The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-02

meeting, which the Adjutant General
proceeded to do, but was interrupted
by motion to- dispense with tho read
Ing OF the minutes, which motion was
carried.
Major Con. Walker then road his
splendid report Of the work during the
past year. The report is as follows
COMRADES: | have tho honor to
submit tho annual report of the dis
charge Of the responsible duties which
you have imposed upon mo, rs Com
mandcr Of the South Carolina Division,
United Confederate Veterans.
1t Is with feelings OF tho profoundost
satisfaction that | am able to report
that the S. 9. Division has had, during
the past two years, u most gratifying
growth and prosperity. Tho Veterans
OF our noble cnuso have appreciated
the full value Of the splendid organiza.
tion of the U. G. ", and have formed
camps in cvery part OF tho State.
grcnt majOrity Of Confederate survi-
vors Of South Carolina are now enrolled
in tho ranks Of our organization. You
will remember that at the timo OF our
first convention, held at Columbia,
November, 1895, thirty-cight Camps
had been formed, Of these thrcc had
died and nine wore, / bolieve, dormant,
leaving only twcnty-siX in active life.
In the six months which followed this,
our first convention, which seemed to
awaken the Confederate interest, the
growth was large. At the second
convention, Charleston, April, 1896, |
reported that twenty-five more Camps
had been formed in this Division, and
hn mir h
vived. Since then thirty-scvcn moro
Camps have boon chartered, this max
ing a total number Of Camps which
have been formed in this Division, nine
ty-scven. Thoso arc officially organized
and reported by Cen. MOorman, and
have heard of at least ten more now in
process OF formation. From one OF the
smallest Divisions Of tho u. G.. v, by
the earnest efforts OF the veterans in
al! parts OF the State, VIC have grown,
until now our Division is the largest
Division Of tho U. G.. V. We arc at the
head Of tho roll in tho number of
Camps. This magnificent asscmblagc
OF the grayhaircd heroes of tho Con-
fedcracy shows that you arc foremost
equally in your interest. You arc lead
ing the gallant South in your devotion
to, and advocacy Of, those glorious
y
ly led them in 1861.
This splendid demonstration, thous-
ands Of old veterans boldly advocating
tho Justice and the right Of our cause,
shows the world that you arc proud Of
having been Confcdcratcs. Nothing
can moro fully show the integrity Of
your assertion Of the Justice and the
Righteousness OF our magnificent effort
to establish tho right Of sclf-govcrn-
mont, than your boing willing, as tho
true mc1 that you arc, to avow your
part in tho grand struggle you made
for its success. It will prove to your
children and to all future generations
that not having been ashamed to follow
the Starry Cross, your struggle had
the endorsement Of your brains as we'll
as Of your hearts.
1t gives mo pleasure to report the
action taken in tho several matters
commended TO NC at your last convcn-
tion, and the action taken on sundry
other matters which havo arisen.
In accordance with tho resolution
passed at tho 1896 convention, in Con
eral Order No. "a, | asked from the
various camps information as to tho
number OF INDECENT cx-Cor fcdcratc
soldiers in the Camp or vicinity, who
would accept IL erected, tho hospitali-
ty OF u Soldiers Home" | regret to
say that very little information was
given, and that little unfavorablo to
the object. The opinion OF those who
replied was that such cx-Confcdcrates
would prefer receiving tho pension
which our State generously provided
and be allowed to live among their
friends.
A circular, August 18th, 1896, was
published, calling attention to circu-
lar sent the Division by the Ladies'
Memorial Association, asking tho as
sistanco OF tho veterans to tho effort to
properly care for our dead in Stoncwall
cemetery, Winchester, Va. | regret
to say that tho response was, SO fur as
reported to Division Headquarters,
very moderate. Two Camps contribu-
ted $ll, one liberal Confcratc S.. Tho
amount, SIG, has boon turned over to
the proper parties.
At tho time Of our visit to tho Fair
Grounds at Columbia, November | lth,
1896, an informal meeting was called
OF IL representative from each Camp,
the Division and Brigade Commanders
and their stalls. a plan was submitted
by Maj. Louis Shcrfcscc to more thor
oughly organize tho Divis on. IT mot
tho unanimous approval OF all present.
AS 1t was not in conflict with our con-
stitution, was intended for The good OF
the Division, and approving it hcarti-
ly, promulgated it in General Order
No. 2G. | am satisfied that frequent
meetings arc essential to Keeping alivo
an interest in our organization. With
one Camp covering an entire county
this would hardly be practicable. The
county organization is Of great value.
10 secure both it was determined to
adopt tho formation OF the Camps in
each County into Regiments. This
kept up the bona of union within the
county lines, and the provision for an
nual meetings Of tho Regiment or
Camps in the county, placed the or
ganizatiOn exactly whore 1t was with
ono Camp covering tho whole county.
1t stimulated the formation OF Camps
in the various ncighborhoOds OF the
county, and gave the opportunity for
those frequent, fratcrnnl meetings
which do 80 much to koop up old
friendships, and strengthen the bonds
which cement us together. Regiments
1