The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-05-13
CONFEDERATE REUNION.
Iutspcsti gProcetd ngs OF the Old Veterans
al Charleston.

IuteIosti gProcetd ngs OF the Old Veterani
al Charleston.
Charleston. S. o. May 10 AT the
reunion of United Confederate Veteran:
today. resolutions presented by Gen
Stephen ID. Lee, looking to accept
ing the suggestion thrown out by Pre-
sident Mckinley in one Of his recent
Southern speeches. that the general gov
eminent should take care of the graves
of the Confederate dead, a. well as those
who fell on the other side We're on OBJ
lection, referred to the committee IN
resolutions
THE PARADE
The parade of the veterans occurred
Wednesday afternoon. and they march
ed through a dense crowd of cheering
people Led by Gems. Gordon and
Wade Hampton. q long line Of grizzled
men who had followed these leaders
and the other Captains OF the Confed-
crate armies though four years Of hard
ship aud battle marched sturdily under
the blazing southern sun to the in.
spring strains of Dixie" Of the
"Bonnie Blue Flag, and Of the IT.
relevant but irrepressible There Will
BE a Hot Time in the Old Town To-
night.
GRIZZLY VETERANS IN PARADE.
Including the kindred organizations
rs guests there were probably 900 In
line. probably 600 of them veterans.
The State division from Virginia
was under Gen. BrAEder.
CRUISER RALEIGH : PART IN REUNION
The crusier Raleigh anchored oil the
battery, dressed in bunting from rail
to maintruck All day IL fleet of small
crafts Piled e. her, carrying visitors
and Capt COghlan and his officers have
been busy showing the handsome little
crusier that helped Dewey win the bat
tie of Manila at the other side Of the
world.
The reception e. the ship occurred
early this morning Capt C0ghlan re-
ceiyed the visitors, and after an ex-
change of speeches the little fleet
steamed up the harhor to the booming
guns of shoe battery. while the Ra
leigh returned the salute. Aflerward
the Raleigh's officers were entertained
az reception and luncheon at the
Carolina latch, Club.
SONS or VETERANS.
The fourth annual convention Of the
Sons Of Confederate Veterans met Wed
nesday but little business was trans
acted, the session being devoted IL
preliminary work Of organization. Sew
- N
aud Commander Smyth and Mr.. Robert
f Lee. Jr., of Fairfax. Va made
imprOmptu addresses.
THURSDAYS SESSION.
Charleston. $ O., May II. 1899 -
The Veterans held but one session
today. which was opened with prayer
by Rev. DR. ! = Smith, of Stone
wall Jackson's staff. and shortly after
noon. gave way u the Winnie LAWS
memorial exercises, at the conclusion
Of which an adjournment until III
o'clock tomorrow was taken The
anncun ement that Gen. Joe Wheeler
was to speak filled the auditorium and
the hero Of two wars was given rOus-
ing reception by the immense audi
ence.
The delegates and visitors devoted
the afternoon 70 excursions 70 by
resorts, trips down the bay, ana so inl
functions. and tonight a concert was
given AT the Auditorium, where su-
perb choir and orchestra rendered a
mr. Rramme e Southern war songs.
The election of officers will occur to-
morrow. Gen John B. Gordon has
no opposition to re. election as Oomman-
der. in chief and his election probably
will be unanimous.
The recommendations Of the members
for the committee on credentials and
resolutions were called for On this
committee and the committee on ere
dentials is Gen. Stith Boiling, If Vir.
ginia
The committee 10 wait upon the Sons
of Veterans was also appointed.
LETTER FROM GEN. FITz LEE.
The following letter from Gen. Fiiz
Lee was read
Il am obliged for your kind and
complimentary letter. do not know
of ANYTHING that would give me greater
pleasure than to be at the reunion In
Charleston. but my duties. however, are
80 pressing that ] fear | viii not be able
to leave. If only for few days Then
too, think the quarantine regulations
would prevent me from getting TO
Charleston or any other Southern port
in May. YOu see, after these quaran
tine laws are in force, we Oubans are
supposed TO have yellow fever, small
pox and all other diseases, and we are
set down as not being proper persons
for anybody TO associate with until the
gray frosts overspread the land. y
OVATION TO JOE WHEELER.
The feature Of tOday's session was
Gen. Wheeler's address. and the scene
that attended his introduction was one
of frantic enthusiasm Advancing %
the front Of the platform, Gen Gordon
held up his hand and absolute silence
held upon the vast audience ~ h said .
Comrades. | have here a real treat for
YOU. If | should tell this convention
there is here the hero Of Santiag0--"
Gen. Gordon could get no further. A
wild burst Of applause Numbered forth,
rebel yells split the air, and hats canes,
and handkerchiefs we're waved as the
great au1lence TOhb W .th lttb. luhbJ
securing quiet. Gen. Gordon spoke OF
Gen. Wheeler as 1.-THE man whoat San
tiago held to the front place the army
and fl 40 of America Again the APP
plause Numbered out, and rising, the
assemblage continued cheering until the
scene was one Of the widest that has
ever marked q reunion. Proceeding,
Gen Gordon declared Wheeler as one
of 1.-The widest wizards Of the Oonfed-
eracy," and then repeated the apochry
phal story Of the famous little cavalry
man when at Santiago he exclaimed, as
the Spanish lines broke; Forward,
boys, the Yankees are running, and
again the applause broke out
The audience rose as Gen. Wheeler
stepped forward. apparently much af-
fected. He wore q black Prince Albert
suit. with badges on each lapel of his
coat. One was yellow, by chance. and
the other was red He spoke deliber-
ately, calmly and clearly. the audience
giving him close attention. His refer
ence TO the general sorrow caused by