Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-06-25

| kiula SUI, n IeeuuR VI bAuuccS Stt0
sorrow comes over me cannot resist. "
Richmond Is the grandest city in the
Union 10 have reunion for there are
so many glorious old battlefelds to
visit, to ssand where brave men receiv-
ed the note from Gen. Lee. telling them
that the lines were at last broken, and
he would have to evacuate Richmond.
But must tell you of the reunion.
for in the absence of Gen. Young, Gen.
Harrison. of Alabama, presided. and
made fine presiding officer. We at
tended to the usual duties, and on the
second day reelected Bennett Young
commander. had quite a contest over
this, as the trans Mississippi boys
thought we ought to rotate and elect
one of their favorite sons:
This is right, and probably would have
been done had not some Of friends OF
their candidate circulated charges
against Bennett Young, whose record
is based on the fact that escaping
from Federal prison. he remained In
Canada, the rest Of the war, and led
the party of Confeds that robbed the
st. Albans, Vermont, bank; but as this
was done as war measure, by the or
ders Of the Confederate commission. to
try to embroil England and the United
States in war, it was thought 1t was
due Gen. Young to re-elect him. and
thus vindicate this splendid gentleman.
l introduced q resolution to the effect
that after this no one would be eligible
for reelection for any Office except
Adjutant- General, but some one raised
the point of orter that this resolution
was unconstitutional, and Gen. Harri-
son, without hearing from me and 9TH
er friends Of the measure. ruled the
point well-taken, but they will hear
from me again. for do think Il moth
ing but fair and right.
The trans-M Mississippi boys have long
wanted this honor, and we had no brav-
er or better soldiers than these old Con-
feds and under the lead Of Gen. Kirby
Smith. They prevented the Federals
from occupying that country, and the
Irish company of Confederates down in
Texas whipped of an attack of the |
I Federal fleet, captured one vessel with
four times more men than they had,
and gained such signal victory, that
| am told that no mention is made of it |
by Federal historians. Mr.. Davis in
his "Rise and Fall of the Cenfederacy"
gives an account of this fight, and gives i
the name Of every man engaged there
in. So let US pass the homer around,
and recognize some one of these grand
old men.
After a very brilliant speech by Con-
gresham Hef1in, of Alabama, inviting
the Confederates to hold their next re-
union at Birmingham. This invitation
was accept by unanimous vote. Bir-
mingham is glorious city and enter
tained the old Veterans 80 handsomely
only a few years ego, and 1t is SO near
US that hope large number of our
camp can attend.
The third day the rain held up and
we had the grand parade, and once
more. the old Confeds, with banners
flying and bands playing Dixie and 9th.
er Southern airs, marched down the
historic streets of the grand old capital
If the Confederacy. To show that war
8 over and once more we are re-unit-
ID country the governor Of Connecticut
md a company Of the National Guard
,f chat state did themselves the honor
% march in that parade and their band
played Dixie as much as any other band.
Almost all the National Guards of
Virginia, headed by their splendid gov
,rnor, nephew of old Jeb Stuart, to-
,ether with the manifcent companies
# Richmond, radisnt with splendid un
forms graced the procession. No one
ould look on these old Confeds and
heir splendid young soldiers and the
air matrons and maids of honor, as
hey marched 80 gallantly around the l.,
monument to our honor, would realize
hat there is ''life in the old land yet."
nd the lines every once In q while :.
anne singing to nv heart: :
Lives there man with soul % dead,
Who never to himself hath said.
This is my own. my native land. A
The citizens of Richmond, wishing to |,
o all in their power to please and en- L
ertain the old Vets. had planned o
oral parade for the second evening, q
nd had offered prizes for the best dec. q
rated car, but as it rained, this had to h
e had on the day of the parade, and it t
dded greatly to our pleasure, for the
srs we're beautifully decorated with .
Il kinds of flowers, and they evidenced it
reat artistic taste. n
They also planned magnificent fire. h
orks, duplicating the blowing up Of al
lie crater. One company represented ol
le Federals and when the crater was II
L. o,.A konly | m