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,