Reunion of the Confederate Veterans at the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, June 22-24, 1897

Creator: William Allen Rogers
Title: Reunion of the Confederate Veterans at the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, June 22-24, 1897
Date: 1897-07-03
Description: A series of images by artist W.A. Rogers (1854-1931) published in Harper's Weekly on July 3, 1897. The largest vignette shows elderly men viewing a display of armaments, ammunition, and military paraphernalia labeled "relics from Missionary Ridge." Other images include a boat on Lake Watauga (1) and grinding wheels from a Confederate powder mill (2).
Historical Note: "United Confederate Veterans Days" at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition drew 74,000 visitors over the course of three days, of whom 20-25,000 were Confederate veterans. A parade of approximately 15,000 men led by W.H. Jackson of Belle Meade Plantation, moved from Broadway to West End Avenue for review. Food and lodging was provided by the city and a musical was performed at the Ryman Auditorium, then known as the Tabernacle. A dance was held at the Capitol and fireworks were displayed. Many speeches were made. Each Confederate state was allowed a delegate to speak for 5 minutes at the Centennial Auditorium. The Daughters of the Confederacy gave speeches at the Capitol. Harpers Weekly noted, "Men from the farthest extremes of the land met as brothers, and renewed the friendships of the trying bloody days.'It is the grandest reunion we shall ever have; next time a heap of us won't know anything about it,' a man with an empty sleeve said as he stood in line."
Institution: Library of Congress
Publisher: Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University
Rights: Images reproduced on this website are intended for individual, educational use only. For research inquiries about specific objects or requests for high resolution images, contact the Library of Congress.
URL: http://cdm15838.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/shades