The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-07


snubbed and sighted at the recent Con
federate Reunion at New Orleans, because
he wore the blue uniform OF Fedora
General.
There isn't a word of truth in il" sait
Major London, and he added:
This statement is untrue in two par
ticulars. In the first place Genera
Wheeler did not wear uniform of any
kind at New Orleans, and in the second
place he was not sighted or snubbed.
HE wore civilians clothes all the time
he was at New Orleans, just as did the
other two Confederate Lieutenant Gen
erals who were there, A. p Stewart and
Stephen d. Lee He was neatly dressed
in a Prince Albert coat and walked as
rapidly as a young man. He was also
greeted and cheered with enthusiasm
wherever he appeared and no Confederate
received a warmer welcome or a grander
ovation than he did. l happened to walk
with him into the auditorium when he
first entered that vast building in which
the reunion was held. and as soon as nc
was seen wild cheers greeted him and the
regular order of exercises was suspended
in order that he might be escorted to the
stage and respond to the calls made On
him for a speech.
Several of the speakers alluded to him
in most complimentary terms, and boast
ed that to him was chiefly due our VIC
tory at Santiago because he insisted on
holding our advanced line after the first
days fight when other generals advised
a withdrawal.
I'm a conversation with General Wheel
er / mentioned that ''Wheeler's cavalry
was not very pleasantly remembered by
some of our people, and he very promptly
replied that bands of robbers and ma
RAIDERS falsely pretended to belong to his:
command, and thus brought discredit to
his cavalry, who were not responsible for
their lawless Deeds
SIDE LIGHTS ON THE REUNION.
Senator London. who has attended every
Confederate Reunion and who is a close
observer and a charming writer, gives
some side lights in his paper, the Cllath-
am Record. on the recent Reunion at
New Orleans, which viii interest the whole
State He writes as follows:
1.-THE thirteenth annual Reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans was held last
week at New Orleans, and it was an oc.
casion that will never be forgotten by any
who were so fortunate as to be present.
Although the Federal fleet captured that
city in April, 1852, and held possession of
it the remainder of the war, yet last week
it was surely recaptured by the Confed-
crates and that too without firing gun
or shouldering a musket And strange
to say, no one objected to this recapture,
but all most warmly welcomed their re,
turn. Everything possible was done for
their comfort and pleasure, and the city
was completely surrendered to their en-
joyment.
while not as many veterans attended
this reunion as some previous ones yet
there were more visitors than had ever
before attended a reunion. the number be
ing estimated at 100000. These visitors
with the. inhabitants OF the city 600 .000)
made an immense crowd and everywhere
that any one went it seemed as if every
body else was there. This city fed free
all veterans who applied for meals And
these meals were not scant like army ra-
tions. These free meals We're served Oh
long tables in a building at which $500
persons could eat at the same time IT
was estimated that 900 persons were
thus fed every day for four days At every
State headquarters badges were furnished
which entitled the wearer to free meals.
"The exercises were held in an immense
building, constructed for the occasion. at
the fair grounds, about three miles from
the centre of the city. and reached on -four
lines of electric cars. There were so
many of these cars that there was very
might wish to meet was presents! This
known at any previous reunion Near
this building were the headquarters OF
every State, at which all veterans We're
registered. In this way one could ascer-
tain whether or not any friend whom he
might wish to meet was present. This
enabled many long separated friends and
relatives to meet.
1.-THE North Carolina headquarters were
crowded every day, particularly by former
residents of this State now living in other
States They all were so glad to meet
again some of their fellow tar heels.
Among the most prominent Of them were
DR. Edwin A. Alderman, the distinguished
president Of Tulane University and e1-
Governor Joe Johnston, of Alabama Both
of them were delighted to meet with their
old tar heel friends and renew pleasant
acauaintances. But the visit that gave
the greatest pleasure at our headuarters
was that of Mrs. Stonewall jackson, who
body was eager to shake her hand. One
grizzled veteran fell upon his knees and
grasping her hand sobbed like a child
every North Carolnian land many
others) wanted one of the artistic tar
heel badges, which had been designed
and furnished by General Carr. No other
badge was in such demand as this. 1t
represented foot with tar on the heel,
and on this foot was the inscription;
"1S61-1S65, $4,000 voters Tar Heels, 1915
0C0 soldiers" Suspended from the heel
was a medallion, shaped like Maltese
cross, with Confederate flag in the cen
ire, and with the following inscription:
First at Bethel, Foremost at Gettysburg,
Farthest at Chickamauga, Last at APP
pomattox" These badges attracted much
attention and were quite an advertise
ment of our States proud war record.
Our headquarters were enlivened with
music, both vocal and instrumental. which
always attracted a crowd. The cold North
state was sung quite often and always
aroused much enthusiasm The Raleigh
drum corps of four veterans played their
soulstirring airs that reminded the sol
oiers OF war times and army lIe No
othef State headquarters had so much