Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/289

 United Confederate Veterans. 289

UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS.

The second anniversary of this organization was held in Jackson, Miss., June 2, 1891, in the Capitol, in the Hall of the House of Rep- resentatives. It was opened with prayer at 10:30 A. M., followed by addresses of welcome and response from the Governor of the State, Hon. John M. Stone, and General J. B. Gordon, commander-in-chief of the U. C. V., the calling of the roll by the secretary, Major D. A. Given, of New Orleans, and the appointment of a committee on cre- dentials, which reported thirty-two camps in membership.

The button now in use, representing the Confederate battle flag, without lettering, was chosen as the badge to be worn by the Con- federate veterans.

The following extracts are from the reports of the papers of the day:

Colonel E. T. Sykes, of Columbus, Miss., Adjutant-General of the Grand Camp of Confederate Veterans of Mississippi, announcing the decease of its Grand Commander, General W. S. Featherstone, at Holly Springs, Miss., May 28, 1891, offered the following resolu- tions :

Resolved, That recognizing the eminent military and civic services of our late comrade, and recalling his devoted loyalty to, and sym- pathy for, the memory of the cause which we have organized to com- memorate, and in which he bore a conspicuous part :

1. As an officer under Generals Joe Johnston and Lee in Virginia, and later under Generals Joe Johnston and Hood in the West, the United Confederate Veterans, in reunion assembled, do hereby express their deep sorrow at his death, acknowledge their irreparable loss in being denied his continued valuable service in a cause so near his and the hearts of us all, and their irrepressible regrets that the inscrutable decrees of an all-wise Providence have deprived them of the fond privilege of his courtly presence and wise counsels at this a reunion which he had so devoutly contemplated and looked forward to with the renewed enthusiasm of youthful vigor.

2. That we tender to his bereaved family our sincerest condolence, and to the Grand Camp of Confederate Veterans of Mississippi, our deepest sympathy.