Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-17
A PROPOSED PLAN To Establish a National Memorial
 Association 
 ~ TO PERIS,-TUATE MEMORIES Of thS Struggle of the South fosS Constitutional Rights. General Order No. 4.
TO PERL SITUATE MEMORIES

A plan is proposed looking to the estab- ushmeut of a national memorial associa- ton to perpetuate the memories of the hopeless struggle of the south for constitu- tional rights and to honor the dead, of whom there were hundreds and thousands, whose liieblood ebbed away on the field of battle in the "Lost Cause.''
 AS will be seen in the appended order from Lieut.. Gen. s. D. Lee, commanding the department east of the Mississippi river, the proposed movement emanates from the pen of an ex Con federate soldier, now prominent merchant of New York, Col. Charles Broadway Rouss, and the plan of carrying out the measure has no doubt been carefully studied by him ere giving it to his comrades for consideration.
 The following is the order issued:
 HEADQO ARTERs
 DEPT. EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, |
 UNITED -C0SFEDERATE VETERANS,
 CoLUMBUsS H lss., Jan. 15, 1895. General Orders No. 1. --,,.
 The lieutenant-general commanG.ng in- vites the attention of all Confederate V2t- erans 10 and heartily commends the' patriotic suggestions of Col. Charles Broadway Rouss of New York city-who, in the war between the states, was com rade in the cavalry corps, Army of North ern Virginia-looking to the establishment and maintenance Of national memorial association, in and by which ito per petuate the memories of the glorious strug- gle of the south for constitutional rights, to pay deserved tribute to the heroic deeds of their fallen comrades, to furnish an in- spring object lesson to their descendants and to leave to posterity enduring proofs of the courage, loyalty and devotion to duty of the Con federate solder.''
 For the erection of the necessary build ings and to provide an adequate fund for the permanent maintenance of the con- templated memorial it is estimated that the sum of $200, ,000 will be necessary, to be raised as now outlined in the form of sub scriptions to an incorporated body, with the stated capital aud stipulated valuation of shares, under q board of administrators charged with the organization and man. agement of the association, to be composed of the nine surviving Confederate officers of the highest rank, who, alter organizing, will alone receive donations and subscrip- tions to the stock to be issued by them, and that none might be excluded from particl- patton in the patriotic undertaking 1t is contemplated that the par value of the stock be fixed at S10 per shsre.
 It is v purpose of this general order to enlist interest at once in the proposed me- morial and to urge upon the nine surviving ranking Confederate officers 10 meet at an early date, organize the board of adminis- trators and formulate the details of organ izaton, so that the veterans and their sym pathiZers everywhere will be placed In possession of he purpose, scope and extent of the movement and be prepared to con- slider and perfect the uncompleted details of the work when they meet in reunion at Houston, Tex, next April.
 Let it be understood that the contem- plated memorial will in no wise antago- nize, but rather supplement, the existing memorial organizations here and there throughout the late Confederate states.
 As well said by Comrade Rouss: .'The mementoes of the struggle of the south and the evidences of her glorious prowess in the field are scattered broadcast over the country. Should thcy not be collected and provision be made for their preservation as rich inheritance for our children and patriotic object lesson for generations to come?" To this eloquent appeal we be- lieve the responsive answer of all true ex- Confederates will be, Yesl Then as our ranks are being rapidly thinned by the scythe of time, let the comparatively few of us that remain at once take the matt CT in hand, and labor for the realization of the prophetic vision and joyous hope of the patriotic orator-Senator Daniel of Virginia-in the consummation of a com pleted battle abbey, in which the 'hgure of Jefferson Davis shall be the central ob- ject, and around which shall be grouped the heroic relics of the battles of the Con- federacy, and the pictured faces and sculp- tured forms of the great and true and brave men who fought them. An undying memorial oi the people who fought their own battles in their own way, for their ow liberty as they conceived it, for their own independence as they desired it, and who need give to the world no other reason why.'
 By command of Lieut-Gen. s. D. Lee.
 [Offica. E. T. SYKES,
 Adjutant- General and Chief of Staff.