The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-30
II OLD C0NFEDS
HAVE A GRAND REUNION AT NASH
WILLIE, TENN .

They are Royalty Entertained by the Peo-
ple-G sneral Gordon Re. Elected Com
mander.In-Chief-wnI Meet in Atlanta
Next Year.
The reunion OF the Survivors of the
Confederate Armies, in Nashville,
Tenn, last week, wa a notable event.
II is estimated that about twenty'thous'
and veterans were present and partlc-
ipated in the festivities of the occasion,
which commenced on Tuesday and
ended on Thursday. On Tuesday the
assemblage was called to order by
General Gordon. and prayer was Of
fered by DR.. Jones, the chaplain.
Governor Taylor delivered an address
of welcome in behalf of the State;
Judge Ferris spoke for the county and
Bishop Fitzgerald, who represented
Mayor Mccarthy. spoke for the city:
Captain j.. B. O'Brien, chairman Of
the executive committee, made some
announcements, and in behalf OF the
committee welcomed the visitors.
General Gordon spoke briefly. Judge
Reagan then delivered his address.
The city is full to cvertlowing and the
rush has not ceased. Tuesday night
bands parsded the Streets. playing
tunes familiar to all who endured the
trials from 81 to rs. Headquarters
are besieged. speeches are being made
and the city is one grand mass of fes-
tive occupants. A brilliant reception
was given by the Tennessee Daughters
of the Confederacy' to the old soldiers,
the sponsors and the maids of honor
at the capitol at night. 1t was large
lily attended and was n OF the charm
ing events OF the reunion. -!
On Wednesday a business meeting
was held at which reports were pre-.
scented, and General John B.. Gordon
delivered an address. General Cor.
don prefaced his remarks with an an.
nouncement of his intention to resign
as general commanding. There were
cries of MOP MOI" from all over
the hall, and when quiet had been re.
stored, General Gordon proceeded
with his address. 1t is printed on
another page. When General Cor.
don had concluded his address, a mo-
ton that General Joseph II. Wheeler
be requested to nominate General Cor.
don for re- election was made and car.
ried. General Stephen D. Lee, who
had been called to the chair, declared
nominations closed, and General Cor.
don was unanimously re elected. The
Thousands of delegates present cheered
and waved their hats and handker'
chiefs. The committee on credentials
reported 1000 delegates present
and one thousand camps repre-
scented. The report of the board
of trustees for the Confederate Memo
rial Association was read and adopted.
AT the business meeting in the after
noon it was voted to meet in Atlanta
next year. ..". .
A resolution commendatory Of the
reign OF Queen Victoria was voted
down and a resolution of praise for
the Queens Jubilee was defeated.
| The principal reports were by tho
committee on history and the memo
| rial Association. The history COM
mittee in substance reported In favor
OF the plan now pursued In inviting
many writers into the field OF history
rather than selecting one or more to
write a history. The memorial re-
port shows that the board of trustees
were making excellent progress and
would bs able to report a location for
the memorial building at the next re-
union, provided camps and bivouacs
subscribed literally. Both reports
were adopted. Wednesday night in
the tabernacle, thousands were de-
lighted with a Confederate concert, in
which were sung and played old Con-
federate airs. Governor R. L. Taylor
and Mrs. M. NJ. Gardner sang a duet
which captured the audience.
On Thursday the parade of the vet
Grams, the closing event of the reun-
ion, in which more than 10, 900 veter.
ans took part, was the largest in the
history of the organization and n OF
| the greatest ever e in this city.
The streets were densely crowded.
The stars and stripes and the Confed-
crate flags were conspicuous in the
long line that reached from the pub.
lie square to the Tennessee Centennial
exposition gates. One hundred thous-
and people had collected to see the pa
rsde. Nothing in the history of Nash
Vile had equalled the outpouring;
never was there such a procession. On
the faces of lockers on and some OF the
bent figures stepping briskly and
| proudly, could be seen the suggestion
that never again would there be such
another parade. The line started
promptly. Police on horseback clear.
ed the way and from start to finish
the best of order prevailed. All vehi'
, cles kept Oft the streets included in the
line of march and the street cars
stopped running. The parade was
.cheerfully accorded the full right of
way. From the starting point, the
custom house, through the center OF
the city, around the public square, out
Broad street to Vanderbilt University,
where the parade broke ranks, adense
mass of enthusiastic, cheering people
greeted the old soldiers, their generals
and the beautiful women who took
part. The citizens Of Nashville were
both welcoming and speeding their
departing guests and they did 1t with
whole souled cordially, inspiring to
witness.
Gen. w. II. Jackson, OF Nashville,
chief marshal, headed the procession,
his staff consisting Of distinguished
men. Commander Chief John B.
r.. III H.