The herald., 1897-06-25
Ex-coNFEDEaATE VETERANS
RENEW THEIR MEMORIES OF
THE PAST
The Reunion at Nashville Pleases the
People Who Once Sympathised
With the Lost Cause
Associated Press Special wire.

Crowds everywhere, blocking sidewalks
and filling to overfiowing every avail
able space along the long line of march.
witnessed the grand parade, the closing
event Of the Confederate reunion. One
hundred thousand people saw the pa
rade. consisting Of 10000 people on
horseback, on foot and in carriages,
marching to the music of brass bands.
drums and flies, music which years ago
they had heard during fierce war. Moth
ing in the history Of Nashville has equal
ed the outpouring; never such pro-
cession. and, on the faces OF the
lookers-on and some of the bent
figures stepping briskly and proudly
could be seen the suggestion that never
again would there be seen such parade.
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, a dense mass Of
enthusiastic. cheering people greeted
the old soldiers, their generals and the
beautiful women who took part.
General W. H. Jackson of Nashville,
chief marshal, headed the parade, his
staff consisting of distinguished men.
Commander-in-Chief johns B. Gordon
and staff came next with the Savannah
hussars as escort; General Vaughn, the
new major-general of the Tennessee di-
vision, each division preceded by spon-
sors, maids of honor and invited guests,
beautifully attired in summer costumes
South Carolina, Mississippi Florida,
Alabama, Georgia. Louisiana, Vir-
ginia, Arkansas, Missouri Kentucky,
Maryland, Indian Territory, New York,
Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Okla
homa, West Virginia, District of Column
bia,, all had veterans in line.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans
marched and were commanded by Rob-
ert j. Smythe Of Charleston, newly
elected. The Daughters Of the Confed-
eracy were present in large numbers,
and rode in carriages. Gen. W. B. Bate,
General Joseph Wheeler, General s. B..
Buckner were in carriages at the head
Of the Tennessee division. General A. p.
Stewart, General M. B. Butler, Mrs S.
B. Buckner and Mrs. w B. Bate pre-
ceded them in carriages. Judge Rea-
gan and General John Ford rode with
the Texas division. Mrs. A. p. Stewart,
Robert e. Lee and John, Hood aroused
continuous cheers. General Stephen
d. Lee was easily recognized. With
their respective divisions, the command
ing officers from each state rode by, and
as they were recognized shouts went up,
and as little bands marched along bear
ing tattered flags inscribed with the
names of bloody battlefelds a mighty
roar ascended. From the time the
South Carolina troops, bearing palmetto
branches. began to move to the music Of
Dixie" all down the line until the Ten
nessee troops passed the stand where
General Gordon for an hour and half
saluted the passing hosts, the air was
rent with cheers. with roars, with drum
beats, bugle blasts and music by bands.
And though at noon two transforms
drenched spectators and veterans, tenn
porarily disorgandzing the parade,
through it all veterans. sponsors. maids
of honor, general and privates stood to
their posts, and when the storm had
passed resumed the line of march. Af-
ter passing the reviewing stand the pa
rade was dismissed.
Though the transforms had bedrag-
gled the flags and banners, drenched the
paraders and made limp the costumes of
the ladies, enthusia SIN was rot dampen-
ed, and in a short time the streets were
again 'thronged, and of the countless
thousands the major portion thronged
to the auditorium to listen to speeches
and witness the closing exercises of the
afternoon and evening. From the dis
missal of the participants in the parade
until late this evening the tide of travel
was toward the exposition, where the
final exercises of the United Confed-
crate Veterans were held. Each state
was represented in the Jubilee by dele
gates, their friends and a speaker se-
lected for the occasion.
Capt. ]. B. O'Brien presided. Among
the speakers were men from every state,
and so great was the enthusiasm and so
insistent the vast audience which packed
the huge auditorium that it was after
six o'clock before the last speech was
made and the note Of melody fioated out.
Tonight the same vast throng wit
messed fireworks prepared for the occa-
sion, and listened to the rendering of an
other Southern Program by Innes'
band.
While old Confederate flags, regi-
mental flags altered and torn, appeared
in the decorations and in the parade.
very prominent at every turn was the
star spangled banner, and In the pa
rade the national standard was seen in
every division. 1t was the unanimous
verdict OF the veterans and their visit
ing friends that the reunion is the most
successful ever held