Parish History, Military Records: Old Soldiers' Day, 1900s, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: May 15, 1969 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American, "Winn Parish As I Have Known It", by H. B. Bozeman, Article No. 571 Recently, while up at the Winnfield First Federal Office, Mrs. Ophelia Moss Storey said: "I want to give you a copy of something that I think will interest you, it is a Xerox newspaper clipping from an old Winnfield newspaper, that Mrs. Woody Oglesby Long let me make, about Old Soldiers' Day, which was the annual meeting and reunion of the Winn Parish United Confederate Veterans here at Winnfield, that Woody found in the files of her rather, the late Judge R. W. Oglesby." As this old newspaper bore no date or the name of the Winnfield paper, Mrs. Storey asked me did I know. I told her, from the kind of type used, it was printed by The Comrade, then edited and owned by Col. W. L. Smylie. The other weekly paper printed here, while I was a Winnfield High School student from 1906-10, was the Southern Sentinel, owned and edited by Major Will Strong, until his death in 1908. Both Col. W. L. Smylie and Major Will A. Strong were Confederate veterans. And both were very active in United Confederate Veterans affairs, locally and statewide, and writeups of these annual Confederate Reunions always mentioned Major Strong taking leading parts, until Major Strong's death in 1908. This account, for the first time, does not mention Major Strong. It is my definite opinion that the writeup of the "Old Soldiers' Day" in Winnfield, that is reproduced below, was printed in the Winnfield Comrade, Friday after the first Saturday in May, 1909, 60 years ago. In 1909 there were many Confederate veterans still living. I personally knew most of those whose names are mentioned in the article. THE VETERANS TAKE THE TOWN Last Saturday Was "Old Soldiers' Day" in Winnfield and Was Observed With Enthusiasm by all the People of the Town and Country. Year before last it was determined to set apart the first Saturday in May of each year as "Old Soldiers' Day" in Winnfield, that being the annual meeting day when David Pierson Camp No. 1603, U. C. Veterans meet to elect officers and delegates to the National Reunion. William Walker Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, last year, and again this year, took upon themselves the duty of entertaining the veterans whom they consider as their charges, and the splendid manner of the discharge of this self-imposed task on these two occasions, by this blessed band of patriotic daughters, will brighten the lives of the old heroes through the years they may be spared to us, and their gracious treatment will linger as a sweet memory with the veteran who is patiently waiting with a true soldier's fortitude for the final roll call. Last Saturday about sixty of the veterans had come for the meeting at 10 o'clock; three signal guns were fired on court square and the members of the camp assembled in the court room to transact the routine business of the day. Hon. J. M. McCain presided in the absence Capt. Com. Geo. A. Kelly. He was assisted by Lieuts. Joe Smith and J. G. Teagle. Fifty-three members were present and answered the roll call. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year: Capt. Com., J. M. McCain; 1st Lt., Joe Smith; 2nd Lt., J. G. Teagle; 3rd Lt., W. H. Mathews; Adjt., W. L. Smylie; Quarter Master J. E. Rogers; Commissary, R. L. Jackson; Sgt. Major, J. T. Porter; Color Sgt., J. J. Dickerson; Surgeon, Dr. F. M. Smith (probably should be S. M. Smith); Chaplain, J. M. Jackson; Sponsor, Miss Nettie Teagle. Delegates to the reunion at Macon, Ga.: J. M. McCain, J. E. Rogers, R. L. Jackson, and J. C. Crew. Alternates, D. M. Stone, A. W. Radescich, Jesse Womack, and W. H. Mathews. A vote of thanks was tendered the Police Jury of Winnfield Parish for the generous donation of $ 250 to pay the railroad fare of the veterans to the Macon reunion. The following veterans applied for and were furnished tickets: J. M. McCain, Joe Smith, A. W. Bell, D. M. Stone, W. H. Austin, A. W. Radescich, J. E. Rogers, W. H. Mathews, C. J. Crew, Jesse Womack, W. E. Dark, J. F. Starnes, S. C. Law, A. M. Box, R. L. Jackson, and J. G. Guyton. A vote of thanks was tendered Hon. W. M. Wallace, H. P. Gamble, Cas Moss, and R. W. Oglesby for their _______ on behalf of the veterans. (Almost an entire paragraph is torn from article.) ...the daughters. On the return of the camp Hon. W. M. Wallace, who had been chosen as master of ceremonies, took the stand and addressed the audience, paying high tribute to the Confederate Soldier. He then introduced in turn Hon. Harry P. Gamble, Hon. Robert W. Oglesby, and Hon. Cas Moss, who, each in turn, paid eloquent tribute to the men and women of the southland during the years of 1861-65 and the succeeding years. We are sorry that want of space prevents our giving these addresses in full as they were delivered. The most touching incident of this hour was furnished by little Miss Marion, the bright and charming daughter of Hon. and Mrs. __ Grisham, who recited the "Conquered Banner" with such pathos and ______ing as brought tears to the eyes of many. This gifted little lady has rare histrionic ability. Shortly after 3 o'clock a storm approaching caused an adjournment. In The Evening At 7:30 o'clock the booming of the signal gun announced that the hour had arrived for the reception tendered the veterans and their friends by the members of the William Walker Chapter Daughters of the Confederacy. This is the hour each year which the veteran looks forward to with the pleasantest anticipation. On these occasions the daughters outshine everything else and the veterans realize that this is exclusively an hour set apart for their entertainment, when the daughters show the love they cherish for their old soldiers. This occasion was no exception. The bridle was taken off and joy reigned supreme in the old hearts. Stories of fun and pathos were told, song, dance, cake, punch, and ices were dispensed. We cannot describe the joy and happiness of this crowning courtesy, tendered by the young, beautiful and fair, to the gray and grizzled remnant of the bravest army that ever faced a foe. The President Honored During the evening, while the joy was at is height, one of the pleasantest incidents of the evening occurred. The members of the Chapter had arranged to surprise their president, Mrs. A. B. Nelson, and also show their appreciation of her work in behalf of the chapter during the years she has presided over its destinies, by presenting her with a gold badge of the order. Mrs. R. W. Oglesby was chosen to make the presentation which she did in a graceful speech. The president was taken entirely by surprise as she had been kept entirely in the dark. She was overwhelmed and could scarcely speak her thanks for the beautiful token that she will cherish as a most precious souvenir. At a late hour the festivities were brought to a close by singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again.