The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-19
THE BIRTH OF LEE
ANNIVERSARY WILL BE MARKED
BY PARADE OF MILITARY.
SAVANNAH HoNoRS HERO.
HOLIDAY OBSERVED by BANKING
AND BUSINESS HOUSES.

salute of Twenty-one Guns VIII BE
Fired by ArtiIIery-Joint Parade
Will Start at O'CIock-Com-
mands Which VIII Participate.
PostOffice, City Exchange and 9th
err Public Buildings Will BE
CIosed-Entertainm at COnfed-
crate Veterans Association Hall
Tonight.
To-day Savannah honors the MEM
,ry of Robert Edward Lee, and with
citing demonstration and observance
commentaries anniversary of his
birth. The principal demonstration will
he that of the military, which, in the
afternoon, will have a joint parade
and a review in the Park Extension,
after which the artillery will fire a
salute of twenty-one guns in honor of
the departed hero.
Tonight the Confederate organiza-
tions will pay appropriate tribute with
an entertainment which promises to be
an enjoyable one. The banks and many
Of the business houses will be closed
throughout the day, holiday hours will
be observed at the postoffice and ex-
change, and the afternoon will be a
holiday in all of the business houses.
The weather, it is predicted, will be
fair. and indications are that the OBJ
servances and demonstration will be
equal in enjoyment to those of any
Drevious occasion.
Honor to the Name of Lee.
The name of Lee, honored alike,
North and South, is to-day on every
tongue. Veterans of many wars, gray
haired survivors of the great struggle,
their children and their children's chill
dren to-day revere the name of him
who. in obedience to his conscientious
conviction that his duty to his state
stood first-who, with all his devotion
to the Union and the feeling of loyalty
and duty of an American citizen, was
not able to made up his mind to raise
his hand against his relatives, his chill
dren and his home, but resigned his
commission in the army that he might
give his services-might be, his life
to his native state; who throughout
the great civil strife bore himself with
courage and Christian fortitude, Win
ming a name and fame that will last
while history, and displaying knowl-
edge of military tactics which caused
friend and foe to recognize in him one
of the greatest generals the world has
ever known-he, who begged that no
grafton be pronounced at his burial
is to-day honored throughout the land,
while thousands of the National Guard
march in his honor, and the survivors
of the struggle observe in fitting form
the anniversary of his birth.
The Military Parade.
The parade of the local troops on this
day is one of the largest of the year.
Col. Peter w. Meldrim, ranking officer
will be in command of the joint parade.
The troops will form on Oglethorpe
avenue and Drayton street, and the
march will be begun at 4 o'clock. The
parade will be headed by the First
Regiment band, while following in the
order named. will be the various COM
mandS.
The parade will be led by the First
Regiment of Infantry, consisting of the
Emmett Rifles, the German Volunteers,
Oglethorpe Light Infantry, Savannah
Cadets. Irish Jasper Greens and Repub-
lcan Blues. Then will come the First
Battalion of Heavy Artillery (The Sa-
vannah Volunteer Guards,) comprised
of Batteries A, B., c., and D. Follow
ing will be the Third Division of Naval
Militia; after which will come the Law
ton Cadets and the Cadets of the Sa-
vannah Preparatory School. The Chat
ham Artillery will have their usual
place in line behind the militia: and
the rear will be brought up by the
Georgia Hussars.
Preparations have been in progress
for some time for the celebration and
the commands will endeavor to put up
their best appearance. Besides the First
Regiment Band, Middleton's Band will
be in line and will contribute martial
strains and patriotic airs.
After a review in the Extension, the
commands will repair to their respec-
tive armories where collations Will be
spread.
TO-niGht's Programme.
At night a programme which is look
ed forward to by the veterans and
their friends will be rendered at the
Confederate Veterans Association Hall
in the Chatham Artillery Armory at
$50 o'clock. The various Confeder-
ate organizations in Savannah have
been extended special invitations, and
the public is invited to be present.
Mr.. A. bearing Harden will deliver
an eulogy on Lee, he having been
chosen orator of the occasion by the
association. Miss Pauline Chapeau
and Miss Sadie King will sing solos,
and Rotations will be rendered by
Miss Nena Sloan, Mr.. John c. Sloan
and Miss Marion Cooper. Master Car
ter Darow sill sing when I'm Big
III Be a Soldier" and the Children of
the Confederacy will render Dixie"
After the completion of the programme
refreshments will be served and dane