Rensselaer Union, Volume 12, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1879 — OLD TECUMP' TALKS. [ARTICLE]

OLD TECUMP' TALKS.

Chicago, September 16.—A Times special from Salisbury, N. C„ says a grand reunion of tbe survivors of the Confederate and Federal armies has been arranged to take place there on the 3d of October. Invitations were sent to both armies. Lieutenant-general P. H. Sheridan politely declined, on eooonnt of preseing business engagements. He expressed bis hope of the success of tbe movement. General W. T. Sberraan wrote a letter which has created no little exoitement. The letter is as follows: “The tune is too remote for me to make a promise; but I assure you tbat it would be most agreeable to me personally aad socially to meet you on any suitable occasion. There is no use of my minolng terms. Whenever and wherever the honest men of North Carolina seek to allay sectional and ,party animosities and to cultivate feelings of fraternal respect for their fellow eittzens of the United States. H will be to me most tempting to come to Salisbury. I would far prefer to come alone than as berore, with a vast army, leaving desolation behind; bat I must not be' construed as assenting to tbe proposition that Confederates nod Union men were alike worthy of a celebration for the terrible history of 186165. I would much prefer to eotne on some oivie ocean ion, when all are absolutely equal—all alike interested in tbe present and future gtorv of our common oountry. There were few Union soldiers in North Carolina daring the war, though wo believe the people generally were opposed to secession; and I will say that your meeting, it confined to tho surviving soldiers of North Carolina, will be in foot e Confederate reunion, where I would oertainly be out of piece. ‘‘All soldiers ia tbetr social reunions glorify their deeds of heroism, aad this reunion will bardtv be an exception; aqd it would be a strange sight for General Sherman to cheer tne victories of his enemies, aod respond to tbe claim that because tbe soldiers of North Carolina wore brave, and true to their State and section, their cause was as sacred as ours, which finally triumphed, and made our Union more glorious ana more resplendent than before. Were I present, aad you should suppress this natural feeling, I would feel myaelf an - intruder, marring the natural happiness of a festive oooaeion. I know that the soldier element was tbe first to lay aside angry partisan feelings of the war. and are now leaders in tbe now epoch whioh is sure to add wealth and prosperity to our whole' country; and whoa some oeeaaion arises when we may all meet on ootemoo ground in North Carolina to celebrate some re volution ary event, or to encourage aom* modern enterorise, it will give me greet pleasure to ooiee to Salisbury, to Raleigh, to G .Ilford Courthouse, er aay ether place la tho Old North State.”