The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
WILMINGTON. N. c., JUNE 4, 1907

cal of Florida, o. L. Schumpert, OF
s, South Carolina.
! Great sheets of cold wind-swept rair
We're sweeping down from a frownine
sky when the gray coated "boys'' ot
61-65 force gathered once more il
the horse show building to attend the
| third session of the United Confeder-
ate veterans, but larchI ymose heavens
and chilling weather could not drive
/ the sunshine from the hearts of the
old soldiers.
The joy of again being with the
| comrades of over four decades ago
over leaped all difficulties and ignored
all discomfort while the stirring
southern airs played by the band
aroused a host of dormant memories
which were sweet IN their reyiyica-
ton.
10 say that the weather was yici-
ously disagreeab1e but half expresses
1T, yet hundreds and hundreds of
Johnny Rebs" were in the hall when
the body was called to order. In fact.
the attendance was but little smaller
than that was yesterday when General
Stephen d. Lee raped the body to
order and presented the Rev. DR.. Nc
Kim of Washington, D. c., who offer
ed prayer.
DR.. ]. William Jones submitted the
annual report of the Confederate me-
mortal association which dealt chiefly
with the status of the Battle Abbey
and the benefaction of Charles Broad
way Rouss. ,.. NJ 3NHHE
The report stated that after long aud
VeXatious litigation all of the money
donated by Mr.. Rouss-$1OO, ,OOO-had
been procured. This gift was promis-
ed years ago on condition that an ad-
ditional 100000 be raised. The con-
dition precedent, said the report, had
been met and all the money now is
IN a Richmond bank, while those back
OF the movement are ready to go for
ward at an early date in the erection
Of the memorial
The report which called for addi-
tional financial aid was adopted amid
great enthusiasm
The report of the history committee
was received and ordered to be print
ed. 1t was not read to the conven-
ion.
A cane cut from the center of Cold
1arbor battlefield, where 14,5O0 were
killed June 3, 1864, in thirty minutes,
vas presented by J. J Estes, Com |
oany D.. Eighth Virginia Cavalry to
General Stephen D. Lee. The COM
nander accepted the gift in fitting Ian
5uage.
A stirring speech was made during
one of the unoccupied intervals of |
ime by General BENEFIT Young, of |
who commented on the
many monuments which had been
erected to the memory of the Confed- |
,rate soldiers in the southland. He
'aid Kentucky alone had raised forty |
rails.
Ex-United States Senator James H. |
Berry, of Arkansas a rugged old |
Johnny Rebs" who lost leg at Cor
nth Miss, was presented to conven-
ion He hobbled forward to the
rails. He hobbled forward to the |
peaker's stand on his crutch and was |
greeted by a tremendous wave of ap-
plause, and once again the &whole |
rose to is feet, Senator !
Berry delivered tip-top address, full |
If fire and fervor, and replete with |
elicitious references to Virginia.
The convention formally received a |
committee from the Sons of Veterans |
which was headed by John M. Apper- |
on, of Tennessee, who delivered a cor
lial greeting. This speech appeared |
o please the old soldiers greatly, and |
vas happily responded to by Mr.. J. |
William Jones.
The greatest enthusiasm and the |
oudest cheering of the day occurred |
vhen the hour for the election of Off |
ers came, though it certainly cannot |
re said that there was the slightest |
loubt about the outcome of the vot-
n. y.
The result was as above stated.
A few minutes after the choice Of |
he next meeting place the convention |
ldjourned, after a session which had |
'een full of fire and spirit. but which !
nevertheless accomplished a great !
leal of work in a comparatively |
short while.
Never was there more dismal day, |
20 far as the weather was concerned, |
md at times the rain thundered on |
he roof so loudly that it almost |
iroWned the voice oe the speakers,
'ut for all that the hearts of the old |
soldiers were all aglow and their pa
;riotism was at fever heat
1t was announced in the convention
hat Mobile is fixing her triggers to