Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-21
New Military order in Atlanta.
Charleston News and CourierD

Some of the women Of Atlanta nave
organized the society Of "The order OF
Robert r. Lee" to honor and per-
petuate the memory OF those who served
the South as commissioned officers du-
ring the war between the States" The
membership Is TO be confined strictly 10
commissioned officers who served In the
Confederate army. and their lineal de-
scendants No Confederate private or
non-commissioned officer or his de-
scendants will he eligible to member
ship. The Charlotte Observer remarks
that "this Is a unique idea, only capa-
BILE of being originated and developed IN
Atlanta" and does not expect that the
order will be "a blooming success The
women who are at the head Of the move
ment are all noted as being the daughters
Of this. that. or the other general. The
Abbeville Medium says:
"Of the generals whose daughters are
in this venture. not one was ever trust
ed with a separate command, and not
one ever fought a battle or made
military movement on his own respOn-
sibility. OH why should the spirit OF
mortal be proud?' If any such contempt
is felt for the privates, and their de-
scendants by the commissioned officers
and their children in South Carolina, we
have not observed II. If any such dis
tinction is to be made in Georgia, pri-
Yates and their children should let the
next reunion in Atlanta alone, for II
may come about that this Atlanta as
ISOLATION will not allow any of the old
privates or their children to march I'm
line or take part i'm the exercises"
our Abbeville contemporary possibly
mistakes the spirit of the promoters OF
this new military order; but it APP
pears to be a very silly sort of under
taking. and is sure to excite i'll will
among the veterans Of the Confederate
armies and their descendants. one OF
the objects OF the society is the writing
If the history Of the commissioned Off
GERS Of the South, the requirement Of
membership being as follows:
They shall be required to furnish
sketch Of the ancestor, his ancestry, his
public services. his attitude on the sub
Jet of the war. his military record in
detail. which sketch must be typewrit-
ten, and which becomes the property OF
the society For generals, this sketch
must consist of not less than 1900 words
colonies and other field officers. not less
than loo; captains, etc, not less than
500"
a distinction among its own members,
and that even i'm this mutual admiration
concern there are TO be degrees accord
ing TO the number OF stars or straps worn
by the members Of the order or their
progcnitors The daughter of a general.
for example, whose military genius was
confined to the rather commonplace bust
ness Of keeping the soldiers at the front
supplied with hard tack and bacon. will
be permitted. under the rules, to write
1000 words about her PA" while the
daughter of a captain fighting in the field
will be limited 10 800 words i'm describing
the martial deeds Of her ancestor. Be
fore the order is fully organized, we
would suggest that the bylaws be
amended so that the officers of the So
ciey shall be chosen only from the de-
sccndants Of those who really did some
fighting.
1t may be- however, that the society
is a good thing as 1t is partly intended
for the preservation of historical ma
terial There were a good many private
soldiers I'm the Confederate service gifted
with the art Of writing. and it will be
their duty i'm the circumstances TO tell
what they know about the commissioned
officers and their service during the war
They will not be able to join the So
ciety. but they can tell all they know
about the generals and colones and cap
tains, etc. etc. who are admitted TO the
exclusive. but not always very select
circle In this way We shall probably
get at a great deal Of the truth Of his
tory. and find out why and how it was
that the officers were not equal TO the
demands Of some critical emergencies.
The Atlanta women have selected the
best possible means Of breaking up the
order OF United Confederate Veterans,
and of making things very lively when
the lire begins to tell what it knows
about the staff