Stearns's Old Regiment in Reunion

Confederate Veteran
Vol. 9, No. 11, Pg. 504
November, 1901

W. G. Lillard writes of the reunion at Lewisburg:

I have attended reunions ever since they have been held, and have always enjoyed meeting my old comrades, but when at the State reunion in Lewisburg, Tenn., I heard the call from the courthouse for the survivors of Stearns's old regiment, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, to meet in a designated room, I felt a thrill and pathos not before realized. On entering I looked into the faces of those dear old men, who thirty five years ago, when we were last together, all were boys. I was wounded on March 11, 1865, through the right lung, at Fayetteville, N. C., and carried to Egypt Station. That was only eight weeks before the surrender, and I was one of the last soldiers to return home. When we looked into the faces of each other and heard the voices, which were more familiar, there was recognition, then indescribable greetings, and "God bless you!" "How have you been?" "What are you doing?" and "Where do you live?" etc. Many bygone days and pleasant memories were revived.

At that meeting Scott D. Davis was chosen Chair man and the writer Secretary of the meeting. Those present of our regiment were: Company A, Scott D. Davis, E. Z. Sheffield, Capt. Cundiff, R. J. Dark, J. C. Climer, Bateman Harris, J. Britt Ezell, William McCoy, Company B, Capt. Ed Collier, E. W. Winter, R. T. Long, Company C, Dan W. Beard, Company D, W. M. Robinson, J. M. Dysart, A. M. Endsley, B. F. Lantz, W. A. McCurdy, Company E, J. T. Shelton, W. G. Lillard, Lum Nolen, Company F. C. R. Tullus, F. J. Jenkins, G. W. Carmichel, A. P. Epps, J. B. Alston, J. E. Smith, G. W. Fly, D. C. Edmonson, G. M. Crunk, J. W. Knott, Tom C. Black, J. W. Williams, Company G, H, and J were not represented, Company K, P. B. Kieth and S. B. Donaldson.

Upon motion of S. B. Donaldson, the chairman appointed a committee of one from each company on permanent organization.

We will ever remember old Lewisburg. God bless her, as her sentiments certainly were, All hail to you, old soldiers. We have killed the fatted calf, and we chant the festal song in our old Confederate homes! . . .

Now, since we have been spared to this hour and for some purpose, it behooves us to live for Him who has had his arms of strength and love around us all the while, and may the rest of our lives here on earth be spent in being as good soldiers of the cross as we were in the army