Four Soldiers 327 Years of Age
Messrs. A. Strong Wishart, Joseph Ratley, Calvin W. Smith and Isham Lamb, who represented Robeson county at the reunion of Confederate veterans held in Dallas, Texas, last week. The picture was snapped one hour before train time while the soldiers were enjoying drinks and smokes at Buddie’s parlor.
“We had the best time of our lives,” said one of the Confederate veterans you see in the picture above when they returned from the great Texas reunion, probably the last to be held by Confederate veterans of the new South.
At the annual meeting of the United Confederate Veterans held here a few weeks ago, Messrs. A. Strong Wishart, Calvin Smioth, Isham Lamb and Joseph Ratley were appointed delegates to the great reunion. That Robesonian readers might know more about the representation they had in Texas last week, some interesting data were secured from these old gentlemen.
Like all elderly people, they realize they have passed the majority of milestones in the journey through a life filled with many wonderful developments. They do not look or act as feeble as many people would think, and one said with a jest, “we are just coming fifteen.”
327 Years of Age
Adding the number of years each has lived, the total is 327. Mr. Wishart was born September 11, 1841, and is 84; Mr. Ratley was born November 10, 1843, and is 81. Mr. Smith was born July 22, 1943, and is 82. Mr. Lamb was born August 1, 1844, and is 80.
Mr. A. Strong Wishart
Mr. A. Strong Wishart was a volunteer in the 31st N.C. regiment, company A, of which the late Captain Oondary Godwin, brother of the late Berry Godwin, was commander. His enlistment record shows his volunteer date as 1861. While bearing the flag of the Confederacy, Mr. Wishart was shot down at Fort Harrison, Va., three years after he volunteered. One of the peculiarly interesting features of this delegation is that Mr. Ratley witnessed the wounding of Comrade Wishart. After the war Mr. Wishart was married to Miss Mary Watson. He has eight children, 37 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Joseph Ratley
Mr. Joseph Ratley, as stated above, was with Mr. Wishart at Harrisburg where he was lucky enough to escape wounds, but where he had all his paraphernalia practically shot off of him. His coat, canteen, tin cup and hat were all damaged by bullets. Miss Mary J. Moore became Mr. Ratley’s wife and nine children were born to this union. Six of those children and six grandchildren are living.
Mr. Calvin W. Smith
While on duty during the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia, his gunstock was shattered to pieces while he held it in his hand. At another time he was badly wounded when a ball weighing 1 ounce was shot through his body. He was a sharpshooter, and was with Lee when the surrender was made. He married Miss Susan Britt, two whom eight children were born. Five are living. Mr. Smith also has 25 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mr. Smith was a volunteer member of Co. A, 46th N.C. regiment, of which Dr. R.M. Norment was captain.
Mr. Isham Lamb
Mr. Lamb volunteered in 1863, one year after Mr. Smith. He belonged to Co. B, 50th N.C. regiment under command of Captain E. Coe Atkinson. Mr. Lamb was never wounded but had several close calls while serving in line of duty with all the other wearers of the gray. He has ventured into the sea of matrimony three times. His first wife was Miss Sallie Bruce, second Miss Mary E. Carter to whom one child was born; third Miss Catherine Wilkerson.
From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, May 25, 1925
To see the photo with this article, go to: newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84026483/1925-05-25/ed-1/seq-1/#words=MAY+25%2C+1925
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