Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-05-31

veterans returned to their homes on the
night trains, but thousands remained tt
once again touch elbows and keep ster
with their comrades of tie battlefelds
and with the soldiers of the gray. Other
organizations, swelling the total tc
about 5000, were in line. The invita-.
ton was extended to all veterans, who
do not belong to organized camps OF
whose camps are not here in body, tc
participate in the grand pageant, anc
every veteran in the city marched.
The parade was announced for &c
o'clock, and long before that hour the
veterans thronged Confederate hall, the
general point of formation, while here
and there about the city small compa.
MES Of soldiers gathered and waited pa.
tiently for the signal for marching.
AN Ideal Day.
During the early hours of the morn.
ing a heavy rain swept the streets clean
and tempered the atmosphere, and by 8
O'Clock the sun came out bright and
clear and gave promise of an ideal day
for the parade.
Crowds of people thronged the side.
walks and filed the stands, and even
though the outgoing night trains were
filed ALMOST to their utmost capacity,
the dim1nution in the number of the
visitors was scarcely noticeable today.
Promptly at 10 o'clock, to the strains
OF 'Dixie" from band, while cannon
doomed on the river front, the parade
started from Confederate hall, march
ing to Main street ana down through
the court of honor, being constantly
swelled by the addition of companies
stationed in side streets.
The Gallant Gordon.
At the head of the column rode Gen.
eral George W. Gordon, chief marshal
of the day, his staff. and General A. r.
Taylor, chairman Of the parade com.
mittse. Thep came the band and fol-
lowing it General John B. Gordon and
qeAeral George Norman. Despite his
years, General Gordon rode his horse
with eRse and grace as, with hat in
hahd, he bowed from side to side In ac-
khSElsdgement of the p1aud1ts from
the GroWAs.
Then came carriage containing the
general headquarters, sponsors and
maids Of honor, followed by two more
carriages, inscribed Southern Moth
ers-The women who wept as they
worked, 40 years ago" In these rode
Mrs. Emily T. Ball, Mrs Mary E. Gum
tngs, Mrs. Eloise Wormeley, Mrs J. Fl.
Humphreys, Mrs. Phoebe Frazer Ed.
monds, Mrs. Joseph Bruce, Mrs. M. g.
Galloway and Mrs. Bette Yancey.
Batt1e-Scarred Veterans.
Then came the department. of the
Army Of Northern Virginia, led by a
carriage bearing the sponsors and maids
OF homer, this comprising the divisions
Of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina,
South Carolina and West Virginia.
The Trans Mississippi department
came next, with the old soldiers of the
divisions of Missouri, Texas, Arkansas,
Indian Territory, Oklahoma and the di-
vision of the Pacific coast.
The largest Of the three departments,
that Of the Army of Tennessee, was the
next in line, com mprising the divisions of
Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Missis-
sippt, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and
the negro division of veterans.
Sons of Veterans.
The two divisions of Forests cavalry
corps, with a carriage bearing the corps
spoAsor and maids of honor, terminated
the line OF veterans and preceded the
Sons of Veterans. This body was head.
ed by Commander in Chief Biscoe Hind
man and his staff. Then came the three
departments of the Sons of Veterans.
each being preceded by carriages con-
tanning the sponsors and maids of honor,
q khfr6 low oSsf1 Il -.
panied by carriage with the sponsors
and maids of the Nathan Bedford For
rest camp of Memphis.
Along the line of march miscellaneous
carriages ended the parade.
Laying of Cornerstone.
The event of the afternoon was the
laying of the cornerstone of the monu-
ment to be erected at Forrest Park in
honor Of the memory of General Nathan
Belford Forrest. The stone was placed
IN position by Mrs. Mary Forrest Brad.
ley, granddaughter of General Forrest.
and the ceremonies connected Herewith
formed enc of the most impressive fea-
tuFes of the reunion.
General G. w. Gordon presided over
the ceremonies and the grafton was de.
lyered by General and Rev. d. @. d.
Kelley of Nashville; a poem, dedicated
to the memory of General Forrest and
entitled the "Wizzard of the Saddle" :"
by Mrs Virginia Frazier Boyle, was
read by Rev. DIR. N. NJ Long.
After the laying of the cornerstone,
which concluded the program Masonic
ceremonies follaVed, INCLUDING ths Rpll
ritual Of the ogdsh :. e