The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-06-12
corc.ponaence Of lhe pemoera.It Adraea.e.
dwelling Of the Confederate Monument
at Winchester.
sYxEsvllLr, June sth, 1880.

SYKEsviI.LE, June Sth, 1880,
Messrs Editors The Tx. Confederates
who left here on the 9th Of June to partci.
pate in the ceremonies Of unveiling the mon.
ument to the memory of the Maryland dead
who fell in Virginia, battling for the Confed.
erate cause, were Capt. Trusten Polk, joseph
G.. Berret and Chas. X. Favour. We sue.
eeedsd in getting on the third train which was
composed Of eleven cars and mostly filled
with veterans Of the famous Maryland Line.
Every one appeared in the best OF spirits, and
happy greetings were seen between old com.
rades who had not met since the war. Bat
ties were fought over again, and many pleas.
ant camp stories were told, as the train sped
on its way The morning was pleasant one.
Little note was taken of the beautiful country
though which We passed, flor we viewed Il
that day with a soldier eye) until We reached
Frederick Junction. From there to Harper $
Ferry many familiar places we're shown. of
Harper's Ferry we have a very vivid recollec.
ton. When a prisoner of war here we we're
put in the old Engine House, which ut that
lime was filed with "bOunty Jumpers who
tossed up in O blanket every new conner, OF
fresh fish rs they termed them, thai came
in We Of course took our turn and the sen.
satiou we had will never be forgotten. Here
too we remembered the great jackson, when
he commanded the troops on the Virginia
side Of the river, at the time it was surround
ed and captured-when the white flag was
seen on Bolivar Heights and the echo fthe last
shot was heard from the mountain sides
jackson, intending 10 leave Gen. A. P. Hill
in charge Of the place, took two of Ilill's
brigades with him 10 aid Lee, who was then
about 10 engage the enemy ut Sharpsburg.
The brave Hill felt hurt that he would not be
All IN Lad HE p,tp ,ltutssap IN, fha E.t,
and said to Jaekson--''General, you have TAX
en- my soldiers you had better take my sword. -
Jackson with stern but pleasant look, said,
"Giye it TO me, sir, AVID 30 TO the rear" Gen.
l.. o. Il. Branch of North Carolina was then
ploced in command aud arraigned the prelim.
inaries OF the surrender Of Harper's Ferry.
Col. Harry Gllmor's company OF the 18th Va.
Cayaly we're then acting rs eouriers for Gen.
Hill.
Winchester is abou, 80 miles from the Fer.
~. Travelling over this part OF the route, CIV
cry field aud wood was recognized by the
Maryland line as the scene Of some bloody
conflict. The houses along the route 10 Nir-
ginia looked deserted, the people had llocked
to Winchester TO meet the Maryland boys.
Arriving at Winchester about ~. 80 D. m, we
found the little city in holiday attire and a
hearty greeting was extended US. Forming
in line at the station, the Elk Confederates in
centre, we marched to the cemetery All
along the line of march the streets were
densely packed with people, who eheered US
at every step, Many Of the houses we're taste.
fully decorated, aud as we passed under the
arch whose motto was "Virginia's welcome
to Marylanders,n Gen. Bradley t. johnson,
who was marching in the ranks, proposed
three cheers for the Old Stonewall Brigade.
1t would have done you good to have heard
the cheers. The ladies were ont in full force,
and their bright eyes and beautiful faces help.
ed much 10 eniiven the scene There was n
liberal display of bunting, and some OF our re.
publican friends objected to the battle. SCARED
Confederate flag we carried on that occasion,
| will say to them that the monument we un.
yelled at Winchester, was 10 the memory OF
the men who fought and died under that flag.
Reaching the cemetery, We marched with un.
covered heads, slow tlmo, 10 the funeral music
Of the band and the rapid booming Of the
minute gus. The crowd was so dense that
i was impossible to get close TO the Statue.
| The unwilling was done by Gen. Trimble,
when the artillery aud Infantry fired, the
bands played, aud the multitude eheered.
| After the Grafton We were handsomely enter.
tained by the citizens. We remember the
| time when Grant issued his famous order "a
Sheridan to destroy all provisions in the Val
ley, so crow in flying over will havclo carr,
bis rations. Winchester kas led many armies
aud she can feed many more Eserythins
vas IN abundance. We dined at the house o.
Maj. Upton Dorsey, whose charming wife
assisted by her two accomplished daughters
entertained in the old Maryland style. We
regret our stay was short We had scarcel,
diued before the time OF starting for home
was announced. With good -byes and prom
ises to come again, the train was honiewsF
bound. These meetipgg a,s yary pleasant
1 Hunarpds wao were tliers that day, had ho
| net kHcnl tho bartender Of leo, 1hoso who
wore the hiRs have organizations IN ever,
State, known as the Grand Army Of the Re
public. They have regular monthly meeting,
and their Camp lires.n Very few Of us ever
got together, yet DOR old camp. 6res burt
brightly in our hearts and around them cluster
the happy memory ola cause We loved but
I Loaf