The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-01-23
BIRTHDAY OF GEN. ROBERT E
LEE

Again has the entire south paid
tribute to her gallant Robert E. Lee,
her peerless war chieftain, and the
noblest of her citizens
In Ocala the Dickson Chapter, as
has been its custom for many years,
observed General Lees birthday
most fttingly, and the story of his
stainless life was retold in song and
story. 1t is right and fitting that his
birthday should be celebrated, and his
life held up as model for the com
ing generations, and those who
fought under him, and the "Daugh-
ters," whose fathers and mothers
lived through the civil war, delight to
do him honor.
The celebration was held at the
home of Mrs. Ed Carmichael, which
was very attractiyely decorated in the
colors of the Confederacy and Confed-
crate flags and several pictures of
General Lee occupied prominent post
tons on the mantels.
Punch was served from very prct-
tily decorated table on the veranda
by Mrs. Kemp and Miss Wall of
North Carolina.
In the reception hall Mrs. Carmi-
chael gra ciously received the visitors.
and assisting her were her nieces,
Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Engesser and
Mrs. Flippcn, and also by Miss Nell
NcC orkle,, who seated the callers in
he reception hall and parlor.
At half past three o'clock Mrs d.
z. McIyer, president Of the chapter,
called to order, after which she read
-hree beautiful tributes to General
Zee, and said that the celebrating of
Ills birthday is one OF the greatest
pleasures in the annals Of the chap
+er
Mrs. Carroll. the chapters splendid
historian. then took the chair and
presided.
Rev. w. II. Dodge offered a beauti-
Jul prayer. eulogizing the great chief
tain, after which ten young girls,
dressed in white with red sashes, rem
dered the Bonnie Blue Flag" very
sweetly, Mrs. Carroll and Miss Lille
Bailey playing accompaniments.
Comrade Jennings of Fairfield.
Who was to have spoken, was prevent
I'd from coming by the death of Mr..
Allen, and two other numbers, those
Of MIR. Carlton Irwin and Miss Annie
Pope Eagleton. were omitted, as they
could not be present.
Col John NJ. Martin gave some
very interesting "reminiscences of the
army in Virginia and Of his com
mand. and the battles in which he
took a prominent part, although the
colonel was extremely modest as to
his own yalor, but praised very highly
that of his men and those around him,
and he also paid a splendid tribute to
the commander of the army.
General T. d. Lancaster also gave
some very interesting and unique
"reminiscences, dealing with the battle
of Gettysburg, and the part he took
in that conflict He told Of the great
discrepancy in the numbers of the
Confederate and the Union armies,
and of the great disadvantage of the
position of the Confederates, but OF
their wonderful valor and tenacity Of
fighting
Miss Merris Carroll read in splen-
did manner little episode in Lees
life, and Miss Lucy Moorhead recity
"A Song of Forgotten Men," which
paid a tribute to the many soldiers
whose names have been forgotten,
but who followed Johnson and Lee
throughout the conflict.
Miss Ava Lee Edwards read an his
torical sketch of General Lee, writ
ten by herself. and Mrs. Caldwell, sec
rotary of the chapter, read story OF
the designing of the Confederate flag
by Major Smith. This sketch was
published in last Sundays Times-Un-
ion. and is very pretty story.
The remarks of Mrs. D. NJ. Smith
were among the best Of the afternoon.
She brought with her treasured
sword, which was picked up on the
battlefield of Seven Pines" by the
side of a dead Confederate officer,
and which is one of Mrs, Smiths most
valued possessions. She gave a
graphic description OF this battle.
Mrs. Smith will present this sword to
the Dickson chapter TO be placed in
their new chapter house as soon as
they shall build it.
After singing Lees fayorite hymn,
How Firm a Foundation" Rev. Ste