Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-05
Day of Happiness
for Old Veterans
Oratory and Good Things to Eat
Furnished in abundance by
People Of Surry.

Tho following account OF the public
proceedings at the twentieth annual
reunion OF Confederate veterans OF
surry County. Surry. Va. on August
IL. 10 contributed by one OF the veter-
ans who participated:
On returning to tho court green
from their private work, Commander
Barham called tho veterans into line
or battle. minus their arms when we
were fired upon, In mimic warfare. by
supposed Federal battery, brought
into action over in Whitley's field. some
quarter or n mile away. The cannon
adinS created some commotion among
inc horses. but didn't seem much like
the real thing.
Next, the men stood for their mic
lures. taken by Capt. G. a. Savedsc,
who was present with a kodak
The veterans werc then invited to
seats near the speakers stand, when
Comrade W. H. Bergman offered a
beautiful and impressive prayer. and
Dr. w. w Seward, in very pleasant
style. bid all welcome to the hospitali-
ties OF the day. and introduced o. L.
Shewmhkc. as the principal orator OF
the occasion.
Mr.: Shewmake has a big fund Of
anccdotes at his command. and is never
at loss where TO introduce one with
good effect. Ills application OF the
story OF the Wooden Leg Niger"
and others. told how readily he calls
tnese little pleasantries into his ser
vice.
Dyring Mr.. shewmake's remarks. no
reno from that capital collection Of
The Messages and Papers of the Con-
federacy." compiled by James .. Rich
ardson. resolution passed by. thu Con-
tcderate Congress on February II. 1864.
which reads rs follows:
The Congress OF the Confodcrat
Statcs Of America do resolve. That the
thanks Of Congress arg due and are
hereby rendered TO the enlisted men Of
the surry Light ARTILLERY, Captain ]. -.
Hankins. for their patriotic resolutions
adopted on the 9th day OF February,
1884. and for this manifestation Of zeal
In our struggle fand devotion 10 our
countrys cause by re-cnlistinG for the
war"
He dwelt npon this resolution as be-
ing creditab!e alike to the men and the
county .g5t Surry
Next came the unwilling OF tablet
wbach had been placed on tho front Of
fhc old clerks Office building. by the
Eurry County Memorial Association in
&memory Of Captain Jacob Faulcon.
ttlled near the spot in 1864 by Yankee
Gvaders. First in this ceremony Mrs.
~. Spratley came upon the stand. and
Fery happy and effective style. read
fece in verse that had been written
he occasion, and then the tablet
unveiled by little Miss Mary Ruff
adkins. granddauEnter OF Comrade
2 Judk!ns. and grcat-grand- daugh-
Captain Faulcon.
inscription upon this tablet
as follows.
IN Momory OF
ftain Jacob Faulcon. c. s. A,
OF this village.
was shot and instantly killed
a party OF Fedora! raiders, at a
Point one hundred and fifty yards
s. +. OF this building.
Nov. IA. 1864"
Next came dinner, TO which the vet
Grams were FIRST called. next tho ladies,
and last the general asscmblage
And such a dinner as greeted our
vision is not often seen on such oc-
IONS. The long table was crowded
~ end TO end with many good and
stan'ial things. There was ham in
meat, nice loaf bread. various sorts
( s!de dishes. fruits. pickles cake.
I'D tea. etc. etc. II was TOO good
heard more than one veteran re-
ark. These are liberal people out
I But Dr.. Seward had already init
mated 10 us that we would be Indebted
10 the ladies for this liberal and ele-
CANT Tepast.
And besides the dinner. all veterans
y present were presented free tickets
for cream. and free cali all day for
as much 'ade as they would drink
II the old boys had only thought 70
bring their can;eens along, I suppose
After dinner Lawyer shewmake
brought upon the stand Miss Ruth
Augusta Chandler. of Newport News,
who is the mascot for the Sons OF c.
VS. OF the state at large,--a tiny bit
OF fairy. who. In the most Charming
and entertaining manner. recited some
pretty little poemettes, to the great
delight OF the audience.
5. Beckwith. OF Petersburg. was
a 1a6 for
hear him speak, he never has anything
worth telling, he always manages 10
give something OF real value This
time he entertained by explaining at
some length the history OF tho several
hags used by the Confederacy, illus
trailing his remarks by samples of the
flags. 1t Is information Of this sort
that does good, and ia worth more than
FL tho Eighty oratory that has been
= oxen during the past half century
In closing, Mr.. Beckwith brought
otastounding fact that. for tho
q years and moro, every State
y DO has been using a State seal
"a using false one. Tho orig
vas pu-ioined during the re
NJ w" period. and different
80, uted.
gby this time was getting
Wht q downward way. Captain
mui ge proposed three cheers,
E q veterans present. second,
oV8 ..or band, which had been rem
No Hid music during the day,
~ loudest of ALL for the
WIZ nearby community, who
Berj tied SO much to our COM
tertainment.
ime the crowd was break
EMO smiling and no doubt well
IVA the exercises OF the day
yer Shewmake, Captains G.
ana e and II. c. Land, Drs. Astrop
be ard, B. D. Edwards, our jovinl
y. S. Edwards. the popular
II the county, and to many 9TH
q m le veterans are indebted for many
ne . iesses shown us during the day.
hy the sun OF prosperity and peace
OF tle on them, and all present, during
- III SSincr foNG o.