Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-07-08

CONFEDERATE REUNION.


CONFEDERATE REUNION.
At the Confederate Veterans Con-
vention in Richmond Wednesday Gen.
j. G. Underwood was presented by
Gen. Gordon and was referred to as a
man who had taken care of more Con-
federate soldiers buried in the North
than any other man.
Gen. Underwood pictured the con-
dition of the graves of the 5000 Con-
federates buried in Chicago, several
years ago, and contrasted it with the
beautiful spectacle which the plot of
ground containing those heroes pre-
sents today. Gen. Underwood gave a
most interesting account of his work
in the preservation of the graves of the
Confederate dead in Chicago, and of
the erection of the monument to their
memory there about a year ago
When Gen. Underwood had con-
cluded, Gen. Gordon introduced Cor
poral Tanner, a MANNED Union soldier,
who was present He said he met him
on one occasion coming to Richmond
and he asked him if he was not afraid
to go there among those dangerous
Johnnies. mo, I'm not" said Tanner.
"a man ought not to be afraid to visit
his own graveyard / left two of my
legs in Virginia, and / think have a
right to go back and see where they
are buried
Mr.. Tanner came to the stand, and
Gen. Gordon then said: Comrades,
you have put ball through his legs
in the past, and now you will not put
a ball through his heart" The cor
pOral was cheered to the echo, and the
band played yankee Doodlen and
Dixie"
The scene in the convention at this
time was one of the most enthusiastic
of the reunion. The corporal made a
speech and aroused the old Confeder-
ates to the utmost degree of excited
patriotic feeling He began, my fell
low veterans" and this was hit. He
related numerous anecdotes, begin
ming with stories of Malvern Hill and
coming down to the present, all oil
which were humorous and touching
He referred to Gen. Underwood's
speech, and the monument at Chicago
and said that when he heard of the
idea of erecting monument over the
5000 men who rested on the shore OF
Lake Michigan, he thought it was the
best thing they could do and he wal
glad to say that he would touch ell
bows with them in so good a cause
He then paiu most eloquent tribute
to the women of the South-the now
wrinkled women-but who were still
the girls of the South. Speaking Of
the re united country, he said he
would like to see Gen. John b. Gordon
in the White House, (great cheers and
prolonged applause), and he believed
if he were there that it would not be
long before the last vestige of mon
archical institutions and government
| would be banished from this hemis
phere. He hoped that in the near fu
ture he would see free and independ
ent republic in the beautiful Island OF
Cuba. His appeal to the young peo
pie who are succeeding the veterans
as the owners of the republic was ex-
tremely patriotic was we'll received by
the big audience, and when be con
Guided the big house rang again with
cheers and the band played Yankee
Doodle" and ''Dixie'' This was the
great event of the day, and Tanner
will long be remembered in every por-
| ton OF the South.
Gen. Cabell, of Texas. then read the
report of the Davis monument com
mittee, which included all that has
been done in the way of collecting
funds, selecting design and locating
a site In Monroe Park in the city OF
Richmond for the monument. This
was approved and the report was
| adopted.
| The next scene was the introduction
of Mrs. Jefferson Davis. In presenting
Mrs. Davis to the veterans Gen. Cor
don made touching allusion to the
of her husband. He said 'She rep
resents him here, now that he has gone
to his long home; and now, my com
rades, imprint kiss upon her brow,
kiss for every comrade." Gen. Cor
don then touched his lips to Mrs.
Davis's forehead. The band played
Dixie and Mrs Davis, accompanied
by her daughter, Mrs. Hayes, and her
son, who was decorated with national
and Confederate badges, came to the
front of the stand. The convention
cheered, the ladies bowed to the right
and left, and the whole body arose
and waved hats, flags, and banners,
and yelled until they we've hoarse.
General Cabell, of Texas. kissed Mrs.
Hayes and the great audience cheered
vociferously.
General Gordon made a feeling
speech, and wound up by presenting
Master Jefferson Davis Hayes, the
eleven-year old grandson of the Presi-
dent of the Confederacy, to the con-
vention. A delegate in the audience
then proposed that the young boy be
made member of this body. The
motion was put and unanimously car
ried and the boy was duly installed as
an honorary member of the United
Confederate Veterans. He was then
taken in the arms Of a general, car
ried down on the floor and cheered
like conquering hero. After this Mr..
Hayes and the boy, Mrs. Davis, who
was indisposed, having retired), held
an informal reception at the stand.
General Cabell, of Texas, then an
nounced that the boy had already
been elected a member of his camp,
and that he now wore it's badge, and
General Gordon at once promoted the
youth by making him a colonel on his
staff as commandment chief of the
Confederate Veterans.