The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-04-28
VETERANS GATHER
COLUMBIA IS HOST TO LAST WEARERS
OF THE GRAY
old SOLDIERS WELCOME

old SOLDIERS WELCOME
South Carolina Confederate Veterans
Hold Reunion in Capitol City Of the
State, Where Fifty Years ago Con.
tending Armies Fought and Fed.
erals Burned City.
The passage of q half century OF
time was temporarily forgotten Thurs
day while the remnant Of the heroes
Of the Confederate armies contribut-
ed to that gallant cause by South
Carolina gathered in Columbia for
their annual reunion.
The streets and business houses
were gay with bunting and every
where the Stars and Bars waved
bravely to the April breeze. The city,
which was laid in ashes fifty years
ago by Sherman's army, threw wide
her gates and received with open arms
the men who followed Lee and Jack
son and Hampton and Butler and the
other famed leaders Of that epoch
making conflict.
Several hundred survivors OF the
Confederacy were assembled in the
Columbia theatre at ten O'Clock when
Mr.. W. A. Clark, commander Of Camp
Hampton, called the gathering to Or
der. The stage and theatre were
tastefully decorated with Confederate
elage and growing flowers. Grouped
on the stage were the sponsors and
maids of honor, naking beautiful
background to the gray uniform Of
the aged Confederate veterans, who
occupied the seats on the front part
of the platform.
The Columbia Mills band kept the
old soldiers enthusiastic with the
songs that they sang when going into
battle a half century ago. And
Dixie always brought the "Teber'
yell. Mingled with the war songs of
the Confederacy were the national
songs, and even "Tipperary," the
marching song of the British, was not
forgotten.
The exercises were opened by the
singing of the 'Doxology," led by Mr..
F. F. Widen, of the Y. NJ. C. A., the
entire audience standing ard joining
in the singing. The invocation was
made by the Rev. F. o. S. Curtis of
WATERFORD. division chaplain, who
feelingly voiced the rapidity with
which the thin gray line is getting
thinner, and who in the course of his
prayer returned thanks that a South
ern born man now occr--.ed the chair
Of Abraham Lincoln, and was guiding
the nation through the troubles OF
the present time.
Mr.. Clark introduced Gov. Richard
I. Manning, who made the address Of
welcome on behalf of the State. The
governor was received with cheers
and paid a warm tribute to the devo-
ton and self-sacrifce of the Confed-
crate soldiers and praised the right
eorsness of the cause for which they
gave their all. -'-'-,.-.----.s,
His references to the old soldiers
brought cheer after cheer and when
the governor referred to the fact that
the president of the United States
was a Southerner, that the CHIEF JUS
tice Of the United States Supreme
Court was an Ex-Confederate soldier,
and OF the commanding and leading
part the South had in the affairs of
the nation, he provoked prolonged
applause.
Mayor Lewis A. Griffith welcomed
the veterans on behalf Of the city of
Columbia and Mr.. John W. Liilard,
chairman Of the board of directors,
on behalf of the board of directors,
on behalf of the Chamber Of Com
merce. Lieutenant Governor Andrew
J. Bethea made the address of well
come on behalf of Camp Maxcy Gregg,
Sons Of Veterans, and Mr.. W. A.
Clark, commander of Camp Hamp-
ton, made an address Of welcome.
Responses on behalf Of the veterans
were made by Col. Alfred Aldrich of
Barnwell and on behalf Of the Sons
by Col. A. L. Castor Of Chester, the
State comman .er.
After the addresses of welcome Mr..
Clark turned the gavel over to Maj.
Gen. B. H. league of Aiken, the com
mander Of the South Carolina diyi-
sion, U. C. V.
The annual oration was made by
the Rev. VIM. E. Boggs, D. D., OF
Atlanta, q noble son of South Caro-
lima, and himself a Confederate vet
eran. Mr.. Boggs justified secession.
The veterans held business ses-
sion, at which time Gen. c. Irvine
Walker, honorary commander of the
United Confederate Veterans, was
presented. Gen. Walker occupied a
seat on the stage at the morning ex-
ercises.
The veterans were given ride
around the city, cars being furnished
for that purpose by tho Street Rail-
way company. A reception for the
official ladies and veterans was held
at the Jefferson Hotel in the after
noon. Thursday night Campfire
Scenes" took place in the theatre, 2his
being a decided hit.
The South Carolina Sons of Veter-
ans are holding their reunion in
Columbia also The business ses-
sions are being held in the Richland
county court house.
Veterans are being housed and fed
all meals being served at Craven Hall.
The Boy Scouts are acting as guides
and escorts for the Veterans and
everything is being done for their en-
joyment.
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