Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
CONFEDERATE BATTLE ABBEY"
An Appeal from General John H.
Gordon.


New orleans. La, December T. 1872
General orders No. loo.
The progress made by the able ana us
,inglished committee appointed in genera
orders Nos. las and 1D from these heau-
quarters TO examine into and report upon
| the mans submitted by the great phiiah-
thropist and benefactor, Charles broau
wav Rouss. for the establishment OF d
grand memorial hail. where ConIeueId's
relics and mementoes are to be deposited
for all time, and which Is TO become 'ne
Battle Abbey" Of the SOUTH must "
very gratifying to the Ola Ne ,.si, ., The
all those who love the TRADITIONS Vi VIC
south and who cherish the memories Oh
the courage and heroism OF her sons anu
the unparalleled devotion OF her "ooie
and self-sacrificing women ,o-
Tbis splendid committee has now sue
cessfully launched the grand ehterpilSe'
and through their action and that Vi 'le
subcommittee have formuia.eeu a., - -, -
of procedure which, II energeueally 0"'
ried out, cannot fail of success.
II will be remembered that the gems
rous and large-hearted donor MI
| charles broadway Rouss. who alone con
ceives the project for the perpetuauon
| of the history and glory or ms country
| men. presented plan for It's cohsuiiii'la-
ton to the veterans at the Houston re-
! union at the same time SUBSCRIBING
Sioo 600 as his individual subscription 10
| assist in carrying out. his grand views
! and IDEAS. conditional upon the veterans
! raising a IKE amount.
no raise this 100000 additional. and
| euoueh more to endow and insure the
| nernetuation of the institution Is Inc al
! absorbing matter which now occupies lhe
! attention and efforts OF the committee.
| halI OF tlt
| o,oount reoiflred will be raised through
the subscription Of the more than oovV
| ,,,o,nhers Of the United Confederate Nete-
rans, Association and which Will entitie
them 10 certificates showing their con'r-
hutton. thus giving each contributor an
interest in this glorious enterprise Whici,
is en- near and so dear to the heatI Oh
- - eran-and IL Is considered to be
SIRE and beyond peradventure that 'he
other half or balance. whatever may DC
renuired will be raised by the nopie
women OF the South. 80.
1rbe committee suggests that the most
feasible manner Of reaching the uSsil.H
| object is to set apart Meihoiiai 49,,
val-Day." and they ask that the sene, ad
commanding viii designate '"e N"'''
| issue a general order. ,.o In
The General commanding. therefore, III
oon,nliance with the request OF tne Cum
mittee. designates Friday May l. io 49,, 90
the most suitable for a "Memorlai-r GO
val paw" TO be set apart for the use "
the women of the South IN raising iu"u'
for this great memorial nan. ,h,o
All the details and exercises Vi 'Ila
memorlal-festival day are
planned conducted ana cdIIieu , dos
tirelv under the orders control ioeas'
ana management of the women ol 'Ne
south In their respective LOCALITIES
Eor in whose hands could TINS sacreu
,rrot more properly be placed, ana VIII
more certainty of success, thah ih.o ms
! of the gentle women OF the SCUM VI" VIZ
have never yet faltered or iaiieu III ene
performance OF any duty either III W." va
or In peace. imposed upon them LOT 'h'
southern cause. -. loo, al
- rboir shirt and determination animated
- ,ha men of the South at the scene OF tht
. Nrst conflict: they were the most con
, | slant and unremitsng patriots anu "oih
z ers during their country's uaVali' AM
= the last to abandon the sacred Gauss
I after southern hopes Vanlshed Deninu '"'
e clouds of AppomattoN 49,,
E The true history Of their deeuS ah'
. triunphs has not yet beeu toid.
(, No historian has yet written the story
- nor muse sung the song, nor mhsIe
{ strung the Tyre, to fitly celebrate theN
: praise - 80
I The straits. to which they were re
D duced for food and clothing, the sen
' abnegation and hardships endured D.
|, them during those dark and gloomy uay
4 ~ war find no parallel in history; thei
a ratriotism and courage will be writer
q In Golden letters upon the tables OF time
& | ineffaceable and ineradicabe while mem
l. o,.v lasts, and as ministering anSeis
e their names will live upon the page
n of poetry and romance as long as chiVair'
e exists In the hearts and minds OF man
d kind.
q This "battle abbey will not be dedl
:. Gated alone TO the history and deeds o
= the civic and military heroes OF the great
a est of civil wars, but the general com
e mandinC will see that within its sacre
I portals sufficient and conspicuous spac
II will be reserved for the names and ram
II OF the "heroines of the South
le As vet. only wandering troubadours Tx
B. the barls of the Middle Ages journeyin
le from castle TO castle. have very faintl
II sung their praise, but the tender an
"a sacred memories which cluster with
* halo of love and veneratIon around thel
IA living and dead. demand. that thei
IN names and the story OF their glory 0
he gathered ere 1t Is too late, ana tina
N some master, whose pen is inspired VIII
G. celestial fire, and whose touch Is me
lowed and hallowed by the richness an
Al the grandeur OF the theme, shall ming
q, | and DlenO tnem WIN tnth bi''tSe
re achievements into a southern epic, glow
n ing with tributes of their unparalele
.. history, TO be deposited in this sanctuar
ne of southern valor
"a Here, In this temple OF fame ~hic
OF IL TO be dedicated TO all the people {
y. the coming centuries. IN a niche carve
u out by the story of their own wondrou
=. deeds and glory, O monument viii ais
We arise, commemorative OF the courage an
I'd fame of the "heroines OF the South"
IN name which win ever'ibe proudly linke
p in history with those OF Roman Ms
d. iron" and Spartan Mother" For. al
not every southern mother. like the "R'
es man Matron," exclaim: These are m
iewelsr' and did not their fortitude an
II, heroism rise TO even supremer heights
a | For they sent their offspring bravely All
rs | Loyalty TO battle for their country. ant
OF with the Spartan Mother's' injunction
nd Return with your shield. OF on IT."
ad IL ~ 10 the survivors of these illu
ry trious women and TO their descendant
N, 10 whom the general commanding. Their
by fore. confidently intrusts this mporta'
r. mission OF assisting In this holy undo
I'd. taking
by The general commanding appeals to al
nd urges these heroic women. survvo
OF OF heroic age. and all the daugbte
OF the South, who take pride Ia Il