The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-18
MOVING TOWARDS
THE CAMP FIRES
Arrangements for New Orleans
Reunion Are Elaborate
A BIG RUSH IS EXPECTED
General Gordon Is on the Grounds and
Says Everything Is Admirable for
Receiving and Entertaining
the old Soldiers.

New Orleans, May IA number OF
prominent officers of the Confederate Or
ganization are here tonight, including
General A. J. West of Georgia, General
George ". Gordon of Tennessee and DR..
]. B. Cowan of Forests cavalry.
General John B. Gordon. commander-in-
chief and members Of his staff visited the
fair grounds today, and General Gordon
said that the arrangements for the re-
union were the most admirable that he
had ever seen. The auditorium Is large
convenient and cool. being splendidly
ventilated, and will seat more than 12,00O
people. The arrangements for cooking
meals for the veterans and serving them
are the most elaborate ever seen at re-
union, and 1t is expected that about TO-
900 will be fed every day.
The social features will be unusual, as
there are not only the Sons of Veterans
and Veterans balls. but private receptions
by Miss Capdeville, daughter of the may
or; Miss Myrtle stauffer, sponsor for
New Orleans, and several other ladies'
There will be concerts at two theatres
Tuesday night, and fireworks at the fair
grounds the same night.
State Headquarters.
State headquarters for every division
have been located in the city, In addi-
tion to the state headquarters near the
auditorium at the fair grounds. At the
latter place the people will register, boxes
being provided to receive slips with the
name and organization represented.
which will be deposited in the box of the
proper state division headquarters and
entered on the books later. This will save
time and avoid confusion.
The big rush will begin tomorrow. spe-
cial trains will come from all directions,
and by 10 o'clock at night a large ma
jority of the people will have arrived. 1t
is estimated that there will be 10000 peo-
pie here. as representatives from all
points Indicate the largest attendance
ever seen at a reunion.
The crowd in recent years has been
too big to permit of much business being
done, and something on the line of ar
ranging a separate business meeting may
be decided at the convention.
The parade will probably be the lar
gest ever held.
New Orleans will be prepared to take
care of every one who comes, both with
food and lodging, and special efforts are
being made TO see that all sorts of COM
forts are assured.
General Gordon In an interview has said
that the organization will gladly make
New Orleans the permanent headqnar-
ters, II the people here invite such ac-
tion.
1t is expected that Louisiana man
will be elected commander-in-chief Of
the Sons of Veterans, according to a
tacit understanding at Dallas last year,
though no fight has been started for 1t.
Barbecue at Houston.
Houston, Tex, May 1.-THE movement
of Confederate Veterans to the New Or
leans reunion began today, and there are
now several hundred old soldiers, spon-
sors, sons and daughters on the road to
the Crescent City.
The first train over the recently COM
pleted Dallas-sabine division of the South
ern Pacific was a veterans special, and
It was we'll filled.
Hon. John II. Reagan, the only sur
viving member of the Confederate cabinet.
left Palestine tonight with his escort of
honor for Houston, where big barbecue
is to be given tomorrow to the veterans
and their guests who assemble at this
point.
Two trains Of sleeping cars left Fort
Worth tonight, carrying Major General
Van Sandt, in command of the trans
Mississippi department; John M. Adams,
state commander Of the Sons of Confeder-
ate Veterans, and their guests and veter-
ans and sponsors.
Thomas P. Stone, commander-in-ch
of the Sons of Veterans, and party left
Waco tonight on a special train for Hous-
ton, accompanied by Miss Randall, the
national sponsor, and her maids.
The attendance from Texas on the re-
union is about the largest of any SINH
lar event held outside the state.
kentuckisns En- Route.
Louisville, KY, May 17.-About five
hundred Confederate veterans and their
friends left Louisville and Kentucky
towns on the Illinois Central and Louis
VILE and Nashville roads for New Orleans
today
Many others left Saturday and more
will go tomorrow.
The greater part of the crowd left on
two trains, one by the Illinois Central at
12:30 o'clock, and another over the Louis
willie and Nashville at Q o'clock tonight.
Colonel Bennett III. Young, commanding
the Kentucky division, with his staff, /
were among those leaving tonight. Col
onel Young estimates Kentucky's proba-
BILE strength in the parade at 100 uni
formed men.
The Kentucky sponsors and John A.
((nr<Ir,,~d ~ c~~and D,oal