The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1896-03-07
HEADQUARTERS UNITFD }
CONFEDERATE VETERANS )

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 155.
The progress made by the able and dis.
ting ulshed COMMITTEES appointed in Gen.
eral Orders Nos. 145 and 149 from these
headquarters to examine into and report
upon the plan submitted by the great
philanthTopist and benefactor, Charles
Broadwa, Rouss, for the establishment
of a grand Memorial Hall, where Coz
federate relics and mementoes a 9 to be
deposited for all time, and which is tc
become the Battle Abby" of the South
must be very gratifying to the old vet.
Grams n to all those who love the ira,
ditions of the South and who cherish the
the memories of the courage and heroism
OF her sons, and the unparalleled devotion
of her noble and self-sacriticing women.
This splendid committee has now sue
cessfully launched the grand enterprise,
II through their aption and that of their
sIh-committees, have formulated a mode
OF procedure which, if energetically car
rled out, cannot fail of success.
1t will be remembered that the gener-
GUS and large-hearted donor, MIR. Charles
Broadway Rouss, who alone conceived
history and glory of his countrymen, pre-
sentee a plan for its consumption to the
veterans at the Houston reunion, at the
same time subscribing $780, 900 rs his in
dIvidual subscription to assist in carry
ing out his grand views and ideas, con-
Hi1loneu upon Ine veterans raising d
like amount
To raise this $780, 600 additional, and
enough More to endow and insure the
perpetuation of the institution, is the
problem which now occupies the atten-
ton and efforts of the committee.
IL is believed that one-half of the
amount required will be raised through
the subscription of the more than SO, 200
members of the U. c. Y. Association, and
which will entitle them to certificates
showingttheir contributions, thus giving
each contributor an interest in this glor-
ious enterprise, which is SO neal and SO
dearto the hearts of every v~eteran-andit
is considered to be sure and beyond perad-
venture, 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 a Memorial Festival
Day" and they ask that the General Com
manding will designate that date. and is-
sue a general order.
The GeneraltC ommanding therefore, in
compliance with the request of the COM
mittee, designates Friday, May |, 1896. as
the most suitable for q Memorial Festi-
val Day" to be. set apart for the use Of
the woman 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 en-
tirely under the orders controlled, ideas
and management Of the women of the
South in their respective lOca litieS.
For, in whose hands could this sacred
trust more properly be placed, and with
more certainty of success, thar into those
of the gentle women of the South, who
have never yet faltered or failed in the
performance of any duty, either in wal or
IN peace, imposed upon them for n
Southern cause.
Their spirit and determination ami
mated 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 mighty
struggle, and the last to abandon the
sacred cause after Southern hopes van
ished.behind the clouds at Appomattox.
The true history of their deeds and
triumphs has not 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 s~elf.abnegation
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 in golden
letters upon the tablets of time, inef-
faceabie while memory lasts and, as min
h6O tAASsA OlAAS VII upOh
the pages OF poetry aud in romance as
long as chivalry exists in the hearts
and minds of mankind,
This Battle Abbey will not be dedi-
Gated alone to the history and deeds of
the civic and military. heroes of the
Commanding will see that within it's
sacred portals sufficient and CONSPICUOUS
space will bereSeryed for the names and
fame of the "Heroines of the South.n
As yet, only wandering troubadours.
like the bards of the middle age. journey
ing from castle to castle, have very family
sang their praise; but the tender and
sacred memories which cluster with q
halo of love and veneratiou around their
diving and dead demands that their names
and the story of their glory be gathered
ere it is to late, and that some Master
whose pen is inspired with celestial fire,
and whose touch is mellowed and hal
lowed by the richness and grandur of the
theme shall mingle and blend them with
their glorious achievements into q
Southern Epic, glowing with tributes of
their unrivalled history, to be deposited
In this sanctuary of Southrrn valor.
In this Temple of Fame, which is 70 be
centuries, in a niche which will be carved
out BY the story Of their w wondrous
deeds and glory, q monument will also
arise, commemorative of the courage and
1alne or the "Herolnes of the South" a
name which will ever be linked in history
Spartan Mother" For did not every
Southern mother, like the Roman Ma.
tron," proudly exclaim: These are my
lewels!" and did not their fortitude and
heroism rise to even supreme heightsl
For they sent their offspring bravely aud
loyalty to battle for their country, and
With the Spartan Mothers" deathless
iuiunetioD. "Ratnrn with vour GhjalI nv
on it,
1t is to the survivors Of these illus
trious women and to their descendants,
to whom the General Commanding, there
fore, confidently intrusts this important
mission of assisting in this holy under