Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-06-29
Confederate Reunion and Tennessee
Exhibition.

week. Taking the old reliable b. Il o.,
we whirled away to Washington, and
from thence our route was by the South
ern. which includes the attractive N. c.
& St. l.. from Chattanooga to Nashville.
Passing in succession the historic battle
fields of Manassas and Brandy Station.
Charlottesville with Monticello in sight,
and the University of Virginia, with its
elegant new building for the erection of
Which Mr.. c. B. Rouss contributed s25,-
ooo,) and through the hustling business
cities of Lynchburg and Danville, we enter
North Carolina and in few hours are
passing through Asheville and the land
of the sky" Travelling through fertile
Tennessee, taking in a small strip of
Alabama.) our path lies along historic
Missionary Ridge, and Chattanooga,
with Chicamangua near by, and by the
side of the broad Tennessee, under the
shadow of Lookout Mountain, As we
approach Nashville the pilgrims trending
to that Mecca increase-car is added to
car. and section to section. Manned
veterans, middle aged men and women
and joyous young people join the throng,
and Nashville, already filed with surging
humanity, is at last reached.
The train which conveyed Gen Gordon
to the city on the opening day of the
reunion was delayed and it was nearly
1890 o'clock before he arrived at the
Tabernacle. During the wait the First
Regiment band discoursed music. the
programme being made up of familiar
Southern airs, end when the band played
Dixie well, everybody who knows
the Confederate soldier knows the rest.
Probably there never was such another
scene in the old Tabernacle. The old
boys raised such yell as only Confeder-
ates can raise.
When Gen. Gordon entered thehall he
was greeted with enthusiastic applause
and ringing cheers. He picked up the
gavel and raped for order. When quiet
was restored he said: Comrades, some of
You will bear me out in the assertion that
/ was not always behind. have come
here according to orders. 1t is fit that
we should give honor and praise to God
the Supreme Master, and l ask that this
great audience unite in Praising him by
singing Old Hundred led by the band. y
The band made an attempt to lead but
evidently had not learned the tune and had
to give it up.
Gov. Taylor came to the rescue and led
the song, the congregation joining and
standing
Chaplain J. Vim. Jones offered the
opening prayer. lie prayed fervently,
thanking God that through all ages
He had raised up men when they were
needed he tn anked God for the men He
had given to this beautiful Southland
He asked for Divine blessings on the
comrades who had gathered here to join
in this reunion. He prayed for blessings
on the deliberations of the association
ard for the welfare of the whole country.
At the conclusion of prayer the band
played - Home Sweet Home
Gen. Gordon then said: The chair
has great pleasure in introducing the dis
tinguished Governor of this Volunteer
State. Hon. Robert L. Taylor.
Gov Taylor was greeted with great ap-
plause, and spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen-Why need 1
say welcome to the men of the South P
Every heart in Tennessee throbs well
come to you, and every loyal home smiles
a welcome l think if l could draw back
the veil which separates Immortality from
this vale of tears, you would see vision
of your old comrades, who have answered
to the roll call of eternity, crowding in the
air, and you would hear them shout, well
come, thrice welcome
love to live in the land of Dixie. I'M
der the soft Southern skies, where sum
mer pours out her food of sunshine and
showers, and the grateful earth smiles
with plenty. love to live on Southern
soil, where the cotton fields wave their
white banners of peace and where the
wheat fields wave their banners of gold
from the hills and valleys which were
once drenched with the blood of heroes,
love to live where the mockingbirds
flutter and sing in the shadowy coves and
bright waters ripple in eternal melody
by the graves where our heroes are bur
led. l love to breathe the Southern air
that comes filtered through jungles of
roses whispering the story of Southern
deeds of bravery. / love to drink from
Southern springs and Southern babbling
brooks which once cooled the lips of Lee
and Jackson and Forrest and Gordon, and
the worn and weary columns of brave
men who wore the gray. love to live
among Southern men and women where
every heart is warm as the Southern sun
shine and every home is a temple of love
and liberty. love to listen to the sweet
old Southern melodies which touch the
soul and melt the heart and awaken to
life ten thousand precious memories of
the happy long ago, when the old-tine
darkeys used to laugh and sing, and when
the old-tirne black nanny soothed the
children to slumber with her lullabies.
But, oh, the music that thrills me most is
the melody that died away on the lips of
many Confederate as ne sank into that
sleep that knows no waking:
g am glad ami in Dixie"
] doubt If the world will ever see another
civilization as brilliant rs that which
persisted in the South third of century
ago. Its white columned mansions
under cool spreading groves, its orange
trees waving their sprays of snowy
blossoms. and its cotton fields stretching
away to the horizon alive with toilin G
It. 4