Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-06-12
Letters From
the People

vets ta1reu during CHen "Trip 10 IHe
Reunion. TheAmericus ladies feo
us on peaches, candy, and cake on
our way to Memphis.
After arriving in the City, the
ladies and boy scouts took charge
of us and almost toated us around,
lady on one side and boy scout
on the other. They toated US up
and down steps and over rough
places. They got anything we want
ed. Lifted us into au mobiles, with
lady chauffeurs, these lady chaffeurs
would carry us into drug stores,
give us cold drinks, ice cream aud
cigars. They would say, you are our
guests and would insult us if you
paid for any thing. The merchants
would say your money is nothing
but German marks, your money is
counterfeit, Americas money is no
good in Memphis, but with all this
we got what we called for. These
chaffeurs carried us over an eight
hundred acre park, then to River
Side park, right side of the big
river with one thousand acres; from
this park they carried us to the park
of Natural Scenery. Automobiles
coul dnot go in to this park, but ,
ladies and boy scouts toated US over
the place and showed us natural
scenery that was grand, above dis
cription. The driving haul seated
over one thousand people at ona
sitting, the manager said it took
four sittings to feed them all. Here
we got square meals three times a !
day. The auditorium seats ten
thousand and was always full. II
heard Mrs. Harold speak with tears
of JOY in my eyes. | was in the
grand march with a middle aged
lady as my partner
The Old Vets street parade was
an enjoyable affair.
Quite number of the old vets
was the guests of Forest Chapter on
a steamboat ride. The pretty and
kind ladies served us with refresh.
ments, songs and all kinds of speach
es. A lady come to me and asked
II was in Forrest command. told
her that l was. "She said stand up,'
obeyed, she "said stand up in this
chair, l will hold it for you, now
make US speech" l obeyed again
and my speech was as follows:
Ladies, gents and comrades. II
was born and raised in little viii
lage in Barlow county, between
Rome and Gainesville.
At the time of Sherman's rade
through Georgia, was fifteen years
old. | was at home with my mother,
my father was serving In the Viz
GINA Army. After they had passed
by US and fought the New Hope bat
le,General Fitzpatrick, yankee cal
vary general came back in the rear
and had head quarters in my
mothers house a week. l became
acquainted with a nice young
yankee soldier. He told me he was
raised in the north, but both his pa
rent were raised in Mississippi. His
grand father at that time was liv-
ing in mississippi and he had three
uncles fighting in the confederate
army. 1t leaked out that the gem
eral was going to make me a prison.
er and carry me with him when ne
left our town. / hunted up my
yankee friend and asked him if he
was in earnest about going to the
Confederate Army. He said no
was. Up to this time l had been
riding come of the yankee horses to
water at a big axe back of the town
Issaid to my friend, just about sun
down you will see me mount that
big iron gray horse standing over
there ready bridled, with a saddle
on his back, you mount your horse
and follow me. | knew every hog
paul anu WuC1C dIl Vic plChCJo WCIS
posted. After making my start
looked back and saw my yankee
friend coming, we made it through
the yankee lines and landed in the
Barlow and Spaulding county road
beyond the pickets. Eventually we
met some of Forests scouts and af-
ter some hot shots in way of ques-
tons was shot at us, we fell in lire
with them and remained with them
until the surrender.
After / had arrived at home
thought l was a man, so l made a
date with sweet and pretty little
girl about my age. We were found
in her mothers parlor. was sitting
there, Miss Ida was sitting there,
no body talking. Eventually l be
came little bold and said why don't
you talk to me Ida, she said ditto,
said who is ditto, don't know him.
Has he two legs or four legs? Tell
me all about ditto She says you
are crazy Jim, ditto means the same.
said OH that means l am not talk
ing any more than you, she said of
course it does. l said all right, L
am going to talk some now. said