The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-27
RICHMOND WILL
WELCOME VETERANS
City Gratified That Next Years
Reunion Will Be Held
F%Etaf Here

Old ConfederMes IN Richmond wero
highly pleased with the news rcnchlng
here yesterday afternoon that the
United Eonfederaes Veterans now IN
annual reunion In New Orleans, decided
with unanimous vote, accompanied by the
never to DO forgotten rebel yel,'' 10
hold tho reunion Of next year In this
city.
These reunions OF Confederate soldiers
+ In the worry nature Of the case, cannot
last many more years. The sons OF vetcr-
ans may keep ZIP semblanca OF them
for T. quarter OF n century yet, but the
time Is not far distant. when the coming
together once q year Of real veterans
will be a thing OF the past. Possibly
next year may be the last real reunion.
Who knows
e 1t il fitting anyhow that next years
reunion should he held In Richmond,
the capital Of the young nation that
made such brave fight for existence.
Richmond Is delighted-all Virginia is
delighted that the men who fought for
Southern independence are to hold, what
on Virginia soil. are In the city that
was their capitol, when they fought
under Lee, Jackson, Beauregard, john
son. Gordon, Longstreet and other heroes
OF the cause that was lost
That Richmond will make the survivors
glad they selected the old Capital for
the seat OF their next years meeting.
goes without snying.
Last Richmond Reunion.
The last reunion held in this city was
in 1896. beginning on the 3oth of June
and lasting three days. It was the sixth
annual reunion of the grand old boys,
ma rshalling under the name Of United
Confederate Veterans. General John b..
Gordon, OF Georgia, was the grand COM
mander and presided over the meetings.
These meetings were held In the audi
torium on tn old exposition grounds
building that easily held ten thousand
people and at every meeting It was filled
to its utmost capacity
More survivors OF the Lost Cause at
tended this reunion than ever attended
any previous one or any that has since
been held or ever will be held again.
The last day OF the reunion July 2d)
was made memorable by the fact that on
that day the cornerstone iof the Jefferson
+ Davis monument was laid with imposing
ceremonies. True It was laid where the
monument is mot going to be erected,
but 1t was laid all the same and nobody
knew any better at that time and tho
enthusiasm was just as great and Just
as genuine as II tho stone had been laid
at the right place. Forty thousand vlsi-
tors were In Richmond that day and
very few of the leading survivors Of
the Confederate firing line were absent
Longstreet Hampton, Gordon, EARLY
Fitz Lee and host OF other daring
leaders Of minor grades, who have since
passed over the river were here and
hundreds even thousands OF the old
boys who followed them In battle fol-
lowed them again that day In the great
parade to Monroe Park, where the cor
nerstone was laid
Scene Described.
a writer for one of the Richmond pa
pers OF July 8, 1896, the late Colonel ".
D. Chesterman, summed up the days
tloings in the following language,
Z, nowhere else but in the South, and In
only few cities Of the South, could
there possibly have been such thrilling
spectacle as that presented here yes
terday.
'"The feelings Of the people were pro-
foundly moved. Old times came back
again. Once more the battle flags were
lifted high, Again Dixie huickenetl
4 the pulse, Again was heard the memory
loving rebel yell.' And all this In COM
munity where upon nearly every house.
the owner had fonted the Stars and
Stripes side BY side with the Stars and
Bars.
Il "Our people arc we'll on with the new
love, but they are by no means off with
the old one; non will they ever be, So far
from It, It seems that. AS reunion sue
ceeds reunion hero. we understand bet
ter and exhibit a moro intense love for
the Southern cause, and find moro and
moro In It to be proud Of. !"
Such was tho spirit Of that day and
such will BIO the spirit OF tho day when
the ragged veterans como up again
next year "to tho defence OF Richmond
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