The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-02

Richmond, Va, July 1.-When Gen
eral Gordon called the convention of
United Confederate Veterans to order
this morning an immense crowd was
present. Prayer was offered by Bishop
Newton, and then the committee on Gre
dentials reported $50 camps represented
by delegates. q. ID. Lee offered II reso-
luton, which was adopted, endorsing the
movement started by Lee Camp, of Rich
mond, looking to Il general organization
of Sons of Veterans, and pledging the
Union Confederate veterans to the move
ment.
Gen. III. Kidd Douglass offered the fol-
lowing: 1.-The United Confederate vete-
rams assembled in annual reunion at
Richmond, ever mindful of their dead
comrades, wherever they may be. and
holding in grateful memory all those
who do them honor, desire to express to
the city of Chicago their most grateful
acknowledgements of the broad minded
liherality of its people in the erection and
conservation of the lofty monument over
the 5000 of our dead, who rest within
its protection, and the boundlcss hospi-
tality with which it received all Confed-
crate soldiers who attended that dedica-
ton Our thanks are given without
stint to every army veteran, soldier and
citizen of that great city who participated
in that memorable scene. May the monu-
ment there lifted up stand through the
ages as n perpetual reminder that it's ded-
ication was the final triumphal scene of a
great war, commemorative alike of the
heroic dead it honors, and of reunited
peace and friendship between North and
South -
The resolution was seconded by Gen
eral Lee, and was unanimously adopted
DR. j. L.. NJ. Curry made an eloquent
address before the convention. While
he was speaking james Herbert, camp of
Baltimore, came in with its band play
ing Maryland. The Marylanders were
received with great cheers. y motion to
restore the department of the North met
with opposition, and the chair ruled the
motion out of order. The Daughters of
the Confederacy, Virginia division, voted
unanimously to join the United Daugh
tiers as n grand division only.
1t is estimated that there are 10, 600 vet
rams in the city today attending the re-
union. There is little doing to-day out
side of the convention proper To.mor-
row will be the great day. The corner
stone OF the Jefferson Davis Monument
will be laid, and there will be Il great
pa adc Of veterans and civic societies. 70;
During the proceedings in the conve :.
ton Brigadier General Berger, of Ala
bama, veteran, 90 years of age. was rec
ogniaed by the chair and invited to a seat
ON the platform. He was so feeble that
he had TO be escorted to the front and
hundreds of the old veterans crowded into
the aisle and ssrasped his hand while the
whole assembly cheered him.
The sensation of the reunion occurred
shortly after midday. On motion of Gen
eral Peyton Wise of Virginia, commit
tee was appointed To wait on Mrs Davis
and Mrs Hays to invite them to visit the
convention. The chairman appointed
Gen. Wise and cX- Mayor Ellyson, who
escorted the ladies to seats on the plat
form. The chairman, Gen. John b. Cor
don, of Georgia, then introduced the
ladies and in presenting Mrs. Davis made
Il brief speech in which he said that he
wanted to bespeak the appreciation of the
assembled Confederate veterans and that
he would place reverential kiss upon her
brow. The General then kissed Mrs.
Davis amidst deafening cheers and APP
plause. 1t seems that the whole 10. 900
veterans arose and with one voice ap-
plauded the act Hats were thrown IN.
canes and umbrellas We're thumped upon
the floor, men yelled. stamped their feet
and clapped their hands and it was seve-
rpl minutes before silence was restored.
Immediately after the excitement attend
ant upon the incident had died out, Gen
eral Gordan again came TO the front and
referred to The presence in the convention
OF Corporal James Tanner, Il veteran of
the Union army. and called upon Corporal
Tanner to come forward. AS this brave
Union soldier who has both legs buried in
Virginia soil appeared the whole audience
arose and greeted him with cheers and
hurrahs. The corporal seemed TO be
deeply moved by the demonstration in
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