Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-22
A VISIT TO SOUTHERN nArrrr
FIELDS.


Kew. Theodore Gerrish, the universally e..
teemed pastor Of the Pine street Methodis,
church, has recently returned from some.
what extended tour among Southern battle
neids He arrived home little more than .
week ago. but since his return has been COO.
nned to his house much of the time with .
severe cold.
short chat with Mr.. Gerri.h concerning
MS novel tour proved exceedingly interesting
lie was absent from home a month and the
time was thoroughly improved nv him. He
was accompanied to Gettysburg, Pa, by q
party OF Maine veterans. A site was selected
iol the erection of a monument and the same
VIII De erected during the coming year All
the features of the battle field have been re-
tanned as tar pussihIe and guns on stone posts
marx where the principal batteries were Mr..
uerrish was not accompanied beyond the
Potomac by his Maine companions and made
the remainder Of the journey alone.
tie visited Frederick City, Maryland. and
then went across the country to South Noun
tam and thence to Anfietam. Continuing on.
ward he reached Harper's Ferry and then
went to Fredericksburg, where he tarried a
week. On Sunday he preached in the Metho-
dist church in that city and while in the pu pit
staff sat upon his right and number Of the
famous old ''Stonewall Brigade" on his left.
Mr.. Gerrish visited the battle fields of Fred
ericksburg. Charlottesville, Spottsylvania
and the Wilderness. While travelling over
the battlefield Of Charlottesville he was for.
tunafe enough to have as guide Rev. Mr.
Smyth, Of Fredericksburg, who was a mem
Der of the staff of Stonewall Jackson
He then went to Richmond and was in that
city during the session of the State Fair.
While in that locality he visited Libby
Prison and Belle Isle. Then he visited
Petersburg and passed nearly a week follow
ing the old works from City Point to Five
Forks. distance of 80 miles. large
number of Confederate officers were met
during the trip. At Richmond he saw
Generals Early and johnson and. at
Fredericksburg met Gen. Fitzhugh Lee
Every possible kindness and courtesy was
shown him. The people of Virginia seem
thoroughly reconstructed. The country has
been improved hut the battlefelds remain
much the same. The National cemeteries
are beautiful beyond description. These
cities of the dead are numerous throughout
the South and Southwest. In these GENE
teries, established at government expense
lie the remains Of 300, 900 Northern soldiers
In the cemetery at Fredericksburg are the
bodies OF 5000 bows who wore the blue.
The confederate soldiers are geserally buried
in city and town burying grounds.
Mr.. Geriish brought back many inter-
esting relics Of his trip. Among these is a
large shell, bullets from the several battle
fields visited. q revolver and pike which
were among the weapons with which John
Brown at Harpers Ferry was to arm the
slaves, and piece Of wood from the window
sill where Barbara Fritchie. in Frederick
City, Haunted the American flag in the face
OF old StOnewall Jackson.
In response TO numerous invitations Mr..
Gerrish has prepared a series of lectures
descriptive of his trip. These will treat OF
the following subjects: lst. ''Getrysburg;"
I'd, "A Visit TO the Battlefelds of South
Mountain, Antietam and lIarper's Ferry
3rd, ''Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the
Wilderness and Spnttsylvania Revisited -
and 4th, 'In Front of Petersburg. Bangor
Wing and Courier.