The Kemper herald., 1908-06-18
EVANS and MEMPHIS
u. c. v. Close Their Convention
in Birmingham.
TOBUY BIRTHPLACE OF DAVIS
General Clemant A. Evans Elected Com
mander-in- Chief Memphis Selected
~ Next Meeting Place.

Birmingham, Ala.-With the selec-
tion of Memphis as the place for the
next reunion, and the, election of Gen.
eral Clement A. Evans of Georgia as
commander-in-chief to succeed the late
General Stephen D. Lee, the United
Confederate Veterans adjourned their
annual convention late Wednesday af-
ternoon.
The selection of the place OF meet
ing aroused great rivalry between
Memphis and Atlanta, these two cities
being the only ones put In nomination.
Strong speeches were made for each
place, but when Virginia came over to
the side of Memphis, the Atlanta sup
porters realized that the fight was lost.
General Clement A. Evans, the new
commander-in-chi is man OF pleas
ant address, and one Of the most loved
in the army He Is native of Geor-
gia, and born of North Carolina and
Virginia revolutionary parentage. He
was a graduate of the Georgia Law
school, and began practice OF law at
10 years of age. He was elected judge
of the county court at % and state
senator at 25.
The civil war commenced when 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 first elected major of the
thirty-tirst Georgia regiment, and then
promoted colonel. His regiment was
pat in Lawton's brigade, afterwards
Gordcnts brigade. General Evans sue
ceeded Gordon whan he was promoted
major general, and again succeeded
Gordon in command Of the division. His
service was in the Army OF Northern
Virginia. he participated in all the bat
ties fought ON the soil OF Virginia,
Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was
wounded five times, two of them very
serious, cne at Monocacy and the other
at Gettysburg.
In command of his division at Appa-
mattox, he made the last fight, which
was done after the surrender because
he had not received notice OF the truce.
He has been active in the United
all reunions except one. He was COM
all reunions ecept one. HIS was COM
mander of the Georgia division twelve
years with the rank of major general,
succeeding Gordon as commander Of
the Army of Tennessee department
with rank of lieutenant general.
There was the greatest excitement in
the convention hall when the time
came to elect a. new commander-in-
chief. After General Irving Walker
had taken the chair, General Bennett
H. Young nominated General Evans
~. eria cnnnnh Gnnnra1 Withprc
nominated General Cabell and the vote
resulted Evans 1882, Cabell 1,Os4. In
the contest for the place of next meet
ing the result was Memphis 1886, At
lanta 1920.
Upon assuming command General
Evans issued the following general or
der No. l.:
'In obedience of the mandates Of
my beloved comrades as expressed in
convention this day, l assume com
mand of the United Confederate Vet
Grams, Comrade William e. Mickle is
hereby appointed adjutant general and
chief of staff, with the rank OF major
general He will Immediately enter
upon the discharge Of his duties and
will be obeyed and respected accord
ingly."
Following the election or command
er-in-chief, General George w. Cor
don was elected commander of the
department of Tennessee to succeed
General Evans; General Irvine Walker
was reelected commander OF the army
OF northern Virginia, and General Ca
bell commander of the trans-Missis-
sippi department.
The report of the credentials COM
niittee showed that there were 7SO
camps in attendance, and the total
number of voting delegates 1850.
All the veterans were enthusiastic
in their praise of the manner in which
Birmingham entertained them.
An interesting feature of the big re-
union convention was the Inauguration
of the movement to buy the birthplace
of Jefferson Davis.