The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-11

Davis. And he nursed his wrath to keep
it warm for one and twenty years
Eight years ago it was determined to
raise a statue to the private soldiers of the
cOnfederacy at the capital of the greatest
of the southern states From all of tho
late seeded states there came a unive- sal
call that Mr., Davis should lay the corner
stone. Since the war he had borne him
self with a calm dignity. He had gouo to
no gatherings or conventions. He had not
talked for publication, " the interviewer
knew him not. But it was thought proper
that he should once moro meet with those
who for four years had held up the con-
federacy on the points of their bayonets.
1t could do no harm, and it would be only
Just to those who had so faithfully stood
by him, to grant the only request they
had made of him since the war, to lay the
cornerstone upon which was to be raised
the statue that would commemorate the
matchless though useless valor of their
fallen comrades. So it happened, after
mnch pleading from his wife and init
mates, that he consented to waive for
once his ineXorable rule, and again meet
his old-time people.
All the surviving general officers of the
confederacy had been invited. OF course
Gen. LOngstreet was Of the number.
Knowing Mr. Davis feelings toward him,
Gen. Longstreet hesitated for some days
over the acceptance of the invitation. But
his friends told him he could not decline.
The reunion was to be held at Atlanta,
the capital of his native state. He him
self was the only survivor of the three
corps commanders of the Army of North
ern Virginia mot only that, but he was the
senior IN rank. II would never do for
him not to be present He must wear his
old conforate uniform, too. In January,
1865, he had had new uniform made. 1t
had been but little worn when the sur
render came. His wife had carefully pre-
served it, as women alone can keep such
things. 1t was almost as good as new
Yes, he must wear his uniform. It could
do no harm Many of the young men had
never seen the gallant gray which their
uncles, fathers and brothers had worn,
and so they pleaded-his wife and sons
until for very peace's sake, "Old PeteN
was obliged to surrender. His wife care
fully packed it up with his old hat, belt
and stainless sword, when they all went
down from Gainesville to Atlanta.
IL was the second and last day of the
reunion Thirty-fve thousand confed-
crate veterans from every state OF the
south, and many from beyond the mount
aims over the far slope of the Pacific,
were gathered together TO see for the last
time the fallen leader in public The
principal orator of the day was in the
midst of his carefully-arrange speech
He had first said And there are a few
who have borne themselves calamity and
well in the battle storm, who have since
fallen away" when from the outskirts of
the vast audience there came the echo of
a mighty roar In it was the shouts of
Longstreet's veterans, as they rolled over
the bluecoats at Chickamauga, like gray
wave Of mighty sea- 1t held in its heart
the charging yell of Stuart's horsemen,
and the deeper, fierce cry of Forrest
troops. II quickened the blood of many q
man who had not heard it for q score of
years 1t was the confederate yenl