The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-10
BRILLIANT ORATORY
 IN THE AFTERNOON Russell and Wright Deliver Ad-
 dresses to Veterans
CH0IRS ARE BIC FEATURE
Stirring Songs Arouse Cheers From Thousands Assembled at the Hippodrome-Russel Pays
 Tribute to Lee.

The afternoon session of the Confed- crate veterans yesterday was the oratori- cal gem of the whole reunion. Alabama s | great orator. Col. E. l.. Russell of Mo- bile, and Judge A. o. Wright from Jack sonvlle, Fla, commander of the Florida l Naval Veterans, made the Hippodrorle ring with tributes to the living and dead among the veterans.
 Colonel Russell gave most of his speech to the honor of Gen Stephen D. Lee and | bis words brought tears to the eyes of many an old soldier of the late com. mander's division. When Judge Wright | opened his address on the Confederate | Navy he first paid tribute to President Roosevelt and traced the good in his na- ture to his Georgia percentage on his | mothers side.
 | During the course of his talk a very touching and pathetic incident occurred. He was mentioning the names of the Confederate warships and as the word 1 "Chicamauga" paused on his lips, Tom Costa, a sailor, jumped to his feet, cry ing, T was on the Chicamauga!' and with tears in his eyes he told of the actions in which his ship participated, oc- cupying the floor for about five minutes. The singing of the Confederate choirs was the cause of more enthusiasm than has yet appeared in the reunion. Mrs. J. Griff Edwards of Portsmouth, general commanding the choirs, sang the words to "Dixie," composed by Dr. w. B. Wharton of Eufaula. Mrs. John Cathey, r, ,.;.x of ha oh sang "Gwine Back to Dixie" and Mrs. S. w Harris sang My Maryland" 'The Old North State" chorus was the last rumber Mrs. A. E. Owen, Jr., was the pianist.
 Colonel Russell's address follows: Col. E. L. Russell Speaks. Commander and Comrades It is with the greatest diffidence and misgiving that I undertake to perform the duties as- signed to me by our late commander-in- chief so as to meet your expectations. recognize my unfitness for the perform ance of these sacred duties, and when General Lee invited me to be the orator on this occas sion, I frankly wrote him that it was impossible for a variety of reasons, and positively declined to speak to you at this reunion. General Lee then wrote me a very earnest letter urging me
 
 to reconsider. It was so earnest and full of affection that I could not grace fully further refuse to do as he wished. After reading his letter I wired him that l had reconsidered and would accept the appointment. He then wrote me the fol- lowing letter:
 Columbus, Miss, March l4th, l908. "'Col. E. L. Russell
 My Dear Comrade: I have your tel egram of March 13 saying that at my earnest personal request you had reconsid- cred your declnaton to deliver the ora tion before the veterans at Birmingham and would deliver the address.
 CT write to thank you, for I had my heart set on your doing this last military duty for me- and did not feel like failing. With lsindest wishes for you and Mrs. Russell I am sincerely your comrade and friend,
 (Sgned) STEPHEN D. LEE
 "It is useless to say to you that value this letter above gems and diamonds. General Lee was acquainted with my record as a Confederate soldier. He knew that I was appointed color bearer of Mississippi regiment by Gen. Jake Sharp, who lived in the same city with General Lee, Columbus, Miss.
 cIcse Personal Relatives.
 "I have read you General Lees letter in order that you might look upon my shortcomings with forbearance and indul- gence Whether I come up to the stand ard of past orations or not, I shall always feel happy that I accepted the last re- quest of the matchless and fearless sol dier, our worthy commander, General Lee. The death of our brilliant com mander compelled me to change my en- tire speech to be made on this occasion. My close personal relations with General Lee for the past 30 years have been such that I feel it my duty to speak to you about my knowledge of his character, not only as a soldier, but as a Christian citi- zen. In his conduct and intercourse with bis fellow men, his comrades and the young men of the country, his example in support of the Christian religion was as peerless as that of Gen. Robert E. Lee. We have every reason not only to admire the character of Gen. Stephen D. Lee as a soldier. but such was his character as both soldier and citizen as to excite the admiration and pride of every southern man and woman
 Comrades, we meet surrounded by a pail of gloom and sorrow Only a few days ago our incomparable commander was in full health, heroically and patri otically discharging the important duties that had been confided to his trust by the President of the United States. General Lee lived at Columbus, Miss. a point on the Mobile and Ohio railroad; i; hence this gave me the opportunity of seeing much of him during the past 30 years. and such has been my occupa- ton that it has brought me into personal contact with a great many of the leading l men of this country during the period of l time above mentioned-solders and statesmen and business men of large af- | fairs-and I can truthfully state that in my opinion, Gen. Stephen D. Lee was the | most conscientious man, both as a soldier | and as a citizen, that I ever saw Often | have we sat and talked over the cam l paigns and battles that we fought. He was lieutenant general, commanding a | corps and I was a private until ap- l pointed color bearer of a Mississippi reg | iment. which under the act of the Con federate Congress caused me to rank as l first lieutenant
 First Meeting.
 | "The first time I ever saw General Lee
 was near Atlanta, two or three days after | the bloody battle of what is known as
 the '22d day of July, 1864 This battle
 was fought east of Atlanta and it was