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

Editor of the Beacon
AS promised the boys would write
up my trip and let them know Of the
Reunion, I Twill endeavor to take little
time THE beautiful morning to fulfil
my promise.
Sallie. our granddaughter. Sallie
Spann Swarm. snd mysalf. left Macon
Saturday morning, May 30th, for the
Reunion via Birmingham. We expected
our good friend, Tom Wilkins, to join
us at Brooksville. but be failed to show
up. but Comrade Murray Robertson
did join US, and proved to be a most
delightful travelling companion and
added greatly to our pleasure. Murray
has travelled good deal, has retent-
i've memory and didn't mind talking
much. l got better insight to Muir
rays character on this trip than l had
gotten in all the years had known him
at home. ! found him most generous,
willing to do anything to please. and
he had more vitality than any other
Confederate l met on the trip.
We met DR.. Waddell on the trip, and
Murray gave up his berth to this good
old man and paid for it, too.
When we arrived at Birmingham
we were met by a kind lady friend,
Mrs. Kerr, in fine auto, and were
handsomely entertained in her elegant
home, had recitations by an accom-
plished young daughter Of the old En-
pire state and music by a..regularG German
professor.
Early the next morning we boarded
the train for Richmond. Every station
added its quota, and before the day
was over, our car was filled with jolly
old Confederates and we passed the
day very pleasantly.
As soon as the North Alabama boys
commenced joining US, Murray was in
his glory either he knew most of them
or he knew their folks, and If had not
known him, l would have thought that
he would have killed himself talking,
but, of course. it agreed with him. He
had solciered all through East Tennes-
see, and could point out objects Of in.
terest and tell Of the battles Of the
long ago. The scenery along this
route 10 heartita., Ind we nesctseired
looking at the grand mountains and
beautiful, we'll titled fields. At Bristol
we took the sleeper and did not get up
until we reached the historic city of
Petersburg.
After a short stop we proceeded to
Richmond, teaching there about 8 a. m.
After breakfasting, Murray and my
crowd proceeded to visit the battle
fields. wanted to 60 first to Beaver
Dam creek, where our regiment was
first engaged in the seven days fight
around Richmond on Friday morning,
June 9Th, 1862, but no one we could
find had ever heard of the fight and 1t
was not laid down on the map. We had
right severe skirmish here; had our
Adjutant General, Capt, Foote, killed,
and lost quite number of our regi-
ment, killed. know none of Co. A,
10Th Mississippi, will ever forget this
fight, for it was our second battle, and
the enemy fired upon US before day,
while we were asleep, aud threw US
into great confusion for short time,
and it was while rallying the regiment
and riding in front of it. over the pro-
test Of Capt. Thomas, Capt. Foote was
killed, The chaffeur claimed to know
how to reach Gaines Mill, where our
brigade distinguished itself that same
evening, but we missed the road and
found ourselves at Yellow Tavern,
where the gallant Jeb Stuart gave up
bis life to save Richmond.
The people of this famous old city
have erected splendid monument to
this gallant cavalry leader right OH the
spot where he received his death
wound, helping to save piece of artil-
iery, driving Sheridan back and saw
ing the city.
The Federal General Sedgwick was a
great admirer of Stuart. and said that
Stuart was the best cavalry officer ever
foaled in America. 1t seemed to me
that a good deal of the romance of the
war went out when this singing, roll
licking, fighting cavalryman received
mis- billet.
We had to turn here and 60 back to
Richmond, and the next place we
reached was the battlefield OF Seven
Pines, fought on the 29th and 3Oth OF
Nav, just a month before the seven
days' fight. This battle was OF peculiar
interest to my good wife, for here it
was that her gallant brother, James |
Spann, received several wounds, and
died few days afterward, and Is
hurled in the beautiful Greenwood Gem
eterv. There was little evidence to #,
show where the battle was fought, but {
several breastworks are still visible In {
.