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In The Name Of A Reunited Nation, Confederate Veterans Led The Way As early as 1887, former Confederate General John B. Gordon longed "to see one more war, that we might march under the Stars and Stripes, shoulder to shoulder, against a common foe." That opportunity came in 1898 with the war against Spain. When it did, whole United Confederate Veteran (UCV) camps as well as many individuals volunteered to fight, including former Confederate Generals Joe Wheeler and Fitzhugh Lee. Of this new war’s casualties, the UCV Historical Committee claimed: "These dead, at least, belong to us all. The last hateful memory that could divide our country is buried with them. About their graves kneels a new nation." General Gordon became the Commanding General of the United Confederate Veterans in 1889 when that organization formed and he served in that capacity until his death in 1904. The program for the first reunion of the UCV features Gordon’s firm visage in front of a large image of the flag of the United States of America. Gordon was the staunchest proponent of sectional reconciliation. Gordon wrote in his book Reminiscences of the Civil War, "The unseemly things which occurred in the great conflict between the States should be forgotten, or at least forgiven, and no longer permitted to disturb complete harmony between North and South." In 1894 during the Pullman strike Senator John B. Gordon endorsed President Cleveland’s move to send in troops to end the strike. "The men who wore the gray . . . will be found side by side with the men who wore the blue, following the same flag in upholding the dignity of the Republic over which it floats . . . .", he said. The very same men who had fought for their states so many years ago became the first to reconcile their region to the new nationalism sweeping the land. No group of veterans could claim a greater contribution to their country. "The Confederate veteran, though he failed to win victory in war, may be said to have won 'a victory of the spirit' in the long peace to follow," wrote William White in the Confederate Veteran. "Indeed, he grappled against many obstacles, but finally lived to see his name honored and respected throughout the land." Confederate veterans set examples of hard work, provided stable political leadership, secured state veterans benefits, preserved history, shaped the mind of the New South and advocated national reconciliation. Confederate veterans gained respect throughout the land to a large degree because they led the charge for unity "Soldiers served as key agents in reconciliation because they had developed respect for one another in war . . . . Veterans of both blue and gray displayed greater regard for the feelings of the other side than the non-combatants of either section," concluded Gaines M. Foster in Ghosts of the Confederacy. Former enemies appeared together first at Bunker Hill in 1875. Then in 1881, Union veterans decorated the graves of Southerners during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some 24 major Blue-Gray reunions were held between 1881 and 1887. Rebs and Yanks began meeting at Gettysburg as early as 1882. The 50th anniversary of Gettysburg in 1913 drew 8,000 Confederate and 44,000 Union vets. Dedication of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in September 1895 saw 40,000 veterans from six different veteran groups converge. Chicago dedicated a monument to Confederate veterans that same year and so did New York two years later. After the war, Robert E. Lee instructed Southerners not to train up their children in hostility to the government of the United States. Lee said, "Remember, we are all one country now. Dismiss from your mind all sectional feeling, and bring them up to be Americans." His old soldiers were true to their commander. They rebuilt a nation. W. Hugh Harkey |