The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-05
GENERAL JOHN B, GORDON.
The "Od Mar Horse" 0nly Await 5
the Call.
READY TO LEAD CONFEDERATE HOS I
veterans Are n Unit for Defending
the Fing--His piun In "a Crush
spain IN Cuba at u single blow.

New Orleans Times. Democrat
II wac a real. genuine ease of Hail to
the Chief \ group of old Confederate
veterans stood In tho Morgan ferry alta
ton early yesterday morning, awaiting
the arrival OF their iaolized Southern lead
or. the man upon whom the mantle or
Siouewail jackson fell the Chcvaler
Rayard OF the south General John b.
Gordon who was passing through the city.
He had come In from New iberia, whore
he had leotured Sunday, ana II was a
great disappointment to the New orleans
public that the general was forced to give
Up his engagement In this city A repre-.
sentative OF the Associated Press was
present aud in Difference to the oft-re-
roated wishes of the South people that
General Gordon be placed in command of
the Southern volunteers, an interview vas
accorded In reply TO mn interrogatcry
relative to his health. the general said
Il am not as well us | would Ike TO
he, but he added. with smile. my
health has greatly improved since war was
declared %
Have you rendered your services, or
Will YOU do so?''
erin chief OF the United Confederate Vet.
Grams ! have felt that any action by me
would In some sense. be considered aa a
committal OF them. and while | never
COUNTED for one moment their readiness
Ia hight when their services we're needed
yet u seemed due 20 them that / should
have something more tangible than my
own opinions before taking any action IN
the premises ! could not well separate
nay individual acticn from my official re.
lation TO them In matter Of this nature.
Moreover my belief has been. and my
hope still IT, that the war Will be brought
90 q successful end by tho regular army
and the organized military OF tho states
nov called into service, II has seemed
to me. therefore, that until there was n
real necessity for more troops. any such
step on my part would be premature
THESE tried veterans under my command
do rot need any more idle display OF
thnir patriotism az of their rcadiness 10
night for The Republics honor and It's nag.
Tho whole country knows that already"
Have YOU consulted them. Or any OF
them, as TO their feelings ana wishes
on yes. In my recent travels through
the South ! have found but one senti
ment among them They are old and tho
Rrea body OF them nre poor men, whose
families have nothing upon which to de-
pend except their labors, and yet have
not found man physically able to march
who does not assure me that he is ready
to so to the front when the country need
MIN. You must have seen how Generals
Hampton. Stephen D. Lee and Cabei.
who are the commanders OF the different
departments OF United Confederate Vet
Grams. are talking. General Lee has written
me special letter on the subject. In which
be saws that he and every true CGnfedcr-
ate will stand by me II the occasion arises
Tor action on our part.
i was delighted al sfe noble EXPIRES
sion by the camps In New Orleans a few
days ago such action on the part or
these camps IN New Orleans, where origi-
mated our organization, will not surprise
the country at all But I, gerves notice
on Spain and the civilized world that we
are all soldiers Of the Republic, and that
there are no sectional or State lines when
a common @,emy is 10 he met other
camps arc taking similar action. and
every reference made by me IN my recent
speeches OF the war and the flag have
evoked great enthusiasm"
General what Is your idea o. the wisest
policy In conducting the war against
SPAIN"
We'll. my friend, have great conf
dence in the combined wisdom OF those
who have the responsibility upon them al
Washington and | am bound, therefore.
10 suppose that there are scasons for de-
lay In the movement upon Cuba. OF
which we on the outside arc not. and
ooul,i not safely he informed con
TESS that deeply regret that there should
exist any cause for delay. should be
GLAD to see such blow struck at Blsnco
and his army in Cuba as Commodore
Dewey is said to have struck at the Snan-
ISL fleet Off the Philippine islands. should
be glad 10 see all the TRANSPORTS in Amer
lean waters chartered and the whole OF the
regular army end all OF the volunteers at
IA Ia. Tttt.
DO you think We need any such force
10 de'eat the spaniards now on the
islsnd?"
am. Of course not A comps, Nvely
small force in conjunction with theN'c,l-
ban army might suffice 70 defeat the
Spanish troops, but ! should prefer to
make our army 90 overwhelming In Cuba
as 10 crush the Snsnlards at single
blow. That Ia the cheapest way ! think.
10 end the war do not mean by cheap
80, that VI &c the best way TO save
money but blood. do not care about
the cost In money, but ! want to save
the lIves NJ orr brave bows. why SIR.
rnban soil wo,ld carry disuiay into
Rlanco's ramps and 10 tho s,anish fhrona
itself Plancn's men would have NJ hesrt
for battle lef. IN them. We would hem
them " In Hsvana 10 few hours. and
then with our batteries from the hills
behind the CITY the Srsniards would be
forced n csp'tulate We would move
with such = force that not . Hue Of de-
fenr> onsside ~ the city could bold MS In
check FIR a day rsrhaps scsrcs'v for an
hour, You nsrcrive THAT We would thps
quickly rcssess all the tsrriiorv where Gu
his starving women and children are now
diving. snh this fsr' u seems ~ me IT'S
tire- ~ expenditure Of cur utmost
str4ryth.''
''r.sst a, YOU think sb>ut tbs yellew
fevers" h x il
sThe beat way T. asSia lees ~ ssvss. =