French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1916-08-17
MD SOLDIERS HAVE
GOOD TINE AT PARK
vekinIey Pritchard of Asheville, De-
Fners Address on Occasion Of
Annual Reunion.

TIL
,torans of Henderson county at Lau-
s1 park last Thursday drew large
ieI l1oTd IF town aad county people.
Tso evercises were held in the Casino
L.hioh Lh had been decorated for the oc-
oosion mlsi with the large Confederate
sogs "tr small United States flags and
pnv 4 |. Justice, chaplain of the
Margaret Davis Hayes Chapter of U.
nc opened the program with prayer.
The Hendersonville band interspersed
tho exercises with thrilling Southern
rnnsic which added much to the en-
thnsiasm of the day. Mr.. Ben Clayton,
visiting veteran from Asheville, play
ad pixie" on his violin in the good
old fashioned way, to the delight of his
old comrades and the entire audience.
UcKinley Pritchards Esq. of Ashevllle,
delivered the address of the day, and a
SnIendid and appropriate address it
was Among other things he told the
following anecdote illustrating the
tender heart of the peerless leader.
Robert E. Lee, as told by a northern
soldier who was wounded at the
hattie of Gettysburg: Il was badly
wounded" says the soldier, "a ball had
shattered my left leg. 1 lay On the
ground not far from Cemetery Ridge,
and as General Lee ordered his retreat,
he and his officers rode near. As he
came along l recognized him, and
though faint from exposure and loss
of blood, l raised up both my hands,
looked General Lee in the face and
shouted as loud as l could, 'Hurrah
for the Union.' General Lee heard me,
looked stopped his horse dismOunted
and came toward me. I confess that
at first l thought that he was going to
kill me; but as he came up he looked
at NE with such a sad expression on
his face, all fear left me and ] won
dered what he was about. He extend
ed his hand to me, grasped mine firm
ly looked right into my eyes and SAID
Ny son. l hope you will soon get we'll.
If l live a thousand years." says the
relatOr of this incident, Il will never
forget the expression on General Lees
face. Here he was. defeated, retiring
from the field that had cost him and
his cause almost their last hope, yet
he'stOpped to say words like this to q
wounded soldier of the opposition who
had taunted him as he passed by. AS
soon as the General had left me I cried
myself to sleep there on the bloody
battle field The combination OF
strength and gentleness in Lee was
without counterpart, for truly,
The bravest are the tendest,
The loving are the daring"
Mr.. Pritchard also paid the follow
Ing tribute to Southern womanhOod: :
Me thinks that when God created the
Southern woman, he sent his angels
out into star-strewn realms of space
and bade them gather all there was OF
beauty, brightness, honor and virtue
and when they returned and had laid
down their sheaves at the Masters
feet, God in all his omnipotence Great
ed distinct type, the Southern wo-
man, the embodiment Of honor, purity
and virtue, of whatsoever things are
lovely"
Following the mornings program
the old soldiers were lined up and
marched to the bountiful spread on q
table especially prepared for them
After dinner the veterans held their
business meeting, J. P. Johnson, OF
erected the following officers for the
ensuing year: J. F. Shipman, presi.
dent; ]. K. Hale, vice president; w. G.
GuIllck, secretary and treasurer. They
also voted to meet at Laurel Park
again next year:
W. A. Smith, owner of Laurel Park
tnroWs down the ropes for these occa.
SONS and gives free admission to the
park to all visitors to these reunions
dnd passes all the veterans on the
street car free of charge and the veter.
ans appreciate it.
The followin e Daughters Of the Con
ieueracy served the dinner: Mrs. J. s
Grown. president; Mrs. Michae
5cnenck, vice president; Mrs. L. E
[Fisher, secretary; Mrs. BENJAMIN, Mrs
m. mHel Patterson Mrs. Mcguire, ant
Miss Rebecca Schenck.