The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-14
Fourteenth Annual Confcdera G
Reunion viii be Called 10
Order al Noon Today
s. D LEE WILL PROBABLY
Be ELECTED COMMANDER
Gen. Joe Wheeler Makes Plea for I'M
mediate Action TO Relieve veter-
ans From Want During
Remaining Years.

Nashville. June 1s-Nashvlle is crowd
ed tonight with visitors. veterans and
delegates to .he fourteenth annual reunion
of the United Confederate Veterans
which opens officially tomorrow. All DAY
long and far irto the night trains were
arriving at frequent Intervals from al
parts of the south bringing the old war
r.ors their friends, families and sponsors,
zach eager to fill their part in the re-
anion programme, which has since 1870
been source of much pleasure. There
are delegations present from Missouri ana
as far north as Montana. The Pat Gle
bourne division of the Texas veterans
with headquarters at Waco arrived dur
ing the afternoon, but the five other
Texas special trains are less fortunate
they having been delayed by a washout
near Pine Bluff their destination not.
being reached until late tonight.
The Battle Abbey committee met to-
night at the Baptist publishing house.
The most important matter taken up for
consideration was the report of the com
,nittee on the abbey. This will be sub
mitted to the convention tomorrow for its
action.
The report of the committee shows that
the treasurer has in his hands nearly
100000 in cash. In addition thereto there
Is the gift of the city OF Richmona, soo,
BOO; subscriptions coleetable, $l0,00Oi bal
ance due from Charles Broadway Rouss'
$4,000 This latter amount is payable at
any time This makes the total money
available for the erection or the aDDeN
s206,000 The committee Is trying 10 raise
100000 but the work can begin any time
now with the money in hand. The exact
da.e for the inauguration of the work,
however. has not been decided. The SUIT
against j. W. Underwood, the report
saws has not been settled but Is In the
hands of competent counsel VINO are
bringing the matter to a satisfactory con-
rlusion. The difference between Mr.. Tn
derwood and the abbey trustees arises
as to the amount due the abbey COM
mittee from the amount collected by Mr.
Underwood Mr.. Underwood Hts remover
as chairman two years ago, and was
succeeded by DR.. j. William Jones, OF
Richmond,
To Establish Big Library
rhe committee states that more funds
will be raised as soon as possible to es-
tahlish a eompiet library of American and
ssneciaIly southern history which will be-
come a part of the abbey. Numerous por-
traits and statues of southern soldiers
which have been presented from time 10
lime by southern women will find rest
ing place in the abbey.
DR. Jones. superintendent of the abbey,
will make trips through the south as
soon as the dates can be arranged 10
raise money to fill the amount required
FOR the historic structure. lie requests
all camps of veterans of Sons and Daugh-
ters and memorial associations to make
donations, both large and small to aid the
abbey fund.
The historical committee, of which the
scholarly general Clement A. Evans OF
Georgia. is chairman, will submit a re-
port TO the camp tomorrow, settlhg iorlh
The congratulations of the committee to
The south on the reforms made in the MS
tories in which the south is now much
more fairly treated by authors than
formerly This has been accomplished,
The report says My by the persistent
pfforts on the part of the people of the
south. This committee will also report
on tils battle flag matter, which mas
agltated the veterans for several years.
The committee is of the opinion that the
battle flag is square with cross lines
from corner to corner The contention
,f many has been that the flag was OBJ
long instead of square.
Shows Humane Treatment.
The report of the committee on the
treatment of prisoners during the war
also made py the historical committee,
will be presented. 1t shows that in all
Instances humane treatment was given
federal prisoners A large amount OF
data on this subject has been collected
and 1t is probable that the committee
will continue its investigations another
year, when a final report will be MADE.
General Stephen ID. Lee, commander IN
chief of the veterans, today received d
letter from General Joseph Wheeler, VINO
Is now at Sandy Hook, N. j. expressing
his regrets at not being able to attend
the Nashville reunion. General wheeler
said he had hoped to lend his voice In
an effort to urge special exertions by the
veterans in hunting up war rosters ana
records to pe printed as permanent ar
chieyes
The general says further:
'',rhe record of the Confederate soldier
for su oerb chvalry is without parallel,
and In years to come future generations
will value beyond price this evidence
that an ancestor was one of the knightly
heroes who fought IN the great battles Oh
1861 and 1860.
after years of effort the law was en-
acted which secured the printing and
preservation of these records and the
work can only be completed by the CO.
oneration and efforts of Confederates who
must search for and learn these precious
documents.
.sThere is another matter, my dear gen
eral which is very near my heart. Many
~ our comrades who We're disabled by
wounds or infirmities caused by explosions
. and no longer able to procure the COM
forte and in many cases the necessities
~ life and during the next two or three
years the wants of these old soldiers
will be greater than they have been in
former years, and from that time 1t will
be constantly on the decrease. | wish
therefore to urge every veteran to use
his influence with the law-making pow
ers of his state to secure sufficient ap-
propriation for this sacred purpose. The
beneficiaries of such legislation soon will
pass to the great beyond and our oppor-
tunities to add to their comfort will then
be gone
Called to Order Today.
The convention will be called to order
AT noon tomorrow in the tabernacle by
General G. w. Gordon of Memphis as
department commander and after several
welcoming speeches the acting comman-
der-in-chief. Lieutenant General Stephen
d. Lee will deliver his address.
On Wednesday there will be another
business session and on Thursday the