The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-30
Touching Scenes in Chatta-
nooga at End of Con-
federate Reunion
ANNUAL PARADE A
BRILLIANT SPECTACLE
Thousands of Cheering Citizens Line
the Streets as Aged Veterans
March by Led by
General Young

Chattanooga. May 29.-Wlth naSs
furled and kits packed many survivors
of the southern army who attended the
twenty-third annual United Confeder-
ate Veterans reunion here departed
for their homes tonight.
tions brought tears to the eyes of
thousands of visitors who were re-
turning to their homes after attending
the reunion. Aged soldiers when part
ing clasped each other In warm em-
braces and uttered fervent prayers that
they would meet again at the next re-
union. Many were feeble that they
could scarcely Chamber aboard the
trains, but willing hands were ready to
assist them.
The climax of the reunion came to-
day when several thousand veterans
marched and rode through the city
streets in their annual parade accom-
panied by sponsors. and escorted by ma
tional guardsmen from several states.
Scarcely a person of the many thou
sand who witnessed the striking spec
tacle, tonight was able to speak above
whisper so vociferous were the cheers
accorded the gray haired soldiers
Young Leads Parade
General Bennett II. Young of Louis
vile, Ky, commander in chief of the
United Confederate Veterans, led the
parade on a prancing horse from his
native state. Upon reaching his head
quarters he dismounted and standing
bareheaded in the sunshine watches
the survivors of the Confederate army
pass by. Members of General Young.
staff, Governor Hooper of Tennessee
Miss Kate DaGan of Austin, Tex, spon.
sor for the south, and others were
guests Of General Young on the review
Ing stand.
A pictureque feature of the parad,
was the presence of several negr,
'uncles" who followed their MASTER
through the war between the states
A number of these carried live chicken
i1lustrative of the manner in whicl
! they foraged when food was scare
during the fierce campaigns. They wer
heartily cheered by spectators and ac
| knowledged the greetings with uniqu
bows peculiar to anti-bellum negroes
Proudly bearing tattered battle flag
dmmed by powder smoke and time tn
gray clad survivors of the Confederat
army marched through streets walle,
on each side with cheering thousands
Standards borne by cavalrymen almos
encountered overhead arches formed o
entwined Confederate and United State
flags.
Nearly a thousand of the gray-ha ire,
veterans were mounted on the prancinj
horses of the Eleventh United State
cavalry, rendered by Fort Oglethorpe of
ficials. and Offering another mute testi
monial of burial uf the bitterness which
characterized the war between the states
Hundreds of appauding spectators wh
witnessed the impressive sight wer
moved to tears by the flood of memories
1t aroused.
No division appeared in a semblance o
its entirety. Only a few staunch sur
vivors were left of the more than 6000
soldiers who represented the confederac,
in the fiercest struggle of modern times
Shouts of Applause
From the moment Gen. Bennett II
Young, commander-in-chiefo of the Unite
Confederate Veterans, appeared, accom-
panied by his staff, until the last de
tachment of veterans passed, the firma
ment was rent with shouts and applause
General Youngs staff was followed by
the Eleventh United States cavalry band
the survivors of the transmississppi de
rartment, the department of north Vir
ginia, the department of Tennessee, For
rests cavalry corps andl000 mounted vet
Grams. Interspersed along the differen
commands were the sponsors of the divi
sions of the United Confederate Veterans
In each instance followed by aged sol
diers riding in automobiles. The Rich
mond Howitzers, Pelham guards of Ma
con, Company D, Alabama Nationa
guard, and two companies of Tennesse
state militia acted as official miltar,
escorts to the veterans.
The ranks of the veterans riding In au
tomobiles were swelled from time to tim
by those who had believed themselve
equal to marching in the parade, but VIII,
were unable to stand the trying ordeal
Many of these staggered along, bravei.
attempting to maintain step with thei
more vigorous comrades. When they wer
forced to fall out ready hands wer
there to help into the automobiles au'
continued the march under less tryiu
conditions.
The transmississippi department wa
headed by Lieut.. Gen. X NJ. Van Zand
of Fort Worth. Tex, commander, an
his staff. Following in close formatlo
were the Texas hrigades in numerca
order. headed by Gen. Felix Robertson
the Arkansas brigades led by Gen
Thomas Green. .he Missouri brigade
with their commander. Gen. ]. VIII Hal
the Oklahoma brigades. under comman