The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-21

I HhS CcIldln ny DfAtG Otu AVitlG0SA ~' soldiers would be glad to join me in ex' pressing thanks to him, and am grate- full to them for complying with my re quest and adopting the resolution in the
 very words as prepared and introduced by ne. They also adopted resolution
 which I prepsr red and introduced, which
 was necessary for the successful prosecu-
 ton of the work by which the names of
 Confederate soldiers will be perpetuated
 for all time.
 Another purpose of my visit was to
 renew my efforts for our disabled and
 suffering comrades by urging all Confed-
 crates to make special demand upon the
 lawmaking power of their respective
 States for enlarged appropriations for
 this good and almost sacred purpose.
 I did not leave New Orleans abruptly,
 nor did I lock myself in my room. Dur
 ing the day and evening my room was
 almost constantly occupied by devoted
 friends, and much of the time filled by
 these welcome visitors, and the door was
 only locked when was asleep in my bed.
 ''I left the city five hours after the
 termination of the last Confederate ex-
 ercises. This was the last train I could
 take and reach New York in time for a
 dinner given to the British ambassador
 by club of which I was vice-president.
 oAiu to cidOic Jnc tO ldhe tIldl tIdiIi I
 had purchased my sleeping car accom-
 modations three days before.
 ''I was so pleasantly and so constantly
 occupied with old soldier friends that
 had hardly given thought to the parade.
 but nevertheless when it commenced
 had the pleasure of seeing it from a very advantageous position, and I was
 much gratified to see the joyous columns as they passed. I am confident that if
 had made application, you would have gladly arranged for me to be in the pa- rade, but then I would have been de- prived of the pleasure of seeing the columns pass and you are quite right that did not for a moment expect you to hunt me up. especially as the burden and responsibility upon you must have occupied every moment of your time; and, again. if you had made such an att tempt, there are many in New Orleans to whom you would have felt compelled to extend a like courtesy.
 When I saw the excellent order and conduct of the parade I was quite im- pressed with the gratitude and thanks we ought to extend to you for your very successful management l think. my dear friend. that all the trouble to which you refer was caused by a fearfully false and slanderous publication which has been called to my attention and which, it appears. was sent in the form of telegrap phic dispatch from Atlanta. Ga. to many prominent newspapers of the North. .- ."-r
 If I was alone concerned I would not notice it at all, but the article is such a wicked islander upon every brave Con- federate soldier at the reunion that it ought to be denied and denounced. The article untruthfullv states:
 ." The real reason why no provisions were made for him General Wheeler) in the parade, was because he appeared in the uniform of Brigadier Gensral of the United States army and that in conse- quence of being so clad he (Wheeler) was treated with discourtesy and was rebuked by Confederate General. who asked him CWheeler), What do you think Generals Lee and Jackson would say to you appearing at a Confederate reunion in that uniform?' that therefore he wore the uniform to show the veterans that seotionalism was indeed over
 Each one of these statements ia abso- lutely false. I did not have vestige of any kind of uniform at New Orleans. Like nearly all army officers, I have never worn any uniform except when on duty.
 NO officer rebuked me or said word about Generals Lee or Jackson. or uni forms. I did not say I was deply hurt, or hurt at all. and I was not hurt. I did not say anything about uniforms, or Spanish war, or sectionalism, or any, thing like it. The effect of all these scandalous falsehoods would be to tell the readers of the Northern newspapers that the uniform of United States of- ficer was scorned and treated with dis respect by the Confederate soldier at the reunion in New Orleans. and that Gen eral Wheeler, who heretofore divided honors with General Gordon, was now scorned. because. and only because he came among them in a uniform of blue; in other words, that thirty-eight years after the close oe the war the entire body of Confederate veterans scorn and exhibit disrespect to the uniform of the army of the United States. and, worse still. that a Confederate General had, by his rebuke and reference to. Generals Lee and Jackson. contended that those two honored and martyred heroes would. if alive, have joined in this scorn and dIsrespect.
 "The fabrication as told by the At lanta correspondent to Northern news papers was so artfully written and con- tained such a series of details that it would very naturally be believed by per- sons who knew nothing of the noble qualities of Confederate soldiers, and the only excuse I have seen for the fab rication Is that 1t was hoped it was suf- hciently sensational to increase the sale of the papers which produced it.
 "The fabricator of the story proba bly, did not realize the effect it would have upon Confederate soldiers and the peo- pie of the Southern States. I certainly regard it as utterly misrepresenting every brave soldier of the Confederacy. but some Confedcrstes go further and assert that the writer of the Atlanta ar- ticle was guilty of the most malignant crime against the memory of Generals Lee and Jackson, and the soldiers they led in battle. that has been perpetrated since 1865
 won Confederate victories have devoted their efforts to building up the shattered fortunes of the South. They taught their to revere with rhe utmost ten derness the memory of the flag under which, for four long years their fath- CTS fought with a courage. fortitude and devotion without a parallel in the his- tory of warfare, to look upon and pro- tect the graves of the heroc dead with the warmest and most devoted love; but they have also taught them that the flag of the United States is, and for all time will be. the only emblem of sovereignty for themselves and their posterity, and that this great and glorious country Is the only government they and their chil- dren's children can fight for and protect, and the only one they, can look to for