Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-02
THOUSANDS COMING
A Great Reunion of Ex-Confederate
Soldiers.
LEADING GENERALS ALL TOBE PRESENT
Biggest Gathering of the Kind
Since the War.
MATTERS TO CONE UP
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
BIRMINGHAM. Ala, March 30. 1894.
The largest gathering of ex-confederate
soldiers held since the war will be the fourth
annual reunion of the United Conf ederate
Veterans Association, which convenes In
Birmingham on Wednesday and Thursday,
April p and pc.
Birmingham has prepared to receive and
entertain from forty to fifty thousand Wis
itors during the reunion, and there is now
every indication that fully that number will
be here. There are now 40 camps in the
association. with applications on file for
nearly one hundred more. The folio wing
is list of camps by states: Northeast Tex
as division, 5S; west Texas division, %;
southeast Texas division, 10: northwest
Texas division. ID; southwest Texas d.
vision, u; total, Texas, 49, Alabama,
~; Mississippi, AZ; Louisiana, "a; Arkansas,
81; Kentucky, 81; South Carolina, "a; Flor
ida, 20; Georgia, q; Tennessee, Ia; North
Carolina, IA; Virginia, 10; Oklahoma. 4;
Missouri. 3: Indian territory. 2; Illinois, 2;
District of Columbia, l.. West Virginia, j.
Each of these camps will send to the re-
union delegates ranging in number from six
bership of the camp. Besides, thousands OF
old soldiers, who are not delegates, VIII
come as visitors.
The prettiest feature of the reunion will
be the series OF tdDleduA, N WHICH cdGn OF
the southern states will have as a repre-
sentative the most beautiful young unnar-
ried lady in its borders, preparations for
this having been made on an imposing scale.
The beauties who have been selected and
the states they VIII represent are: Virginia,
Miss Lizzie Clark of Newport News; Mary
land, Miss Montague of Washington: North
Carolina, Miss Kate Cantwell of Whining
ton; South Carolina, Miss Adele Irvine
Hayne of Greenville; Georgia, Miss Nc
Dougal of Columbus; Tennessee. Miss Adele
McMurray of Nashville; Kentucky, Miss
Elenora Graves of Lexington; Missouri,
Miss Katherine Turner of Columbia: Ar
kansas, Miss Lille MCGEE of Van Buren,;
Texas, Miss Mary NJ. Banks of Houston:
Louisiana, Miss Adale Vinson of Shreveport;
Florida, Miss Elizabeth Pasco of Monticello;
Alabama, Miss Carrie Toney Cochran of
Eufaula; Mississippi, Miss Lizzie Mitchell of
Jackson.
Never before have the confederate veter-
ans prepared to revive memories OF the lost
cause on a more dignifled and impressive
scale. Camp Hardee. the local organiza-
ton. has erected the Winnie Davis wigxam
on First avenue and I'D street. with a seat
Ing capacity of 10000. 1t will be covered
In a sea Of gorgeous bunting. and the stars
and stripes and stars and bars will be float
ing alike everywhere. Business houses have
prepared for a general holiday. and the
hotels and private residences have arranged
to accommodate thousands. Texas alone
expects to send 10000 boys who wore the
gray TO the reunion. All the distinguished
eX-confederate generals now living. includ-
ing Gen. John b. Gordon. commander-in-
chief of the veterans; Gen. Wade Hampton
Gen. Stephen d. Lee, Gen. W. l. CabeIl
Gen. James Longstreet. Gen. George H.
Steward and others. will be here
The matter of publishing a southern school
history, which will tell of the war according
to southern ideas, will be one Of the most
important questions for consideration. The
historical committee will meet here on April
g. two days before the reunion, TO take this
matter in hand, and outline plans for puhli-
| cation of such a work
Another important matter will be the or-
ganization of a national association of sons
or confederate veterans. Camps of this
kind have been organized in several Ala
he success and embrace a large member
| ship.
At meeting Of the ladies of Birmingham
| heid recently for the purpose of Cooper
atlng with the veterans in preparing for the
reunion. 1t was suggested that a national
| organization of the daughters of Confederate
veterans be formed. This, too, will be done
at the reunion.
On the opening day Of the reunion there
Will be great parade through the CITY.
AS the railroads have made low rates
thousands Of veterans will come to Birming.
| ham and be in line in what will be the biy-
| gest gathering OF ex-confederate soldiers
| since the war.
The United Confederate Veterans were or-
gained only four years ago. Its avowed
| purpose is strictly social, literary historical
and benevolent. According to the constitu-
| ton, the object Of its existence is TO mite
| in general federation all associations Of
| confederate veterans. Senator John u
Gordon of Georgia is now the Commanding
general. No organization in the south Ia s
prospered or grown more than this,