The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-05-17
Confederate Re-Union.
The Columbia State.

today which shortly after noon gave
way to the Winnie Davis memorial
exercises at the conclusion Of which
an adjournment until 10 o'clock to-
morrow was taken. The announce
ment that Gen. Joe Wheeler was to
speak filed the auditorium and the
hero of two wars was given rousing
reception by the immense audience.
The delegates and visitors devoted
the afternoon to excursions to nearby
resorts, trips down the bay and So
cial functions, and tonight concert
was given at the auditorium where
superb choir and orchertra rendered
programme Of southern war songs.
Perfect weather conditions con-
tiDue ard the reunion is pronounced
one of the most erjoyable and sue
cessful Of its eight predecessors. In
spite Of the crowd there have been
no disorders or accidents and tie
police arrangements are in keeping
with other preparations made by the
city for the reception and entertain
ment of the veterans.
After same further general busi
ness the feature of todsy's session
took place. Il was Gen. Wheeler's
address and the scene that attended
his introduction was one of frantic
enthusiasm. Advancing to the front
of the platform, Gen Gordon held up
his hand and absolute silence fell
upon the vast audience as be said:
Comrades, have a real treat for
YOU. If I should tell this convention
there is here the hero CT Santiago"
Gen Gordon could get no further.
A wild burst of applause thundered
forth, rebel yells split the air and
hats, canes and handkerchiefs were
waved as the great audience rose to
its feet. Finally, securing quiet,
Gen. Gordon spoke Of Gen. Wheeler
as ssthe man who at Santiago held
to the front place the army and flag
OF America" Again the applause
thundered out and rising the assem-
blage continued cheering until the
scene was one OF the widest that has
ever marked reunion. Preceding
Gen. Gordon described Wheeler as
one Of ssthe wiliest wizards of the
Confederacy" and then repeated
apocryphal story of the famous little
cavalryman when at Santiago he ex-
claimed as The Spanish lines broke
Forward boys, the Yankees are run
nipg," and again the applause broke
out.
The audience rose as Gen. Wheeler
stepped forward, apparently much
affected. He wore black Prince
Albert suit with badges on each lapel
of his coat. One was yellow by
chance and the other was red. He
spoke deliberately, calmly and clearly,
the audience giving him close atten-
tion. His referance to the general
sorrow caused by the death cf Win
ME Davis affected many 10 tears.
Gen. Wheslrs said in part:
The history Of our country, when
compared with that CT all the eras
that have preceded US, shows that
our civi!iz alton has produced the
highest class of men and the noblest
type of soldiers. The very idea Ct
liberty nerves the soul and fires the
heart. Defeat but exasperates, add
ing desperation to yigor and energy
to determined resolve.
"It was the teaching of fathers and
mothers who fed from the oppres-
sion Of caste and class, braved the
unfaitnomed ocean and landed upon
these shores, confronted by wild
beasts and savage Iudian that the
highest honor and greatest privilege
was to fight for country, its safety
and it's honor.
IF the people of the north excel
in some qualities, it is also true that
those of the south excel in others. 1t
has been said that tenacity Of pur-
pose, thrift and perseverance pre-
dominated in the northern character.
This may probably be SO, but it is
also true that other characteristics are
more noticeable among the people Ct
the south.
Gen. Wheeler declared that the
military history Of the southern peo.
pie had been prominent feature in
history from tie first settlement Ct
this country He cited Washington
and the other southern commanders
of the revolution, Windfeld Scott
and Andre Jackson and the other
heroes Of the war with Mexico, and
then passing to the war between the
q.