The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-05

We have received from former citizen Of
this city, copy Of the Eeeaing 3a7yefin. pub
lished in the fiourishing city Of Providence, z.
/, in which is ali account Of the reunion OF
the old Second Regiment Of Rhode Islalid
volunteers. Our friend has called attention
to an incident Of that occasion which is sug-
gestive of the fraternal feeling that is nurtured
BY the boys who wore the blue for the boys
that wore the gray in the late unpleasantness.
A member of the regiment had accidentally
heard that u Confederate soldier (Ehomas NJ
Joldan,) who served in a Confederate Virginia
battery at the battle of Manassas, WAS in
Providence. He sought his acquaintance, and
invited him to attend the banquet Of the Rhode
Island veterans, which he did, and was elected
an honorary member of the association.
Our correspondent says "a peculiar fea-
tlre of the circumstance was, that while the
Second Rhode Island regiment was engaged at
the first battle of Manassas on the Federal
side, the Virginia battery, in which Jordan was
4 gallant private, was engaged on the Confcd-
crate side, and now en- the first opportunity,
the two are united under that fraterral feeling,
which none can appreciate except those who
may chance to come this way and fall in with
them" VIM. and Ed. Sears, sons of DR.. B.
Sears now OF this city, were members OF this
regiment and participate each year in its re-
union.
This little occurrence is pregnant with sug-
ge>tioas as going to show that with those
who faced each other on the tented field, and
realized what war meant, there are none 9TH
or than the kindest and most fraternal feeling.
Indeed had the soldiers Of the two armies had the
adjustment Of the difficulties growing out OF
the war; there would long since have been a
perfect reconciliation and the olive branch
waved in triumph over the 'blooly chasm.''
| Instead, however, of the manly impulses and
generous emotions of the brave to control, the
selfish schemes if the mercenary and pestifcr-
Gus politician have had too much to do with car
rying into effect and observing the conditions
OF reconstruction and reconciliation, perycrt-
ing their true intent and exciting passions and
prejndices, in place of cultivatins a spirit Of
friendly recognition and intercourse.
The warm hand-clasping and generou: heart
welcome extended by the northern soldier at the
Bunker Hill Centennial, to the southern SOL
der, were the fruit of higher sentiment than
ever stirred the heart of the political marplots
and time-servers, who have sought to perpetu-
ate the animositics of the war to advance their
own ends. The goodly time is fast approach
ing, we hope, when the genuine manhood of
the nation will asserts its authority, and frown
out OF countenance the trading politicians who
lave done so much, and are doing so much to
lepress the better feeling Of our nature. The
pelncious Influence Of political ambition has
converted the honorable and fraternal feelings
Of MANY gallant soldier into the lowest pas
sion Of the most INSCRIPTIONS tcnagogua,
and in this way the process of reconstruction
has been greatly retarded, and the full fraterr-
ization of the sections prevented.
" hat the people of the two sections
want, is to know each ether better-to meet
face to face. apart from the teachings and the
pernicious influence Of the designing politi-
cians,-a soon the war would only be lemena-
bered as the record Of the courage and filel-
ity of men in the hour Of trial to what they be-
lieved to be the right and the testimony Of
that devotion to Republican institutions which
shall ever hereafter staEd as q bulwark to de-
fend Our priceless Inheritance from foes within
and without.