The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-07-09

creased, and that the number of camps
had. been largely increased, and that
, the United veterans are now in a more
flourishing condition than ever. 1t
wound up with numerous recommen-
dations as to the discipline and work
of the United Veterans, which, if car
ried out, will result in great benefits
to the general body.
During the morning there had been
numerous calls for Gen. John B. Un-
derwood, Of Chicago.
X X
| Calls for Gen. Underwood were
again renewed and a committee was
appointed to conduct him to the stand.
He was presented in very graceful
speech by Gen. Gordon and was re-
ferred to as a man who had taken care
of more Confederate soldiers buried in
the North than any other man.
Gen. Underwood made a stirring
patriotic speech in which he pictured
the condition the graves of E, 900 Con-
federates buried in Chicago, several
years ago, and contrasted it with the
beautiful spectacle which the plot OF
ground containing heroes presents to-
day. He referred to the fact that the
first service he did in the Confederate
army in Richmond, city he came to
as boy to defend and where he cast
his first vote. He gave most inter
esting account of his work in the pres
ervatlon of the graves of the Confed
crate dead in Chicago and the ercc,
ton Of the monument to their memory
there about year ago.
Gen. Underwood is a native oil
Kentucky. His family were Union
people and he ran away from home to
fight for the South. He now lives in
Chicago, and it was due to his efforts
that the monument was reared in tha,
city in memory of the 5000 Confed
crate dead buried there.
When Gen. Underwood concluded
Gen. Gordon, in handsome speech
int, oduced Corporal James Tanner, a
manned Union soldier who was pres
ent. He said he met him on one oc.
casion coming to Richmond, and he
asked him if he was not afraid to &c
there among those dangerous Johnnies
Tanner said, "No, I'm not. A man
ought not to be afraid to visit his own
grave yard. | LETT two of my legs in
Virginia, and | think | have a right tc
go back and see whore they are
buried.
Corporal Tanner came to the stand
and Gen. Gordon then said: "Com.
rades, you have put ball through his
legs in the past, and now you will moi
put ball through his heart" The
corporal was cheered to the echo.
The scene in the convention at thi:
time was one Of the most inspiring
and enthusiastic of the reunion. The
corporal made speech characteristic
of the man, and he aroused the ole
Confederates to the the utmost degree
of excited patriotic feeling. He be
gan: "My Fellow Veterans" and thi!
was hit. He related numerous an
ecdotes, beginning with stories ofMal
vern Hill, and coming down to the
present, all of which were humorous
and exceedingly touching. He re-
ferred to the speech of Gen. Underwood
and the monument at Chicago, anG
said that when he heard of the idea 0
erecting monument to the E, 900 men
who rested on the shore of Lake Mich
igan he thought it was the best thing
they could do, and he was glad te
to say that he could touch elbows with
them, in a good cause. He then paio
most eloquent tribute to the womer
of the South. Speaking OF the re
united country, he said he would like
to see Gen. John B. Gordon in ths
White House, Great cheers and pro-
longed applause] and he believed if he
was there that it wouldn't be long before
the last vestige of monarchal lnsti,u
tions and governments would De ban
ished from this hemisphere. He hoped
: that in the near future we would Sc,
a free and independent republic in the
: beautiful island of Cuba. [Cheers.]
The conclusion of Coporal Tanners
speech was beautiful, touching, sublime
} and intensely patriotic. His appeal
to the young people who are succeed
: ing the veterans as owners of the re-
public was extremely patriotic anc
we'll received by the big audience, anc
when he concluded the house rang
: again with cheers, and the band playee
"Yankee DOODLE" and "Dixie." Thi:
, was the great event Of the day, anC
, Corporal Tanner will long be remem
bered in every portion of the South.
Gen. Cabell, of Texas, then read
f the report of the Davis monument com
! mittee, which included all that ha
been done up to the present, in th
way of collecting funds, selecting de
sign and locating a site in Monro
t park in the city of Richmond for tn
! monument. This was approved ant
S the report was adopted.
The next scene was the introduction
t of Mrs. Jefferson Davis by Gan Pey
: ton Wise and Hon. J. Taylor Ellysor
E Mrs. Davis accompanied by her daugh
/, ter, Mrs. Hayes, and her son, VIII
was decorated with National and Con
# federate badges, came to the front {
k the stand. The convention cheereo
t the ladies bowed to the right and le
e and the whole body arose and wave