
mander Of the Texas division, begged
for the privilege of carrying the old
Texas battlefags in the celebration
Union hands applauded as loudly as
did his comrades from the south The
Gettysburg reunion is not to celebrate
victory, he said; it is to celebrate
peace.
I'VE old soldiers are very much alike
the world over" said General Robert
son, land we are given to decisions.
One Of these decisions is we have
made peace. We have not made peace.
Our children have made it.
I'VE don't want war again. II we
had war now I'd be fighting my own
children. A Yankee from Indiana
came down in Texas few years ago
and married my daughter, and they're
living in Indiana. I'd have to fight
against my daughters husband II we
had war today.
How War Was Ended.
1--WE quit fighting because we
thought it was hopeless job" said
the general, his eyes flashing for
the first time. when quit, why,
you were kind enough to quit too. l
tried my very best to get out of the
Union, but you wouldn't let me. Now
that I'm in l want all the privileges
that the country allows. l want the
best that's coming to me.
II love the Confederate gray. IL I
can get enough nerve to wear 1t on
July l want to wear it. want to
carry the old flag that waved over the
Texas brigade ut Chickamaugua.
There's a lot Of men down our way
who want the same privilege. know
there's no harm in a blue coat. and
you ought to know there's no harm in
an old gray jacket
"If you're going to celebrate vic
tory. all right keep away the gray
coats, but if you're going to celebrate
peace. why. we helped to make it."
The old general, who commanded
a brigade of Confederate cavalry
throughout the war. started the con-
ference on a heated discussion. Three
or four veterans were on their feet at
once demanding to be heard. General
Louis Wagner, president of the COM
mission, tried to postpone considera-
ton of the question.
Sergeant Adds His Plea.
Sergeant John G. Scarborough of
North Carolina was finally recognized.
Tall, six feet three. with gray beard
hanging midway to his waist, he en-
tered the discussion with plea as
dramatic as was General Robertson's.
"Tm conservative reconstruction
ist," the tall sergeant began. I'm 60
ing to Gettysburg if I'm alive in July
without my uniform. III tell you why.
On my way home from Appomattox l
passed through Raleigh. There some
Federal soldiers seized me and cut all
the buttons off my gray coat
81 put the coat away. or, rather
what was left of 1t. For years on GER
tain occasions took it out and looked
Of n II hroupht In ok mamOrios