The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-16
SONS OF VETERANS ARE FL0U8ISHING Commander ThoS. M. Owen Makes Detailed Report CAMPS ACTIVELY AT WORK Letter Was Sent to Each Camp in the State Seeking Exact lnfor-
 ma.ion as to Its Con-
 dition.
CAMPS ACTIVELY AT WORK

bama division, United Confederate Veter- ans. has just forwarded to the comman- der in chief at New Orleans a letter of informa tion that gives much important data concerning the work of the sons in this state. The text of the letter is given below:
 Headquarters Alabama Division, United
 Sons of Confederate Veterans Thomas
 M. Owen, commander Alabama Division.
 Will T. sheehan. Division Adjutant and
 Chief of Staff.
 Montgomery, Ala, May II. My Dear Comrade:
 In response 10 your valued favor of late date, requesting information concerning the organization of officers of the Ala bama Division U. S. C. V. and amy further information of interest, or benefit to the confederation" I have the honor to respectfully report this division in ex- cellent condition, thoroughly alive to the grave responsibilities resting upon it's members, and active in the accomplish ment of the purposes of our noble organ ization.
 Although our division dates from Au- gust 10. 1897, we have not yet deemed it necessary or important to subdivide it into brigades. l was chosen as my own successor to the responsible post of divs- ion commander at the third annual re- union in Birmingham, November 1. 19O3
 Number of Camps.
 Up to and including the reunion period of 1903 there were in the division twenty six camps. one of which was dormant i tNo b2, Camp C. C. Peguesl. leaving leaving twenty-five active camps. Since that date there have been organized ten new camps and I have advice that sev- eral others will be formed prior to the reunion Tn Nashville. An examination of your camp record will show how large a percentage our list form of the entire number Of new camps. It is altogether out or the ordinary for one division to have to It's credit more than one-fourth of the new camps during any one year
 The division leld it's third annual re- union in the city of Birmingham Novem- Der 1 and 5 19O3 simultaneously with the reunion of the Alabama Division Confed- 1 crate Veterans. The attendance was gen eral and the occasion was altogether prontaDle. The annual orator was Judge Thomas Goode Jones' q gallant survivor ! of Gen. John B. Gordon's staff By special request his oration was delivered in the jefferson theatre before the veterans,
 
 Thomas M. Owen, the writer, was re- elected commander as his own successor h General Oider No. 5, new series De- ! tobef l9 1903, issued by me converting the l reunion. in order that 1 might be advised of the condition and work of camps, required written report on a number of points as indicated below. While I did not obtain satisfactory replied in all cases, the responses were sufficient to indicate a healthy condition. The following are the points of inquiry
 Information Desired. ] 1. General condition of the camp | ,. Historical work accomplished during 1 the year.
 | 5. Contributions made by the camp to patriotic causes, giving names of the ob- Jeets to which help has been given Gas for monuments, Soldiers home. etc)
 | How often meetings are held by the camp with general account of what is | done at the meetings.
 g. Has a local reunion or anniversary of the camp been held and if so state when and whether or not the occasion was | success?
 6. Does your camp work in harmony and concert in all patriotic matters with the camp of Confederate Veterans and the chapter of the United Daughters of the l Confederacy in your locality?
 '. State the causes if any, which m;lt- tate against the successful operation of your camp.
 s. What In your opinion, should be done by way of arousing more interest, and in securing better results in our camps? And finally
 g. Furnish a complete roster of the ac- tive members of the camp in good stand ing, accompanied by 10 cents per capita tax for each. (Unless the roster is fur | nshed and this annual per capita tax Is paid the camp will be in bad standing and will not be allowed representation in the reunion)
 In preparing this report use commercial or legal size paper, and write in ink on one side only.
 The activities engaging the camps of 1 this division may be said to embrace the | entire range of objects and purposes laid down in our constitution.
 Pelham Monument.
 At the second annual reunion, Novem- Der F. 1902. the division adopted a reso- lution declaratory of its purpose to erect "a monument to commemorate the name | and fame of John Pelham. The move ment has not been pushed strongly as yet but already a good sum has been collected
 In addiaion to division work several camps have undertaken special work | Camp William H. Payne contempltes the erection of a Confederate monument at Seottshoro' Jackson county. Camp John H. Caldwell is collecting funds for the erection of monument 10 John Pel- ham in the city of Anniston movement altogether distinct from the division ef- fort above noted
 Referring to that provision of our con- stitution which lays down as one of the objects of our organization the duty ito mark with suitable headstones the graves of Confederate dead wherever found" desire to report that Mr Charles Me Galley of Huntsville, Ala, has erected one hundred and fifty-three monuments to mark the graves of unknown Confed- crate dead buried there. In this work he has the sympathetic cooperation of Camp N. R, Forrest, No. 120. L. & c. V. of Huntsville The division at the third annual reunion formally thanked Con- rade McCalley, through resolutions intro dueed by Comrade John H. Wallace of this camp, flor his loving remembrance so substantially evidenced" I shall be pleased to supply further in- formation on any points desired. and witr high regard, am Yours faithfully. i THOMAS M OWEN, Commander Ala. Div. T.. s. C. " HON VIM Mel. FAYSSOUX ! Commander-in- Chief, r. S. c. ", New Orleans, La. 1 1 Children's Carnival at the Jefferson Theatre Wednes. day night, benefit Free Kin.