Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-06-05
THE REUNION AT MEMPHIS.
A Grand Welcome to the Confederate Veto.
rans-A Hundred Thousand Strangers.


United Confederate Veterans was hold
in tho city of Memphis, Tom, and ono
hundred thousand strangers were in the
city when the reunion began, which is
equivalent to tho entire population of
Memphis.
The great convention hall was the
centor of an enormous crowd for nearly
commencement of tho exercises. The
interior of tho hall was a thing of beauty,
tho excellent work of tho decorators
being shown in all it's morit.
Tho exercises wero almost entirely
confiued to the welcoming addresses,
the completion Of permanent organiza-
tion and tho appointment of tho com
mittees on resolutions and credentials.
The convention was called to order by
Gen. Geo. w. Gordon, of Memphis, who
raped his desk with gavel mado of
wood taken from trcc which shaded
the favorite seat of jefferson Davis at
Beauvoir.
Rev. J. VIM. Jones, D. d., chaplain
general of the U. G. ", offered an invo-
cation of praise and alteration from
grateful hearts as they were gathered in
reunion once more.
Governor Mcmillan welcomed the
delegates in behalf of Tennessee. He
complmcntcd tho men of the South on
their glorious record in the war AMI
deplored the fact that so many of the
glorious band had passed away. Cheer
aftar rhcor r-pntad IN Gnvarnnr
Mayor Williams extended welcome
on behalf OF the city council of Memphis.
Ex-senator Turley expressed his
pleasure in extending the greetings of
the citizens of Memphis. Among these
citizens, he said, werc many who during
the war had placed their sympathy aud
resources against the cause Of the Con
fedcracy. TO these citizens of Memphis,
who had opposed tho South during the
war, much of the success of the reunion
was due. His announcement Of the part
taken in the work by the Federal sympa-
thizcrs was greeted with repeated cheers.
The hall was then turned over to
Gen. John 3. Gordon, commander of
the United Confederate Veterans, and
with cheer after cheer. The veterans
again and again gave him the yell of
welcome as he advanced from the rear
of the platform, and it 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
foy No Ia; A..
remnant of the South's matchlcss armies,
first at Chattanooga then at Nashville
and now at Memphis. No place was
more fitted for such gathering, said
Gen Gordon, than this city by the great
river, which was once the highway for
ironclads, whose waters were churncd
by torpcdocs in scething cauldron and
whose bluffs were ramparts of defense
for struggling people. Here in this
Memphis no Alexander the Great over
worshipped 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 wilest
horscman of modern times and the
equal in native, untutorcd genius of the
greatest cavalryman of any age.
eve are glad, therefore, to meet in
Memphis. In the fulncss Of our hearts
we thank this generous people for their
invitation and for this princcly reccp-
ton. l conclude as | began with the
declaration that no more appropriate
place for such a gathering could have
boon selected. 1t is appropriate for the
reasons already suggested. 1t is appro-
pirate because of its geographical posi-
ton, and by the steadfast adherence of
it's people to the immortal memories of
the past; it is in the very center of the
lost, but forever loved Confcdcracy. 1t
is appropriate because it is built upon
tho banks OF tho great river which binds
together with its liquid links the distant
sections of our great common country,
for this city of Memphis is one of the
fountain heads Of that stream Of Amcri-
can brotherhood and unity which flows
with ever increasing volume through all
hocrty-Iovlng American hearts"
At tho conclusion of Gen. Gordon's
address General S. ID. Lee presented an
oakcn gavol, whose head was made
from the wood of the steamer Star of the
West, at which was fired the first shot
of the war as it attempted to carry relief
to Fort Sumter.
General Geo. w. Gordon then delivered
n gavel made Of wood, taken from tree
growing on tho battlefield of Apo
mattox.
In q neat address Gen. John B. Cor
don accepted both gavcls. lie then pre-
scntcd in a few happy words Col. Bon
nett ii. Young, Of Louisville, the orator
of tho day
While Col. Young was in the midst Of
his address, the form Of Gen Fitzhngh
Lee was seen as the general plowcd his
way through the crowd, on his way to
the platform. lie was greeted with
warm cheers as hc stepped upon the
platform. Gen. Gordon stepped for
ward, graspcd his land warmly. and
turning round to the delegates said:
Comrades, ] have only to mention
the name of Lee"
Tho cheers rcdoublcd in force and
volume and Gen. Leo was compelled