Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-23


In the picture reproduced above are
shown two surviving leaders in the lost
cause, lone, a man who might have
been commander in chief of the Con-
federate forces; the other, General John
B. Gordon's right hand man. and today
commander of the United Confederate
Veterans.
General Hoke and General Evans! What
associations cling about these venerable
gentlemen who in the days of their
early manhood before either was twenty
five, held command over brigades of war
riors of The south.
The picture was taken Saturday after
noon on the state capitol grounds in At
lanta, forty-seven years after they march
ed forth for the first time under the
stars and bars. General Hoke, visiting
his son in Atlanta, had called upon his
nephew Governor Hoke Smith, name
sake, at the capitol, and had been greet
ed there by his old comerade-at-arms,
General Evans, member of the state pris-
on commission. The meeting of these
two was significant, and the occasion
was seized upon for a photograph of them
together.
only last fall was It said of General
Robert F. HOke Had anything happen
ed to Lee, he Q1oke) would have COM
manded the Confederate forces" The
thrilling statement, so pregnant with pos
sibilities unrealized, was given its first
public utterance at Raleigh, n. c., (Gen.
Hoke's home), by Bryan Grimes, Ii. D..
secretary of state for North Carolina and
a son of Major General Bryan Grimes.
1t was from his father that the speaker
knew the fact. Further investigation
confirmed 1t. There had been an under
standing between General Robert E. Lee,
commander-in-chief of the Confederates,
and President Jefferson Davis of the Cor
federacy itself, that in the grim cOntin-
gency of anything happening" to Gener-
al Lee, General Hoke was to succeed him
In command. The latter officer, young
in years, fearless, but cool and caleulat-
ing and a veteran general in experience,
had won renown and the watchful rec
ognitiOn of his superiors. He had the
making of a field marshal in him, and
In that direction the succession was
planned.
And so, in the picture printed above,
there stands beside General Clement A.
Evans, commander-in-chiefo of the veter-
an COnfederates, the man whom fate
might have chosen as commander-in-
chief of the Confederates in war.
General Hoke's son is DR.. Michael
Hoke, of Atlanta. 1t is he that the dis
iting for the past few days. He VIII re-
turn Monday or Tuesday to Raleigh.
General HOke, as young Lieutenant
Hoke, who had helped to organize the
first company mustered in Lincoln coun-
ty, North Carolina, entered the Confed-
crate army as a second lieutenant at the
very beginning of the war. He was q
years old at the time. During the next
few months he rose rapidly through all
fha NJ TYOr1nffnn "a was n
colonel in rank and commanded his regi-
ment In the fall of the next year there
came to him, over the hand and seal of
Jefferson Davis, president. his commits
sion as a brigadier general His promo
ton had been personally urged upon the
president by General Stonewall Jackson.
At "a therefore, he was General Hoke.
He served in Virginia during most of the
war His capture Of Plymouth, y. c.,
was considered one of the most brilliant
exploits chronicled during the whole long
struggle. 1t was after the fighting az
Plymouth that Captain Grant wilkins,
now of Atlanta, then a signal officer on
General Hokes staff. reported before him
with a message in cipher. Captain VIII
kins translated the words that made his
brigadier a major general.
During the last few months of the war
Major General HOkes division was at
rear division of that army, standing be-
tween it and it's pursuers, at the time Of
the surrender. Colquitt's brigade of Geor-
gia regiments was a part of the division,
and there survive today many Georgians
who fought under him.
Gen. Lees Request
1t was at General Lees own request
that President Davis agreed, in event of
any casualty Detailing the beloved chief
tain himself to Immediately name Gen
eral Hoke in his stead. Even in those
DAYS the resemblance between the two
commanders was remarkable. In later
days, when the boards of both were gray
ed with time, the likeness was even more
wonderful.
General Evans, the companion Of Cen
eral Hoke in the picture, is too well
known to younger generation readers of
this story to need introduction. At Bir
mingham, last year, he was elected COM
mander-in-chief of the United Confederate
Veterans. OF him 1t is said that he would
have worn the uniform of a major gen.
eral of the Confederacy had the war