The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-05-28

SOidiery and Civic Organizations
Preceded Unveiling-Oration De.
livcrcd by Gen. Clemen A. Evans
The Ola "Rebcl Yell Pcaled Forth
as Statue Was Uncovered.
Atlanta, aG., May 25.-Thousands Oi
Georgia citizens, with added hundreds
from other sections of the south, gath
cred today at the unveiling ceremonies
of the splendid equestrian statue to
the memory of General John B. Cor
don.
Almost within the shadow of the
state capitol great crowds gathered
to hear the orations and see the mon
ument unveiled. In the parade which
preceded the ceremonies, line Of
soldiery and civic organizations
marched through the principal down
town streets, watched by thousands of
spectators. The Grafton of General
Clemen A. Evans. the lifelong friend
and war companion of the dead chief
tain, was heard with greatest interest
and as the two daughters of General
Gordon pulled the cordsand revealed
the statue, the strains of Dixie rang
out and the words 1of-the song by the
multitude mingled with the old "Rehei
Yell from the thrOats Of veterans who
fought under General Gordon and Lee.
II oh, fea ture of the day was the pres
w Mrs. Gordon, widow Of the con-
federate commander, and his two
daughters, Mrs. Burton Smith, of At
lanta, and Mrs Bishop Brown, Of
Vermont, who unveiled the monument,
and Major Hugh A Gordon, son Of
Gen. Gordon and several other rel
atives. The ceremonies were presided
oper by Gov. Joseph NJ. Terrell, who
introduced the speakers and accepted
the monument for the state of Georgia
After the invocation the history Of
the Gordon Monument Association was
read Then General Evans was intro
duced
General Evans gave an interesting
history of General Gordon from the
time he entered the confederate army
with all the ardOr of his natural tenn
permanent as captain of company
from Alabama and Georgia until the
end of the war. He instanced Gordon s
characteristic promptitude in battle
and said this was never more needed
nor more conspicuOusly displayed than
in making the charge at Gettysburg.
He insisted that history should not
class the Gettysburg battle as more
than a technical confederate defeat,
upon one lone ground that Lee with
drew across the Potomac. General
GOrdon's activity, not only in battle
but in all campaigns, Gen. Evans said,
was a notable feature of his military
career. General Robert E. Lee, he
said, was impressed by GOrdon's ag-
gressiveness, his enterprising spirit.
his judgment in planning a fight, his
general promptitude, his Quickness in
taking advantage of a turn in the tide
of battle and his daring courage in
executing a command. He discussed
Lee and Gordon at AppomattOX, re-
viewed General Gordon's steadily as
cending fame during the war, and de-
clared that his superior military tall
ents were brilliantly disclosed in many
battles and "were efficient in all his
positions from captain to lieutenant
general"
General Evans tod of conference
he had with General Gordon in Geor-
gia after the war when they found
their minds to be in accord upon the
resolve that they would stand by their
people for veal or woe, that the state
must be honorably restored to its place
in the union and that friendship be-
tween the people of the north and
south must be regained and put upon
a patriotic basis, so that the fires Of
sectional hates would be exiting gu1sned.
General Evans said he called the coun-
try to witness the faithfulness with
which Gordon carried out these high
resolves during his entire life. They
were the burden of his addresses to
the people and to the returned soldiers
who were earnestly, peacefully ami
thriftily at work eerywhere. He had