The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-11
Charleston Crowded With Visitors to Take
Part in the Festivitie
Ten Thousand Veterans Partici-
pate in the Parade-Patriotic
Speech Delivered by General
John B. Gordon at the Opening
of the Sessions of the Conven-
ton.

CHARLESTON Is. c., May 1O.-Al-
most the first official act of the ninth
annual reunion of the United Confeder-
ate Veterans, which began it's sessions
to-day was an attempt by General
Stephen d. Lee of Mississippi to secure
an Endorsement of President McKin-
ley's suggestion, made in his recent
Atlanta speech, that the care of the
graves of Confederate dead should be
undertaken by the Federal Govern
ment. Action on the resolution was
frustrated by motion to refer it to
the Committee on Resolutions. AS this
committee is yet to be appointed, it is
not probable that the matter will be
taken up tomorrow, and the ultimate
fate of the resolution is problematical.
A conservative estimate places the
number of visitors here at between %, :
OOO and $4,000
When John B. Gordon, the Com
mander-inCh appeared before the
convention he received a tremendous
ovation. The old Confederate chief
tain was presented by General Walker,
and delivered an eloquent address.
When he closed, General Gordon led
Mrs. Stonewall Jackson to the front
of the stage. and she was enthusiastic
cally applauded.
The parade of the veterans occurred
this afternoon, and they marched
through a dense crowd of cheering peo-
pie. led by Generals Gordon and Wade
Hampton, along the line of grizzled
warriors. At intervals along the line
the futtering of a war-Worn and shot
torn flag called forth cheers, while
many heads We're barred as the frayed
emblems of a dead cause cleaned over
some organization whose name is a
household word to the South.
Hampton and Gordon We're cheered
vociferously at every step. and rode
almost the entire route with barred
heads. The absence of General
! Wheeler in the line was a source of
considerable disappointment. He
reached the city early to-day, but did
not participate in the parade.
Ten thousand veterans were in line
when the procession moved, shortly
before 3 o'clock. The divisions in each
department were arranged in the order
of the dates of secession, followed in
the order by those which did not leave
the Union, placed in the order of their
joining the United Confederate Veter-
ans. The war departments and divi-
sions of the Confederate army We're in
line as follows:
The Army of Virginia Department
First South Carolina division, Second
Virginia division, Third North Carolina
division, Fourth Maryland division,
Third North Carolina division. Fourth
Maryland division, Fifth Kentucky di-
vision. Sixth West Virginia division.
Army of Tennessee Department
First Mississippi division. Second Flori-
da division, Third Alabama division,
Fourth Georgia division. Fifth Louisi-
ana division, Sixth Tennessee division.
Transmississippi Department-F'irst
Texas division, Second Arkansas divt-
sion, Third Missouri division Fourth
Indian Territory division, Fifth Okla
homa division.
Following this came the United Sons
of Confederate Veterans. led by Com
mander-in-C Chief r. A Smith.
When General c. L. Walker called
the first session of the reunion to or
der with the gavel used at the Seces-
j sion Assembly in 1860, over 1900 peo-
pie were in the auditorium. Thousands
were turned away.
Governor Ellerbe could not attend the
reunion on account of illness. and the
address of welcome was delivered by
LieutenantGovernor insolvency.
| Mayor J. A. Smythe followed. His
| reference to South Carolina and
| Charleston as the cradle of secession
brought forth the rebel yell. The yell
was caught up the crowd on the out
side and passed along for blocks.
/ AT 1870 General Walker introduced
! General John B. Gordon. Commander
in-Chief of the United Confederate
Veterans. The audience arose. and for
J several minutes shouted like demons
: Hats were thrown in the air, and the
band played Dixie Every sentence
Of his speech was applauded.
General Gordon closed his speech
with these words:
I L feel by your confidence to send tc
every patriot in every section and State
/ the fraternal greetings of this conven.
/ ton and of the whole people and tc
! pledge in the name of every Confed-
crate, and son and daughter of Con.
! federates the South's eternal LOYALTY tc
every cause for the uplifting of man
| hood, the perpetuity of American free.
dom, the unity of the American people
that by all these agencies we NAV ac.
+ celerate the upward march of the re-
public in its benign mission of human
! ity."
1t was several minutes after he had
! taken his seat before quiet could BE-
restored. When order was secured
/ General Gordon said: 81 want every
comrade to stand and sing. Praise God
From Whom All Blessings Flow"
Mrs. Stonewall Jackson was then in
troduced by General Gordon as the one
whom Jefferson Davis loved better
than the Confederacy, and better than
his own life. AS Mrs. jackson an
peared, the veterans went wild with en-.
| thusiasm.
Il am going to shake her hand. com
rades," cried General Gordon. II am
going to hug her. and he caught her
! in his arms and pressed her to his
| bosom.
Many distinguished officers and pri-
Yates were then introduced.
| The following resolution was then in
troduced by General Stephen E. Lee
of mississippi:
/ Whereas, In Atlanta, Ga. Decem-