The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-26
REUNION OF THE VETERANS
Over 10000 Persons at The Opening
Of Their Sessions.

AaSot 4 OK OellVer the Addresses or
Welcome on Behalf of the City and
State-Gen. Gordon Responds-over
800 Camps Represented in the
Gathering-The Programme for To-
day.
Birmingham, Ala, April 25.-There is
an estimated attendance on the great
confederate re union now being held here
of $4,000 persons to-day, and at least
5000 more are expected to arrive by
morning. The streets have been crowded
all day by the surging mass of veterans,
their families and friends who strayed in
and out of the great wigwam, and from
one headquarters to another, greeting old
comrades and proudly recounting their
deeds Of valor in the glorious past, which
brightens in retrospect as the rusty gray
uniforms and battle torn flags lose their
lustre
The opening session of the reunion
began at the Winnie Davis Wigwam,
built for this occasion, at 8 o'clock this
morning. Ten thousand voices Joined ia
the cheers that greeted the soul-stiriug
strains Of Dixie, which followed ttiiie-opeff~
ing salute of cannon.
Then Major eneral Fred S. Ferguson
called the meeting to order, and extended
to all soldiers welcome.
THE PRAYER,
Assistant Chaplain Gen. j. Wilson Jones,
in the absence of the chaplain general,
in calling blessings upon the fourth an
nual reunion of United Confederate Vet
Grams and upon what are left said in
fervent manner:
Heavenly Father, We ask that Thy blessings
be upon us today as 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 here to-
day. We thank Thee that while many have
fallen out OF our ranks, so many of us remain
TO bless Thy name to-day We thank Thee
that in the days that tried mems souls we had
men of courage to fight for our cause. We
thank Thee that there still remains
the principles of justice and truth that we
fought for We thank thee that those prin-
oiples have been preserved and that the sons
OF veterans to-day maintain the principles OF
their fathers. Hear US and answer us, and be
with us in our reunion, and grant that the
God OF Abraham ana Isaac and OF Jacob, and
the God OF Jackson and johnson and Of Lee,
be with us in the days that are to come. We
ask this all In Jesus. Amen.
GOV, JONES' SPEECH.
After the prayer, Gen. Ferguson in
PRODUCED to the vast audience his excel
lency, Gov Thomas G. Jones, who for
Alabama extended the visiting confede-
rate veterans cordial welcome TO the
confines of Alabama, and assured them
that during their stay they would be met
with the hospitality characteristic of
true soldiers. He said:
Gentlemen, Citizens and Countryman-Th
proud honor has fallen TO my lot in behalf of
Alabama, TO welcome to you to 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 significance
Of this meeting. There was never time
when the soil OF Alabama did not throb when
the the feet q soldier pressed H.
goo goo piess Vne solalef IN ms ola age,
have been better IL these veterans who sur
vived had fallen In the paths OF bravery while
fighting for Justice and right and avoided the
temptations and trials of later time: but II
the career OF the confederate soldier was
grand in war, II has not surpassed his career
in times OF peace. But the soldier in peace is
equal to the soldier in war. We nave not met
here to-day In spirit OF apology, or in spirit
of condemnation. Every man who went into
battle with clean hand and came
out with a clean hand went in as
brave man and came out as
brave man among our countrymen. II seems
but a dream, those thirty years when the
shadow of Appomattox fell like a pail upon
this land. We look into the eyes to-day of
who fell at Shiloh. We look into the eyes of
men who heard the immortal words See
Jackson standing like stone wall" And as
countrymen we meet here today in memory
Of lost cause. Your exercises are TO De
crowded and will not detain you longer /
know indorse the true sentiment OF every
man in Birming ham and in Alabama when l
say, welcome thrice welcome. God bless the
Confederate Veterans.
Mayor Fox was then introduced by Gen
Ferguson TO extend to the visiting people a
ingham, city now, but unknown when the
old soldiers who are now mbled here
were fighting for what they thought TO be
right.
GEN. GoRDoN's RESPONSE.
In response to these welcomes which
had been rendered the visiting confeder-
ates and their wives and children, Gen.
John B. Gordon thanked in behalf OF the
united confederate veterans, the speakers
and asserted that, coming as they did,
they were true and simple welcomes of
cherished persons who fought for cher
ished cause. His response was eloquent,
terse and received commendation He
said:
My Confederate Brothers and Confederate
Sisters 1t Is my pleasure TO respond to the
hearty welcome just given us by this grand
old state. / wish TO assure the governor OF
Alatama that the followers OF those immorta
men to whom he has referred are ready 10
o
immortal dead. Yes, here are the men who
followed Lee and Jackson and johnson and
all the leaders who have made the pages OF
American history what they are.
In one sense, my brethren, l arm not the
man TO respond to a welcome from Alabama
for in that sense am an Albanian myself
and feel that II would be more proper for me
TO stand with her governor and extend to the
brave men Of other states her welcome
rather than TO receive it, and on the other
hand am perhaps OF all living men the
proper one TO make this response because
no living man Is more Indebted
TO Alabama than l am. 1t was among
the mountains OF Alabama that first heard
the voices that called us TO battle. II was an
Alabama regiment which / led or rather
which led me. into that bloody fray and made
principles when " swept over the frOwning
breastwOrks and left death upon the fields.
We ali have right to feel thankful and be
proud OF all Alabama to-day We can
lay our tributes at her feet for her
welcome. Alabamas name is enough TO en-
dear her TO your hearts In the first place
she is composed of seven letters. which Is a
lucky number; four OF the letters are the first
letter OF the alphabet You may look at
her from the front or from behind
and she still stands at the
head OF the list And II Alabama
should have any trouble in selecting q gov
ernor, we will furnish her all the candidates
she wants. Laughter The iron OF her
mountains, the rich soil OF her black belt, and
the timber OF her sunny coast places her in
the front ranks Of our southland.
Since our last meeting many OF our com
rades have fallen from the ranks into that
last sleep Of rest Kirby Smith has gone and
that sturdy Roman. Jubal Early has followed
him. Vance and ColQuitt soldiers and states