The Van Buren press., 1896-01-11
Confed derate Memorial Association.

ihe Pivbteso uiaoe ny inc aDlt anu
distinguished committee appointed in
General Orders Nos. l45 and 149 from
these headquarters to examine into and
report upon the plan submitted by the
great philanthropist and benefactor.
Charles Broadway Rouss. for the
establishment Of grand Memorial
Hall. where Confederate relics and
mementoes are to be deposited for all
time. and which is to become the
battle Abbey of the South, must be
very gratifying to the old veterans and
to all those who love the traditions
of the South and who cherish the
memories of the courage and heroism
of her sons, and the unparalleled
devotion of her noble and self sacrificing
women.
This splendid committee has now
successfully launched the grand enter
prise. and through their action and that
of the sub committees. have formulated
mode of procedure which. If
energetically carried out, cannot fail
of success
II will be remembered that the
generous and large hearted donor, Mr..
Charles Broadway Rouss, who alone
conceived this project for the perpetu
alton of the history and glory of his
countrymen, presented plan for its
contamination to the veterans at the
Houston reunion, at the same time
subscribing 800, 900 as his individual
subscription to assist in carrying out his
grand views and ideas, conditioned
upon the veterans raising like amount
To raise this 800, 900 additional and
enough more to endow and insure the
perpetuation of the institution, is the
problem which now occupies the
attention and efforts of the committee.
II is believed that one half of the
amount required will be raised through
the subscription of the more than
so, 900 members of the U. c. V.
Association, and which will entitle
them to certificates showing their con-
tributions, thus giving each contributor
an interest in this glorious enterprise
which is so near and so dear to the
heart of every veteran-and it is con-
sidered to be sure and beyond per
adventure, that the other half or
balance, whatever may be required,
will be raised by the noble women of
the South.
The committee suggests that the most
feasible manner of reaching the desired
object is to set apart Memorial
Festival Day, and they ask that the
General Commanding will designate
the date, and issue a general order.
The General Commanding, therefore,
in compliance with the request of the
committee, designates Friday, May 1.
1896, as the most suitable for a
Memorial Festival Day, to be set
apart for the use of the women of the
South in raising funds for this great
Memorial Hall.
All the details and exercises of this
Memorial Festival Day are to be
planned, conducted and carried out
entirely under the orders, control
ideas and management of the women of
the South in their respective localities.
For, in whose hands could this sacred
trust more properly be placed, and with
more certainty of success, than into
those of the gentle women of the South,
who have never yet faltered or failed in
the performance of any duty either in
war or in peace, imposed upon them
for the Southern cause.
Their spirit and determination
the men of the South at the
scene of the first conflict; they were the
most constant and unremitting patriots
and workers during their country's s
mighty struggle, and the last to abandon
the sacred cause after Southern hopes
behind the clouds at
The true history of their deeds and
triumphs has not yet been told.
No historian has yet written the story,
nor muse sung the song, nor minstrel
strung the Tyre, which fifty celebrates
their praise.
The straits to which they were
reduced for food and clothing, the self
and hardships endured by
them during those dark and gloomy
days of war, finds no parallel in history
their patriotism and courage will be
written il golden letters upon the
tablets of time, ineffaceable while
lasts, and, as ministering
angels, their names will live upon the
pages of poetry and in romance as long
as chivalry exists in the hearts and
minds of mankind.
This Battle Abbey will not he
dedicated alone to the history and deeds
Of the civic and military heroes of the
greatest of civil wars; but the General
Commanding will see that within its
sacred portals Sufficient and conspicuous
space will be reserved for the names
and fame of the "Heroines of the
South.
As yet, only wandering troubadours,
like the bards of the middle ages,
journeying from castle to castle, have