The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-05
GORDON WANTS SPONSORS.
NOT IN FAVOR OF LIMITING NUM-
BIER AT VETERANS REUNION.

Charleston HeuniOn - Memorial
Resolutions Adopted Upon the
Death of Capt. II. VI. Branch.
The Confederate Veterans Association
held its April meeting at Confederate Hall
last night. Gen. P. McGlashan, presided
and over forty of the members were pres
ent. From the Importance of the matters
considered and the course adopted, the
meeting was notable gathering of those
gallant men that make up the membership
of the association.
The applications for membership of
Messrs. D. Y. Dancy, Clayton R. Woods
and c.. Carroll, were read, and referred to
the membership committee. The association
received copy of the resolutions adopted
by Barlow Camp, Sons of Confederate Vet
Grams, on the death of Capt H. M.
Branch, which win be placed among the
archives of the association, and published
with the next record of its proceedings.
About half of the members present at
the meeting signifed their intention of at
tending The reunion at Charleston, which
is regarded as most encouraging. The as
ISOLATION expects to carry over delegation
of at least sixty and the more enthusiastic
of the members hope for more The selec-
ton of a uniform badge was postponed
until the next meeting.
Circular letters Nos. 10S and 104 from
the headquarters of the United Confeder-
ate Veterans, were read. The first con-
veys a request, embodied in a resolution
of the United Daughters of the Confed~
eracy, adopted at their last convention
at Hot Springs, Ark, in November last
that the number of sponsors and maids
of honor at the reunion be limited to one
of each from each state and territory
where there is a camp of United Confeder-
ate Veterans, because the Confederate
reunions have been of late years an en-
tertainment for the sponsors and maids Of
honor, instead of for the veterans"
the letter is transmitted to each camp
OF the association in compliance with the
request it makes, but it is accompanied
by letter prepared by Adjt Gen. Moor
man and dissenting strongly from the
recommendations it makes. This re1oind-
er recites the noble heroism of the wo-
men of the South in the civil war and
the sufferings and privations they en-
dured, 1t narrates the noble work they
nave done since the war in caring for
the INDECENT Confederate soldiers who are
alive and for the graves and memories
OF the heroic dead. 1t concludes with the
statement that the South and the United
confederate Veterans in particular cannot
DO too much for the women of the south
or Show them too much honor.
The second of the circular letters rom
tans the disapproval of the commander-in-
chief, Gen. John B. Gordon, of the pro
posed Limitation of the number of sponsors
and maids of honor. Gen. Gordon ex
presses desire that the old custom he
adhered to and that as many as nossible
OF women of the South who aided their
fathers brothers, husbands and sons in
me struggle between the states and their
descendants be present at the reunion.
AS the veterans are fast passing away"
says Gen Gordon, land soon win be too
few to hold reunions, even-handed Justice
demands that these honors should be
broadened and extended so as to reach.
now while the opportunity offers every
one of these noble young women, even 10
the humblest, as they are all active work
ers for our and their beloved cause"
1T Is a beautiful custom and is in keep
ing with the chivalrous spirit of the old
soldiers of the South, is elevating and en-
nobling, and is right from every stand
point, that all the headquarters in the as
ISOLATION should have a sponsor and as
many maids of honor as desired; this ap-
plies to general, department, division and
brigade headquarters and to all the
camas.'
The committee appointed to prepare me-
mortal resolutions upon the death of Capt.
H. NJ Branch, second vice president of
the association, submitted their report
Il was signed by Messrs. P. McGlashan,
John Screven, r. Falhgant Louis G.
Young, j. r. Saussy and f. D. Bloodworth,
the members of the committee; was read
by Judge Falligant, and adopted by a ris-
ing vote The resolutions are as follows.
Early on the morning of Feb. "a, 1899,
the spirit of Capt. Hamilton McDevitt
Branch, our lamented second vice presf-
dent passed forever beyond the lines of
this mortal life.
Capt. Branch was born, the youngest
of three sons, in Savannah, March II, 1s4S,
and at the time of his demise was near
the completion of his fifty-sixth year.
Passing by the adolescent period of his
career, under the training of a mother
of Spartan virtues, he entered while stil
below the legal age, the military service
of his native state. and was present with
his company, the Oglethorpe Light Infan-
try. at the seizure of Fort Pulaski. Jan
3, 1851
In the following May he enlisted for the
war with his company. soon to take
distinguished part in the tragic but tri-
umphant struggle in the first battle of Ma
nassas, and subsequently In the sullen re-
tirement of the Confederate army from
the Virginia Peninsula to the lines about
Richmond The young soldiers gallantrv
and devotion were rewarded by a ser.
geantcy in a company, where Individual
merit was too universal to make distinc.
tons easy; but volunteering alone n
bring succor to his starving comrades
from across the desperate field at Dam
Number One, he was wounded in tha
hand, was withdrawn to the hospitaI ar
Richmond, and thence sent to his home
His eldest brother had fallen at Manas-
sas, his second brother had been cantured
by the enemy and he was transferred Ia
the Savannah Cadets, as their second. soor
after to become their first Lieutenant H.
remained with them in the coast sarvtc,
near Savannah until the spring Of 1894
when his regiment, the Fifty-fourtb Gaor,
gia, was ordered to Dalton to ioin wall
er's division of Hardees corps. IN tba
army of Tennessee, under Gen Rraga
The great battles of Chckamauea ara
Missionary Ridge had been fought tho
one victory. the other defeat 10 CO.
federate arms; and now was to follow, A.
mastery retreat of Gen. Josepb n -.