The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-09
HIS HEART IN THE CAUSE.
LETTER FROM ADJT. GEN. M'INTosH
KEEL TO REUNION COMMITTEE.

south and the Memories of the
Lost Cnuse-He VIII BE in savan-
nah mt the Reunion Should His
Health PermIt-Acceptance From
Other Invited Guests-Flnancial
Conditions Better Elaborate
Scheme of Decoration and IIumi-
nation Approved by the Commit
tee.
At last nights meeting OF the Executive
Committee of the Confederate Reunion let
ters of reply were received from a number
Of those who have been invited to attend as
the guests Of honor. In the main they
were scceptances, though the age ana
health of the majority of the veterans pre-
vented their unqualified acquiescence.
One of the most interesting Of
these letters is that from Adjt
Gen. John Mcintosh Kell of the state vol
unteers that in connection with the con-
dition of Gen. KelPs health seems almost
like a farewell to those of his comrades
in Savannah who have known and loved
him. The letter is addressed to Col. John
Screven, chairman of the Executive Com
mittee, and reads as follows
Dear Sir: Your kind letter of invita-
ton to attend the reunion and be a guest
Of the associated camps of Confederate
Veterans, Sons of Confederate Veterans
and Daughters of the Confederacy, of sa-
vannah. gives me a great deal of heart
felt pleasure, and 1 hasten to assure you
of It,
If / cannot attend in person, and
cannot count upon my health from day
to day, 1 will be with you in heart and
mind, not only at the coming reunion,
which 1 trust win be a beautiful and
happy one, as I am sure Savannah and
my dear native seaboard can make it, but
while life lasts. My heart is with the
veterans, and, next to God and my family
and friends, the dear Lost Cause is en-
shrined within my heart This and the
effort TO fulfil my duty to my state will
brighten life TO it's closing day
"And am, with sincere love and affec-
ton for my comrades and brothers, our
Sons of Veterans and Daughters Of the
Confederacy faithfully yours,
u Mcintosh Kell."
The committee had letters of acceptance
| also from Gen. c. Irvine Walker. com
mandng the South Carolina Division OF
| Confederate Veterans, and from Mr.. Wal
ter T. Colquitt, commandments of the
| United Sons of Confederate Veterans.
! There was a saving clause in both OF
! these letters, designed to meet the ext
! gencies Of their professional engagements
| and guard against possible disappo;ntments
| TO the Executive Committee but both let
ters express the hope that those by whom
| they are written will be able to attend,
and the determination to exert every pos
| sible means towards accomplishing this
end.
A letter of acceptance was also received
from Mayor Herman Myers, in reply to an
invitation recently sent him to deliver the
address of welcome to the veterans on the
part of the city of Savannah. Like the
| other letters that of the Mayor is ad-
dressed to Chairman John Screven, and
Is couched In the following words of grace
full acceptance;
acknowledging the receipt of your ia
vor of the 26th inst, conveying an invi-
| tation to deliver the address of welcome
on the part of the city of Savannah to the
| Georgia Division Of The United Confederate
| Veterans, on the occasion of their reunion
| here next month, l beg to state that l am
indebted to the committe for their gra-
cious compliment and Will be pleased 10
accept the invitation.
Thanking you and your committee for
the honor conferred, 1 am, very respect
fully, Herman Myers, Mayor
The Executive Committee turned from q
consideration of these and other letters
that had been received since the last meet
ing. to a discussion of the plans for the re-
union and the best possible manner in
| which they might be carried out. On mo-
| ton of Capt. Chestnut, seconded by Capt.
| Dillon, il was unanimously resolved that
a formal invitation should be extended the
| Mayor and aldermen of the city to par
| IL, he rarantfnD, and aDtprtafnTnpOt
of the guests of the reunion. The chair
man was requested to convey this invita-
| ton to Mayor Myers and through him to
the members of Council.
Chairman +. d. Bloodworth of the FL
nance Committee reported that the sub
scriptions had of late shown every encour-
aging sign of progress and that about
Sc 600 was either subscribed already or act
ualy in sight From number of other
sources, it is expected that funds will be
obtained to meet special expenditures, so
that this sum will be available for the
general expenses of the reunion. The FL
nance Committee has by no means con-
cluded it's labors and the amount now sub
| scribed it is hoped TO increase before the
veterans begin to gather in this city.
Chairman Purse of the Transportation
| Committee reported that his COMMITTEES
had succeeded in getting the cheap fares
on the railroads extended to include
| Charleston and Columbia, from which
cities tickets 90 Savannah would be sold
during the reunion al the same rate as
! from points in Georgia The opening of
the tourist season in Florida had prevent
ed a similar success in securing rates from
| points in that state.
The Entertainment Committee was au-
| thorized to engage two local bands for the
| music of the reunion and to provide for
| the displays of fireworks i'm the Park Ex-
| tension. The further entertainment of the
! veterans and other visitors to the reunion
| is to be left to the discretion of the com
mittee, who within its appropriation, is
to be supreme. A gathering of the visit
| ing veterans at one of the halls on one
OF the nights while the reunion is in prog
ress is among the plans of the committee
and il is almost assured that it will be
| carried out.
| The Decoration and Illumination Com
mittee reported a scheme for the decora-
ton by day and illumination by night of
| Forsyth Park and the Park Extension. The
| dacOratfCaoe are n begin at tho entrance