Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-09-10
Taking Shape.
Gen. Gordon Names a Committee to
Discuss the Rostss Increment to
Glue the South a "Battle
Taking Shape.
New Orleans Sunday States, August 95.l


The movement IN behalf of the
Confederate Memorial Association to
which the noted philanthropist,
Charles Broadway Rouss, of New
York, has pledged a contribution of
100000 is now taking formidable
shape, and as will be seen below
Gen. Gordon has just named the
committee to examine into the plan
and report upon it.
What is proposed is best explained
by the following extract, which is
taken from the minutes of the Hous-
ton Reunion:
General Gordon requested Cen
eral S. d. Lee to take the chair and
said:
My comrades, 1 desire to have
| your close attention, and hope that
every veteran present will hear what
l have to say, as wish to place be-
fore this body matter which is of
supremest interest to the survivors,
and exceeds in its scope and impor-
tance anything which has yet been
before you for your consideration
l do this with pleasure, and with my
heart swelling with pride and graft
tude-pride that belong to an asso-
citation which can boast of member
so patriotic and generous, generos-
ity which outshines and overleaps
anything which has yet been attempt
ed or done by any man for the Con-
federate cause-and gratitude to the
giver of all good that the noble donor
has seen fit to bestow part of his
great wealth where it will preserve
the story of your heroic deeds for all
time.
81 am proud to be the medium of
making known to you the purposes
and plans of one who, as a private
soldier in all the Virginia campaigns
added laurels to his own name and
lustre to the history of his own State
and to our arms.
bright fortune has smiled upon
him since the close of the war, and
he now offers with that magnanimity
horn of true nobility to place part of
ing wealth where it will perpetuate
the story of your glory. With heart
felt sorrow / announce to you the sad
tidingsthat he is unfortunately blind,
caused by overwork but although he
is blind in his sight, he is not, my
comrades, blind in his heart, nor
Indifferent to the glory of his country
and people, and by his munificent
act shows that he means and intends
by the power created by his splendid
merits and which his great wealth
commands, to take care of the glori-
Gus part achieved by his countrymen
in the past.
81 allude, my comrades, to Private
Charles Broadway Rouss, now of New
York, but formerly of Winchester,
Va, who has selected man as his
agent to represent him here, who has
the blood of Old Zach and Dick Tay-
lor, and nephew of that brilliant and
peerless general Dick Taylor, to come
upon the platform and make known
to you in his own words and his own
way, what it is that our friend and
comrade, Rouss, proposes to do
"Adjutant General Moorman then
escorted Colonel Wood 10 the plat
form, who then read the circulars
and letters from Mr.. Rouss, minutely
detailing his plan for National Me-
mortal Hall, and fully authorizing
Colonel Wood to act for him in this
matter. After full explanation by
Colonel Wood of Mr.. Rouss' ideas
and views he announced that Charles
Broadway Rouss had delegated him
to make cash subscription of one
hundred thousand dollars as his in
dividual contribution to the Memorial
Fund, when the movement assumed
proper shape.
when the storm of applause which
greeted this announcement subsidized
General Gordon moved that the
thanks of the veterans and greeting
be sent to Charles Broadway Rouss
expressing their deep gratitude for
his munificent gift, and heartfelt SYM
pathy for the misfortune to his eye
sight, which all hoped would be only
temporary. This was carried amidst
the widest applause and by rising
vote.
General Gordon then moved that
committee to be composed of one
member to be named by each Southern
State or division be appointed to ex-
anime into and report upon the plan
submitted by Charles Broadway
Rouss, which was unanimously
adopted.
''Regular order of business was
resumed.
'sOficial. GEO. MooRMAN,
"Adjutant General and Chief of
Staff. y
Yesterday General Gordon issued
the following order:
Headquarters United Confederate
Veterans, New Orleans, La, Aug.
24,> 1895.
General Orders No. 145:
The Gen. commanding announces
that the plan which was submit
ted to the convention at the Houston
Reunion by that generous, large
hearted and noble ex-priyate of the
Confederate Army. Charles Broad