CHAPTER XXXVI
My Appointments in the U. C. V.
On the organization of the U. C. V. in 1892, I received the appointment by Lieutenant-General Cabell, who was elected Commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, of Quartermaster-General of the Trans-Mississippi Department, with the rank of Brigadier-General. On receipt of my commission, issued by General John B. Gordon, one morning, while opening the package, Mr. C. A. Keating was looking on and on my being surprised at such promotion, never having had notice of General Cabell’s appointment, Keating asked me what I was going to do about it? I told him that I was going to turn it down, that I did not think I deserved any such promotion, besides I feared it would take a great deal of my valuable time out of business, when he insisted on my accepting it, which I still refused. He made me promise to take the document home to my children, saying that they had more interest perhaps, in such an honor than I had and if they were willing to have me turn it down he would have nothing further to say. In connection with this, he asked a question, “Tell me of a Confederate soldier in this community that has done as much for the needy Confederates as you have and is more entitled to it than you are?”
I took the document home, as I had promised him, to show to my children and when I suggested to them that I intended to turn it down they would not hear to it, saying that they were as much interested in the matter and would appreciate it as a great honor conferred on them, as well as myself, when I finally had to yield in the matter and accepted the appointment, which I have never had cause to regret, though it was a heavy tax on my purse and time, which latter properly belonged to C. A. Keating, to say nothing of using his stenographer, etc., all of which he cheerfully contributed and is entitled to the credit.
Having served in this capacity for a number of years, I was finally elected to the command of the Fourth Brigade, composed of the principal Camps of North Texas, with a membership of about five thousand, which forced me to resign the office of Quartermaster General and accept the high honor, which I very much appreciated. Serving in this capacity a year, I decided to decline re-election on account of deficiency in hearing, which almost disqualified me from presiding over this body at its annual meeting and soon after, was appointed by General Stephen D. Lee, Assistant Adjutant-General on his staff, with the rank of Brigadier-General and which appointment I have had from every successive commander and I may, perhaps, hold until death. I certainly appreciate these honors conferred on me by my Confederate comrades, more perhaps than anything that has ever fallen to my lot. This closes my connection with the Confederate U. C. V. organization; many of the details of its works I do not care to record herein, as they might appear too much of egotism.
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ON CONFEDERATE
MATTERS
Columbus, Miss., April 21, 1905.
General H. W. Graber.
My Dear Sir: I have yours of April 18, with enclosures. I had seen the pleasant incidents of return of flags by veterans of Texas, and also the return of the Ranger flag at time it occurred. Let us hope your letter to the President did good, for certainly he has changed his views, and if he has not recanted what he once wrote and spoke, he has for some time spoken and acted in the very opposite way, which virtually is the same thing. This is the country of our fathers, of us all now and of our children, and we should accept any advances of reconciliation and obliteration of sectional lines possible and consistent with our self-respect.
Thanking you for your letter and enclosure, I return them,
With kind wishes,
Your comrade and friend,
STEPHEN D. LEE.
New Orleans, La., April 4, 1909.
Brig.-General H. W. Graber,
Dallas, Texas.
Dear General: I have much pleasure in handing you herein a copy of S/O No. 12, naming the staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the U. C. V.
The General Commanding this glorious Federation feels that the responsibility rests on him to use every effort to bring forth the results that will be for its best interests. He knows that if the earnest workers and progressive spirits in the association will render such services in his aid as he has reason to think they will, our order will make more rapid advances in the future, greatly diminished as are our numbers, than in the past.
Trusting, then, on your love for the organization and your eminent fitness for the position, he has selected you as one of his personal staff; and begs that you will honor him by accepting the position of Assistant Adjutant-General, with the rank of Brigadier-General.
In addition to using every occasion to increase the interest and affection of the veterans in our “social, literary, historical and benevolent” society, and constantly working to bring about peace and harmony among the comrades, he particularly desires that you will, if possible, be in attendance at the Memphis Reunion, in full dress uniform, and meet him at the Headquarters Hotel (the Peabody Hotel) to concert measures that will make this a most memorable occasion. He hopes that you will attend the daily sessions of the convention, be present on the stage with him, and on the day of the parade take part with the entire staff in full uniform.
Trusting that you may be able and willing to assist in this great work in the way indicated, with every good wish for your health, prosperity and happiness,
Most sincerely,
WM. E. MICKLE,
Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
War Department,
Vicksburg National Military Park Commission,
Vicksburg, Miss.
January 14, 1909.
General H. W. Graber,
Dallas, Texas.
My Dear Sir: I highly appreciated and greatly enjoyed reading your good letter of the 12th instant, and its inclosures, one of which is herewith returned. Needless for me to say to you that I am in heartiest sympathy with the generous, patriotic and American sentiments so well expressed in the “Concurrent Resolution” of the two Houses of the Indiana Legislature, Session of 1899. Ten years earlier, in 1889, in an address to the veterans of my regiment (24th Iowa Infantry) in reunion assembled, I said, in part:
“In forming the characters and shaping the lives of the future citizens of this great Republic, we fondly hope that the unselfish devotion to duty and the unshaken valor of the volunteer soldier will be a potent influence for good; that his heroism will live in song and story and through all the years to come, be a challenge to patriotism, above the din of party strife ringing loud and clear as bugles that blow for battle. Nor do we forget that our late foes were brave men and gallant soldiers. Their valor, like the valor of the men of the North, illustrates and adorns the character of the American citizen soldier. This character, tempered and proved in the crucible of battle, is the pledge and sure prophecy of the greatness of our common country. Looking into the future, may we not say of the coming American citizen, ‘His shall be larger manhood’ because of the heroic example of the men who conquered with Grant and Sherman and the no less heroic example of the men who surrendered with Lee and Johnston. Of this coming American, may we not predict that, where need is, he will know that ‘not suffering but faint heart is worst of woes.’ In the nobler destiny of our country, in the larger and stronger character of its people, will be found the final compensation for all the suffering and all the losses of the war.”
Please keep me closely informed in regard to the prospects for the greatly desired Texas appropriation for the Vicksburg Park. Command and direct me whenever I can help in any way.
Very cordially yours,
WM. T. RIGBY, Chairman.