New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-03
Reunion Was Well Timed.

atty existing between the old fellows.
Reunion Was Well Timed.
The 124th New York Infantry. who
hailed from Orange County. and were
known as the orange Blossoms, started
this afternoon for Devils Den 10 hold
a reunion there at o'clock. fifty years
10 the minute after they went into &C
ton there on the extreme left OF the
Third Corps. They had eighteen ON
GERS and 30 men when Robertson
Brigade. Of Longstreet's Corps, consist
ing Of three Texas and one Arkansas
regiment. engaged them. After the
rebels had pressed them back over
those tremendous powders, strewn
there by some natural cataclysm, they
had seven officers and eighty-six men
less. Colonel A. Van Horns Ellis, their
commander, had been killed outright
An heroic statue Of Ellis on gran
tie pedestal marks the spot where the
reunion was staged. Sightseers, old
Confederates and Union veterans had
gathered there TO witness the reunion,
but almost on the moment scheduled
the terrific thunderstorm which has re-
lieyed the heat here broke over the
Den. Men, women and children seat
tered for shelter. Some Of the hardy
old Southerners found dry spot under
the lee of Hanging Rock; many Of the
sghtseers fled to their automobiles and
carriages standing near by, and the
residue found shelter in relief tent
conveniently placed.
So not many were drenched, though
the very floodgates of heaven seemed
opened, not to mention the command
ing sound OF thunder following the
forked lightning which came near re-
producing the very scene fifty years
ago which these people had gathered
to commemorate.
The storm once over, the crowd re-
turned to the spot selected for the re-
union. but no orange Blossoms ap-
peared to the eye in the crevices OF the
powders. The spectators were encour-
aged to wait because just before the
downpour struck them, and while the
inky skies were flashing and growing
they had heard around the bend OF the
road leading TO the Peach Orchard the
approach of an ancient fife and drum
corps. The base drum doomed and the
flies piped their little lay, coming 1t
seemed ever nearer. undaunted by the
rather terrifying electrical warnings.
The 124th New York were advancing
on their old position. IL was supposed,
with that same disregard Of conse-
auences which had characterized them
in 1853.
But they never did get there. With
the first huge drops Of rain the music
of the fife and drum corps ceased TO
float out of the near distance. and the
elements rehearsed the battle OF long
ago to the exclusion of the puny human
fighter. What happened when the
storm passed over is not recorded. The
ltLb NAiN oNCiO' AH~s
asked diligently along the road back
to the camp after the old men who had
approached to the tune Of the drum
corps, but no one could be found who
had seen them. They are not sure now
they were not the victims Of ghostly
demonstration.
II was after the thunderstorm had
swept over the grounds and swept all
the humidity in the camp in the gen.
eral direction Of Baltimore that Gov
ernor and Mrs. Sulzer, attended by the
Governors entire staff, in dazzling
white and gold uniforms. came down
Avenue b Of the camp in automobiles.
A line of New York veterans haa
formed for a quarter Of mile along
the avenue waiting for their night
rations from the mess tents. They
threw all hopes Of immediate food 10
the winds by breaking ranks in a wild
scramble to shake the Governors hand.
The hand was there and willing. the
Governor stood up. leaned over ana
sniled and nunped away 10 his own