The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-09
He REUNION At RICHMOND
EIGHT HUNDRED CONFEDERATE
CAMPS REPRESENTED BY
DELEGATES.
TEN THOUSAND VETERANS PRESENT
Today Will Be the Big Day When the
Corner Stone of the Jefferson Davis
Monument Will Be Laid-Reun-
ion Proceedings.


called the reunion of United Confederate
Veterans to order this morning. Prayer
was offered by Bishop Newton and then
the committee on credentials reported
$50 camps represented by delegates.
Mr.. G.. d. Lee offered resolution,
which was adopted, endorsing the move
ment started by Lee camp of Richmond,
looking to a general organization of sons
of veterans and pledging the United
Confederate Veterans to the movement.
Gen. NJ. Kidd Douglas offered the fol-
lowing: ''The United Confederate Vet
Grams, assembled in annual reunion at
Richmond, ever mindful of their dead
camrades wherever they may be. and
holding in grateful memory all those who
do them honor, desire to express to the
city of Chicago their most grateful ac-
acknowledgements of the broad minded lib
crafty OF its people i'll the erection and
conservation of the lofty monument over
the 5000 of our dead who rest within its
protection and the boundless hospitality
with which it received all Confederate
soldiers who attended that dedication
Our thanks are given without stint to
every Army veteran, soldiers and citi-
zen of that great city who participated
in that memorable scene. May the mon
ument they lifted up stand through the
ages as n perpetual reminder that its
dedication was the final triumphant
scene of great war, commemorative
alike of the heroic dead it honors and
of reunited peace and friendship between
north and SOUTH
The resolution was seconded by Gen.
Lee and was INA MIN ouSlv o6nnfo1
1t is estimated that were 10000 veter-
ans i'll the city today attending the re-
union.
The Virginia division of the Daughters
of the COnfederacy met this morning and
discussed the question of joining the
United States Daughters organization
No reporters were admitted.
Tomorrow will be the great day. The
corner stone of the Jefferson Davis mon
ument will be laid and there will be
great parade.
j. l.. NJ. Curry made an eloquent adj
dress before the convention. While he
was speaking Herbert camp of Balti-
more came in with its band playing
Maryland" The Marylanders were re-
ceived with great cheering.
A motion to restore the department of
the north met with opposition and the
chair ruled the motion out of order. The
Daughters of the Confedcracy. Virginia
division. voted unanimously to join the
United Daughters as Il grand division
only.
During the proceedings in the conven-
tion Brig. Gen. Berger of Alabama.
veteran ~ years of age, was recognized
by the chair and invited to Il seat on the
platform.
Hundreds of the old veterans crowded
into the aisle and grasped his hand,
while the whole assembly chcered him.
The chairman, Gen. Gordon. then in
trOduced Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Hays, and
in presenting Mrs. Davis he made brief
speech in which he said he wanted to be-
speak the appreciation of the assembled
Confederate veterans and that he would
place Il revercntial kiss upon her brow.
The general then kissed Mrs. Davis
midst deafening cheers and applause. 1t
seemed that the whole 10000 veterans
arose and with one voice applauded the
act Hats were thrown and umbrellas
were thumped on the floor; men yelled,
stamped their feet and clasDed their
hands and it was some minutes before
silence was restored.
Corporal James Tanner. a veteran of
the Union army. was called upon. AS
this brave soldier, who has both legs
buried in Virginia soil, appeared, the
whole audience arose and greeted him
with cheers and hurrahs. The corporal
seemed to be deeply moved by the dem
onstratiOn in his honor and made great
speech. He spoke of Gen. Gordon in
the highest terms of praise and his state
ment that he would like to see the Geor
Gian in the White House brought forth
tremendous applause.
In concluding his speech. Corporal Tan
ner begged the southern people to take
good care of the Confederate veterans
and make their last days on earth happy.
Gen. Cabell reported the action of his
committee, who selected the plans for
the Davis monument, and his report was
adopted.
At this point Il proposition to make
Jefferson Davis, .Jr., an honorary mem
Der of the body was unanimously adopt
ed. A veteran shouldered the boy and
carried him down amongst the veterans
where he received an ovation.
Gen. Gordon announced he would APP
point young Davis a member of his staff
After a recess, Chairman Mcintosh of
the Battle Abbey committee reported the
resolution adopted by that committee on
yesterday, providing for the immediate
discharge of the committee appointed at
the last reunion and the appointment
of board of trustees to succeed it, to be
composed of one trustee from each state.
who shall be incorporated as the Con-
! federate Memorial association.
This report with the proposition of
Mr.. Rouse. was finally adopted ON mo-
| ton of Gen. Jackson of Tennessee.
The board of trustees were given pow
err to decide as to location and the prop
ositiOn made by Mr.. Rouse.
The board of trustees are: Alabama.
George ID. Johnson; Arkansas. Maj. NJ.
T. Tannerhill; District of Columbia, w.
| A. Gordon: Florida. w. H. Chipley;
| Georgia, G. A. Evans: Kentucky. Gen.
Briggs: Louisiana. Gen. ]. A. Shaller-
| horn; Mississippi Col. ]. r. Mcintosh:
Missouri, Gen. A. X. Ashbury: North
| Carolina. Thomas J. Keenan,; Oklahoma.
J. A. Coster: South Carolina. Dr. d. B.
league; Tennessee. Gen. w. Fl. Jack
son; Texas, Gen. L. L. Ross: Virginia.
Col. J. b. Carey: West Virginia, Col.
Robert Waite.
The Tennessee delegation is much dis
appointed that the abbey was not deter
mined at this session, inasmuch as they
believed it would have secured it if the
question had been determined here The
contest will probably be between Rich
mond, New Orleans. Nashville and
Washington. with chances in favor of
the capital of the Confederacy.
| Immediately after Nashville had been
selected as the next meeting place, mo-
ton that the same officers be continued
| for another wear was unanimously adOnt-