The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-06
Thousands of Gray-Clad
Veterans Will In
wade City.
GATHERING FOR
ANNUAL REUNION
All Attendance Records Expected
to Be Broken, and Estimates of
Visitors Run to 10000.
Camp John B. Gordon
Prepared for Aged Sol
diers.

Macon. Ca. May 5.-The confed crate
army Is marching on Macon. For the
second time during the history OF this
city there is to be an invasion. Dur
ing the sixties ii was with cannon
roaring. musNets CRACKING. drums
beating and flags hyiag 70
morrow. the Invasion will be none the
Tess determined. but the roar of can
non. and the crack of musketry viii
be missing The soldiers this tim.
are coming for their annual reunion.
many of them to mingle with each
other' and recount their experiences
during the terrible struggle in which
south. the former lighting to preserve
the Union. and the latter for q cause
IL believed to be right
Tonight. the indications are that
the crowds viii be the largest that
have attended a Confederate reunion.
railroad passenger agents yariously
estimate the number from 100000 TO
leo'oUp reduced rates throughout
the Southeastern territory went into
eject to-day. Many special trains
from Texas, Oklahoma. Missouri and
A q have been on the way since
Saturday morning. The first special
trains Will arrive Monday morning.
though several cars alled with a dele
CATION from Kansas City. arrived to-
night The city is fast nllins up with
visitors. Ideal weather now prevail.
Inc streets and buildings in the busl-
ness centre OF the city gre elaborately
decorated the colois OF the Confeder-
acy and the national stars and stripes
hoa'ing in the breeze, side by side.
Great Flag Raised.
This afternoon the largest Con
federate flag ever made was urfurled
with appropriate exercises at Camp
john u. Gordon, where 5000 veterans
OF the late war Will be encamped dur
ing the reunion. The nag raising was
in charge OF military companies OF
the Second Georgia Regiment Thou
sands Of Macon people mingled with
the visitors who have already arrived.
Preceding the nag raising a public
reception was held in honor OF James
=. Williams, q scventy-two-year -oli
veteran who walked all the way from
Dallas. Texas 10 Macon. making the
trip in siXty-fve walking days
Macon has made extensive prepare
tons tor caring for the visitors The
veterans will be housed at Camp John
&. Gordon. where 10000 large army
storage tents. furnished free by the
I,
pitched and three meals day will
be furnished free TO the old soldiers
The commissary department has ar
ranged TO feed 1000 at sitting AL
most every home in the city has been
thrown open for the reception of v!si-
tors, and whole buildings have been
filled with beds and cots. over 100
temporary eating houses have been
provided, and there viii be no danger
OF any one going hungry
Opens Tuesday Morning.
The reunion OF the United Con-
federote Veterans does not open until
Tuesday morning. and all sessions OF
the convention Will he held in an
auditorium seating 5000 people. and
located within 200 yards of Camp
Gordo
he convention OF the United Sons
OF Confederate Veterans and the Con-
federated Southern Memoria! Associa-
ton VIII open Monday evening
One of the first persons of note To
reach Macon was General Bennett II
Young, OF Louisville. Ky, commander
of the army of Tennessee. this morn
ing. He paid a visit to Camp John
Il. Gordon and pronounced it the best
that had ever been pitched at a Con
fcderate reunion
An army of crooks already is said
10 have arrived in the city. The
authorities have provided extra police
men. and two companies of the Ma
tional Guard will also do police dutv
Twenty of the best Pinkerton de-
tectives n the country have been en-
gagged TO keep lookout for criminals