The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-23
GREETED wITH WILD CHEERS,
Gen. Evans speech Amidst an Out
burst OF Enthusiasm.

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hand in tb. theater struck up Dixie,
which provoked perfect outburst Of rebel
wells and wild waving of the old battle
flags that had been borne into the han
by the delegations from a number OF the
camps. Prominent among these latter
were the battle flag Of the jackson Ar
ullery and those of the Third and Four
teenth Georgia Regiments.
It was several minutes before sufficient
order could be secured 20 permit Cen
Evans to begin his address in response to
the addresses of welcome. but as ne came
finally to the edge Of the stage ana stood
looking down at his audience the cheers
and rebel yells gradually subsided ana
there was perfect silence.
The speech was in Gen. Evans best
STYLE and his happiest vein. Speaking OF
the famed hospitality of Savannah and
the anticipation he had had of its really
alton at this reunion. Gen. Evans said:
I'VE had full faith in Savannah's ca
pacity TO give us all she had promised,
and therefore We brought along our fuil
capacity to contain all that we could get.
Your generous response to Savannah's in
vitation and tie kind words of welcome
that have been spoken to you and me by
His Honor, the Mayor, and by Col. Scre-
ven. bear joint evidence there will be
boundless hospitality and boundless ap>
probation.
1.-THE city from which hail, I am told,
IS too much prone TO claim the earth, and
II may be so. Stretching out her vigorous
young arms. IN aggressive fashion, for
the past fifty years, she has succeeded
IN embracing a considerable part of i.
But when we concede this we must not
forget that for two centuries Savannah
has been planted in beauty on the sea-
board of the state and has for her own,
not only her fun share of the earth, but
all of the ocean"
eve of the old South, love the new
South" said Gen. Evans, in concluding
this opening part of his speech. 1--WE
appreciate her force and strength and
beauty and We glory in the material adj
vancement she has made and the prosper
ity she has attained. But we love the
old South with love that passeth un-
derstanding, il is the land and the herit-
age of our fathers and our fathers faith
ers. For myself may the earth open and
draw me in IL l ever forget TO give 1t glad
and willing homage, perfect allegiance
and perfect trust"
Gen. Evans then made his annual re-
port as commander of the division.
Comrades The orderly return of the
Confederate soldiers 10 their homes, after
their latest endeavor to establish the gov
eminent for which they had bravely
fought furnished a spectacle of sublime
heroism in defeat which the world had
never seen btloie on SuGn an extensive
scale. They had fought their last fight in
vain. and now, turning from the field of
battle, where they had won fadeless fame,
they marched In groups to their distant
homes. through defenseless country,
without causing alarm or disturbance any
where.
'@rhey had been defeated because of the
physical force which exceeded theirs at
least five to one. Their resources were
exhausted but not their courage, they had
given up their guns, but not their glory;
they had furled their flags, but had not
forsaken their cause; they were defeated
but not dishonored, conquered, but not
covered.
Reaching their homes and respecting
their paroles these brave young soldiers
addressed themselves at once to the no.
BILE work of their country's renovation,
with such material as was left from the
waste of war. The difficulties which they
encountered were greater than can be de-
scribed and 80 tried their energies as TO
compel their attention to be directed to
the making of living for themselves and
their families and to protect their state
from the disastrous ruin which was threat
ened by the hoard OF carpet baggers and
scalawags at that time swarming over
the country. This great service which
these returned soldiers did on behalf OF
the state, in saving IL from the desola-
lions of the reconstruction period, mani
1GSltu u " lSSs pdtflOtlc courage IN the time
of peace equal to their bravery in war
end merits the praises of the whole coun-
try.
In consequence of this arduous duty
the survivors of the Confederate armies
seemed to neglect their comradeship for
several years, About 1870 they began to
form regimental and brigade associations
and a little later Confederate Survivors
Associations were organized in various
counties. In the meantime, however, let
St be forever remembered that the women
of the South had not forgotten, even un,
der the stress of the days which follow
ed the war, 10 honor the memory of our
Confederate dead. From the spring of
1865 they began TO pour flood of floral
glory upon the graves of our brave de-
parted comrades. May God bless the La
dies Memorial Association. the most gen
tie and faithful mother of all post-bel-
lum Confederate organization
after many local associations had been
formed in various parts of the South, all
acting independently, Ii became apparent
that a general, United order should be
formed. The first practical movement TO
accomplish this desired object was made
by our true comrades at New Orleans IA
1889. They called together a convention
of Confederates from all parts of the South
TO consider this great question, and this
convention adopted a provisional govern
ment which was perfected during the next
year at Chattanooga IN Lual city an en-
thusiastic body met, adopted a constitu-
ton and proceeded to enlist all Confeder-
ate survivors in a general order called the
United Confederate Veterans Associa.
ton" I hold ii as one Of the best cher
ished memories of my life that I PARTED
pated in the formation Of the earliest as.
Eociatons OF Confederates in our state
and in the origin of the United Confeder.
ate Veterans, as well as in the progress
70 the present day. This great order
which started in 1890 with not more thar
twenty camps in all the South, now re.
ports 1880 camps. covering the country
between the Atlantic and the Pacific
oceans.
THE Georgia division began it's assoeia.
tlon in the general order with FIVE camps
Its first division commander who held
that position until his death, was Gen. AL
fred II. Colquitt. the gallant father Of III,
present commander-in-chief of the Unit
cd Sons OF Confederate Veterans, Walter
7. Colquitt. The second commander wa,