The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-27
GRAVES FLOWER DECKED.
VETERANS TRIBUTE TO THEIR
SLEEPING COMRADES.

Gettysburg FOrgOtten-The Parade
of the United Veterans and the
school Children to the Park-The
Exercises at the Confederate Mon
ument-Mr. Walter G. HartridGc's
OratIOn--A Salute of Honor Fired.
Scenes In the Cemetery.
Yesterday was a worthily celebrated
| Memorial day. The weather, which at
one time threatened to seriously interfere
with the exercises, refralned, and the rain
which had fallen during the morning only
served to make the day pleasanter. Some
body might have remarked that nature
wept in honor Of the memory of the con-
federate veterans, but nobody thought to
say it, so far as known, and most people
were most concerned to as to whether the
rain would interfere with the celebration.
The day was appropriately observed as
holiday by the schools, courts, banks. GUS
tom house, postofice, board of trade and
cotton exchange. With the business
houses generally the day was a half hol-
iday. Some dismissed their employees at
noon and others at 2 o'clock. The state
flag waved from the flagpoie of the city
mories the colors of the various commands
we're displayed, and throughout the city
the flags waved in honor of the day.
The exercises were held at the confed-
crate monument in the park extension in
the afternoon. The Confederate Veterans
Association and McLaws' Camp of United
| Veterans assembled in court house square
shortly after o'clock. Gen. P. McGias-
| han, first vice president, was in command
| of the association, and Maj. w. s. Rock
| well, commanded the camp. There were
| eighty-five veterans in line with the asso-
citation, and thirty with McLaws camp.
| This Is less than half the membership of
! these organizations. Many other vete
rams, however, participated in the exer-
cises with the military and in other capac-
| tiles. Each veteran in line was furnished
with wreath of laurel by the memorial
committee.
At 5 o'clock the First Regiment, ac>
| companied by its band, reached the
square. The regiment marched around,
| receiving the salute of the veterans as 1t
| passed. The veterans then took up The
| line of march, following the regiment. AZ
the parade arrived at Chatham Academy
about 200 school children, which had gath
cred inside the yard to take part in the
parade Joined 1t. Had 1t not been for
the rain the number of children would
nave been twice as large. The veterans
halted, and the children marched out in
double file. taking position between the
regiment and the veterans. The side
walks along the street were crowded with
| people, viewing the parade, and on their
way to the parade ground.
The regiment made handsome turn
| out. Col. A. r. Lawton was In command,
with a full staff. Lieut.. Col. Peter
| Reilly was also out Maj. Rockwell Of
the second battalion being in command OF
j McLaws Camp Of Veterans, the second
| battalion was commanded by Capt j. r.
Brooks of the Cadets, that company being
commanded by Lieut.. r. s. Nell. All
the company commanders were present.
The veterans were preceded by two car
| riages, the first containing Judge Robert
| Falligant, second vice president of the as
| scciation; Mr.. c. Lucien Jones, chairman
of the Memorial day committee; Rev. A.
| M. Williams, acting chaplain, and Mr.. W.
c. Hartridge, the orator of the day. The
second carriage contained pile of laurel
wreaths in charge of Justice w. H. Pat
terson and another veteran.
| The order of arrangement at the parade
| ground was excellent. The speakers
stand had been erected on the north side
of the monument and the space for some
| distance in front had been roped off
When the regiment arrived the two bat
talions took position facing each other on
each side of the Bull street walk, The
children marched between the lines and
took their position on the right of the
stand. The veterans marched through and
| took a position on the left of the stand.
The troops then closed in, inclosing the
stand on three sides and effectually pre-
venting crowding in the rear. The crowd,
numbering several thousand, grouped
closely around the troops. The arrange
ment effectually prevented crowding, and
| enabled many to hear the orator VINO
could not otherwise have done So
Gen. McGlashan introduced Rev. A. NJ.
| Williams, who made short prayer,
thanking God for the example of the men
who had died for the principles they be-
lieved to be right and that these princi-
pies stll live.
The orator was introduced by Judge Fall
ligant who said that it was a pleasure
able duty to him. 1t is a wish dear 10 the
heart of every confederate veteran, he
said, that the sons of those who united in
that great struggle of the past should
learn the truth of the issues of
that mighty conflict. They met
and went down before gallant
foe, but they were not willing TO
go down in history under the treacherous
pens of false historians. He appealed to
the young men and young women of to-
day to learn the Issues for which their
fathers had contended In order that in
years to come they may repeat these
truths to their children and their chill
dren's children. The speaker, he said, Is
the son Of one who bore an honorable and
conspicuous part in the councils of his
country in that great struggle. A few
years ago he unveiled the very monument
beneath which his son was about to de-
liver the Memorial day address. Little did
they think then that so soon would he
pass from their midst.
Mr.. Hartridge spoke as follows.
MIR. President Gentlemen Of the Confed-
| crate Veterans Association. Ladies and
| Gentlemen: Standing within the shadow
Of this monument 10 the confederato tosd
erected by the people Of Savannah h, through
the efforts Of the women of this city. l
am reminded that you are not alone in the
observance of this day, for, from the Po-
tomac 10 the Rio Grande, from the Ohio
TO the Mexican gulf, a grateful and low
| ing people are, like you, doing honor 70 a
| memory memory which is the richest
| heritage they have. with you, they ioln
In laying their fragrant tribute of flowers
! wherever stone marks a hero's resting
place. They come to their dead not In Bit
| terness, for time has softened hearts once
| rebellous against fate's decree; not In de-