The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-03
MEMORIAL FESTIVAL DAY
NAV / is Set Apart for That
Purpose.
BY COMMANDING GEN. GORDON
The Southern People Called Upon to
Aid in the Formation of a Museum
of the Greatest Historical
interest.
Headquarters

General Orders No. 1856.
The progress made by the able and
distinguished committee appointed in
General Orders Nos. 145 and 146 from
these headquarters to examine into
and report upon the plan submitted
by the great philanthropist and bene-
factor Charles Broadway Rouss, for
the establishment of grand Memoir
ial Hall, where Confederate relics and
mementoes are to be deposited for all
time, and which is to become the ''Bat-
tie Abbey of the South must be very
gratifying to the old veterans and to
all those who love the traditions of the
South and who cherish the memories
of the courage and heroism of her sons,
and the unparalleled devotion of her
noble and self-sacrificing women.
This splendid committee has now
successfully launched the grand enter
prise, and through their action and
that of their subcommittee, have for
INFLATED a mode of procedure which, If
energetically carried out, cannot fail
of success.
1t will be remembered that the gen
erous and large hearted donor, Mr.
Charles Broadway Rouss, who alone
conceived this project for the perpetual
ton of the history and glory of his
countrymen, presented plan for its
contamination to the veterans at the
Houston reunion, at the same time
subscribing 100000 as his individual
subscription to assist in carrying out
his grand views and ideas, conditioned
upon the veterans raising like "a
mount.
To raise this 100000 additional, and
enough more to endow and insure the
perpetuation of the institution, is the
problem which now occupies the att
tention and efforts of the committee.
1T is believed that one-half of the a.
mount required will be raised through
the subscription of the more than
$4,000 members of the u. G. v. Asso-
citation, and which will entitle them to
certificates showing their cont11bn-
tions, thus giving each contributor an
interest in this glorious enterprise,
which is so near and so dear to the
heart of every veteran-and it is con-
sidered to be sure and beyond perad-
venture, that the other half, or bal
ance, whatever may be required, viii
be raised by the noble women of the
South.
The committee suggests that the
most feasible manner of reaching the
desired object is to set apart a
Memorial Festival Day." and they
ask that the General Commanding will
designate the date, and issue a general
order.
The General Commanding, therefore,
in compliance with the request of the
committee, designates Friday, May i,
1896, as the most suitable for a Me
mortal Festival Day." to be set apart
for the use of the women of the South
in raising funds for this great Memoir
ial Hall.
All the details and exercises of this
Memorial Festival Day. are to be
planned, conducted and carried out
entirely under the orders, control, ideas
and management of the women of the
South in their respective localities.
For, in whose hands could this sa-
cred trust more properly be placed,
and with more certainty of success,
than into those of the gentle women
of the South, who have never yet fall
tered or failed in the performance of
any duty, either in war or in peace,
imposed upon them for the Southern
cause.
Their spirit and determination ami
mated the men of the South at the
scene of the first conflict; they were
the most constant and unrenitting
patriots and workers during their
country's mighty struggle, and the last
to abandon the sacred cause after
Southern hopes vanished behind the
clouds at Appomattox.
The true history of their deeds and
triumphs has not yet been told.
No historian has yet written the
story, nor muse sung the song, nor
minstrel strung the Tyre, which fifty
celebrates their praise.
The straits to which they were re-
duced for food and clothing the self
abnegation and hardships endured by
them during those dark and gloomy
days of war, finds no parallel in his
tory; their patriotism and courage will
be written in golden letters upon the
tablets of time, ineffaceable while
memory lasts, and, as ministering an
gels, their names will live upon the
pages of poetry and in romance as
long as chivalry exists in the hearts
and minds of mankind.
JIiS Ddbb3G fADp1g Will n1b Tx
dedicated alone to the history and
deeds of the civic and military heroes
of the greatest of civil wars; but the
General Commanding will see that
within its sacred portals sufficient and
conspicuous space will be reserved for
the names ana fame Of the "Heroines
of the South"
AS yet, Only wandering troubadoarr,
like the bards of the middle ages,
journeying from castle to castle, have
very family sung their praise; but the
tender and sacred memories which
cluster with a halo of love and venera-
ton around their living and dead de-
mands that their names and the story
of their glory be gathered ere it is too
late, and that some Master, whose pen
ii inspired with celestial fire, and
, hose touch is mellowed and hallowed
~ the richness and grandeur Of the
theme, shall mingle and blend them
with their glorious achievements into
a cautharn Enic glowing with trih-