The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1904-11-25

bearers moved toward the hearse
an old veteran approached the cas-
ket, hurriedly removed his overcoat
handing it to bystander and jerk
ing off his worn and faded jacket
of Confederate grey asked in trem-
ulous tones, MAY lay it on his
coffin just one minute?" His re-
quest was granted and as he lifted
the jacket teuderly and slipped it
again over his bent shoulders he
said, between sobs, Now, thou
sands couldn't buy it from me.
The procession moved to the
State capitol and there in the ro-
tunda, on catafalque covered with
flowers, the casket was placed.
Around the great circular room at
intervals dropped the flag OF his
beloved Confederacy, for which he
had given the first blood Of his
young manhood, and the flag of
reunited country, to which he had
given the richest offerings of his
mature years. Palm branches from
Florida, floral tributes from all
over the South and from the North
garlanded four tai pillows and
hung in fragrant masses on the
casket, on the walls and on stands
about the corridor. And thus the
first citizen Of the South lay in
state in Georgia's capitol. Tens of
thousands passed in double line to
look upon the face of a man who
was loved as seldom man was ever
loved on earth. The Capitol doors
were kept open at night that the
workingmen might see his face,
and it was long after midnight be-
fore the special guard of veterans
and militia was left alone with its
precious charge.
On Thursday morning at 10|
o'clock memorial exercises were
held in the Georgia Hall of Repre-
While addresses were
being made by men of distinction
who had served with him in war
and in peace, men, women and chill
dren still passed in an unbroken
line by the casket in the rotunda.
Immediately following these exer-
cises religious services were held ia
the Presbyterian Church adjoining
the Capitol A way was opened
through the throng which packed
the Capitol corridors and massed in
the square and streets outside and
the casket was borne across by his
Did comrades. At Mrs. Gordon's
request the veterans we're given
first place in the church after the
family.
The thing that made Gordon
great, that which bound him close
10 man and made him dear to them
was his mighty heart, strong as the
of the hills through which
ne led columns, gentle and pure as
he kind zephyrs OF his own South
and. Honest search after the
source of Gordon's superb power
:annot fail to show that the foun-
ain of his strength was not merely
n his right arm, nor in his keen
ind flashing blade, nor yet in his
llertness of mind and vigor of in
elect, but in the meeting of these
qualities with a fine spirit these
sterling virtues fused behind the
:rystal of his soul, forming the true
mirror of knighthood. He was
master of many because master OF
From the rich treasury of
such a nature the ministers, of
Christ drew their lessons over the
bier of this prince of Christian
During the hours of the funeral
public and private schools nd
places of business we're closed. All
lags hung at half mast and in some
titles remained so for thirty days.
Seventeen guns were fred at inter-
Ials of half an hour during the day.
Throughout Georgia and the entire
south memorial services were held
It this hour and from morning till
light bells tolled out the grief of
he people.
The staff of the Department Of
he Gulf, United States Army. the
Atlanta Camp G. A. r., the sixth
egiment United States Infantry
stationed near Atlanta, asked for a
'lace in the line of the funeral pro-
ession; they wished to Join with
theirs of the North in paying trib-
tie to the man who had done most
o make them forget the animosi-
les of war and whose course since
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