Jondar, I thought you would find this quote from an article describing a Civil War reunion of interest. I found it while researching my ancestors who were in Rogersville TN during the Civil War. While I realize that in modern times the Confederate flag is regarded as a symbol of oppression, it is clear that it had a much different meaning to the soldiers who fought under it, most of whom were not slave owners. It is an interesting look back at one of these reunions:
"...In the middle eighties there was a Confederate reunion at Rogersville, Tennessee, where I was living at that time. This was an East Tennessee affair, but many soldiers of the old Confederacy gathered there for the event. The speaker of the occasion was an eloquent Presbytertian minister, an ex-rebel soldier of the fearless type, Rev. Lynn Bachman, D.D. He spoke from the porch of the Old Female College building at the foot of the knobs east of town. Toward the close of his eloquent address the speaker referred most feelingly to the old flag - how the soldiers loved it and fought for it - how many had died under its folds, and how many were maimed for life in its defense, many of whom sat before him there with empty sleeves or dangling trousers leg. In this strain he talked a while and then drew from under his coat, a Confederate flag. It had been riddled with bullets, until there was not much of it left. He spread that flag before the crowd. Many of the old Rebs shouted. Many wept, and some laughed and some yelled. It was like the climax of an oldtime camp meeting when great jubilation was entirely in order and many joined in. Yes, the true soldier loved his flag."
(ROGERSVILLE REVIEW, August 25, 1932)
