The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-28
PAY TRIBUTE
 TO WHEELER Blue and Gray Unite in
 Doing Honor. EXERCISES HELD IN ATLANTA Old Soldiers Cheer References to
 the Dead Leader. Eormer Congressman Maddox, General Evans, "Corporal' Tanner and Major Miller the Chief
 Speakers of the Day.
EXERCISES HELD IN ATLANTA

Atlanta, Ga, March 27.-Uniting in their tribute of veneration, honor and respect to the memory of General Jo- seph Wheeler, the leader in two wars, his comrades and foes in the sixties and his followers in the war for Caban freedom gathered hs,e today and join ed in such a celebration as Is accorded to few men in military or civic life.
 Reused to pitch of enthusiasm by the wor1s of General Wheeler's friend and associate, in war and peace, former Congressman John W. Maddox, the old soldiers shouted themselves hoarsc. Stirred to their hearts by the tribute pf Corporal" James Tanner. Comman- aer-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, they stood in their places and chesred, waving hats and hand kerchiefs and long refused to be quiet sd
 Nearly 800 Confederate Veterans gathered, with third of that number representing the Northern armies. The old Confederate uniform was seen here and there; both flags that General Wheeler followed were wound together about the theatre where the addresses were made The pId rebel yell" greet ed now md then the utterances of praise that fell from the lips of some speaker. Not a discordant word was heard but all joined with deep earnest ness in the praise given to the mem ory of the honored dead.
 The Guests of Honor.
 The guests of honor were the daugh- ters of General Wheeler, Miss Annie Wheeler, the army angel' of the Cuban war, Miss Lucy Wheeler and Miss Car rie Wheeler, also Mrs. Julia Wheeler Harris, a sister of the late General. They shared a box in the theatre with Mrs John B. Gordon, the widow of an- other great Confederate commander. The ladies of the Daughters of the Con- tederacy and other similar organiza- tions occupied the boxes of the theatre. The main floor was reserved for the Veterans of the North and the South. while other hundreds crowded the re- maining portions of the great audito- rum.
 The heavy rain which fell almost without interruption from early morn ing seemed not to dampen the ardor of the services, but it prevented the spectacular feature of the day, which was co have been a parade, largely military in character, in which the 17th United States Infantry from Fort Mc- Pherso- and the 9th Georgia Infantry. with numerous veterln organizations, were to have places.
 The program of the day was opened by Col. Thompson H. Jones. chairman of the local committee of the Camp A, Wheeler Cavalry, who made brief ad- dress of tribute, and introduced Gov ernor Joseph M Terrell. He spoke briefly and appropriately and intro duced the other speakers of the day. The first of these was Hon. John w. Maddox, a member of General Wheeler's command in the Civil War, and an as- sociate with him subsequently in Con- gross. Judge Maddox gave sketch of General Wneeler's career and charac- ter.
 Speech of Maddox.
 John W. Maddox, former congressman and colleague of General Wheeler in that body was chosen as member of Wheelers Confederate cavalry to speak His address was devoted mainly to a historic sketch of General Wheeler, de- voting particular attention to his ca war. A graduate of West Point Mili- tary Academy General Wheeler was appointed immediately upon leaving that institution a lieutenant of caval- ry. When the notes of war sounded he followed the lead of Robert E. Lee and others, and cast his lot in the struggle with his native Southland. Connected in the first days of his service with the artillery and the infantry, he was soon transferred to his best loved branch of the service and was placed in command of q brigade of cavalry, With this branch he was connected un til the last hope of the Confederacy was gone. Ills rise in rank was with out a parallel in the war. At twenty four years he was a lieutenant, at twen- ty-fiYe a colonel; at twenty-six a brlga- dier general; at twenty-seven a ma for general commanding a corps; al twenty eight 9 lieutenant general, com. mapdfng all the cavalry of his depart. ment During the five years of hi, service he was under fire in moro tlias eight hundred minor engagements anS commanded in more than two hundred battles.
 When the terms of peace were ar. ranged he led in the efforts to build uI the places devastated by war. FOi twenty years he was a member of tnC United States Congress. and none wal more active than he in behalf of thC general interest of the whole country. inc m respect and the confidence of thos, under him and associated with him an, more than this-their love and affec' tion Great as leader in battle. hC was also great and energetic and ear nest in his duties as a statesman
 Gen Clement A. Evans, representing the United Confe ierate Veterans spoke as follows;
 Speech of Evans.
 Sacred duty similar to that which now engages us prevents the personal presence of General Lee, Commander in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans. He. of all men could have most fittingly represented in these me morial ceremonies the entire body of his Confederate comrades He him. self is a lofty, patriotic personality unon whom all the people of our coun- try, and all our armies. whether retir- ed or active, look with exalted esteem There is surely the true grandeur of manhood in that American citizen srmies who were recently foes in bat tie, and two peoples lately estranged even to bitterness. can gather with mutual respect, frank confidence, and friendly union. Let us, be grateful; my cnuntrymen that such a mar lives fir the parsonage of this Veteran Chief of all Confederate Veterans.
 There is another man of magnetic pfrsonality numbered now among ouI countrys illustTious dead. whose own inspirinR life produced the same con -rrsus of Northern and Southern pop-