The Pike County Journal. Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia, Jan. 10, 1896 Gen. J.B. Gordon, commanding the Union Confederate Veterans Association, has designated Friday, May 1 as Memorial Festival Day. The day is set apart for the use of the woman of the south for raising funds for the battle abbey, towards the construction of which Mr. Charles Broadway Rouss has contributed $100,000. Mr. Rouse contributed the amount with the proviso that an additional $100,000 be raised by the Confederate Veterans Association. This amount, General Gordon thinks can be raised by the ladies. In the general order issued by him designating the day to be observed, Gen. Gordon says: The committee suggests that the most feasible manner of reaching the desired object is to set apart a Memorial Festival Day, and they ask that the general commanding will designate the date, and issue a general order. The general commanding, therefore, in compliance with the request of the committee, designates Friday May 1, 1896 as the most suitable for the Memorial Day Festival, to be set apart for the use of the women of the south in raising funds for this great Memorial hall. All the details and exercises of this Memorial Festival Day are to be planned, conducted and carried entirely under orders, control, ideas and management of the women of the south in their respective localities. The general commanding appeals to and urges these heroic women, survivors of an heroic age, and all the daughters of the south who take pride in the history of such worthy and glorious ancestors, to immediately, upon the receipt of this order, organize societies and elect presidents, secretaries, treasurers, and other officers in every city, town, hamlet and neighborhood in the south, and to notify Colonel R.C. Wood, general manager of the Confederate Memorial Association, No. 44 Perdido Street, New Orleans, La., so that he can at once supply them with subscription books and full instructions and respectfully request that they will commence without delay the collection of funds for the erection of this depository of the records of the valor of southern manhood and the heroism of southern womanhood, and continue their efforts systematically, making the Memorial Festival Day, May 1, 1896 the culmination of their efforts. (Transcribed 11/15/02 Lynn Cunningham)
Lynn, I am just curious as to whether this Battle Abby was ever brought to completion? Interesting!!!! Billie. -----Original Message----- From: Lynn B. Cunningham [mailto:lcunnin1@bellsouth.net] Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 7:02 AM To: GAPIKE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GAPIKE] 1896 Memorial Festival Day The Pike County Journal. Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia, Jan. 10, 1896 Gen. J.B. Gordon, commanding the Union Confederate Veterans Association, has designated Friday, May 1 as Memorial Festival Day. The day is set apart for the use of the woman of the south for raising funds for the battle abbey, towards the construction of which Mr. Charles Broadway Rouss has contributed $100,000. Mr. Rouse contributed the amount with the proviso that an additional $100,000 be raised by the Confederate Veterans Association. This amount, General Gordon thinks can be raised by the ladies. In the general order issued by him designating the day to be observed, Gen. Gordon says: The committee suggests that the most feasible manner of reaching the desired object is to set apart a Memorial Festival Day, and they ask that the general commanding will designate the date, and issue a general order. The general commanding, therefore, in compliance with the request of the committee, designates Friday May 1, 1896 as the most suitable for the Memorial Day Festival, to be set apart for the use of the women of the south in raising funds for this great Memorial hall. All the details and exercises of this Memorial Festival Day are to be planned, conducted and carried entirely under orders, control, ideas and management of the women of the south in their respective localities. The general commanding appeals to and urges these heroic women, survivors of an heroic age, and all the daughters of the south who take pride in the history of such worthy and glorious ancestors, to immediately, upon the receipt of this order, organize societies and elect presidents, secretaries, treasurers, and other officers in every city, town, hamlet and neighborhood in the south, and to notify Colonel R.C. Wood, general manager of the Confederate Memorial Association, No. 44 Perdido Street, New Orleans, La., so that he can at once supply them with subscription books and full instructions and respectfully request that they will commence without delay the collection of funds for the erection of this depository of the records of the valor of southern manhood and the heroism of southern womanhood, and continue their efforts systematically, making the Memorial Festival Day, May 1, 1896 the culmination of their efforts. (Transcribed 11/15/02 Lynn Cunningham) ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237