Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-07-02
CONFEDERATE REUNION.
GREAT GATHERING OF VET
ERANS IN RICH
MOND, VA.

MOIG Ull tliS w oy' u 81 LAY
of the Convention. Ad
dresses of Welcome.
Mrs. Jefferson
DavisRecep~
ton.
The Confederate Auditorium.
Richmond, Va, June 80.
The Sixth annual convention
of the Confederate Veterans met
this morning in the vast and
gaily decorated auditorium erect
ed for the purpose at the Expos
sition grounds i'll this city. ms
termingled with the Confederate
colors and battle flags are mas
tional flags. and just aboye the
presiding officers seat are
two large star>-spangled ban~
ners. Around the galleries are
the coats>of-arms of all the
late Confederate States. Just
above, on another tier, are ban
ners on which are inscribed the
names of all the famous battles
of the war, and intermixed with
these are large star shaped de-
signs bearing the names Of all
the famous Confederate Gener.
ais.
The auditorium, which can
seat over ten thousand people,
was comfortably filed and pres
sented a handsome appearance
when at II o'clock the arrival Of
Gen. John B. Gordon. Comman-
der in~Chief Of the Confederate
Veterans, was greeted by cheers.
and the band played Dixie. !"
He was then presented with a
gavel, which Gen. Gordon an
nounced was made from a tree
cut off the battlefield of Chica
mauga. He opened the CONVEX
ton by introducing Chaplain J.
W. Jones, of the Confederate
veterans, who made an eloquent,
impressive prayer, which was
followed by the band playing
Nearer My God to Thee.
On the stand we're seated all
the dignitaries, among them Gov.
O'Ferrall, Mrs. Gen. George E
Pickett, now Of Washington;
Mayor Taylor, of Richmond
Gen. Peyton Wise, Gen. Stephen
D. Lee, Mrs. Gen. Gordon and
daughter, Minister to Spain
J. L. M. Curry, Gen. French and
numerous others.
AT the conclusion Of prayer,
Gen. Gordon proceeded to in
troduce Coy. O'F'errall. who was
on the programme to welcome
the veterans to Richmond but
when that gentleman had barely
begun to speak when a cheer
broke forth from the far end ot
the auditorium and the venera-
BILE form of that gallant old sol
dier, Gen. Wade Hampton, was
seen limping up towards tht
stand. His progress through the
audience was greeted by the wild
est cheers, and when at last be
reached the stand, Gen. Gordon
announced him as the "brav'
commander in chief of the Con,
federate cavalry" which called
forth another round of cheers
and "rebeI yells." Order bein<
restored, Gov. O'Ferrall wa
reintrodaced, and he welcomed
the veterans to Virginia
The Governor said; Veteran
and comrades-You were en-
listed in those bands who wrot
their names in glory's skies an
carved them deep in the Tempt
of Fame; who made the cause o
the South so imperishabie an
the renown of her armies SO fade
less. You endured hardship
which no mortal tongue coul
describe. Your exploits equal
led those of the heroic age i
Grecian legends, and your devo
ton was not surpassed by Leon
idas and his three hundred q
Thermopyl@. In the path c
duty no danger daunted you. q
suffering subdned you, no fore
appalled, you and no defeats dis
heartened you. True as the di;
to the sun, firm as the rock G
the mountain crest, resolute {
the lion aroused in his lair, wit
unblanched cheeks and steaG
perve, you obeyed every con