The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-29
VETS AT MEMPHIS.
Continued from First Page.)

PROMISES that at no distant date. the
south will be the richest and grandest
country on earth, and in no way can the
south better avenge the war than by sue
cessful industrial competition with the
North and by establishing the commercial
supremacy of the people of the Southern
States.
Veterans, it is fitting that you should
veunite in the city of Memphis. The men
of Memphis fought and died on the fields
of Shiloh and Franklin and Nurfreesb oro
and Chickamauga, and wherever the fight
was hot and the work hard. 1t is fitting
+nat YOU should meet in Memphis, be-
cause here was the home of that great
soldier and cavalryman whose daring
deeds and daring in war have won the
admiration of military critics in Europe
and America-Nathan Bedford Forrest :"
The greetings of the Memphis Veterans
and executive committee of the citizens of
memphis were extended by ex-United
States Senator Turley.
senator TURKEY declared his pleasure at
+be duty of extending the greetings of the
citizens of Memphis. Among these citi-
zeps. he said were many who during the
war had placed their sympathy and re-
sources against the cause of the Confed-
eracy. To those citizens of Memphis who
had opposed the South during the war
mich of the success of the reunion was
due. His announcement of the part taken
in the work by the federal sympathizers
was greeted with repeated cheers.
Chairman Gordon then in a happy
speech brought forward Hon. Timothy
E. Cooper of Mississippi, who extended a.
welcome to the Daughters of the Confed-
eracy. the Confederate Southern Memorial
Association and to the representatives of
the Jefferson Davis Monument Associa-
lion.
Gen Gordon Takes Charge.
Cen G. w. Gordon spoke briefly, turn
tng the hall over to Gen. John B. Gordon,
of Georgia, the commander of the United
Confederate Veterans, for their use.
The mention of Gen. John B. Gordon
was greeted with cheer after cheer, as the
tall form of the grand commander was
seen advancing from the rear of the plat
form.
Cen Gordon said, in part:
Governor Mr.. Mayor, Bishop Gailor
and Representatives OF Memphis: For
the third time it is my duty and high
privilege to respond to Tennessee's well
come to the United Confederate Veterans
For the third time since our organiza-
ton this great state embraces with her
maternal arms these immortal remnants
of the Souths hnatchless armies. First
she welcomed us at Chattanooga, then at
Nashville, now at Memphis. And what
place could be more fitted for such a
gathering than this city, by the great
river which was once the highway for
/ ironclads, whose waters were churned by
/ torpedoes into a seething cauldron and
whose bluffs We're ramparts of defense
for a struggling people.
"In this Memphis is no ancient seat of
sceptered monarchs; but it was for a long
time the home of Jefferson Davis, who
even in his deepest humiliation and woe
4 full experience lowered in moral grandeur
TO far nobler stature than the Egyptian
4 Modes or Persian monarchs or Greek or
Roman invader ever attained in all their
glitter of royal equipage and ephemeral
glory. Here in this Memphis no Alexan-
der the Great ever worshiped in life or
laid in state when dead; but here lived
here fought, here died, and here rests
the honored ashes of Nathan Bedford For
rest, the widest horseman of modern
times and the equal in native, untutored
genius Of the greatest cavalryman of any
4 age.
1--WE are glad, therefore, to meet in
Memphis In the fullness of our hearts
we thank this generous people for their
invitation and for this princely reception.
] conclude as I began, with the declara-
ton that no more appropriate place for
such gathering could have been select
ed. 1t is appropriate for the reasons al
ready suggested. 1t is appropriate be-
cause OF its geographical position, and by
the steadfast adherence of its people to
the immortal memories of the past; it is
In the very heart of the lost but forever
loved Confederacy. tits appropriate because
1t is built upon the banks of the great
river which binds together with it's 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 American brotherhood and
unity which flows with ever-increasing
volume through all liberty loving Ameri-
can hearts"
The Veterans Enthusiastic.
Bang. went the gavel in the hands of
Gen John b. Gordon but the cheers went
on the veterans standing upright, swing
ing their hats and giving again and again
The yell of welcome.
Please len US have quiet" rang the
clear penetrating voice of Gen. Gordon
piercing through the house, and after a
Ie" more sounds of vociferous welcome
Inc delegates sat down.
Al the conclusion of Gen. Gordon's adj
uIess Gen. S. D. Lee presented an oaken
saNel 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 II attempted to carry relief to Fort
Sumter
Gen. George W. Gordon then delivered a
sd'el made of wood taken from a tree
tox
III neat address Gen. John B. Gordon
eycepted both gavels He then presented
III lew happy words Col. Bennett H.
iouhg of Louisville, the orator of the
Jay Gen. Young spoke in part as follows:
Col. YOung's Grafton.
we are gathered, comrades, to-day in
u'e city where was the home in life of
tpal wonderful man, Nathan B. Forrest;
yuusel by the result of his military oper-
aIoNs' easily the greatest cavalry general
0 "ofld ever produced. 1t is an inspira-
III 10 all Confederates to stand by the
Y"o OF that extraordinary man, who
S'es'ea by sheer force of genius from the
aoH' OF tate her most beautiful laurels
u VINO If he had enjoyed early military
lining, with equal opportunities as 9TH
~ had talents which would have made
O." NE greatest soldier among men,
an the presence of the tomb of Forrest
~ ~ III the chief city of the great 'Volun-
49, state which sent to battle nearly
En- man IN every four of those who de-
OUT me Confederacy, surely no one will
i'uon either the propriety or the JUS
o oh Nhls occasion in referring TO some
taDoh and Conflicts in the West which
'.,ea the participants TO their share
,,. common glory and renown which