Augusta County: "Veterans' Reunion. The Meeting of the Rockbridge Dragoons at Lexington-List of the Survivors-Next Reunion to be Held at Staunton.," by Unknown, August 9, 1864
Summary: This article provides an account of an 1894 reunion of the 14th Virginia regiment, which was made up primarily of men from Augusta and Rockbridge counties, and states that the next reunion will be held in 1895 in Staunton, Augusta County.
LEXINGTON, VA., August 8, 1894.
The first annual reunion of the Second Rockbridge Dragoons or Company H, of Fourteenth Virginia Regiment, was held here yesterday. At an early hour the gray-haired veterans began to pour into the town. The trains brought their quota. Not only was the Fourteenth Regiment out in force, but other veterans were present in large numbers from various commands. Some of the old "vets" had not met since the surrender, and reminiscences and war anec-dotes were the order of the day. At noon the bugle was sounded for the formation, and Company H, Company C, and Company I, mounted, formed in line facing the courthouse, ander the command of Colonel John A. Gibson. To the command "Right by twos," the "vets" wheeled into column, and paraded the principal streets of the town.
After the parade the roll was called and the command given: "Prepare for action;" the enemy to be engaged was an elegant dinner prepared by Comrade C. W. Irvine in his best style. After dinner speech-making was indulged in.
Hon. Wm. A. Anderson, Captain J. Pres. Moore, and Colonel W. Bolivar F. Leech were the orators of the occasion. Their remarks elicited the wildest enthusiasm, and the "rebel yell" made the dining-room ring.
The next reunion will take place in Staunton on Court Monday, August 28, 1895, when all the surviving members of the Fourteenth will be brought together again.
The members of the companies represented were mostly from Rockbridge and Augusta Counties.
A noticeable incident of the day was that it was the thirtieth anniversary of the day when Captain Wilson lost his arm.
This command served all through the war, and was in the memorable raid through Pennsylvania.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. XXII, p.73-74, 1894
