The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-20
The Old Soldier was not Well.
but Did His Part Manfully.
LAST SURVIVOR OF
CONFEDERATE CABINET.
General Reagan Erect and Vigorous
Widest Enthusiasm Aroused by the
Presence of Mrs. Stonewall
Jackson-Veterans Rise to
Greet Her-A Splendid
Ball to Sponsors.
(From a stafr Correspondent,1

(From a Staff Correspondent.)
NEW ORLEANS, La, May 19.-CountI
less thousands, unnumbered flags, per-
feet blaze OF light. such are conditions In
New Orleans tonight. In the history Of
the United Confederate Veterans there
has never been shown more open-hearted
hospitality and enthusiasm. Every latch-
strings hangs on the outside, every wear
er Of the gray is brother. The exer- s
cises at tho Confederate auditorium here
to-day We're OF q preliminary characters;
the real business is yet to come.
The most striking figures to-day were
General John H. Reagan. Of Texas the
last survivor f the Confederate Cabinet,
and General John B. Gordon. Years
seem to have fallen from General Reagan
and he stood before a vast audience erect
and vigorous. Mrs. stonewall Jackson.
who is also here. is an object Of especial
esteem and venerauon. $tS3
Inc feature OF tonight was the recep-s
tlon extended Lee the sponsors by the WASH.
United Confederate Veterans was va OPEN en-
ed in the great auditorium at the Far
s'lounas, aoRpoa atoisny, e 8Hon SeSn: WELL
The weather was perfect and all the ar
rangements We're successful. There were
of beautiful women and above and around
on every, hand a profusion cs futtering
naGs i1;l 3, ana 7, waving streamers There was
siasm unbounded Over the beauty and
successful day there was but single
shadow. and that promises to disappear
of General Gordon, the commander-ln-
chief of the organization. He was not
well when he left his hotel for the au-.ss
eah rna as aays been Els Ii hs
was not In reality sufficient for the
ordeal to which he subjected himself and
before the close Z, Of the opening session
Ing but his grim lighting spirit carried
him through the day without something
akin to collapse. lie was not able to at
torium, and remained quietly In his room
at the hotel, receiving no visitors. His
condition Is In no manner serious. but It
preside at all the sessions at the audi
torium between now and Friday noon.
He expects. however, to be present to-
- - GREAT OVATION.
When the hour for opening the conven-
ton arrived the platform was crowded
South General Gordon was delayed
somewhat som IN ,ta reaching i tn, the grounds and
tlon. Cheer after cheer rang through
the building as he came rapidly down the
aisle. leaning on the arm OF Ad1utant-
SANITY by group Of friends rs he reach
ed the rostrum and for time was un-
able TO reach his chair.
young 'lH soS Woman. ~ Miss Hariton. or Of waco.
Texas, approached and bending down.
kissed the general. He sprang quickly to /.
his feet to acknowledge the honor with
General j; ); Lever., commanaer Of tho
Veterans. called. the assembly to. order
i,,tr tha f,p a ajp-f
j. William Jones, who delivered an elo-
quent invocation, Then In succession
came speeches OF welcome to the veterans
Orleans; Logs Charbouner, who spoke for
the local organization Of the Sons OF
Veterans: Mrs. William J, Behan, repre-
rial Association, and Governor w. W,
Heard, who spoke for the people OF the
State of III honisIanSA nnipHAr spDrcH
After a fow opening words OF welcome,
the Governor said:
Veterans, the. outcome of the struggle
that you carried on FOR fonr fardo long "a years a
that the world has yet seen.
In no manner or sense can obscure tna
sSS f05S aVa Nth fame toa haI ysa tof M ss
hundred thousand, you confronted two
million eight hundred thousand, OF these;
IN round nnmbsr ye hnnqfea I'D thPusana nrana
been IN formal alliance with the North.
it could scarcely have been expected to 5
send more than this number of lis or
eanized soldiers for its quota In such u
coalition Considering the two hundred
thousand negro soldiers, the FIVE hundred
foreign born soldiers. and the @
two million ono hundred thousand native &
II Is not eNtfayasant 10 say
that the six hundred thousand Confede-
rate veterans confronted coalition or
America, Europe and Africa,
''IVhen we consider these indisputabls
facts we cannot but have commisera-
ton for the person who would seek to de-
tract from the unparalleled resistance
made by the armies In gray, by imphgn-
Ing the motives by which they We're Inns
pelled to make this truly legendary de-
fense OF their homes and constitutional
rights as they construed these rights TO
be found
repeating the welcome OF the people or
chairman of the local Executive Commits
tee In charge of all the arrangements
for the reunlon, then made most hhppy
address. ,.,,,,,,es
was IS enthusiastiealiy cheered His ad-
dress was as follows;
this proud and patriotic nrganiza ton
which gave II birth The Ueeung OF Y
such men as you welcomes tosEiay, whose
past deeds will remain forever an insp!r>