The gold leaf., 1909-06-17
Veterans Cheer Grant.

Great Ovation Given Son of
Federal Commander by Fol-
lowerers Of Lee and Jackson
at Reunion in Memphis
len Thousand Heroes Who
Wore the Gray March in
Parade-Tremendous Dem
onstration Of Welcome to
Gen Frederick D. Grant,
| Guest of Honor.
/ From the Associated Press account
OF final days exercises i'm connection
with the great reunion OF United Con-
federate Veterans in Memphis last
week the following extract is taken:
Memphis, Tenn, June 1O.-A fren-
zied demonstration of welcome by
the men in Gray for the ION of the
man who conquered them marked
the final scene of the great reunion of
the United Confederate Veterans to-
day. lttook place during the parade
In the reviewing stand stood Gen
eral Frederick Dent Grant of the
| United States army. The first few
divisions in line passed with, only a
limited number recognizing the son
of the man who accepted the sur
render of Lee. But finally cavalry
| division appeared and its command
( ing officer, General Tyler, of Hick-
man, Ky, old and grizzled, peered
steadily at General Grant amOment.
Then he turned in his saddle and
yelled:
OVATION TO GENERAL GRANT.
Come on, you kids, here's General
Grant come to life again in his son" :"
With one of the old-time rebel wells
the division remnants of Forests s
calvary charged upon the stand and
lostled one another for an oppor-
j tunity to shake the hand of the son
OF their old-time enemy From that
momentevery Gray-clad Veteran who
could reach the stand rushed up to
shake hands with General Grant.
/ The stOcky officer eyes filled with
tears, and his body shook with emo
ton as he said:
God bless you all, boys, God bless
you" giving each a cordial hand
| grasp
| Battle-tOrn banners were grouped
at his feet and waved over his head
in salute. One old officer rode up to
the stand, seized General Grants
hand and kissed him on the cheek,
exclaiming:
"God bless you, | fought your
father, of whom you are the image,
but he was a gallant, maganimous
foe and | love his SON."
More than one Veteran was in
tears as he saw the famous Federal
chieftain's son so touched by the re-
ceptiOn. 1t is doubtful if any other
Northern man, even O. President, ever
received such an ovation as that
which was spontaneously given to
General Grant by the Confederate
Veterans today.
THE PARADE.
Clad in the rough gray homespun
which they wOre-sOmetimes to vic
tory, but finally to defeat-in the six
ties; shoulder to shoulder with men
who bore uncomplainingly with them
the awful hardships and deprivations
OF cruel war, ten thousand Veterans
marched in what was probably the
last big parade in which they will ever
participate. There were many empty
sleeves and scores hObbled along on
wooden legs But all marched proud
ly and bravely with the fire OF Ia great
faith in their eyes and the pride of q
great faith-though lost cause-in
their step.
TWENTY-FIVE BANDS IN LINE.
Bands from all over the South, %
of them, were interspersed here and
there through the parade and when
steps Jagged or aged limbs trembled
and seemed unable to keep the step
the stirring notes of Dixie" "My
Maryland' or 1.-The Girl | Left Be-
hind Me" were sufficient to send the
blood coursing through the old veins
as it did fifty years ago and lend
strength to the muscles that age had
! weakened. Everywhere were flags,
| the stars and bars of the Lost Cause,
the tattered battle flags of the States
that chose Davis as President, the
Guidons of Deciminated batteries
of artillery and the pennants that
Forests splendid cavalrymen had
often followed into battle and some
times to death on the field.