The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-20
BLUE AND THE GRAY.
REUNION OF VETERANS OGr TIE or
POSING ARMIES.
THOUSANDS WERE GATHERED.
GEMS. GORDON AND SHAW SEATED
UPON SAME STAGE.

Warm Greetings for the Comman-
ders of Both Organizations when
They spoke Mt the Reunion of
Those Who Fought Around At
Understanding American Scnfi-
mcnts Uttered by the Commanders.
Speeches by the Two BrecLIn-
ridges and Others.
Atlanta, July 19.-Five thousand mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic
and the United Confederate Veterans
Justify cheered the commanders of these
two organizations. Gen. Albert e. Shaw
and Gen. John b. Gordon. as they sat TO-
sether upon the stage of the Grand Opera
House at the kindlng OF the camp fire
of the Blue and Gray reunion here to-
night
The occasion was the formal beginning
of the reunion of the surviving veterans
of the Union and the Confederate armies
who fought in the battles around Atlanta
in July, 1861
The auditorium of the theater was filled
with the veterans. who mingled in frater-
nal peace and cheered the battle tunes Of
Dixie" and Yankee Doodle" with equal
! enthusiasm.
Upon the stage were seated distinguished
| soldiers, many of them commanding Off
GERS in the different engagements. over
the heads of those on the stage the United
States flag and that of the Confederate
States were draped together, typifyng the
sentiment of the camp fire.
! President Mckinley, unable to be pres
ent, mt his IT grets in the TO lowing tele-
| gram:
Executive Mansion. Washington. July
| l9-Hon. w. A. Hemphill Chairman Ex-
| e2utive Committee, Alan,a | deeplv re-
eret my inability to be with you during
tne reunion of the Blue and Gray i'm At
janta this we k. Such reunions are graft
fyirg evidences of good feeling and com
rad snip, and give assurances If the per-
| man ce of our COVE nment. res ing u-on
the patriotism of a reunited people PIE sse
EXPIRE IS 10 those who may be pre sent NV
corulal congratulations and best wishes.
'William Nick niey."
The Presidents wcrLs brought the au-
| dle"oe 20 It's te in a Du4so Of e. pyla sc.
/ Gordon Warmly Cheered.
/ When Gen. Gordon. who was the first
speaker of the evening was presented TO
the vast audience by Col. w. A. Hemp
| hill master of ceremonies the cheering
! continued for several minutes He was
| frequently interrupted by vociferous ap-
plause and cheers. He said
IF my friend. Gen. Howard or Cen.
| shaw, who some thirty-six years ago
were found prowling around this city with
no specially friendly interest, or il my
other friend, Gen. Stewart or Gen.
French. who in violation of every dictate
of hospitality, were doing Their best to
keep them out of this ciiy-if | say.
! either of these great soldiers had COM
mand of an army tonight in which | was
! serving, they would send me to the rear
on sick leave.
II have come rot to speak, but solely
10 testify b. my presence the deep and
absorbing interest have lorg felt In the
cause of American fraternity which has
Inspired this great gathering.
For mere than a third of century /
have earnestly and unwaveringly labor
ed for the n 'ization of this era cf Amer
can brotherhood, through ut the long
! igtt Of sec ional passion / have eagerly
watched for the dawn OF this PEACEFUL
DAY whose light comes from the very
throne Of God. praise heaven for every
irdicaticn that prejudice and dist~ust have
given place to sectional fraternity and
mutual confidence. All hail the mower of
an all pervading Amerc9nsm which shall
make OF us IN Truth as in name enc 9eo-
pie inspired and swayed by the one lofty
ard resistless purpose to do Justice to all
ma ions; but to sec 10 ID that the flag of
this republic shall be protecting power
over every Am rican in all lsnds, even
In bloody and barbaric China. A hail the
cay when with one accord we shall pro-
claim to all the world that every droD OF
American blood shed by unlawful hanes
shall be avenged by Am rcan manhood"
Enthusiasm Greeted shaw.
No less enthusiasm greeted Gen Shaw
and throughout his patriotic address he
was listened to with the closest attention.
He began by saying:
What can bring you for this splendid
welcome and generous praise? 1t is tho
first time have heard Gen. Gordon and
/ want to say our nation owes him more
than any other for the voice he has rais-
ed for our Union, and nothing but our
Union.
II am delighted to stand here as the
representative head of the c. A. r. am
proud to say that Grand Army men have
done much to teach the people Of the
South what true manhood and courage is
I'm my recent visits through the Sou<h
my heart has been stirred by the evidence
that we are to live in the present We
understand each o<her now II was an
untold sacrifice to learn the les
son Of the past and now let ue
learn the lesson of unity.
Let us go forward until. as Abraham
Lincoln said, this nation becomes the hap
py and united home of 600O00.0G0 Of con-
tented people"
Cen J. c. Breckenridge. inspector gem
eral OF tie United States army, and a dis
tinguished Union veteran, and Col w. c.
p. Breckenridge of Kentucky an equal
~ distinguished Confederate veteran. were
on the stage.
The former was presented and after he
had concluded an eloquent tribute 10 the
reunited country, his brother, Col. w. C.
Z. Breckenridge. spoke.
Gen. o. o. Howard and Gov. ]. A,
Mount of Indiana made short speeches.