The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-24
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But Gallant and Valiant stillin Heart
and Spirit
GRAND oLOyETERANs GATHER

ssGhAND ULu .6AIdEh.
Loyal and Loving They Meet tore
new Old Friendships and to
DO Honor to Their De-
parted Brothers.
The old Confederate veterans had a
big time in Nashville, Tenr last
I wcek. The veterans and theirfriends
constituted host of thirtySthousand
people. The first meeting was held
on Tuesday, l4th instant in the tab.
ernaole and every bit of space was
taken long before the veterans were
called to order BY Gen. w. Gordon of
Memphis, commander of the Tennes-
see division. It was the first conven-
tion in the history of the organiza-
tion that the Sons of Veterans sat
with their fathers, and the cheers
from the throats'of the younger gene.
ration at almost every expression by
those who took part in the strife 40
years ago made it plain that the spirit
of '6l would be perpetuated in gene.
rations to come.
California was represented on the
floor; from far off Montana delega.
tion was sent, and Ohio was on hand
with four delegates. 1t was the four
teenth ANIMAL meeting and the first
at which the distinguished John B.
Gordon did not preside. A few steps
to the rear of Gen. Stephen d. Lee,
who occupied the chair, sat Gen. Cor
don's widow and two daughters, Mrs.
Burton Smith OF Atlanta and Mrs.
,Orton Bishop Brown of Maine. To
the right and to the left of them were
seated many of the chief figures Of
the Confederacy and charming array
of beautifully gowned division and de-
partment sponsors. There was a no.
ticeable lefscurtailment Of the sponsor
feature OF the reunion and it was an-
nounced from the stage early that
only the sponsors accredited to de-
pertments and divisions would be
given seats on the stage.
Qa the stage were: Gen. Stephen
D. Lee, the acting commander. in
chief; Gen. VIM. d. Jones, of Rich
mond; Gen. G. II. Tebault, New Or
leans, chief surgeon-C Q. S. A., and Miss
Co-r!ne Tebault, sponsor-in. chief;
Gen. w. f.. Mickle of New Orleans,
adjutant general; Gen. w. S. Cabel),
commanding the trans Mississippi;
Gen. a. j. West Of Atlanta, COM
manding the North Georgia brigade;
Gen. G. Irvine Walker, commanding
the department. Of Virginia, and Gen.
Clement A. Evans, Atlanta, who sue
cceeded Gen. Stephen d. Lee as COM
mander Of the department Of Tennes.
see.
The convention hall was we'll filled
by ] l o'clock. The long wait of ar
hour and half before the gathering
was called to order was enlivened bS
the appearance OF the Kentucky dele
cation and their band and later by
the arrival OF the only surviving drum
corps Of the Confederate hosts, bant
Of three or four men from Nc rth Caro-
lima. AS they marched down the lon,
aisle TO tie tune Of Dixie" escortn,
the North Carolina camp, the enthu
siasm of the oll veterans was un
bounded.
A few moments later the Seventh
United States cavalry band, stationet
at Chattanooga, came Toto the hal
playing a spirited march. The
marched down to the stage and wer
escorted up to the gallery, where the
took q position in the extreme ell,
over the platform, their uniform
forming the only variation TO the pre-
dominating gray OF those assembled
WELCOMED BY GOV. FRAZIER.
After Gen. Gordon had called tn
veterans to order Chaplain jones de
= livered the invocation. Gov. j. B
Frazier welcom ed the delegates t,
, Tennessee in a splendid address. Twic,
he started to his seat only to be re
called and urged in behalf Of the vet
eranS.
Among other things Gov. Frazie
said: When that grand man, that pa
triot, that noble Christ ian, Gen. Robt
e. Lee, surrendered at Appomatto,
he spoke with heart too full for de
ceit, in that no southern mother swort
her son to bitt5En bitterness. She swore hin
to love and honor. NAll accepted the
inequitable finality. Wfrea you saw
furled for the last tine the StaI}s ant
Bars you had followed for four year:
when you had made your last fina
march back to your homes, had a tina
farewell to your comrades and found
the sainted mothers grave sleeping
in the family cemetery, the beautiful
home in ruin and ashes, when you
pressed upon your wifes lip loving
kiso, you sealed a solemn pledge thai
from that day on you would know bu
one country and but one flag.
You came back to take up your ole
work, to build new civilization, Il
redo EN- land that had almost mali
ciously been given to the negro III
less than 35 years, .unaided by any
thing except fertile land and energy
you nave attained commercial free
dom Tor the south. The south ha.
already snatched d from New Englanc
the hitherto unchalenged record Of
cotton manufacturing. The south is
destined to become the garden spot ir
this fair land. (Applause.)
We welcome you to the warm hos
pitality and sunshine Of the south and
II that is not warm enough, we vel.
come you to some Of our good homes. .
(Applause and cheers.)