The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-04-29
RENEW OLD FRIENDSHIPS.
States Survivors of Confetleracy in
Columbia for Annual Reunion.

Columbia. April 222.-The passage
of half century Of time was tempo
rarily forgotten today while the rem
nant of the heroes OF the Confederate
: armies contributed to that gallant
cause by South Carolina gathered in
Columbia for their annual reunion.
The streets and business houses were
gay with bunting and everywhere the
stars and bars waved bravely to the
soft 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 this morning at lO
o'clock when Mr.. w. A. Clark, COM
mander of Camp Hampton, called the
gathering to order. The stage and
| theatre were taStefully decorated
with Confederate flags and growing
| flowers. Grouped on the stage were
the sponsors and maids Of honor
making a 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 half century ago. And
Dixie" always brought the Rebel
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. Whilden, of the Y. NJ. c. A.,
the entire audience standing and
joining in the singing. The invoca-
ton was made by the Rev. F. o. S.
Curtis, of Walterboro, division chap
lain, who feelingly voiced the rapid
ty with which the thin gray line is
getting thinner. and who in the
course of his prayer returned thanks
that Southern born man now oc-
cupied the chair of Abraham Lincoln,
and was guiding the nation through
the troubles of the present time.
Mr.. Clark introduced governor R.
|. 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-sacrifice of the Confed-
crate soldiers and praised the right
eousness of the cause. for which they
gave their all. 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 Southerner. that
the chief justice of the United States
supreme court was an Ex-Confeder-
! ate soldier. and of the commanding
and leading part the South had in the
affairs of the nation he provoked pro-
longed applause.
Mayor Lewie A. Griffith welcomed
the veterans on behalf of the city OF
Columbia and Mr.. John w. Lillard,
chairman 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 MaXy Gregg,
Sons of Veterans. and Mr.. w. A.
Clark, commander of Camp Hampton,
made an address Of welcome. Re-
sponses on behalf of the veterans
were made by Col. Alfred Aldrich,
of Barnwel. and on behalf of the
Sons by Col. a. L. Castor, of Ches-
ter. the State commander.