Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-07-13
Confederate Battle Abbey.


Confederate Veterans. at Nashville, the
Confederate Memorial report was read,
as follows:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, June ~, Is97.-To
the United Confederate Veterans, in Sew
enth Annual Reunion Assembled-Con-
rades: 1t becomes my duty as President
of the board to submit the first annual
report of the Board of Trustees of the
Confederate Memorial Association. In
pursuance of the authority delegated by
Your body at the Richmond reunion a
charter was obtained and the Confeder-
ate Memorial Association was organized
at Lookout Mountain. Tenn. Sept. 2, of
last year At this meeting was elected
President and Gen. Clement A. Evans.
Vice President, and the Fourth National
Bank of Nashville, Treasurer. An Ex-
ecutive Committee was appointed, con-
sisting of Gen. w, H. Jackson. of Ten
nessee, Chairman; Gen. l.. S. Ross, of
Texas Gen. Robert White, of West Vir-
ginia; Gen. Joseph B. Briggs, of Ken
lucky, the President of the Board of
Trustees being ex-officio a member of the
Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee met and organized at Nash
vile, Tenn, on Oct. 10, 1896. and elected
John c. Underwood, of Kentucky, Su-
perintendent and Secretary of the Asso-
citation. Supt. Underwood entered upon
his duties with enthusiasm and energy,
but was confronted with many difficulties
directly connected with the affairs of the
association, and his new work was Sc
riously handicapped by the all-absorbing
political situation.
Supt. Underwood has succeeded in
placing in the hands of the Fourth Ma
tional Bank, as Treasurer of the associa-
ton, from old subscriptions, the sum of
S9,4Io-57. He has secured new contri-
buttons of $40, 500, and has organized
plans approved by the Executive Com
mittee from which success is confidently
expected.
The former administration of the af-
fairs of the association variously estimat-
ed the subscriptions at from SI5,ooo to
$40, 600, but an effort to cash the sub
scriptions and place the money in bank
developed several Implications of the re-
ported contributions, amounting to about
81, 600. Contributions amounting to about
S4, 600 are withheld, and 1 would recon-
mend that your body adopt a resolution
requesting that all moneys held for the
Confederate Memorial Association be
paid on drafts of the Superintendent and
Secretary, countersigned by the Chair
man of the Executive Committee, the
same being made payable to the Fourth
National Bank of Nashville, Tenn, the
bonded Treasurer of the association.
The thanks of your body are due the
Tennessee Centennial Association for the
liberal and unconditional contributions of
one-third of the net proceeds of revenue
to be derived from admissions on June
%, 23 and "a. The exposition should be
generally and liberally patronized by the
veterans and their friends in the interest
of the cause.
1 desire to assure my comrades that
much and very valuable preliminary
work has been accomplished, and while
it would not be beneficial to the work
now in hand OF interesting to your body
to enter upon the details, feel warrant
ed in repeating the assurance that your
next reunion will witness the consum-
nation of the work intrusted to the
Board of Trustees of your Memorial As
sociation and desire to say further
that this assurance is made after a full
and frank conference with other mem
bers of the Executive Committee and
Supt. Underwood, who have had direct
charge of the work, and who endorse my
assurance.
The expenses of the work conducted
under the present organization, like that
of our predecessor, have been borne by
Comrade c. B. Rouss, whose hberality
has rendered it unnecessary for the board
to use any contribution, policy that will
continue to govern the committee.
1t is the avowed purpose and agree
ment of Mr.. Ro,iss not to take the amount
advanced for expenses from the 100000
which he has agreed to turn over to the
association whenever the association has
raised similar amount.