Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-22
GORDON GREETS HIS
FRIENDS THE
SENATORS
THE SOLDIER AND STATESMAN
FROM ATLANTA PAYS A VISIT
TO THE NATIONAL
..".f CAPITOL.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May N.-General
John 3. Gordon commander IN chief or
the United Confederate Veterans associa-
ton, former senator from Georgia, the
hero of a dozen brilliant battles and one
of the most noted lecturers on the Amer
lean platform, paid visit to the senate
the other day and spent several hours
talking and shaking hands with his for
mer colleagues and comrades. He was
on his way to New York from his home
in Atlanta and HIS washington visit was
merely a social incident. but he said
things OF considerable interest to all
southern cities. chiefly New Orleans, Dali
las and Atlanta.
General Gordon, though gray with age
and marked with many battle scars Is
still the picture OF health. He still main
tains a soldiers bearing, whether walk
ing or at rest, and his striking figure at
tracted the attention Of capitol visitors
he met in the marble corridors. Those
who recognized him stopped and stared
after him until he passed from their
view: many of them lifted their hats and
were rewarded with a like courtesy from
him; and there were some who looked
upon him with a deeper and more affec-
tionate interest than either curiosity or
friendship-for some passed him who had
fought with him when he earned the title
of THE Man of the Twelfth of May"
1.-THE reunions?" he cried heartily when
a friend asked him how he enjoyed the re-
cent assembly of Confederate veterans at
Dallas, why, don't you know each re-
union of those old fellows grows more en-
joyable and larger even than the proceed
ing one? Bless me, 1t seems that we get
more numerous as time flies on.
THE reunion at Dallas was by far the
largest we ever had. 1t seemed to me
that l looked upon the entire Confederate
=, ~ 81 hnx
marching by. They came by the thou
sands and were apparently just as lively
as .ney were in 1864
Dallas handled the host in a remark
able manner, considering the overwhelrn-
ing numbers she had TO entertain / do
not believe another city of the south
could have treated us better and I know
every veteran came away from Texas de-
lighted with his trip. AS for me. 1 was
more than delighted. I was fairly
charmed with the hospitality and enter
prise OF the city. ID
You know. General Gordon continued.
after ne had been interrupted by several
senators who stopped to shake hands with
him There are a very few cities of the
south that can take care Of our reunions.
Every year the numbers who attend grow
larger and it takes a great big. wide
awake city to meet the demands. At
New Orleans, where we meet next year,
there Will of course be ample accomTno-
dalton for every man who will go, and I
predict now q larger crowd, and there
fore the greatest success of all our gath
erings.
did you ever witness one of those re-
unions?" he paused to ask a group Of
friends well, you have something to
live for You may see there the most
intense enthusiasm conceivable, besides
the most interesting scenes in the world
When we old fellows get together to re-
new the recollections of our wartime
DAYS something is doing, as they say now
and merely to witness the scene is in
spirin:. You ought to attend the next re-
union"