Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-03
THE LAST THE BEST.
Closing Day Of the Reunion the Most
Interesting Of All.
NOME OF THE STRIKING FEATURES
pistinguished Men Who Were fre"-
~ut-Echoes of the Convention
Popularity of Mrs. h"ycs-e"
c~nces of the Week.

Tho lac, day OF the great reunion opened
most auspicously. With clear sNies' '"o
CITY in its gay attire. and every NOOK
and corner packed and jammed WIN oiu
confedsrates, the streets were awe at an
early hour. and from early dawn un'n
,ate nj night; indeed. until the wee sma
sours- OF this morning there was
continual stir, a bubbling enthusiasm anu
a constant Confederate love-feast
The CLOSING SESSION.
Tho meeting at the Auditorium yester-
oay morning was brief, as 1t was intendeu
only 10 close up a few odds and ends'
and the attendance of veterans was small.
The meeting was opened with fervent
and appropriate prayer by Rev. DR.. James
T. Smith, who served so CALAMITY ana
efficiently on the STAFF Of Stonewali
Jackson.
General Gordon eloquently returned
thanks 70 Richmond and TO Virginia as
well for the princely hospitality accorded
the veterans and paid an eloquent TIL
butte TO the old State and its grand his
tory.
GAvEL OF HISTORIC WOOD.
General Gordon read a letter from Cap
tain Richard Irby, Of Ashland, Va, ten
dering the use of gavel made from wood
In the old Hanover courthouse, where
Patrick Henry made his famous speech
in the Parsons cause. General Gordon
expressed his thanks for this kind oner
The resolutions of the Cavalry Associa-
ton. New Orleans. I'm favor Of monu-
ment TO Confederate women was re-
ferred TO the Monument Committee. Me-
MORALS in reference to national parks at
several points were similarly referred,
as was also proposition for monu-
ment to Mrs. Mary GUSTS Lee.
WITH THE VETERANS.
While the association has adjourned,
the veterans have still been very much In
evidence in the city. Groups of them, or
rather crowds of them, have been every
where. talking over the old days of the
camp. the march, the bivouac, and the
battle, or the great reunion and its in
cidents.
SOME PERSONAL NOTES.
The whole paper might be filled with
few can be now given.
General William l.. Cabell is one OF
the most enthusiastic Of all of the con-
vention. ana has done, perhaps, more
than any other to organize camps In his
department
Among those present have been Gene
raj Shelley, Of Alabama; Hon. w. l..
Wilson Postmaster-G General, who was a
gallant cavalryman in Rosser's command;
Ex-Governor w. c. Oates. OF Alabama.
whose empty sleeve eloquently tells how
CALAMITY he led his old regiment; Bishop
]. y. Newton who was a gallant private
in .he cavalry; Major X. w. Hunter. who
was Gordon's chief Of staff when 1t was
dangerous TO keep near that chivalric
knight OF 10 carry his messages: Major
jed. Hotchkiss, of Jackson's staff whom
General Gordon has very appropriately
made chief engineer of his present staff;
Rev. Dr. George A. Lotion. of Nashville,
who served with conspicuous gallantry IN
the western army as captain of artillery;
Rev. Or. r. II. McKim who served gal
lantly and well on the staff of General
George A. Steuart; General Harry Heth
who was so distinguished as commander
Of a division in A. i. Hill's Corps; Gene
raj Nj. G. Butler, who was Hampton S
right arm I'm the cavalry, and his able
colleague in the United States Senate and
General T.. NJ. Law. who commanded Sc
ably brigade and then u division in
Longstreet's Corps.
MANY SMALLER REUNIONS.
There have been a great many reunion
OF different commands during this grea
gathering, one OF the most pleasant o
which was that Of the famous old Rock
bridge Artillery, held at the residence o
Rev. DIR. James J.. Smith. Colonel W. T
Poague, one OF the old captains of tn
battery, and twenty-seven members wer
present. and a delightful season wa
spent. There were some pleasant surprises
among them the presence OF a conrad
from Arkansas. whom they had all sup
posed TO be dead
MRS. HAYES AND HER SON.
The presence OF Mrs. Hayes, the daugh
Ter OF President Davis, has been yer
gratifying. Mrs. Hayes married in Mem
phis. and has been obliged TO live TO
many years in Colorado. on account O
the health of her husband, a noble Con
federate gentleman. She has not there
fore, been as well known in the South q
Miss Winnie C"the daughter of the Con
federacy." whose enforced absence is s
generally deplored), but she is nobl
woman. every way worthy OF her illustrl
Gus lineage. and captures all who NEE
her.
Her son, Master Jefferson Hayes Davi
(whose name was changed after the deaf
of his grandfather from Hayes TO Davi
by special act Of the LEGISLATURE. Is
noble little fellow, and has been great
petted and caressed by the soldiers. Whe
he was presented to the convention, Ger
eral Cabell. of Texas cold Iigo'), aros
and enthusiastically said: THAT boy be
longs TO my department. the Trans-Missis
sippi. and l want a detail OF five men I
take charge OF him." Thereupon fly
Texans came forward and bore him 1
triumph on their shoulders. amid IN
cheers OF the crowd. He attracted grea
attention in the parade. And thus Ia
closed what all say has been the creates
reunion ever held by the United ConfedC
rate Veterans Association.
INCIDENTS OF THE LAST DAY.