1894 Reunion of United Confederate Veterans
The 1894 Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans was a city-wide event to honor the service of Confederate veterans of the Civil War and the 4th annual meeting of the United Confederate Veterans organization. It was the first of three such national reunions to be held in Birmingham. The event had been delayed from the previous year for financial reasons, but was successful. A reported 20,000 visitors arrived in the city for the opening of the festival on April 25, 1894, with as many as 30,000 visitors in the city by the next day.
Governors of five states, including Jones of Alabama, attended the festivities. Winnie Davis Wigwam, holding 10,000, was filled to overflowing. Over 500 camps were represented at the roll call. The cornerstone of the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Capital Park was laid and the graves of veterans at Oak Hill Cemetery were dressed on April 26 (Decoration Day). Evening entertainments included a "Tableau of States" featuring the "prettiest young unmarried women" from each Southern state.
Mayor David Fox welcomed the guests and UCV Commander George Gordon gave the principal address. Business conducted during the reunion included a resolution to sponsor a Southern history book to be distributed and taught in schools.
See also
References
- "United Confederate Veterans: Fourth Annual Reunion, at Birmingham, Ala.-Large Attendance" (April 25, 1894) The New York Times
- "Confederate Reunion." (April 26, 1894) Baltimore Morning Herald