CONFEDERATE VETERANS IN THE NEWS
1895 - 1921
Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings

Contributed by Lee Freeman

OLD VETERANS.
From the Florence Times, Sat., May 25, 1895, p. 3.

Lauderdale Delegation at Houston.

Florence and Lauderdale County are well represented at the great ex-Confederate reunion at Houston, Texas. The following delegation left here Sunday night, bound for that point:

Capt. A. D. Ray left on Monday night.

CAMP O'NEAL.
From the Florence Times, Sat., May 9, 1896, p. 4.

The Old Confeds Hold a Meeting.

Camp O'Neal of Confederate Veterans held their annual meeting last Saturday with Maj. A. M. O'Neal in the chair.

On motion the officers were all re-elected to serve another term.

The following delegates were elected to the grand reunion at Richmond.  Messrs.

Alternates-
H. McVay Moore,
A. T. Clemmons,
L. C. Fowler.

A called meeting of the camp will be held on the 16th of June.

U. C. Veterans' Barbecue
From the Florence Times, Friday, Sept. 18, 1908, p. 3.

Mars Hill was the scene of a gathering of the clans last Thursday, the occasion a barbecue, given annually. Judge R. T. Simpson delivered the address of welcome, following the opening prayer by Rev. T. B. Larrimore [ sic ] . Herschel Larrimore [sic] and James Angel had charge of the refreshments and made excellent chefs. The veterans enjoyed a smoke of Jeff Davis cigars after dinner.

The veterans answering the roll call were:

Aleck Jones and Jim Buckingham, two colored veterans, were also on hand.

[Note from compiler: Black Confederate veterans were common; there were anywhere from 90,000 to 300,000 Blacks who served in Confederate armies all or part of the time. Lauderdale itself had eight Black Confederate veterans. See articles below.]

"News Around Our Busy City:
From the Florence Herald, Fri., May 22, 1903, p. 1.

Events of the Week in Florence and Vicinity:
Things Seen, Heard and Done".

Uncle Reuben Patterson came down from the Canal Monday, en route to New Orleans to attend the Confederate Veterans' reunion. Uncle Reuben was the body servant of Col. Josiah Patterson during the war, and no truer or more loyal servant ever followed the fortunes of his master during those troublous times. Last year he attended the Dallas reunion and made many friends by his devotion to the old soldiers, many of whom he had not seen since the close of the war. He is as quaint as he is original, and his fund of anecdotes and war reminiscences is irresistible.

"Local News : Brief Items of Happenings
in this section".
From The Florence Times, Fri., May 19, 1911, p. 1.

Among the Confederate Veterans who left Monday for the reunion at Little Rock were Reuben Patterson and Aleck Jones, who seldom miss the reunions and who are loyal to the core. It would have been a great shock to these worthy colored citizens if they had been cut off from the re-union.

"The Gist of Things in City and County"
From the Florence Times, Fri., Oct. 10, 1919, p. 1.

"Uncle" Reuben Patterson, colored, one of the landmarks of the community, and a faithful adherent to the Confederacy, attended the reunion in Atlanta.

"Confederate Veterans Meet"
From the Rogersville News, Thurs., Sept. 18, 1919, p. 1.

Every one of the seventeen Confederate Veterans who attended the picnic at Mars Hill Saturday came away from the scene of pleasure filled with delight and good things to eat. Theyy [sic] were loud in their praises and pronounced the eventa [sic] a great success in every respect. It was an occasion just devoted to pleasure. No long speeches in which they called the greatest heroes that ever shot a gun. They did the talking themselves, not in an oratorical style but in conversation and story and reminiscence. A number of the sons and daughters were present. The following Veterans were in attendance ages averaging about 70 years: Messrs. 

-Florence Daily News.

THE VETERANS ENTERTAINED
From the Florence Times, Fri., Oct. 22, 1920, p. 3

Soldiers of the Confederacy Given Delightful
Barbecue Last Friday at Mars Hill Grove.

On Friday of last week the Confederate Veterans were entertained at Mars Hill "camp ground" by the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy. Twenty or more veterans were in attendance. The leading feature of the occasion was a barbecue, and it was up to the highest standard of excellence, with Mr. Herschel Larrimore [sic] as master of ceremonies, and Mr. W. B. Brown in charge of the culinary department. The entire proceedings were informal, and the social side of the proceedings was most enjoyable. Several brief addresses were made, and Mr. Wallace Porter paid a very high tribute to the heroes of the lost cause.

To Mr. Larrimore [sic] especially and to the charming ladies who assisted in this enjoyable occasion their guests return most cordial thanks and expressions of profound appreciation.

The following veterans were present :

Colored-
Uncle Wash C. Wright [ should be Seawright ],
Uncle Reuben Patterson,
Uncle Pete Stewart.

DELIGHTFUL REUNION
From the Florence Times, Fri., Sept. 2, 1921, p. 5.

Confederate Veterans Entertained at a
Splendid Barbecue by Sons and Daughters.

On Wednesday the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Daughters of the Confederacy entertained at a barbecue at Mars Hill the soldiers of the Confederacy. The entertainment was a very delightful one, and largely attended. The attendance, in fact, was the largest body of old soldiers held in the county for years past, numbering about fifty, all sections of the county being represented.

The proceedings were opened by a series of brief speeches, the orators being Messrs. R. T. Simpson, Major Downs, Senator Rogers and Col. C. W. Ashcraft. A most bountiful dinner was provided for the veterans, when Brunswick stew, barbecued lamb and pork, coffee and cake were served. During the day a photograph was taken by Mr. Landrum. The event was a most interesting one, gratifying to the guests of the occasion and duly appreciated. Among those especially contributing to the success of the occasion were Messrs. Herschel Larimore, Judge Hughston, Cal. W. Young, Senator Rogers, Charner Till, Judge Koonce, and last but not least, Billy Brown, who had charge of the culinary arrangements.

The following is a list of veterans who were present:

[Compiler's note : The picture taken by Mr. Gerry Landrum at this reunion is on display at Pope's Tavern Museum in Florence, AL.]

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