Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-26
LEADERS OF THE LOST CAUSE
Many Famous Old Warriors
in Attendance,
a Fer~ent Prayer opens the Re-
union--A Hearty Welcome Ex-
tended by Governor Jones and
Mayor FoX-Gordon's Reply.


BY Associated Press.
Birmingham, Ala. April e5,-rhorc Is
an estimuted attendance at tho great
Confederate reunion now being held
here of 1900 persons today and at least
5000 more are expected to arrive by
morning.
The streets have been crowded all
day by the aurgIng mass OF veterans,
their families and friends, who strayed
in and out the great wlgwam and from
one headquarters to another, greeting
old comrades and recounung their
deeds OF valor In tho glorious past
which brlshtens In retrospect az the
rusty gray uniforms aud battle torn
flags lose their lustcr The ope,..ug
session of the reunion began at the
/ Winnie Davis wigwam. built for this
occasion, az o'clock this morning.
10000 voices Joined In the cheers that
| greeted the eoul-stirring strains of
! Dixie which followed the opening
statutes OF cannons. The major-general.
Fred $, Ferguson, called the meeting
to order ana extended to all soldiers a
hearty welcome, The assistant chap
| lain general. j. william Jones, In the
absence OF the chaplain general, In
calling blessings upon the fourth
annual Reunion OF united Confederate
veterans said IN fervcnt manner:
A Pathetic Prayer.
Heavenly father, we nek thy
blessings be upon us today MS we are
gathered together In this reunion, We
thank thee that thy blessings were
over us IN battle, and we thank thee
that thy blessings are over us today
We thank thee that while many have
1 fallen out OF our ranks, 30 many OF
us remain 10 bless thy name today
thank thee that In the days that tried
mems souls we had men OF courage 20
fight for our cause We thank thee
that there sim rcmGlns the principles
OF Justice and truth that we fought
for We thank thee that those prln-
oiples have been preserved, and that
the sons OF veterans today maintain
the principles OF their fathers. Hear
us and answer US and be with us IA
our reunion and grant that the God
OF Abraham. aud OF Isaac. and OF
Jacob, and the God OF Jackson ana OF
Johnson and OF Lee be with us In the
days that are to come. We ask all this
In Jesus name, amen"
After the prayer Gen. Ferguson In
troduced to the vast audience his eN-
cellency. Gen. Thomas j. Jones, who
for Alabama, extended the visiting
Confederate veterans cordial well
come To the confines OF Alabama, and
assured them that during their stay
they would be met with hospitality.
characteristic Of true soldiers. He
said
Governor Jones' Welcome.
gentlemen, Citizens and Country
men: The honor has fallen TO my
lot on behalf OF Alabama. TO welcome
YOU 10 her soil. But what is the power
OF words compared TO the deep feeling
that swells up IN our hearts as we
contemplate the grandeur and slgnihc-
ance OF this meeting2 There was never
a time when the soil OF Alabama did
not throb when the root Of a soldier
pressed it. God bless the soldier in
HIS old age. Some have asked II II
would not have been better II these
veterans who survived had fallen IN
the paths OF bravery while fighting
for Justice and right and avoided the
temptations and trials OF later time,
hut II the career OF Confederate SOL
der was grand In war It has not sur
passed his career IN times Of peace
But the soldier In peace has been equal
10 the soldier In war We have not met
here today In spirit Of apology or
I'm a spirit ~ condemnation Every
man who went into battle with q clean
hand and came out with a clean hand
went In as a brave man and came out
as a brave man Is our countryman.
1T seems but a dream those thirty
years when the shadow Of Ap-
potomattox fcll like a pail
upon this land. We look into
the eyes OF men to-day who followed
our great commander who fell at Shiloh.
we look into eyes Of men who heard
the immortal words; See Jackson
standing like stonewall. and an
cotntrymsn we meet here to-day IN
a memory or lost cause. Your exer-
cisea are 70 be- crowded and 1 win net
aetsln you longer ! know ] express
the true sentiment Of every man IN
, am hall ard IN Alabama. when
, say welcome thrice welcome. God bless
p me Confederate veterans"
> Mayor FoI' Address,
Mayor Fox was then introduced by
Cen. Ferguson. and he extended 10 Tho
veterans a hearty, cordial and warn
welcome to Birmingham, "A city now
but unknown when the old poldlsr
who are aow assembled here weri