The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-24
EX-0)NFED[RAIE DAY.
THE wEABERs OF THE GRAY HAD
GRAND TINE AT NASH
vHhE YESTERDAY.
SPEECH OF JUDGE REAGAN
AN ABLE DEFENSE OF THE POSI-
TION OF THE PEOPLE
OF THE SOUTH.
CAUSES LEADING UP 70 THE WAR
CAUSES LEADING UP 70 THE WAR
The whole Question Thoroughly
Handled ana the Southern PeO-
PIE Defended in Their Course
Third of n Century Ago.
Prominent &Outherners
who Were Present.

Nashville, June A.-Many special
trains arrived today with ex-confederate
soldiers ana thousands who had come for
the purpose of attending the annual re-
union Of the United Confederate Vet
Grams. The rush yesterday was con-
rinued today, and the reception commit
tee ON duty al the union station and
headquarters were kept busy assigning
the visitors TO homes. The regular
trains we're run in sections in order to
accommodate the very heavy demand for
transportation. From daylight yester-
day to midnight last night there arrived
from all directions on the Louisville and
Nashville and the Nashville. Chatta-
noOga and 81. Louis railroads forty-eight
trains bringing into Nashville not less
than 10000 people. or the number of
trains arrived. the Louisville and Nash
vile had nineteen and the Nashville,
Chattanooga and ST. Louis had twenty
nine. The former ran thirteen regular
trains and six specials and the latter
seven regular trains and twenty-five
specials.
Rain fell during the morning but the
weather cleared somewhat towards noon.
The ex.eonfederate soldiers spent the
morning IN attending the reunion ut the
tabernacle and the meeting of the COM
mittee.
The tabernacle, a large building on
Summer street, and having seating
capacity Of 5000, was filed. Seats on
the platform were occupied by the spon-
sors, maids Of honor and the officers Of
the association.
Governor Taylor was accompanied by
his staff in full uniform. Prominent
among those who were seated on the
platform were Gen. Stephen ID. Lee of
Mississippi, Judge j. III. Reagan OF
Texas, the only surviving member of
Jefferson Davis cabinet; Col. a, 5. Col
var and DR., Thomas Menezc of Nash
vile and Hon. j. ID. c. Atkins, surviving
members of the confederate congress;
Gen. Marcus j. Wright of Washington,
Gen. Simon II. Buckner of Kentucky,
Col. Henry G. Myers, Col. Lake, Col.
Helm of Memphis, Gen. II. p. Sykes of
Mississippi, Col. III. o. Ward of Geor-
gin, Gen. Norman of New Orleans. Col.
Baxter Smith of Nashville, Gen. w. b..
Bate, Col. John III. Savage of Tennessee,
DIR. William Jones. chaplain of the
United Confederate Veterans; Gen.
Clement Evans of Georgia and Gen. Joe
A. Wheeler of Alabama.
Robert Il. Lee, Jr grandson Of
Gen. II. Il. Lee, occupied n prominent
place on the platform. A son of Gen.
Hood was also present. Both of these
ton by the veterans.
Gen. John Ii. Gordon arrived during
the morning and was given an enthusi-
astic reception.
The assembage was called to order by
Gen. Gordon, and prayer was offered by
DIR. Jones, the chaplain. Governor Tay-
lor delivered an address of welcome in be-
half of the state; Judge Ferris spoke for
the county, and Bishop Fitzgerald, who
represented Mayor Mccarthy, spoke for
the city
Capt. j. Il. O'Bryan chairman of the
executive committee, made some an
nouncements and in behalf of the com
mittee welcomed the visitors.
Gen. Gordon then spoke briefly.
Hon. John II. RenEap's Speech.
Judge John ii. Reagan of Texas then
delivered an Grafton. He spoke as fol
lows:
Compatriots, Ladies and Gentlemen
This great assemblage and this interest
ing occasion calls up many memories of
great events. 1t brings into review the
able and earnest discussions which pre-
ceded the year 1861, on the great qucs-
tons which led up TO the war between
the states; the separation of the members
of the Thirty-siXth congress; the action
of the southern states in passing the or
dnances of secession; the organization of
the government of the Confederate
States of America: the commencement
of hostilities ut Charleston harbor the
call for volunteers by President LINCOLN;
the enthusiasm with which men on both
sides volunteered to enter the great strug-
gle; the separation of husbands and faith
ers from wives and children, of sons
from fathers and mothers, of brothers
from sisters and of lovers from their
sweethearts, with eyes believed with
tears and hearts tbrobbing with patriot
ism, to enter the camps of instruction,
make the long marches and engage i'll the
fierce conflicts of battle. 1t brings into
review the assembling of mighty armies.
their toilsome marches, the sickness and
suffering in camps, the thousands of skir-
mishes and battles, participated in by
hundreds of thousands of brave men, the
sufferings of the wounded and the great
number who fell on each side rs mar
tyrs TO their patriotic devotion to the
causes they believed to be right and just
in the greatest war of modern times; Il
war in which hundreds of thousands of
brave men lost their lives, and which left
to the future vast army of mourning
widows and children and Borrowing rela-
tives and friends, and which caused the
sacrifice Of billions of dollars worth of
property. And il calls up our remem-
brance of the great labor and sacrifices
of our noble women in caring for the
children and aged at home, and in pre-
pairing and sending TO the armies clothes
and food for their loved ones and in min