Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-08-22
In the Name Of God We Will
Set Up Our Banners.
Thoughts of the Reunion.

and Sherman in 1865, what Is left
of the army OF Lee and the Confed-
eracy paraded to-day. 1t was the
parade of the first Confederate re-
union held north of the Potomac,
and the first time the Union Veterans
ever marched with the men they
fought fifty odd years ago. Some
how / felt that Lee, Longstreet and
Jackson, looked down in benedic
rion upon the scenes in The streets
of the National Capitol to-day, and
that the ghosts of Kershaw, For
rest, Stewart and Pickett were with
their old comrades. And so tits well
that veterans of the Blue marched
with veterans of the Gray. If re-
unions are held it is to revive memo
ries, to strengthen comradeship, to
answer roll calls that grow shorter
each year. 1t was thrilling con-
trast, in line this morning, of now
and fifty years ago; enfeebled men,
some of them on their last march:
the bands played the old tunes and
the new. How the music stirred
me and those about me! How 1t
quickened the footsteps of aged
men who passed in review. How
memories crowded one upon the
other and marched US out of the pres
ant into the long ago.
Again I saw Pickett charge up
the rocky sides Of Gettysburg; l
pictured Stonewall Jackson as he
fell that bloody night at Chancel-
lorsville; and Longstreet, as he fell
from his horse badly wounded at
the Wilderness; anG Lees farewell
address to his broken army at Ap-
pomattox. One might see Stewart
and Forrest as they led their cour-
ageous cavalrymen into charges
that no latter-day warriors will ever
excel. Longstreet, Gorden. Bee,
and Barlow, Sidney Johnson, Hill
and Hampton and Butler-they all
marched before us as though they
were in life to-day.
No southern city could have
given the survivors of the Confed
crate armies more touching greet
ing than they received to-day. The
flag Of the United States futtered
beside the STARS and Bars'' and
told the story of what was and what
is-one flag, one country, one peo-
pie that's all. But above all, bring
ing lump into the throat and
queer tingle into the body, were the
airs that the bands played. The
Stars and Stripes Forever, with its
plea to laggard feet, "Swanee
River" with it's call to sentimental
thoughts; old Black Joe," bring
ing memories of "darkies" and
ante-bellum days; MY Old Ken
tucky Home" with its dreams of
content; Garry me Back to Ole
Virginny," forcing pictures of Bull
Run, Manassas, Petersburg and
Richmond; THE Girl l Left Be-
hind" one of the campfire songs
of the 6O's," Maryland, My Mary
land" with it's martial swing; and
"Dixie" Dixie" under the spell
of which men went bravely to their
death and died with a blessing on
their lips more than half century
ago.
Happy to Hear Dixie.
The "Old Confeds'' swelled hap
PLY from. the ranks to-day when
Dixie" was played-because, no
matter al what point along the
avenue it was heard, the throngs on
the sidewalks cheered and waved
hats and handkerchiefs, and heart
beats were faster. Yes, Washing
ton gave us warm reception. No
organization received greater ap.
plaase, none deserved more.
Here was the contrast of which
I have written--the indissoluble
link of love for country and a cause
whatever that cause be, that ties
together American hearts, and that
reaches out across the years IL the
hand-shake of understanding. When
Lincoln was asked how lie would
regard the prodigal south after tie
war he said: Il shall treat them just
as though they had never been
away That is the way the gov
eminent of to-day and the Capitol
Of our country treated US at this re-
union. So the vision comes again,
and somehow l feel that Lincoln,
Grant, Sheridon and Meade looked
down approvingly to-day from the
land of the last roll call, and with
them, bearing through the blue and
gray of heaven, Lee and Jackson
and Pickett and Longstreet-