The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-30
Cosolidated Aug. 9. 1881.
VETERANS REUNION IN DALLAS.
WADE HAMPTON EULOGlzED.
All Old Officers Reelected and
New Orleans Chosen as Next
Place of Meeting.

Dallas, Tex, April 23.-The Con-
federate Veterans assembled in reunion
here today and transacted important
business with a rush. Gems. Gordon,
Lee and Cabell were reelected and
Gen. G. I. Walker elected to succeed
the late Gen. Wade Hampton as COM
mander of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia. New Orleans was selected as
the place for the next reunion. Gen.
Gordon was given no chance to retire.
4 voice from the back Of the hall
cried: 9fThe only way you can get
away from the.ofice, general, is by
dying"
So for another year Gen. Gordon
will be commander-in-chief, Gen.
Stephen D. Lee, commander of the
Army of Tennessee department and
Gen. W. L. e"Old Tige") Cabell,
commander of the Army of the Trans
Mississippi department.
The election was unanimous by a
standing vote. Glowing tributes were
paid to the officers, and half the audi
ence was in tears when the meeting ad-
journed. Long before the meeting
opened the auditorium began to fill up
and by II O'Clock the largest crowd of
the reunion was present. The bureau
of information gave cut statement
saying that lodgings for 140. 600 people
had been prepared. The estimated
number of veterans present was
I2, 600. Gen.. Gordon called the con-
ventlon to order at TO- 45 and memorial
services for the late Gen. Wade Hamp-
ton began. Chaplain General Jones
delivered the invocation and Gen. Lee
followed with an eulogy of the lament
ed southern warrior and statesman.
From Gen. Hampton the speaker had
received his commission as lleuten-
ant-colonel and a colonel of artillery.
His associations with the famous SOL
dier had been intimate and there were
tears in his eyes as he spoke Of Hamp-
tons recent death.
Gen. Gordon spoke briefly OF the
dead soldier. with his death, said
the general, "a great light went out.
No, did I say the light went out? The
light of such life can never go out,
but viii burn forever, light to guide
our footsteps to the highest pinnacle
of glory -
G. I. Walker of South Carolina
sketched the life and public career Of
Gen. Hampton, closing by presenting
the following resolutions, which after
che singing of Nearer, My Good to
Thee" by the audience, were adopt
ed.
First. That--in the loss of Lieut..
Gen. Wade Hampton, commander of
the army of Northern Virginia depart
ment, U. G. V, our brotherhood
nourns one jealous in the discharge
of every noble duty, true to the prin-
ciples we are joined together to perpe-
tuate, loyal to the Confederate cause
and bright and shining light to
guide US in devotion to, tie principles
for which he faced death and offered
his life on many glorious field.
Second, That in our dead comrade
we esteem the nobility of that charac-
ter which stood untarnished amidst
the storms of battle and the trials Of
craftsmanship. Whose every action
has drawn him nearer and made him
dearer to those with whom and for
whom he fought.
Third, That our deepest sympathies
are extended to his family, who are
LETT to mourn him, but who have had
the inestimable privilege of intimate
and loving association with so good
and SO grand man.
Fourth, That the usual methods be
taken to give this expression of our
feelings to his family and to the world
which has been bettered by his life.
When the afternoon meeting was
called to order Chairman ]. Taylor
Stratton of the resolutions committee
reported Among the resolutions
adopted was one withdrawing the sup
port of all Confederate veterans from
Grant university, Tenn, on account of
the alleged disparaging article con-
cerning southern women which it was
sated had been made by a professor Of
that university.
The resolution called forth an elo-
quent tribute to southern womanhood.
The report of the historical commit
tee, headed by Gen. Lee, was adopted.
It recommends:
l. The compilation of material that
will help the historian and the student
70 understand the Civil war, its cause
and its results.
,. The preparation of a source book
for collateral use and reference in
schools and Libraries.
3. The preparation Of brief biogra-
phies and school histories that will DO
justice to southern leadership, south
ern character, southern environment
and southern development.
The greater part of the report was
devoted TO the consideration of these
recommendations
A proposition to change the Confed-
crate memorial day from May 26 to
June 3, the birthday of Jefferson
Davis. pSecipitated considerable de-
bate. The present plan, which was
fixed upon by southern women and
which gives the States the right to set
their own date, had many supporters
The resolutions were amended to fix
on June B. but to allow any State
deSirin a different date 10 take indi