The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-01
THE CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
The Great Meeting in Birmingham-
Proceedings Of u Memorable Oc-
CaSiOu

The Great Meeting i'm B;rmingham-
Proceedings of u Memorable DC
casion.
The Confederate reunion at Bir
| mingham closed on Thursday, after
| delightful session of two days. The
| following officers were elected for the
ensuing year:
Commander-in-chief, Gen. John B
Gordon of Georgia, reelected.
commander OF the Army of North
ern Virginia, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee ol
Virginia.
Deputy commander of the Army o
Tennessee, Gen. Stephen d. Lee OF
Starkcville, Miss.
Commander Of trans Mississippi de.
partment, Gen. w. l.. Cabell of Dallas,
Tex, reelected.
Chlef clerk and stenograpber, Miss
Amanda Childress of New Orleans.
General, second in command, Gen. w.
Ii. Jackson of Tennessee.
Invitations for the next reunion
were extended by Houston, Atlanta
and Richmond. Houston was chosen.
a resolution was adopted recommend
ing that the Southern ,ytes buy the
spots occupied by the AnS. .ederates on
the Shiloh battlefield and mark the
positions of the Southern lines.
"A lifting ending to the fourth re-
union OF the United Confederate Vet
Grams and by far the greatest feature
was the parade and review, followed
by the laying of the corner stone of q
monument to the memory of the dead
OF the Confederacy, to be erected in
Capitol Park.
AT o'clock the column was formed
on Avenue e. and Twenty-frst street
ana headed by a band of music from
Mobile, marched steadily up Twenty
first street and across the beautiful
bridge to Park Avenue, where it pass
cd in review before General John b.
Gordon, Commander-in-chie United
Confederate Veterans.
There we're camps from all the
Southern States in line and all the sur
veying generals with their statfs, to.
gcthcr with the three local military
companies visiting from other town,
the a. and NJ. College cadets from
Auburn, University of Alabama (Tus-
galoosa) cadets and Howard College
(East Lake, cadets, and u fair estimate
OF the number OF men in the ranks,
places it at 1000. There were innum-
cradle carriages and the procession
was viewed by fully $4,000 people. The
column was mile long, the veterans
and the sons of veterans marching in
fours. Enthusiastic outbursts greeted
the old battlc-scarred veatcrans and
the many flags, relics of the Lost
Cause" were recipient of loving trib-
utes. The bands played martial airs,
the rebel yell was heard, flags and
handcrchiefs were waived and it was
altogether Il sight never to be forgot
ten. AT Park Avenue, the column
passed between two longs rows of
beautiful school girls, dressed in white
each with basket of flowers. which
wore handed to the battle SCARED
veterans and sons of the Confederacy.
Passing in front of the reviewing
stand whereupon was Gen. John b.
Gordon, the Governors OF the States,
the representative stars and the spon.
sor of Camp Hardee together with
their maids, they greeted them with
cheer after cheer, which together with
the booming of cannon, playing of the
band and cheers of the multitude
made the welkin ring. 1t was IL grand
and inspiring spectacle.
After the review, the ceremonies
attendant upon the laying of the
corner stone was gone through with
in an imposing manner. Gen. Stephen
ID: Lee of Mississippi delivered the
address which was a masterpiece of
oratory. Other distinguished speakers
were present and the cornerstone was
placed in position in an appropriately
solemn manner by the Grand Master of
Masons, Hon. Frank l.. Pettus. Thus
ended tho greatest reunion of eX-Con-
federatcs ever known.