1909 Confederate Veteran Reunion Celebration in Union Parish Louisiana 

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1909 Confederate Veteran Reunion Celebration in Union Parish Louisiana 

Farmerville "Gazette", issue of 1 September 1909
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                                The Re-union and Barbecue

   The crowd which gathered here last Wednesday was probably the largest ever seen in 
Farmerville, and has been variously estimated at from three to five thousand visitors. 
At 9:30 in the forenoon the confederate veterans, numbering about fifty, formed in line 
at the court house and, under their commander, Capt. R.J. Tabor, were marched to the 
school building, where, upon arrival, several fine speeches were delivered by prominent 
men of Farmerville and Union Parish. After an invocation by Rev. King, Judge R.B. Dawkins, 
master of ceremonies, with a few well chosen remarks appropriate to the occasion, introduced 
to the audience Mayor C.H. Jameson who, on behalf of the town of Farmerville, delivered 
the welcome address. Mayor Jameson as responded to by Judge J.R. Simmons. Following Judge 
Simmons came Capt. J.D. Hamilton of Shiloh, Attorney Mathews, Attorney J.B. Crow and 
Mr. A.J. Deal. The music for the occasion was furnished by Misses Rebecca Dozier and 
Corrie Dawkins.

   The veterans who were present had all seen hard service in the memoral war between the 
states, and we are informed that out their number five had seen service in the battle of 
Gettysburg and, no doubt, took part in or witnessed that last terrible charge of Pickett 
and his fearless followers, eight were at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., six at Shiloh, 
twelve at the seige of Vicksburg and six took part in the seven days battle around Richmond.

   The speaking being over the people were invited to dinner which had been spread under 
the shade of the grove in the school grounds, where a bounteous feast of all kinds of good 
things to eat was found waiting. The barbecue was conducted under the management of Hon. W.P. 
Chandler and he and his assistants deserve much credit for the successful way in which they 
managed it.

   In the afternoon about fifteen hundred of the visitors witnessed the ball game which was 
played at the park between the West Monroe and Farmerville teams which resulted in victory 
to the visitors by a score of eighteen to two. This is the hardest defeat that the home boys 
have received this season and came as a great surprise to the Farmerville fans. However, the 
home boys have made a record this season of which they may well feel proud, for, out of a 
total of twenty three games played they have only lost three. As this was the last game to 
be played this season they were all anxious to win it, but the Fates, assisted by Averett, 
the left-handed twirler for the West Monroe bunch, willed otherwise. So be it.



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