Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-11-05
The Re-Union in Atlanta.

| The reunion in Atlanta was a
complete success from every angle.
The governor and the mayor gave US
the keys of the city and the people of
Atlanta gave the old boys, upon
whose heads the snow that never
melt hath fallen, touching greet
ing.
The flag of the United States fut-
tered beside the "Stars and Bars"
and told the story of what was, and
what is-one flag, one country and
one people.
This reunion will be cherished as
one of the precious events of my life.
The welcome was without qualifca-
ton or mental reservation, the free
dom of the city, the hospitality OF
the people to the men who wore the
gray. The doors of the city swung
wide open to US. Atlanta did her
self proud in the liberal reception
! she gave these bullet-scarred vet
erans. I have attended many re-un-
ions and recall none where every de-
tail was so perfectly carried out,
such hospitality shown on every hand
while we were there and it made
each one of us feel that we were in
the house of our friends. So we come
with our gloves off and hat in hand,
and bow our thanks with our love to
the city of Atlanta and all who dwell
within her gates. We carry sweet
memories of this grand occasion with
US as loving token on the mile-post
of life.
The most inspiring sight of the
reunion was to see those graceful
and cultured girls (God bless them)
marching in the parade with the vet
erans, glad to pay this honor to the
men who helped to write the most
brilliant page in all military history;
and who made the women of the
South greater in their courage, fidel-
ity and sacrifice, than the women of
Saragossa or the Hebrew matrons
and maidens who helped defend the
Holy City against the legions of Yes
pasian.
1t was thrilling contrast 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 it quickened the footsteps
of aged men who passed in review;
how memories crowded one upon the
other and marched us out of the pres
ent into the long ago. Again l see
General Pick t charge up the rocky
side of Get, ,urg; l picture Stone
wall Jackson as he fell at Chancel-
lorsville, Lee at Appomattox, Stuart
and Forrest as they led their cavalry
men with charges that no latter day
warriors will never excel.
l spent two weeks in Atlanta and
had a good time.
1 must tell you about the grand
ball given the boys in gray. l met my
brother, his wife and sponsor, from
St. Petersburg, Fla, and the charm
ing young lady asked me to dance
with her. said "My young friend, I
never have danced, but if you will
tell me just how to shuttle my feet, l
will dance with you tonight" So l
took her arm and was up on the
game. She told me that / understood
the shuttle better than any one she
had ever known, never to have
danced before. When the music stop
ned, an old man, General Dupont of
the Texas division, came up to where
we were talking, dressed in his long
"jim-swinger" of gray, with stars
and bars on his collar, gold lace on
his sleeves, badges galore on his
breast and-"Miss, will you dance
with me?" "No," said the little spon-
ser from the Flowerland, 81 have my
partner" and I said "Amen"
Then I told the general that back
in the "sixties" the private could not
hold his hand with the captains, ma
jors' and generals but I have it on
you tonight, "bud."
I said three cheers for the grace
full, cultured sponsor from Florida,