Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-07-06
RICHMOND is INVADED.
Big Crowds Witness the Jefferson
Davis Cornerstone Lay
ing.

Richmond, Va, July 2.-Never before
in her history, not even upon the occa-
sion Of the unwilling of the Lee monu-
ment in 1890, has Richmond seen such
a crowd as that which has assembled
here today to witness the laying of the
cornerstone Of the monument to the
memory of Jefferson Davis. 1t is the
last and greatest day Of the sixth annual
reunion of the United Confederate Vet
Grams association which has brought to
Richmond altogether about $4,000 vet
Grams besides thousands of other visitors.
Today's exercises have added 10000 Wis
itors and young soldiers to the vast
thTong.
Men Sleep on Capitol Grounds.
Last night history repeated itself in
the scene which the capitol hall present
ed. A small army of grizzled men, IN
jackets of gray, slept upon the green
sward around the old statehouse with
coats for pillows and the grassy lawn for
their beds. A few thousand spent the
night on the capitol grounds.
The city is very gaily decorated. Here
and there on the streets faded and tat
tered battle flags, relics of their lost
cause, float like gaunt skeletons in the
air, attracting constantly a surglng
crowd Of men in gray around them
The Rouss Memorial Hall association
met this morning and committee was
appointed to obtain a charter for Organl-
cation. Gen. johnson of Alabama, Gen.
Briggs of Kentucky, DR.. league of
South Carolina, Gen. Jackson of Ten
nessee were appointed a committee to
visit New York and confer with Mr.
ROuss and show him the great opposi
ton in the South to locating the pro-
posed battle abbey in Washington. In
an interview Mrs Davis expressed decid
ed opposition to locating the battle abbey
in Washington and said it would be
just as appropriate to erect the monu-
mcnt to Davis in Boston.
Few Union Flags Seen.
The veteran cavalry held meeting
this morning to take steps toward erect
ing monument to Gen. J. E. B. Stew.
art Col. William II. Hempstreet of
Brooklyn made a speech in which he
spoke kindly of the treatment he had
received by veterans and said he thought
they were all true to the American flag.
But, he added, he was disappointed to
civilians in decorating their houses.
Lieut.. George 2. Hall of Hanover
county, Va, replied to Col Hempstreet
by saying the Southern people do not
wear their patriotism on their coats but
in their hearts; the South was as true
President should call for troops to OPP
pose foreign foe the South would be
the first section to respond.
The convention was opened at 10
o'clock with prayer by the Rev. DR.. J.
T. Smith OF Stonewal Jackson's staff.
The session was a very short one. Gen.
Gordon made a brief address praising
Richmond's hospitality. A memorial
was submitted asking that the name OF
the United Confederate Veterans asso-
citation be changed to Confederate Sur
vivOrs' association. A request that the
memorial be sent to all camps in the
association was adopted.
Brigade that Kicked Up Row.
An invitation was extended from the
Philadelphia brigade to attend the re-
union of blue and gray at Washington
September Is, when a monument to the
brigade will be unveiled at Antietam.
Gen Gordon said the invitation would
be sent to the various camps for ac-
ton. The Rev. J. William Jones was
opposed to this on the ground that this
was the brigade that kicked up the row
in Richmond about marching behind the
Confederate flag.
Gen. Gordon replied: ''Dr. Jones be-
longs to a church that believes in con-
version. Our friends have long since
repented their action"
Eyes, but they should bring forth
fruits meet for repentance responded
Mr. Jones. A paper from Louisiana in
reference to the monument to Southern
women was referred to the monument
committee and Gen. Gordon said would
stop there.
A petition from Fredericksburg in refer
ence to q national park at the battlefield,
near that place, was approved. After
resolutions of thanks to Richmond and
Gen. Gordon the convention adjourned.