The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1896-01-18
THE SOUTH'S BATTLE ABBEY.

THE SOUTHS BATTLE ABBEY.
All the Daughters of the South In
vited to Form Societies and Raise
the Necessary Money-Gen. Cor
don's Order.
The following general orders have
been issued:
HEADQUARTERS U. G.. ".
New Orleans, Dec. 7, 1895.
General Orders No. 1859.
"The progress made by the able and
distinguished committee appointed in
General Orders Nos. 145 and 149 from
these headquarters, to examine into and
report upon the plans submitted by the
great philanthropist and benefactor,
Charles Broadway Rouss, for the es-
tablishment of grand memorial hall,
where Confederate relics and memen-
tos are to be deposited for all time,
and which is to become the battle
abbey of the South, must be very graf
flying 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.
L
successfully launched the grand enter
prise, and through its action and that
of the sub committees has formulated
Il mode of procedure which it energeti
calIy carried out cannot fail Of success.
''It will be remembered that the gen
erous and large hearted donor, Mr..
Charles Broadway Rouss, who alone
conceived this project for the perpetu-
alton of the history and glory of his
countrymeD, presented a plan for its
consummation to tho veterans at the
Houston reunion, at the same time sub
scribing one hundred thousand dollars
as his individual donation to assist in
carrying out his grand views and ideas,
conditioned upon the veterans raising
like amount.
"To raise this one hundred thousand
dollars additional and enough more to
endow and insure the .perpetuation OF
the institution is the aliabsOrbing mat
ter which now occupies the attention
and efforts of the committee.
cit is believed that one-half of the
amount required will be raised through
the subscriptions Of the more than fifty
thousand members of the q. G.. V. AS
sociation, which will entitIe them to
certificates showing their contribution,
thus giving each contributor an inter
est in this glorious enterprise which is
so near and SO dear to the heart of
every veteran; and it is considered to
be sure and beyond peradventure that
the other half or balance, whatever may
be required, will he 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 memorial
festival 1ay and fhay |. tb.t tha Gov,
eral commanding designate the date
and issue General Order.
The General commanding, therefore,
in compliance with the request of the
committee, designates Friday, May /,
1896, as the most suitable for Il memorial
festival day, to be set apart for the use
Of the women of the South in raisiug
funds for this great memorial hall.
"Ail the details aud exercises of this
memorial festival day are to be planned,
conducted and carried out entirely un-
der the orders, control, kss.saas aud man
agement of the women 0teahe South
in their respective localities.
"For in whose hands could this sacred
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 faltered or failed
in war or 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 unremitting pat
riots and workers during the country's
travail, and the last to abandon the sa-
cred cause after Southern hopes van
ished behind the clouds of Appomatox.
"The true history of their deeds and
triumps has not yet been told. No his
torian has yet written the story, nor
muse sung the song, nor minstrel strung
the Tyre to fitly celebrate their praise.
THE straits to which they were re-
ducel for food and clothing, the self
abnegation and bardships endured by
them during the war, finds no parallel
in history their patriotism and cour-
age will he written in golden letters up
on the tablets of time, inetfacable aud
ineradicable while memory lasts y; and
as ministering angels their names will
live upon the pages Of poetry and ro-
nance as long as chivalry exists in the
hearts and minds OF mankind.
"This battle abbey will not be dedi-
Gated 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 it's sa-
cred portals sufficient and conspicuous
space is reserved for the names and
fame OF the heroines Of the South.
''As yet, only wandering trubadours
like the bards Of the middle ages
jourDeying from castle to castle, have
very family sung their praise; but the
tender and sacred memories which clus-
ter with a halo Of love and veneration
around their living and dead demands
that their names and the story Of their
glory be gathered ere it is too late, and
that some master, whose pen is inspired
with celestial fire, and whose touch is
mellowed and halIowed by the richness
and the grandeur OF the theme, shall
mingle and blend them with their glo-
rious achievements into a Southern epic,
glowing with tributes of their unpar
alleled history, to be deposited in this
sanctuary of Southern valOr.
Here in this temple of fame, which
is to be dedicated to all the people of
the coming centuries, in niche carved
out by the story Of their own wondrous
deeds and glory, a monument will also
arise, commemorative of the courage
and fame of the herOines of the South,
a fame which will ever be proudly
liked in history with that of the Roman
matrcn and Spartan mother. For did
not every Southern mother, like the Ro-
jewels ? and did not their fortitude and
heroism rise to even supremer heights
For they sent their offspring bravely
and loyalty to battle for their country,
and with the Spartan mothers iDjuDc-
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