The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-01
THE CONFEDERATE REUNION
The Old Generals Given the Confederate
War Yell

Richmond, Va, June 3O.-Tbe Confad
crate reunion opened to-day with charm.
ing weather, clear and cool An i'm
Inense throng OF people was present. and
'he exposition grounds, where the CON
Neh.'on Is heid IN II large auditorium
v ,r tor the purpose, was crowded
Inc auditorium is handsomely deco
rated. AS General Gordon showed hi
FACE on the rostum this morning mighty
Confederate yell went up, and the battle
Scared veteran received an ovation
Governor O'Ferrall and other distin-
gulshed men went up and grasped his
hand and the band played Dixie and
the people shouted.
before the convention was called to or
uer General Gordon was presented with
q ga'ei made from tree from the battle
Teiu vi Shlckamauga Rev. ]. William
Jones offered fervent PRAYER to the God
of Lee and jackson and Davis General
Gordon, without making a speecb. intro
auced Governor O'Ferrall, who. on be-
MAJ, Oh Virginia, welcomed the veterans.
me Governor O'Ferrall was speak
ing wade Hampton came in and was
presented by General Gordon. He was
received with cheers, lasting several
minutes. At the conclusion OF Governor
~ ferrail address Mayor Richard NJ,
Taylor delivered an address of welcome
va nun VI tile Guy OF Richmond.
Inc pattle-abbey committee held Il long
session this morning. Colonel Woods,
report showed contributions of SOC. Sis
IN addition to Mr. Rouss' conditional
subscription. Colonel Chaleron. Of
Louisiana, said he was opposed to CONT
mental subscriptions. New Orleans, he
said, had Sl50,000 site to offer abso-
!utely. Mr.. Rouss submitted a second
proposition, Offering to contribute $50.
Uo0 If the South would raise an equal
amount to erect II great battle. abbey i'm
Washington. Resolutions were finally
adopted providing that the committee ask
TO he discharged and be succeeded by
trustees, to he selected by representa-
owes OF each division of the United Con-
ieuerate veterans, who shall be authorized
and directed to obtain charter of incor
poration for the Confederate Memorial AS
ISOLATION This action will be reported
tomorrow to the convention.
General Gordon introduced Gen. Fey
ton Wise TO turn over to the veterans the
building in which the convention is be-
ing held. General Wise made an elo-
quent address in performing this task
several times during the day there had
been calls for II speech from General
Hampton. When General Wise took his
seat the calls We're renewed, and the
south Carolinian walked to the front of
the stage. The band struck up Dixie -
while the whole audience arose and an
plauded
a veteran was passed to the front bear
ing an old battle flag that had been shot
through in many places and waved before
the vast assemblage When General
Hampton was permitted to speak some
on cried louder, louder. II used to be
able to speak loud enough to make You
charge, replied General Hampton.
Words, h said, could no. express his
gratitude for the great honor which had
been done him. He had come To mingle
with the veterans, perhaps for the last
time and do honor to the memory of that
great man, President Davis The Gen
eral said he would be still fighting now ii
the Confederate flags We're waving.
Great applause.) He had no apology to
make for his course. When his State
called upon him he went into war as a
private and served his country rs best he
could. The speaker paid a beautiful
tribute To the private soldiers and in
conclusion said the only epi,aph he
wanted. written on his tombstone was
that he was Confederate soldier
General Gordon responded To the adj
dress of welcome and received the build
ing on behalf of the veterans. The gen
Nt'i NASti VOICE every. part oil
the hall He said:
Governor, Mr.. Mayor and General
Wise, Ladies and my Confederate COM
rades: You will not wonder that am
literally overwhelmed by the food of
emotions which this scene evokes. As
we look upon the griZZled locks and fur
rowed brows of these stalwart men, who
thirty years ago were Soldiers of an army
which they immoritalzed by their deeds,
how utterly inadequate are the words of
our lips to express the emotions of our
hearts. Let me say TO these gentlemen
who i'll the name of this great people bid
us welcome, that full and cordial as is
our appreciation of this splendid recep-
ton we are III no sense surprised at its
princely munificence We are not sur
prised, because we know Virginia and
Nirginians. We are the recipients of
those honors, soldiers of the Victorious
armies bring to Il greatful people the tro-
phies of their triumph. The world would
comprehend the meaning of such "A wei
come as Is here extended; but ''they were
not the victors in that Titantic struggle.
They are the shattered remnants of long
since disbanded armies, which leave TO
posterity no accesions of territory. no
reception of public wealth or political
power The legacy which these men
leave to their children and people is a re
cord of untarnished honor and of the
most heroic defensive struggle in human
annals. and the sole compensation for
their services and sufferings is that re-
ward which noble natures feel in such
recognition by theirgrateful countrymen.
con the hes hand, no popular assem-
blage of intelligent and high-spirited cit
liens in the world = posterity were freer