The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-06-05

complmentcd the men of the South OH
their glorious record IN the war and
dcplorcd the fact that 50 MANY of the
glorious band had passed away. Cheer
after cheer greeted the Governor.
Mayor Williams extended welcome
on behalf OF the city council of Mem
phis.
EX Senator Turlcy expressed his
pleasure IN extending the greetings of
the citizens of Memphis. Among these
citizens, he said, were many who dur
ing the war had placed their sympathy
and resources against the cause of the
Cunfcdcracy. TO these citizens of
Memphis, who had opposed the South
during the war, much of the success of
the reunion was due. IIls announce
ment OF the lmrt taken in the work
by the Federal sympathlzcrs was greet
cd with repeated cheers.
The hall was then turned over to
Gen. John B. Gordon commander of
the United Confederate Veterans, and
the mention of his name was greeted
with chccl alter cheer. The veterans
| again and again gave him the yell of
welcome as he advanced from the rear
of the platform, and il was some
minutes before his clear, ringing voice
| could be heard for the tumult With
which he was greeted. Gen. Gordon
responded TO the gracious welcome Of
| Tennessee, which for the third time
was receiving the remnant of the
| South'S matchlCSs armies, first at Chat.
tanOOga, then at Nashville and now ai
Memphis. No place was more fitted
for such gathering, sad Gen. Cor
don, than this city by the great river,
which was once the highway for i:on-
clads, whose waters were churncd by
torpcdoes into Il sccthing cauldron and
whose bluitS were rampaItS of defence
for struggling people. lIcic i'm This
Memphis no AcXand 3r the Great ever
worshippcd in life or laid in state when
dead but here lived, here fought, here
died and here rests the honorCd ashes
OF Nathan Bedford Forrest, the wilrst
horscman of modern times and The
equal III native, untutored genius of
the greatest cavalryman of any age
We are glad, therefore, to meet in
Memphis. In the fulaess of our hearts
we thank this generous people for their
invitation and for this princcly rcccp-
ton. ] conclude as | began with the
declaration that no more appropriate
place for such a gathering could have
ncch selected. 1T IS appropriate fol
tic reasons already suggested. II is
appropriate because of its geographical
position, and by the stcadfast adj
hcrcncc OF its people TO the immortal
memories of the past it is in the very
center of the lost but forcve. loved
Confcdcracy. 1t appropriate because
1t is built upon the banks Of the urca,
river which binds together with it,
liquid links the distant sections of om
great common country, for This city OF
Memphis is one of the fountain head,
OF that stream Of American brother
hood and UNITY which flows with eve,
increasing volume through all lbclt,
loving American hearts"
At the conclusion of General Cor
don's address General :. ID Lee pre-
scnlcd an oakcn gavcl, whose hcac
was made from the wood Of the steamer
Star of The West, Il; which was fire,
the first shot of the war as it at,cmplc,
to carry relief to Fort Sumter.
General George w. Gordon then de
| hNtich IL SaVcI maze OF wood, takcI
from a tree growing on the balilcliclc
of Appomatox.
In neat address Gen. John b Cor
don accepted both gavcls. lie then
presented in a few happy wo,ds Cot
oncl Bcnnct ii. You"g, of Louisville
the orator Of the day.
While Colonel Young was in the
midst of his address, tho form of Gen.
cral Fitzhugh Lee was seen as the zen
cral powcd his way through the crowd
on his way to the platform. He was
greeted with warm cheers as he stepped
upon the platform. General Gordon
stepped forward, grasped his hand
warmly, and turning round to the dele
gates said :
Comrades, | have only to mention
the name of Lee"
The cheers rcdOublcd in force and
volume and General Lee was compelled
repeatedly to bow his acknowledge
ment or the hearty greeting of his old
comrades. Colonel Young's oration
was received with hearty cheers.