The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-06-01

three hundred and five delegates from
twice as many States as seeded faced
Gen. George W. Gordon in Confeder-
ate Hall yesterday morning. compos-
ing the eleventh annual reunion of
the United Confederate Veterans As
sociatiOn.
Those who looked out upon this
body of men could but be impressed
with the fact that there was not
young man among them and many
were those who carried with thcm
in the form of pair of crutches,
cane or an empty sleeve, the evidences
of the ardor with which they followed
the banner of the Confederacy. But
their faces still hold the same marks
of that sublime devotion to principle
which impels men OF their character
to "nl9rch to death gaily as to fes-
tival.'
There were the heroes of all the
armies of the Confederacy, the men
who charged with Pickett at Gettys-
burg. who made that inimitable valley
campaign with Jackson. who fought
for the seven consecutive days. who
wrestled with the invader at Chancel-
lorsyile, who waded in the blood shed
so quickly at Cold Harbor and sur
rendered at AppomattoX. the men
whose general officers gave them ul
at Donelson, who won the first day at
Shiloh only to see the victory torn
from them on the following day. who
fought at Perrysyille and bled al
Murfreesroro, who had implicit faitE
in Jos. E. Johnston all the way from
Dallas to Atlanta, who followed Hoot
barefooted into Tennessee in tina
magnificent series of charges agains
Franklin, and combatted both the ele
ments and the enemy in front o
Nashville; who struggled at Chicka
mauga and Missionary Ridge, and sur
; rendered with Johnston at Durham
station; the men who were with Ash
by, early and Stuart and the me-
! who rode with Forrest. van Dorm an
Wheeler; the men who carried o
: the war against such odds beyond tn
, Mississippi river and the men wh
gave the Confederate flag a career o
the high seas as meteoric as II wa
brisf.
J, Chey are the war-guard OF Jne p
Q tire Confederacy and the vanguard
a melting away very rapidly.
q Upon the platform there was I
=. direct representative OF fresluei
DAVIS private ldlully' Dut his "t
s family was represented by Its on
o survivor, Hon. John II. Reagan a II
y. tive of Tennessee. the COnfedera
postmaster general, and for years
prominent citizen of Texas. ASH
r from the speakers there were also CO
2, A. s. Colyar of Nashville, Tenn,
/ member of the Confederate congres
= Lieut.. Gems. S. d. Lee and Cabell. Il
y maior-generals in command of div
u ions. representatives of the vario
6 organizations of ladies and MAJ
n other distinguished former Confedt
,r ates
~ 1t was but few minutes after
- o'clock when Gen. George w. Gord'
of Memphis the temporary chairma
of rapped the great assemblage to ord'
]. wifi a gavel made from the limb
m a tree which shaded President Jeff'
son Davis favorite seat at Beauvo
. Miss. With a bare statement to tn
s. effect. he presented Chaplain Genel
e. /. William Jones as follows:
" Chaplain Jones Invocation.
9. go. God. our help in ages past, our h
% for years TO come-tiod of Israel, God
Abraham. Isaac and JacobIGod Of
ut Iefferson Davis. Sidney Johnston, Rob
n lee and St0ncwall Jackson Lord of h'
1v and God of Battles-God OF our conn
~ country-God of our Southland our
e. we bring the alteration and praise ot Sr'
70 full hearts as We gather in our reunion
or dayw .,on. rboe Tint thou didst prcse
IS our lives amidst the lcaden and iron
of battle, IN the loathsoms hospltalS hh'
the prison that while so many many OF to,,nod our e.
=, rades fell In dark days or have stepped
Id of the ranks in the years since. We Il
all been spared and are here today to g
each other once more in the Hesh pelore
q. hal
-, And now q cod We heseech thee Z
III richest blessings may come down upon
In abide with this meeting. ,
10 our officers and all of these delegates. Z
an ciousy preside over TINS vast assembly,
let nothing be said OF done which Ihou
nr And we beseech thee, o Lord, that {
rs wilt bless all of our ConfedeIate Nettl
to wherever they may be today Make ther
the future as they have been in the pa
10 true to the duty OF the hour and good
i'll zens of our common G3um,ly r ,or,,et tho
al lowed memories Of the past or IAN 10 t'
m their children the great principles OF
IA stitutiounl freedom which our fathers IS
nd lshcd and Tor which we fought in the III
= | old Cnrs uf '6l-'6j. May our loving fa
sn- grn ncicusly provide for our needy c0mra
slv their widows and orphans and so smile l
'i' and prosper our Southland thar We
nd have the sweet privilege of caring for t
Tho in n proper way, ,, -.
i've bless thy servant the president OF the |
:, cd States and an in authority under
the that we may have wise laws and good
GA we thank thee that thou hast raise'
lily from her bed of Illness the wife OF
I'D president and we prny that the Great
inu siciau may restore her to even moro
rse her accustomed health and strength.
- I'VE pray thy blessin. unon every SCI
KIN of our common country that disease
var danger and death be may warded on
w the people-that there may be fruitful
ak sons. pienteous harvests and business
-, perity-but above all that ours may
any reality aud not merely in name. &
on tian land and that the great problems
: before us or that may arise during
hen twentieth century upon which we hav
s a tered may be properly solved by the
ito solvent Of the ages-the gospel of our
Jesus Christ,
1--WE 'Hear, o God. we heseech thee. this
hat opening prayer and grant these our hu
-. petitions Pardon, for Jesus sake,
hos many sins, make us all true oldiers o
mi cross. sanctlfy and save us, since We
ave and offer all In the name and for the
- OF Christ our dear rcdeemer-the
tenn eaptaln of our salvation. Amen"
az Upon the completion of this