The Washington herald., 1921-01-16
Dixie Veteran Leader Still Hopes
To See Confederate Names Honored
Capt. Beall Tells of Stand
He Made on Arlington
Memorial Commission
BY BYRD MOCK.


Never in the history of tn. world
had a defeated army maintained its
organization over half a century arr
er defeat, and grown stronger in
the bonds of fellowship in exact
ratio to its decreasing numbers un-.
I'll the Confederate army set the
record. ~
Capt Fred Beau, commander of
Washington Camp, III, United Con-
federate Veterans, announced .last
night that there were approximate
ly 1900 camps of Confederate vet
Grams in the United States, some of
the strongest of these being in the
Far North. where it wasn't safe for
Confederates to be fifty-seven years
ago. They have penetrated the far
thermost reaches of the continent
and the aurora borealis beams on
the midnight sessions of the camp
In Seattle Wash, the camp of which
DR.. w. r. ]. Dalton is commander.
He was a lieutenant in the Con-
federate navy.
Every year for the last thirty
one years these grizzled warriors
have held a national reunion, and
when the gray hosts gather in their
well-worn uniforms. and the band
plays Dixie" many almost sight
less eyes begin to glisten, trembling
voices cheer, bent backs straighten
and stiff legs forget their stiffness
while they join the march to Dixie"
They forget that they are old. In
fact they say these reunions keep
them young.
"foung," Despite Age.
How old are your" 1 asked Capt.
Beall in his law ofice yesterday.
Just 81" he said. with a smile
that radiated his almost lineIess
face and made his snow-white hair
seem out of place on the head of
one SO young" Yet he fought
side by side with Gen. Forest, the
greatest cavalryman of history, and
ministered to him when he was
wounded five times in one battle.
Capt. Beall seemed to lead a charm
ed life, for he fought with Pap
Price" at Iuka and escaped unscath-
ed when sent under orders to search
for lost battalion" in full range
of the enemy's bullets. He found
his battalion and was mighty glad
to get back" he said. Though men
fell around him in many battles, he
was never touched by bullet
Neither does he appear to have been
touched by time, except for his
white locks.
81 am the first lawyer in the
Woodward Building every morning."
ne said, "and usually l am about the
last to leave. l never was so busy
in my life as am now, but 1
wouldn't have it any other way.
would die If I stopped work. Work
keeps me young, and I expect to be
young as long as I live"
How many members in your
camp now?" asked.
Just 100. Twenty answered the
last roll call last year"
Il hear your camp Is going to
celebrate the birthday of Gen. Rob-
ert E. Lee on January 49," it was
remarked.
Lees Memory to Live On
I'VE always have and always will
as long as one of US who wore the
gray is alive" he replied. Lee and
Jackson are two of the greatest
generals the world ever produced,
and the world will one day recog-
niZe this fact when sectional pre-
judiCe is laid aside. We will keep
alive their memory and that of other
great Southern generals as long as
we live, and then from our falling
hands we'll fling the torch to our
follows-the torch of truth. Be
yours to hold it high"
But why" it was asked. were
the names of Lee and Jackson. of
all the great names of the South,
left off the tablets dedicated to great
American generals in the Memorial
Amphitheater at Arlington"
The question brought a rise from
Capt. Beall. His gray eyes flashed.
and rising from his chair, he
Strengthened himself to his full six
feet and said:
L was a member of that commits