The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-17
REUNION IS NOW
APAGE IN HISTORY
VETERANS HAVE SCATTERED
FOR THEIR HOMES ABROAD OVER
THE LAND.

Great Gathering of Old COnfeder-
ates-BIue-CIad Band Played Airs
of the Gray-Gen. $. ID. Lee ana
Mrs. John b. Gordon Were SaIute6
by the Old Soldiers.
Nashville Tenn. June 16.-As a fit
ting climax to the reunion of the United
confederate Veterans, Nashville and
her thousands of guests to-day 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 who paid the honor.
The day was warm, but the old men
marched unflinchingly, although the
step at times faltered. There was
much confusion, caused by poor polio
ing 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 Cavalry Band, U. S. A,
led the parade, and this organization
as we'll as the many other bands in
the long iIle, plbS GU OiiiS AONA P0'
but gave them over and over: Mary
land. My Maryland" My Old Ken
lucky Home THE Girl l Left Be-
hind Me-" and Dixie"
United States mail carriers at sew
eral places along the line supplied ice
water to the thirsty veterans.
The parade was representative, not
only of every Southern state. but
many camps located in the Far West.
One in Montana and another in ONO
had delegations in line. The Fourtn
Division, composed principally Oh
camps from Tennessee, Alabama, Geor-
gia and Mississippi, carried away the
honors for the greatest number OF nleh
in line. The Virginians were an nm
posing body of men, and were given
nanv a cheer. The Fourth Brigade,
North Carolina, headed by camp
from Asheville, bearing hornets nests
in the branches of trees and headed
by a drum corps of veterans, whlcn
now musters but four members, was
one of the features of the parade
Alabama's yellow Hammers were
heartily applauded.
Bore Flags Proudly.
Many of the camp representations
were noticeably small, but the pride
with which they held aloft their tat
tered battle flags made up for the de-
ficiency in numbers one Louisiana
camp carried a nag SO trayea oy pul-
lets and time that it was held together
by net.
In the reviewing stand on Spruce
street was a distinguished company
including Mrs. John B. Gordon, the
widow of the former commander
chief, and her daughters; Col. Philip
Fall of Houston, Tex, member Of
Gen. Lees staff; Mrs. John c. 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 Gen. Lee and his stan.
The old veterans cheered their leader
to the echo as they passed and many
rushed out of line to grasp his hand.
Then they turned and saluted the
widow of John B. Gordon. Mrs. Cor
don was deeply moved at the manifes
tations of affection. Her emotion was
quite perceptible as the Georgia divis-
ion bore past the reviewing stand, the
flag of the Confederacy that had been
made from the ribbons that bedecked
the grave of her beloved husband.
For StOnewalI JacksOn's Men.
Another affecting incident was the
welcome and salute of the old Stone
wall Jackson Brigade as it passed. The
grizzled warriors, bearing the tattered
and battle-scarred flag they had car
ried through victory and defeat alike,
stepped out of line, and with one ac-
cord Saluted Mrs. Gordon and Gen.
Lee.
The sponsors came in for a full share
of the almost continuous applause and
cheering, to which they responded with
the waving of flags, parasols and bou-
quets.
The veterans held brief session at
the tabernacle this afternoon to COM
plete the business of the reunion. Gen.
George P. Harrison of Opelika, Ala,
introduced a resolution at the request
of the Alabama Daughters of the Con-
federacy asking that the veterans ap-
point committee to confer with the
Daughters upon the matter of revising
and modernizing the words of the
South's most famous song, Dixie" A
prolonged discussion followed. Gen.
Cabell of Texas opposed the appoint
nent of committee or any action
which would put the veterans in the
attitude of suggesting a change of
words.
That song furnished us inspiration
through four long years of fighting"
said the General. ut has furnished in
spiration ever since, and ! don't think
that we, standing with one foot in
the grave, should permit any change
in these words. The next thing we
know" concluded the General, some
Yankee will come down here and want
TO change Cabell's name"
The convention finally voted to ap-
point the committee as a matter of
courtesy to the Daughters of the Con-
federacy, but the veterans are firmly
opposed to any change.
Greetings from the G. A. r..
The reading of greetings from Wis
consin Grand Army Veterans, now in
annual encampment at Madison, occa-
stoned prolonged cheering. A suitable
acknowledgment and greeting was or
dered sent by Gen. Lee.
Gen. ]. William Jones of Richmond
in explaining the progress of the move
ment to erect a monument to jefferson
Davis in Virginia's capital, said he
hoped to invite the veterans to meet
there in 1906. when they would dedi-
cate the monument and hold their con-
ventions in the auditorium of the bat
tie abbey.
A resolution to abandon parades of
future reunions, owing to the increas-
ing inflrmities of the veterans, which