The Opelousas courier., 1897-05-01
United Confederate Veterans

To the Editor:
DEAR SIR:-Gen j. B. Gordon, Com
manding United Confederate Veterans,
respectfully requests the press, both
daily and weekly. of the whole country
to aid the patriotic and benevolent ob-
jects OF the United Confederate Neter
ans by publishing date reunion is to take
Wednesday and Thursday, jane %, 90
and "a, 1897, by publication of this let
ter. with editorial notice.
1t will be the largest aud most import
ant u. G. V. Reunion ever held. The
personnel Of the Nashville Reunion
committee under the leadership of it's
chairman, Col j. B. O'Bryan. is II guar
antee that everything will be done for
the comfort and convenience of the old
veterans and all visitors, which is in the
power of man; it is Il splendid body of
able and distinguished comrades who
are fully alive to the magnitude of the
work entrusted to them in entertaining
and caring for their old comrades, and
it will be their pride to make it the
most memorable reunion upon record;
and the citizens of Nashville are aglOw
with enthusiasm and patriotism at the
prospect OF dispensing their far-fameu
hospitality to the surviving heroes of Il
Lost Cause.
Also, to urge tx- Confederate soldiers
and sailors everywhere to form local as
sociation and send applications to these
headquarters for papers to organize
camps Immediately, SO as to be in time
to participate in the great reunion at
Nashville, and thus unite with their
comrades in carrying out the laudable
and philanthropic objects of the organ
iZation; as only veterans who belong to
organized U. T.. V. camps can partici-
pate in the business meeting at Nash
Vile.
Business of the greatest importance to
the survivors of the Southern army will
demand careful consideration daring
the session Of the seventh annual con
vention at Nashville,-sucha as the best
methods Of securing impartial history,
and to enlist each state in the compia-
ton and preservation of the history of
her citizen soldiery; the benevolent care
through state aid, or otherwise, OF dis
alFp1, destitute or aged veterans and
- widows and orphans of our fallen
- 'hers in arms; to consult as to the
feasibility of the formation of U. Z.
V. Benevolent Aid Association; the care
of the graves of our known and un-
known dead buried at Gettysburg, Fort
Warren, Camps Morton, Chase. Doug
las. Oakwood cemetery at Chicago,
Johnson's island, Cairo, and at all other
points, to, see that they are annually
decorated, fhe headstones preserved and
protected, >and complete lists Of the
names ot~~sur dead heroeszi, with the 10
catic[(1f their last iestiGg places, furn-
ished to- their relativrs and friends
through the medium q: )our camps, thus
rescuipg tr,ir name. srrom oblivion aud
handing them sroivIl in history; the con
sideratioE of the different movements,
plans and means to erect a monument
to the memory Of jefferson Davis, pres
ilent of the Confederate States of
America, also to aid in bnlding monu-
ments to other great leaders, soldiers
and sailors of the south; also, to assist
in the promotion and completion OF the
proposed Battle Abbey; to vote on the
proposed change of the name of the AS
sociation from U. c. Y. to G. $. A; and
to change the present badge ar button
which is rot patentable for the new one
proposed which is; and to make snch
changes in the constitution and by laws
as experience may suggest, and other
matters of general interest.
Total number OF camps now admitted
900, with applications III for about $50
more.