Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-02-02
Florida Town Trying
To Stead Honor That
Belongs To Fitzgerald
Captain G. E. Whitman Gives History
OF the Blue And Gray

Mr. |. Gelders, Editor;
Fitzgerald, Ga.
Dear Sir
l received the enclosed clipping
taken from the Miami Daily Metrop
oils of January %, 1922, from an ole
resident of Fitzgerald, Mr.. f. J
Shaffer, and from the tone of hi:
letter was highly indignant at the
claim of the Metropolis that the asso
citation of the Blue and Gray originated
in Miami within the last few years
and we'll he might.
1t is evident that the Metropoli:
failed to look up the facts in the cas-,
before publishing the item.
Now, will give you a few fact.
about the origin of the Blue and GRAY
Association, and as a resident of oul
city since its birth you are ina po
sition to know its general history. Ir
'the summer Of 1897, Captain D. B
Null, member of the U c. " anc
Captain VIM Mccormick a member
of Post IA, G. A. R. met socially or
the corner of Grant and Pine street:
and talked over their experiences while
in the army, finally discussed the or.
ganizing of an association of the ole
veterans of the Civil War and decided
to call meeting of the old veteran.
for that purpose.
A meeting was called within a short
time remember this was in 1897
The first meeting was held in tn,
w. R. c. Hall and an organization
perfected adopting the name of tn,
Blue and Gray" Association of Fitz
gerald, Ga, Camp No. /, adopting :
designated flag, or banner, half blu,
and half gray. Comrade Wiley Whit
ley of U. c. ", elected president
Comrade 0. P. Webster of G. A, R
Post elected vice president and tn,
present writer, G. F. Whitman of G
A., R. Post, secretary.
Now you can readily see from tn,
above facts that we. of Fitzgerald fee
that the Metropolis" in claiming tn,
origin of the Blue and Gray for Mia
mi. Fla, are doing us an injustice
L will not take more of your valua
Bile time or space but could write ,
column or two on the doings of th,
Blue and Gray at this place and If
Florence, S. c. and other places but
will cease.
Yours for the rights of our CITY.
G. E. WHITMAN,
Adjutant Colony Post No. a.
G. AR
The Blue and Gray
(From Miami, Fla, Metropolis)
Originating in Miami where none OF
the bitterness of the Civil War is
found. the Blue and the Gray associ-
alton came into being a few winters
ago. Through all parts of the United
States, and probably across the sea.
the word went out that the old SOL
diers and their families, of the North
and the South, had joined in formal
organization of goodwill and fellow
ship. 1t was burial of the swords ov-
er which the fine old men who had
long since buried their hatred could
shake hands as comrades-comrades
ready to sit about the same campfire
and swap tales in which the Rebel
yell brings much applause from the
Yankee listeners as it does from the
Johnnie Rebs.
Perhaps the Miami sunshine and the
Miami gladness had something to do
with bringing about that formal or
ganization. Miami. as is often her
good fortune, received much good
advertising from the big event And
this winter there will again be a bio
crowd to assemble at the annual pic
mic when that important event ar
rives.
Perhaps too, there will be
some good workers who will come
forward and offer their services to
the old vets. The Blue and the GRAY
organization is a large one. but there
are not sufficient active members, we
are told to Tighten the burden of some
who are doing most of the work
The Metropolis believes that there
are many sons and daughters Of the
soldiers who wore the blue or the
gray who could give some good as
distance in the preparations for that
big annual meeting.