Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-04-06
FORREST DAY.
It Win BE on May 80, Says Com
manding General J. B. Gordon.
THE WARsHIP BANCROFT


Work for the Grand Gathering of Confed-
ederste Veterans at Memphis Pro-
crossing VIgorously-Ho the
Ladies WIN he Entertained.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April Elm recent
letter addressed to the United Confed-
crate Veterans, Commanding General
J. b. Gordon has officially set apart May
50 as the day on which proper and
special tribute will be offered to the
memory of the great cavalry leader,
Lieut., Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest;
the day to be known as Forrest Day."
and the parade arranged for that date.
which win be the third day of the Re-
union, to be especially formed with the
view of celebrating the victories of the
dashing cavalryman.
There will be no limit to the appoint
ments of maids of honor or sponsors,
for the same liberal policy which has
hitherto governed their selection will
prevail in the Memphis Reunion. The
Daughters of the Confederaey here
have already located their Reunion
headquarters, and are making prepare
tons to entertain and provide a com
Portable rest and meeting place for 2 1000
visitors of the fair sex where they can
meet and gather information. One of
the features of the women's work of
the Reunion will be the grand ball,
during which the beautiful Southern
Cross procession will be formed and
paraded.
The work OF the many subcommittee
is progressing most actively. In re-
cent large meeting of the general ex-
ecutive committee the plans for the
Reunion were enthusiastically dis
cussed, and many communications read
which were of vital Importance and
served to show that the number of
veterans and visitors who are expected
to attend the Reunion has by no means
been overestimated. Although the $780,
600 which was at first stipulated as the
amount necessary for the Reunion pur-
poses has been raised the finance COM
mittee was continued, and Chairman
Pickett promised to have SIS, 600 at the
disposal of the executive committee.
There will be no lack of good things
to eat, for letters from prominent plant
ers in several States stated that the
representative men of the districts
named in the communications were
anxious to donate fatted calves, lambs,
hogs, chickens and all that goes to
make up a feast such as can only be
afforded in the South. Even small |
country merchants have asked to be
allowed to contribute to the commits
sary department which, in the hands
Of able organizers, is rapidly approach
ing the completion of its task in secur-
Ing that most essential part of any en-.
tertainment-food and drink As a
member of that committee recently |
stated, There will be enough and |
plenty for all, and it will be of the very
best"
The important question Of a suitable
site for the State headquarters was ac-
lively discussed, notwithstanding the
fact that in previous meeting that
matter was considered practically set
tied. AS stated in the last correspond
ence, work has been commenced in that
quarter plans having been drawn up
and submitted to the committee. The |
situation of the headquarters ON the
bluff, overlooking the river, is receiv-
ing the most attention, although new |
suggestion has been advanced by many |
of the members of the executive com |
mittee, which takes in the advisablitv |
of utilizing large, roomy building at
present at the disposal of the Reunion
committees, and more centrally located.
In any case the matter will be provided .
for in all ways adequate for the occa-
sion.
One Of the newest questions that came
up for discussion at the meeting above
referred to will interest every Veteran
and every person who attends the Re.
union. 1t is the decision on the part of
the invitation committee to send out
special beautifully engraved invitations
to all the prominent men throughout
the Memphis district, and to include
the leading members in official and
high civil life from all over the South,
to visit the Reunion as guests. This
will include mayors of the more i'm
portant towns and cities, prominent
planters and merchants, as well as gov.
ernors of States, and other representa-
tive men who are before the public eve.
In this case all of the visitors will be
enabled to greet some one man of their
immediate community during the Re-
union who will be public guest, thus
drawing into closer and more intimate
relation the huge crowds that will swell
Memphis, for the time being, into
gathering nearly twice as large as its
present population.
The information committe decided to
increase its membership to four hun
dred, so that there will be ample means
for the furnishing of strangers with all
needed information regarding direction
of streets, location of hotels, etc. In
addition to this there will also be Of
fetal programs issued and handsomely
engraved maps of the city will be OBJ
tainable and of easy access.
In considering the matter of railroad
transportation it was decided to ascer-
tain the possibility of arranging special
accommodation trains covering a radius
of not more than 200 miles about
Memphis, which could be run every
night and morning during the Reunion
for the convenience of all those who
will not care to remain in the city more
than one day. This matter was thought
to be practicable and, it is expected,
will be pushed through.
Gunboat "Bancroft."
The solid attraction which will inter-
est thousands of the Reunion visitors,
and that will compel their highest
will be the appearance of the