The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-07-01
Richmoni CAPTURED.

and the exposition grounds, where
the convention is held in a large
auditorium erected for the purpose,
was crowded. The auditorium is
handsomely decorated. As General
Gordon showed his face on the ros-
trum this morning, mighty Con-
federate yell went up and the battle
SCARED veteran received an ovation.
Governor O'Ferrall and other dis
tinguished men went up and grasped
his hand, and the bands played
"Dixie," and the people shouted.
Before the convention was called
to order, General Gordon was pre-
sented with a gavel made from a
tree from the battlefield of Chica-
mauga. Rev. j. W. NJ. Jones offered
fervent prayer to the God OF Lee
ani Jackson and Davis. General
Gordon, without making speech,
introduced Governor O'Ferrsll, who
on behalf OF Virginia welcomed the
veterans.
GENERAL HAMPTON SPEAKS.
A veteran was passed to the front
bearing an old battle flag that had
been shot through in many places
| and waved it before the vast assem-
blage. When General Hampton was
permitted to speak some one cried,
Louder" 'sLouder!' IL used to be
able to speak loud enough to make
you charge" replied General Hamp-
ton. "Words," he said, ''coald not
express his gratitude for the great
honor which had been given him.
He had come to mingle with the
veterans, perhaps for the last time,
and do honor TO the memory OF that
great man, President Davis. The
General said he would be still fight.
ing now if the Con federate flag was
waving. (Great spplause.) He had no
apology to make for his course.
When his State called upon him he
went into the war as private and
served his country as best he could.
The speaker paid beautiful tribute
to the private soldiers and in conclu-
sion said the only epitaph he wanted
written on his tombstone was that
he was Confederate soldier"
GENERAL GoRDoN's RESPONSE.
General Gordon responded to the
address of welcome and received the
building on behalf of the veterans.
The Generals clear voice penetrated
every part Of the hall. He said:
Governor, M. Mayor and General
Wise, ladies, and my Confederate
comrades:
You will not wonder that I an
literally overwhelmed by the flood o1
emotions which this scene evokes
As we look upon the grizzled locks
and furrowed brows of these stal
wart men, who thirty years ago were
soldiers Of an army which they i'm
mortalized by their deeds, how ut
terly inadequate are the words ot
our lips to express the emotions Of
our hearts. Let me say to these
gentlemen who in the name OF this
great people bid US welcome that full
and cordial as is our appreciation ot
this splendid reception we are in ne
sense surprised at its princely mu
ni6cence. We are not surprised be
cause we know Virginia and Virgin
ians. We are the recipients of the
bonors soldiers of the victorious
armies bring to grateful people
the trophies of their triumphs. The
world would comprehend the mean
ing of such welcome as is here ex
tended; but they were not the vic
tors in that Titanic struggle. They
are the shattered remnants OF long
since disbapded armies which leave
to posterity no accretions of territory
no receptions of public wealth o.
political power. The legacy which
these men leave to their children ane
people is a record of untarnishee
honor and of the most heroic defen
sive struggle IN human annals ane
the sole compensation for thei'
services and suferings is that reward
which noble natures feel in sucl
recognition by their grateful country
men.
On the other hand, no popular as
semblage of intelligent and higl
spirited citizens in the worlds pos
terity were freer from partisan zeal
or self-seeking spirit, or ignobl'
iealousies or sinister intention, an(
the muse of history will yet embaln
in one of her sweetest stories the ab
solutely unsel6sh character and ex
alted aims Of these Confederate
a