There were drum and bugle corps consisting of four of five men, who were dressed in uniform, and reminded me of the old picture of a Revolutionary drum and fife corps. A big grand stand was erected, and there were speeches of welcome, with stirring addresses in response.Īlways there was a remnant of a Confederate band, and they really enlivened things and kept the young and old in step. The town was decorated with Confederate flags from the business district to the residential section, and few were the houses that did not at least have a piece of bunting. The Confederate grey uniform, or at least a part of it, was worn by all who attended, and the historic Confederate cap was always in evidence. The veterans also slept on cots in vacant stores downtown. They also camped in tents which were erected on Market Street between Water and Second Streets. All homes were opened and filled with friends and relatives. Even those of fifty-five looked like old men to a boy, but to see them parade, and parade they did, and on foot, you would have thought them young bucks.ĭuring a reunion the town was literally turned over to them. By the year 1900, the Confederate war had been over for thirty-five years and the veterans left had reached an age ranging from fifty-five to eighty-five and over. Those times stand out well to the front in my boyhood memory. Mounted Officers at a Confederate Reunion, Market Street, August 3, 1911.ĭO YOU REMEMBER WHEN they held Confederate reunions? Every year the Confederate soldiers of each Southern state used to meet at some appointed place, and often they met in Wilmington, N. The Wilmington, Captain Harper's Steamboat Wrightsville Beach, Canoe and Swimming Races Quinlivan, Thomas, Horse Shoer and Farrier Princess Street, Looking West from Front Street Princess Street, Looking West from Third Street
Post Office, from Second Street Showing Park Market Street, Between Front and Second Streets Market Street, Looking East from Sixth Street Market Street, Looking East from Front Street Market Street, Looking West from Second Street Market Street, Looking West from Third Street 3, Fourth and Bridgeįourth Street Bridge of Railroad, Brooklynįront Street, Looking North from Chestnutįront Street, Between Market and Princess 2, Sixth and Castleįire Department: Engine Co. 1, Fourth and Princessįire Department: Engine Co. 1, Fourth Streetįire Department: Engine Co. 1, Dock Streetįire Department: Chemical Fire Co. I have much pleasure in remembering, “Do You Remember When?”Ĭonfederate Reunion, Parade on Market Streetįire Department: Hook and Ladder No. Nor are they meant to be complete, but rather meant, to cause reflection, contemplation, and extention of thought by the reader. These are not complete stories nor a history. I have written only of what I know and remember. I make no apology for that which is omitted. And too, the younger generation might like to know how we acted and lived a mere sixty years ago. The thought occurred to me that a few stories of these remembrances might be of interest and afford pleasure to others, who had lived in that day, and had experienced like events. Whenever I had an opportunity to talk to my brothers and sister, and to friends of my boyhood, this question was asked many times between us, “DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN?” We did remember, and in remembering we brought pleasure to ourselves and to those with whom we were remembering. I have never returned to live, but my feet have often returned to tread again the places I loved, and my thoughts have turned even more often to renew my love and affection for my town and for those that still live there. I was transferred to the Engineering Department and was sent out of town at the age of 18 years. I ran through the streets, climbed trees, threw firecrackers, walked fences, played shinny, prisoners’ base, hookey, roamed the water front, hunted in the rice fields, swam in the raw at Spring Branch, Jump and Run, the Rock Quarry, chewed rosin, saw the first streets paved with brick, left my name in the first concrete sidewalks, removed gates at Halloween, chased “Dry Ponders,” got chased, had fights, tramped the woods, rode on a dray over the cobblestones, and did the thousand and one other things that a young boy does, or did, back in those days in a small town.Īs with most Wilmington boys, my first job was with the Atlantic Coast Line Railway, in the Freight Traffic Department. “How dear to my heartAre the scenes of my childhoodWhen fond recollectionPresents them to view.” FOREWORD
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