Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-01
CONFEDERATE REUNION.

Although the leading event of the re-
union, the laying of the cornerstone OF
the Jefferson Davis monument, does
not come off until tomorrow, Richmond
is full of Confederate Veterans and
visiting military.
The decorations, though. not as pro-
fuse as aU the unwilling of the Lee
monument, are in excellent taste,
while on some Of the Main-apd R.r56ad
Street houses they are gorgeous. The
stars and bars abound everywhere,
while the United States flags are seen
in many directions.
BY daylight yesterday the sound of
drum and fife aroused the population,
and little later visiting bands began
to play. From that time until the
crowd moved toward the convention
there was marching and ountermarch-
ing on the principal streets. Main and
Broad streets were crowded, while
thousands of people passed in and out
the gates of Capitol Square, on which
are located the State capitol buildings,
the residence of the Governor and sew
eral splendid monuments, including
those of Washington and Stonewall
Jackson.
The corps of cadets from the Virginia
Mechanical Institute at Blacksburg
gave dress parade yesterday evening
at the Lee Monument grounds. They
number three hundred, and they drill
ed with the precision ofveterans. Sew
eral thousand people witnessed the drill.
Mosby's Rangers are out in full force
on this occasion. Col. Mosby could
not be present, being kept in San Fran
cisco by illness. Lieut.-Col. William
Chapman, his next in command, and
Major Dolly Richards, of Louisville,
KY, are on hand. Sixty of the rangers
have thus far reported and are enjoy
ing themselves as only the free and
easy troopers know how.
At the Confederate Veterans meet
ing yesterday evening after the an
| nouncement of the committee on Gre.
dentials, General Stephen D. Lee was
introduced to present the report of the
committee on history. 1t was lengthy
paper, and dealt with the whole subject
of histories. The report recommended
the establishment of chair of Amerl-
can history in the southern colleges and
universities, and the more thorough
teaching of history in the schools, pub
lie and private, throughout the South.
State legislatures are urge to encourage
such teaching and prepare official re.
ports of all Confederates engaged in the
war for the use of future historians
The committee urged as model for
coming generations the Confederate
soldier. NLet him live in history as he
was in war and is in peace, patriot by
| nature who never ceased to be pa
triot." The report divides histories
into three classes: First, those written
in the North and are totally unfair to
the South; second, those written in the
North, and deal fairly with the South;
third, those written in the South. The
committee also recommended to the
convention to indorse the project of the
United States government to establish
a national battlefield park at Fred.
ericksburg. The report concluded with
an eloquent tribute to the Confederate
soldier and the southern woman. The
report of the committee was adopted.
After the appointment of certain COM
mittees, the convention adjourned until
this morning.
The Battle Abbey committee held q
long session yesterday. Colonel Woods
report showed contributions of SIG, S4S
in addition to Mr.. Rouss's conditional
subscription. Colonel ]. G. Craven. of
Springfield, Miss, said that State would
do we'll by the Battle Abbey, and hoped
to secure its location there.
Col. John o. easier, of Oklahoma,
said he had secured contributions for it
from veterans who had fought on the
other side, and favored the construc.
ton of the good work. Chairman
Hickey of the District of Columbia
promised liberal contributions from his
people. :.
Gen. Cabell, of Texas, made an elo-
quent speech advocating the continu-
ance of the work for year, or at least
six months, before deciding on loca-
ton. Gen. Garrett, of Nashville, dis
cussed the conditional subscriptions
and stated what Nashville would do for
the abbey. Col. CharleroD, of Louisi-
ana, opposed conditional subscriptions.
They had subscribed $4,000, $1,000 OF
which had been paid up, and they had
$50, 900 site to offer. They were not
discouraged, but were confident Of sue.
cess.
Gen. Mcintosh offered resolution
discharging the present committee
from the further consideration of the
matter, and that it be succeeded by q
trustee to be selected from each divis-
ion of the United Confederate Veterans
which shall be authorized to obtain
charter OF incorporation of the Confed.
crate Memorial Association.
Col. A. B. DickersoD, who represents
Mr.. Charles Broadway Rouss, of New
York, then read a correspondence with
that gentleman which developed new
plan on the part of Mr.. Rouss who had
previously offered conditional dona-
ton of $1OO,OOO for Battle Abbey of
the South. Mr.. Rouss now proposes to
contribute $4,000 for the purpose,
provided the South raise an equal
amount and that the building be To-
Gated in the city of Washington.
This puts quite new aspect on the
Battle Abbey movement, though MIR.