The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-07-04

Annual Reunion of Confederate Veterans
at Richmond.


Richmond, Va, July lover 10000
veterans who followed the fortunes OF
Lee, Longstreet and Jackson have gath
cred here, many Of them accompanied
by their wives and families, TO partici-
pate i'm the sixth annual reunion and
the exercises attending the laying OF
the cornerstone for the Jefferson Davis
monument. The exercises will continue
for three days. Before the convention
was called to order Gen. Gordon was
presented with a gave. made from
tree from the battlefield OF Chicka-
manga. Rev. j. William Jones offered
fervent prayer 10 the God of Lee and
Jackson and Davis. Gen. Gordon with
out making speech introduced Gov.
O'Ferrall, who welcomed the veterans
TO Virginia. At the close of Gov. O'Fer-
rails remarks Senator Gordon. of Geor-
gia, addressed the veterans. Among
other things he said with reference to
the confederate veterans;
They are the shattered remnants OF long
since disbanded armies. which leave 20
posterity no accretions OF territory. no re-
coptions OF public wealth or OF political
power The legacy which these men leave
10 their children is a record OF untarnished
honor and OF the most heroic defensive
struggle I'm human annals, and tho sole
compensation for their services and suffer-
ings Is that reward which noble natures
feel In such recognition by their grateful
countrymen.
"On the other hand, no popular assem-
bles OF intelligent and high-spirited citi-
IONS In the worlds posterity were freer
from partisan zeal or self-seeking spirit or
iCnobie jealousies or sinister intent, and the
muse OF history will yet embalm, In one OF
her sweetest stories, the absolute npselfisf
character and exalted aims OF these con-
federate gatherings. That story will record
that these oad-minded men were neither
cmblttcred by disappointments nor
dwarfed by ignoble passions nor warped BY
political ambitions nor narrowed by sec
tional prejudice nor blinded TO the common
interests of the country by selfish aims,
but that. ennobled by sacrifice, refined and
purified in the fires OF afliction. they en-
brace as a brother every true lover of their
country and acknowledge no superlors In
devotion TO the common veal and In I'M
faltering support to the laws, the flag. the
honor and the freedom OF this American
republic"
While Gov. O'Ferrall was speaking
Gen. Wade Hampton came in and was
received with cheers lasting several
minutes. At the conclusion of Gen. Cor
Gon's address Gen. Hampton was called
LOT. lie Sdid lnui nt ntu tOlnt W
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 fighting now
II the confederate flag were waving.
He had no apology to make for his
course. When his state called upon him
he went into war as a private and served
his country as best he could. The
speaker paid beautiful tribute to the
private soldiers, and in conclusion said
the only epitaph he wanted written on
his tombstone was that he was confcd-
crate soldier.
Striking features of the reunion will
be n mammoth chorus of 1000 trained
voices and the gathering of Mosby's
famous rangers. Among the speakers
who have consented to respond to toasts
on this occasion are John c. Ropes, a
well-lSnown historian OF Boston, Mass,
and Maj, w. III. Forbes, u. s. A.. an ex-
federal soldier who was captured by
Mosby's men at the battle of Aide.