The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-21

Nashville, Tenn, June 16.-As a
fitting climax to the reunion of United
Confederate Veterans, Nashville and
her thousands of guests today gave
the veterans. as they proudly march
ed through the densely crowded
streets, an ovation which will live
long in the memory of it's recipients,
as we'll as those h paid the honor.
The day was warm. but the old men
marched ~unfiinchingly, although the
step at times faltered. There was
much confusion. caused by the poor
policing along the route, but the start
was made at the hour set and the
last veteran passed the reviewing
stand two hours later. The Seventh
band, U. S. A, led the parade,
and this organization. as we'll as the
many other bands in the long line,
|played only four pieces, but gave
them over n over: Maryland, My
Maryland" My Old Kentucky
Home" The Girl 1 Left Behind Me-"
and Dixie"
United States mail carriers at sew
leral places along the line supplied ice
water to the thirsty veterans.
The parade was representative, not
lonly of every southern state. but
many camps located in the far west,
lone in Montana and another In Ohio,
Having delegations in line. The
Fourth division, composed principally
Iof camps from Tennessee. Alabama,
Georgia and Mississippi, carried away
the honors for the greatest number
lof men in line. The Virginians were
Ian-imposing body of men and were
lglVen many a cheer.
The fourth brigade, North Carolina,
HEADED by a camp from Asheville,
bearing hornets nests in the branches
lof trees and headed by a drum corps
lof veterans, which now muSterS but
-four members, was one of the fea-
lures of the parade. Alabama's vel
How Hammers" were heartily applaud
Ted. Many of the camp representa-
Itions were noticeably small but the
pride with which they held aloft their
battered battlefiags made up for the
deficiency in numbers. One Louisi-
lana camp carried a flag so frayed by
bullets and time that it was held to-
lgether by a net.
LII lliC Hi SldIO vi SpTuCe
tstreet was a distinguished company,
Including Mrs. John B. Gordon, the
widow of the former commander-in-
lchief, and her daughters; Colonel
Phillip Fall, of Houston. Texas, a
memher of General Lees staff; Mrs.
John G. Brown and Bishop and Mrs.
Fitzgerald, of Tennessee.
Mrs. Gordon stood at the front of
the reviewing stand, and drawn up
across the street were General Lee
land his staff. The veterans cheered
their leader to the echo as they pass
led, and many rushed out of line to
Igrasp his hand. Then they turned
land saluted the widow of John B.
IGordon. Mrs. Gordon was deeply
moved at the manifestations of affec-
t1on. Her emotion was quite percep-
t1ble as the Georgia division bore past
the reviewing stand the flag of the
i~Confeieracy that had been made
from the ribbons hat bedecked the
grave of her beloved husband.
Another affecting incident "a the
WELCOME and salute of the old Stone
wall Jackson brigade as it passed.
The srizzled warriors, bearing the tat
tered and battle-scarred flag they had
Icarried through victory and defeat
alike, stepped out OF line n with
one accord saluted Mrs. Gordon and
General Lee.
ihS SpOllSo4S SdIhS III IOI q IulI
share OF the almost continuous APP
lplause and cheering, to which they
responded with the waving of flags.
lparasols and bouquets.
The veterans held q brief session
lat h tabernacle this afternoon to
complete the business of the reunion.
General George p. Harrison, of Ope-
lka, Ala, introduced a resblution,
lat h request of the Alabama Daugh-
tiers of the asking that
the veterans appoint a committee to
lconfer with the Daughters upon the
matter of revising and undermining
the words OF the south's most famous
song, Dixie" A prolonged discus
sion followed. General Cabell, of
Texas, opposed the appointment Of
the m or any action which
would put the veterans in the attitude
of suggesting a change of words.
That song furnished US inspira-
ltion through four long years of fight
ling" said the general. TT has fur
finished inspiration ever since, AMI I
don't think that we, standing with one
foot i nthe a should permit any
ichange in those words. The next
thing we Know" concluded the gem
Ieral, some Yankee will come down
here and want to change Cabell's
lname."
The convention. finally voted to
Iappoint' the committee as a matter
of courtesy to the Daughters of the
IConfederacy, but the veterans are
firmly opposed to any change.
The reading of greetings from the
WISCONSIN Grand Army veterans. now
i'm annual encampment at Madison.
~ioccasioned prolonged cheering. A
suitable acknowledgment and greet
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