The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-27
BERRY BENSON TELLS
OF MARCH IN RICHMOND
CONTINUED from page 1, column A.

(CO0uQu6Q from page L, COLUMN t.
mani crowded the streets, and the
windows, and the balconies, cheering
on to fresh victories their ragged and
dusty soldiers. And that wasn't
show, that wasn't parade; it was a
march; it was the real thing!
The next day the Times-Dispatch
had a para graph or two to say of me
and my comrade, and this is my pro-
test published in the paper of June
20:
A Veteren'S Protest.
"NIy attention is drawn to a pas
sage in your issue of the 23d, descrlp-
tive of the reunion parade that hurts
my feelings. I've grown some older,
maybe, but my skin isn't any tougher
than it was when 1 marched through
Richmond years ago. The passage
reads thus:
GA touch of pathos was added by
the sight of an aged and bent war
rior in full field equipment, including
musket, rolled blanket and canteen
supported along the line by a young
woman
Il am the soldier referred to, and
nv charming comrade Of the march
was Miss Emma Wilson Morriss, one
of Richmond's lovely daughters and
a maid of honor.
II protest against this description,
An aged and bent warrior supported
bv a-young woman,' and I protest
vigorously.
"Pathetic, rats! Bent, fiddle
sticks! Why l marched, l protest, in
this review, as straight and erect as
ever 1 marched the valley turnpike,
behind Stonewall Jackson, one of his
foot cavalry, or as ever marched in
to battle under the crimson folds
of our starry battle flag. I know
it, and my fair comrade of the march
knows it, and the photographs I send
you prove it. If there is anything
bent about that figure, or needing
support?
Supported by young woman!'
That's bathos not pathos. Why, par
ma fol, l could have picked the slim
damosel up in my arms and carried
her, too, had there been need to. And
think no more now of fifteen mile
tramp of a Sunday across hill and
hollow, than 1 would of stroll
through your capitol grounds to play
with the squirrels.
A number of people along the line
of march took snapshots at us, le
and my comrade, and they all prom
ised to send me a picture, and if they
keep that promise can send you 9TH
er pictures to find, if you can, a crook
in my back or a, sag at my knees. l
think can guess, Mr.. Editor, what's
the real matter. Your reporter, a
bully good fellow, has sympathetic
heart and an eye for pathos, and he
loves to paint with sympathetic
brush, but when he elects to paint
me with that color, 1 kick. Now, Mr..
Editor, he has been with you long
time-a long, long time-he has
grown old in your faithful service,
his vision is not what it once was;
reward him now generously; give
him a pension, and tell him when he
next reviews a Confederate parade
in Richmond not to leave his specta-
cles at home. He will have chance
to redeem himself too, for my charm
ing comrade of the march has prom
ised me that in the next parade in
Richmond she will march with me
again.
This protest has brought me a
number of photographs and letters,
of which this is one:
'I have just seen your letter in
Times-Dispatch and I enjoyed 1t
greatly. During the world war, |
spent part of my time instructlng
infantry recruits, and l think I know
frst-class hiking when I see it. You
can tell the world that when you
passed me near Lees monument, you
were doing as pretty piece of hiking
as ever saw. Your step was sprlngy,
and l commented on it, and you Ger
tainly were not bent or in need OF
SUPPORT. If l ever wondered why
Jackson's men were called foot-caV-
airy (and l never have from what