The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
TEXAS VETERANS
 STOP OVER HERE J. E. Gillespie Was in Jones
 Valley During War FOLLOWED FORREST
Says Texas People Are Behind the President in His Stand on Mexi- can SituatiOn-Party Goes to
 Memphis in Special Car

A party of IS Confederate veterans from Texas, en route home from the reunion at Jacksonville, were in Bir- mingham yesterday for several hours They had special car and will stop today in Memphis. proceeding from there direct home to Fort Worth. Cap tain Holland heads the veterans.
 J. E. Gillespie, who was member of the Sixth Texas cavalry In the civil war, is in the party and yesterday as few of the visitors were returning from a visit to East Lake park he talked in- terestingly of Birmingham and other things. MT. Gillespie was for time a member of General Forests cavalry troop and said that 50 years ago he was riding over what is now Birmingham, looking for a place to eat
 There was little town somewhere around here then, but l can't find it now" said the veteran. Its remarkable how time flies. I never would have thought I would see such a large city here 50 years after passing through this region on horseback, looking for Yankee to shoot. The ore could be seen then above the ground. The outcrop- pings gave one an idea of how valuable this section was, but I never had the remotest idea it would ever prove so valuable as it is. The fact that lime stone and coal are here in abundance is another reason for the remarkable growth of Birmingham.
 Behind the President
 "The Texas people are behind the President, of course in this Mexican affair, but if he would only give us leave we would wipe them off the earth in 50 days. Our boys are now all along the border, watching out for the lives on this side of the Rio Grande and it keeps about all the National Guard. together with the United States regu- lars, busy to keep order down there.
 Tn Fort Worth about 200 miles from the border, we have company of vet erans 200 strong, and not man Of them under TO- There are few of them who cannot stay in the saddle for a long time. and some of them have bad eyes and can't shoot as well as they once could. But most of us are as strong and spry as we were 40 years ago, and we are just as willing and anxious to go to our country's service as we were to fight for the Lost Cause 50 years ago. I am Fl years old but my shooting eye Is as good as it ever was, and I can hold my own with any cavalryman in the service. Captain Hol- land, in command of the veterans. is so years old, and he can ride as fast and shoot as straight as any of the men now in the service.
 "Sometime ago we sent personal letter to President Wilson offering our services. Every man in the company signed his name to the letter. We re- cefved a letter thanking us for the offer and saying that we would be notified if we were needed.
 Yes, the Texas people believe in President Wilson. Of course a few peo- pie have been killed, but he is doing the best he can and we will back him to the limit. And if he needs any fighting men there is company of veterans in Fort Worth that will be at his service on a moments notice"
 Attracted Much Attention
 On the Tidewater car there were pos sibly nine or 10 veterans and they seemed as playful as bunch of small boys on a picnic Much interest was displayed in the passing scenery and one of the veterans remarked that this was the longest car line he had ever seen.
 Captain 1Ollauu uiSpidy Su Roir OA ealloused hands and announced that he was going to look up place to buy some old-fashioned lye soap as soon as the car reached the city and wash his hands clean once more An other veteran said: You had better wash them good. for this is about the last chance you will have to wash them; We have no water in Texas, you know"
 Another spoke up and said; NOW, yah iust because you have the only water hole within 10 miles you needn't be so chesty; let him take his chances of getting his hands clean"
 There was general laugh and the banterinE continued until the Terminal station was reached. The veterans were the exposure of all eyes and nearly everyone who boarded the car had pleasant word for them. They became acquainted with nearly everyone be- fore detraining at the station and many expressions of good will followed them.