Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-07
EXPECT THOUSANDS.
To ARRIVE BEFORE:
OPENING NEDNEE:S DAY
Connnander-in-Chief Arrives
Today and Vanguard Is
Already Here-City's Well
come Is Prepared

From the far plains of Texas, from
the slopes OF the Pacific, from
Canada and the east, and from every
city and crossroads in Dixie, the
Confederate veterans are coming to
Atlanta this week.
last survivors of the Quickest armies
the world has ever known does not
begin officially until Wednesday,
but already their vanguard is in
the city. Sunday their commander
in-chief arrived, and during Monday
and Tuesday the veterans poured
in by thousands.
Atlanta is ready to greet them.
Atlanta is prepared to give them
the warmest welcome of their lives
and to send them home after four
DAYS of festival, knowing in their
hearts that they and the cause for
which they fought are as dear to the
south today as they were when the
victorious banners of the Confed-
eracy fluttered above an advancing
army.
Just fifty-five years ago, in the
sweltering summer of 1854, the city
trembled under, the shock of an
enemy cannonade, it's streets shook
from the conclusion of enemy shells
as dreadful to it's people as any mis-
Sile from the throat of big Bertha,
and to the north and west, where
now are only green woods and peace
full farmIands, the smoke of battle
soiled the hilltops, blood of men
dyed the streams red, and brother
fought with brother hilt to hilt.
Atlanta fell and Sherman laid her
in ashes, but not before thousand
men had died in her defense, not be-
fore ten times a thousand had stood
with hearts of oak and nerves Of
steel, battling against overwhelming
odds until they were beaten back by
sheer force of numbers.
All That Is Left
There is nothing left today to tell
that story but circle OF sunken
trenches, deep with leaves and
brambles, far out by Peachtree creek,
and a rusty lamp-post on Whitehall
street with a shell-crack in it's side.
But the healing touch of time, how
battle, has not wiped out in the
hearts of the people OF Atlanta and
the hearts of the people of the south
their memories of the Civil war and
their mistaken love for the men who
fought the battle of Atlanta and the
battles of the south.
In coming to Atlanta this week
they come to city that owes them
a love and loyalty second to none
Only once before in Atlanta's his
tory, on July 20-23, 1898, have they
gathered within her gates. That was
twenty-one years ago. Since then a
full two-thirds Of them have
answered the last roll call; to their
comrades Atlanta is host for the last
time before they, too, pass on to
Paradise.
They will see city as changed
from the city Sherman burned as
New York from the Manhattan OF
Peter Stuyvesant. Her streets, her
buildings, her homes, her industries
are as metropolitan as any in the
land; but on every side the flag they
love will fly from those homes and
skyscrapers, and from the moment
| they arrive until their departure, At
lanta will care for them as for her
own.
Eighty-fve blocks of Atlanta have
been decorated. The Confederate flag
or the Stars and Stripes ripples from
every post, every door and window
every trolley gang-wire from Trim
ity avenue to the Georgian Terrace
The city is sp1ashed with color as
never before in her history. and
through it all the starry flag of the
Contederacy is paramount.
The decorations are only the be-
ginning of Atlanta's hospitality
When a fund of 100000 was raised
for the reunion, it was entrusted to
the hands of the executive commit
tee that has spent the money we'll
NO pains have been spared to give
the veterans every comfort and sery-
ice throughout the reunion.