Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-25
CLOSING EVENT OF THE CONFED-
ERATE REUNION.
100000 PEOPLE VIEWED 1T.
MANY NOTABLE SOUTHERN GEN.
ERALS PARTICIPATED.
Tattered Battle Flags Greeted With
Roars of Applause, but Every
where. Also, Were the Stars
and StripeS-ReuniOn
Great Success.

Nashville, Tenn, June 24.-Crowds every
where, on housetops, blocking sldewaIks
and filling to overlooking every avallaole
space along the long line OF march, aWalteu
the order for the grand parade, the closing
event of the Confederate reunion. one nun
dred thousand people had collected 10 see
the parade, consisting of 1e,00O people on
horseback. on foot and in carriages, march
ing 10 the music of brass bands, drums and
hfes. music which, years ago, they heard
during fierce war. Nothing in the history
of Nashville has equaled the outpourlnsi
never was there such procession.
The parade started promptly and from
start to finish the best of order prevailed.
From the starting point, at the custom
house, through the center OF the city.
around the public square, out Broad street
to Vanderbilt university, where the parade
broke ranks, dense mass Of enthusiastic,
cheering people greeted the Old soidleTs'
their generals and the beautiful women who
took part.
General W. II. Jackson, Of Nashville,
chief marshal. headed the parade. Com
mander-in-Chie John B. Gordon and STAN
came next, with the Savannah Huzzars as
escort. General Vaughn, the new major
general Of the Tennessee division, came
next. Then came the state divisions. each
division preceded by sponsors, maids OF
honor and INVITED guests, beautifully at
tired in summer costumes. South Carolina,
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana, Virginia, Arkansas, Missouri.
Kentucky, Maryland. Indian Territory
New York. Illinois. North Carolina, Texas,
Oklahoma, West Virginia, District Of Col
umbia, all had veterans in line. Tennes-
sees division brought up the rear OF thlS
display of soldierly looking men and beautl-
full women. The Sons of Confederate Vet
Grams marched and were commanded by
Robert ]. Smyth, of Charleston
The Daughters of the Confederacy were
present in large numbers and rode in car
riages. General w. E. Bate, General Jo-
seph Wheeler, and General S. b. Buckner
were in carriages at the head of the Ten
nessee division. General a. p. Stewart, Cen
eral NJ. c. Butler, Mrs. s. B. Buckner and
Mrs. w. B. Bate preceded them in car
riage, Judge Reagan and General John
p Stewart Mrs. Robert f. Lee and John
Hood aroused continued cheers: General
Stephen d. Lee was easily recognized.
With their respective divisions the COM
mandng officers from each state rode by,
and as they were recognized shouts went
up, and as little bands marched along bear
ing tattered flags inscribed with the names
of bloody battlefields. a mighty roar as
cended. From the time the South Carolina
troops, bearing palmetto branches, began
the line until Tennessee's troops passed
the stand where General Gordon for one
hour and half saluted the passing hosts,
the air was rent with cheers with roars,
with drum beats. buele blasts and music
by bands. And though at noon two fearful
rain storms drenched spectators and veter-
ans, temporarily disorganizing the parade,
through it all, veterans, sponsors, maids
of honor, generals and privates stood to
their posts and when the storm had passed
resumed the line of march.
Though the rain storms had caused dis
appointment. had bedraggled the flags and
banners, had drenched the paraders and
made limp the costumes. OF the ladies, en-
thusiasm was not dampened. and in a short
time the streets were again thronged.
The afternoon was almost general hoh-
decorated. The veterans were not all in
though a large number in each
division wore the uniforms of the days Of
battle.
From the dismissal of the participants I'm
the parade until late this evening the tide
Of travel was TO the exposition. Men, wom-
noon to the Auditorium 10 attend the final
exercises of the United Confederate Vet
Grams, the love feast and how OF oratoryi
with Southern melodies and
the martial music of days gone by. Each
state was represented in the jubilee by d4lG-
gates, their friends and a speaker selected
but in variety were most excellent. suited
10 the occasion, and were received with
Captain ]. r. O'Brien presided. Among
the speakers were men from every state,
and so great was the enthusiasm ana so
insistent the vast audience which packed
the huge auditorium that 1t was after 0
o clock before the last speech was made
and the last note OF Southern melody
noated out, telling to those who could nos
get in the building that the joyous and
successful jubilee was at an end.
Tonight the same vast throng witnessed
fireworks prepared for the occasion and
listened to the rendering of another
Southern programme" by Innes' band.
While old Confederate and regimental
flags tattered and torn, appeared in dec
Drations and in the parade. very prominent
at every turn was the star spangled ban
ner, and in the parade the national stand
ard was seen in every division.
II is the unanimous verdict of the vet
Grams and their visiting friends that the
reunion was the most successful yet held.