The Tupelo journal., 1908-06-19
CONFEDERATE REUNION
CLEMENT A. EVANS ELECTED
CHIEF.
Resolutions in Memory Of Gen. Lee.
Plan to Buy the Birthplace Of
Jefferson Davis-Memphis
Next Meeting Place.

Birmingham, Ala.-With the selection
OF Memphis as the place for the next
reunion and the election of Gen. Clement
A. Evans of Georgia as commander-in-
chief to succeed the late Gen. Stephen
d. Lee, the United Confederate Veterans
adjourned their annual convention late
this afternoon.
The selection of the place of meeting
aroused great rivalry between Memphis
and Atlanta, these two cities being the
only ones put in nomination.
Gen. Clement A. Evans, the new COM
ma~nder-in-chief, is a man of pleasant adj
dress, and one of the most loved in the
army. He is a native of Georgia and
born of North Carolina and Virginia
revolutionary parentage.
Gen. Evans Wins.
The civil war commenced while he
was senator, and although he was ex-
empt from military service, he Joined a
company in his county in January, 1861,
and began his military career. He was
tlrst elected major of the 31st Geor-
gla regiment, and then promoted
to colonel. His regiment was put in
Lawton's brigade, afterwards Gordon's
brigade. Gen. Evans succeeded Gordon
when he was promoted major-general,
and again succeeded Gordon in command
of division.
The crowd in the city continued to
increase today. Reunions of various
regiments, brigades and commands were
held in all parts of the city. One of
the most notable of these was that of
the Forrest cavalry corps, which re.
elected Gen. Fl. A. Tyler, of Tennessee.
as commander.
To Buy Davis Birthplace.
An interesting feature of the BIG re.
union convention was the Inauguration
OF the movement to buy the birthplace
OF Jefferson Davis. The Kentucky di-
VISION announced that they had been
working to this end for some time and
asked the veterans to take steps to ac-
quIre the property. A committee of ff-
teen was named to investigate the feas-
Utility OF the project and report back
next year. The home is located near
Hopkinsville, Ky.
The scene of the downtown streets of
Birmingham this evening was one of the
most inspiring imaginable. When the
floral parade passed through the streets.
which were lined with veterans, and the
bands successfully struck up Dixie" and
the airs best loved in the South, the
applause was deafening and tears
streamed down the eyes of hundreds as
the remnants of Forests cavalry swept
by.
Election Was Interesting.
There was the greatest excitement in
the convention hall this evening when
the time came to elect a new comman-
der-in-chief. After Gen. Irving Walker
had taken the chair, Gen. Bennett H.
loung nominated Gen. Evans in a glow
ing speech. Gen. Withers nominated
Gen. Cabell, and the vote resulted:
Gen. Evans 1882, Cabell 1854. In the
contest for the place of next meeting
the result was: Memphis 1876, Atlanta
LILO.
Upon assuming command Gen. Evans
issued the following general order No. /:
I'm obedience to the mandates of nv
beloved comrades as expressed in con-
vention this day, | assume command of
the United Confederate Veterans.
"Comrade VIM. E. Mickle is hereby
appointed ad jutant-general and chief of
staff with the rank of ma ior-general. He
will Immediately assume charge of
the duties of the office and will be
obeyed and respected accordingly"
Following the election of commander
in-chief, Gen. Geo. w. Gordon was elect
ed commander of the department of Ten
nessee to succeed Gen. Evans; Gen. Irv-
ing Walker was reelected commander of
the army of Northern Virginia, and Gen.
Cabell commander of the trans-Missis-
sippi department.
Gen. w. A. Montgomery, of Edwards,
Miss, that stalwart Mississippian, was
designated to deliver the address at the
memorial exercises held at noon by the
Confederate reunion. In accordance with
custom, when the noon hour arrived all
business was suspended that memorial
exercises could be held.
At the conclusion of Gen. Montgom-
ery's address the following resolutions
were adopted:
Resolved, first, That this organization
of United Confederate Veterans do here
by express to the world and to each
other our regard for him by rising with
bowed and uncovered heads. We feel
deeply our loss. The South has been
deprived of a knightly defender, the
whole country a patriotic citizen and
Mississippi an adopted son of whom she
is Justly proud.
Second-We declare our love for him
as a Christian citizen, whose life and
character we hold out to the generations
who are to follow us worthy of emula-
ton. He was a man without guile. true
to every duty that developed upon him
and filling the psalmist description of a
citizen of Zion: Lord, who shall abide
in this tabernacle? Who shall dwell in
thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly
and worketh righteousness and asketh
the truth in his heart. He that back
biteth not with his tongue nor doeth
evil to his %neighbor."
Third-We admired him as a soldier
worthy of the cause for which he fought
rise to the distinction entitled him to be
honored by the true soldiers of our
country for all the years that are to
come; the embodiment of chivalry, as
knightly as any soldier who followed
the banner of Charlemagne, or planted
the Roman eagle on conquered turret or
tower; whose courteous manner to erring
foe challenged the admiration of his en-
emies.
Fourth-We cherish his memory, so
full of love for his fellow-man, fired with
an much zeal for the uplifting of the