The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-14

When Captain Charles l.. Williams wa,
elected commander OF Lee Camp, No. 1. @
Confederate Veterans. he said in accept
ing the position that he did not 90 lnio the
organization for the purpose OF having Q
holiday frolic, but that he saw the pOssibil.
ity OF doing something for the good Of dis.
abled and INDECENT eX-Confederate soldiers
and their people. When asked about the
matter yesterday Commander Williams
said that Lee Camp consisted Of about
TWO HUNDRED CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
There are also in this city kindred asso-
ciations-for example, The Old First Vir-
ginia Regiment Association. The Ilowltzer
Association, The Young Guard Associa.
ton. and others-in all probably num-
bering more than 1000 men.
Since the organization of II. Il. Lee Camp
several similar camps have been organized
i'm the State, and some in other southern
States.
The spirit imbuine these organizations
has appealed strongly to the sympathy OF
our late adycrsaries OF the United States
army, and X. Il. Lee Camp has been con-
stantly in receipt OF encouraging letters
and other evidences Of this sympathy from
various Posts OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic scattered throughout the North
and West.
Numerous inquiries come from all over
Virginia and the South as to the object OF
the formation Of Lee Camp-so numerous,
indeed, that il is difficult labor to reply to
them. and il occurs 10 me that good work
may be done in answering through your
columns these inquiries and asking all pa
mi Ilxs fn Ia aVa N
view 10 publish this article and 10 press the
subject on the attention OF the public.
When Lee Camp was first organized il,
conformity with Phil. kearney Post. Grand
Army of the Republic, Of this city, invited
Corporal Tanner, OF New York, to deliver
q lecture at Mozart Hall for the benefit OF
these two organizations, which he con-
sented TO do, and did. without charge for
his services.
CORPORAL TANNER
lost both OF his legs in battle in Virginia,
and vet hc was the first one OF the COM
manders OF the Grand Army OF the Re-
public to issue an order prior to one OF the
Union memorial-days inviting his COM
radcS TO make no distinction i'm the dccora-
tion OF the graves of the Union and Con-
fedcrate dead, and this. too, at time when
the bitterness eugendered by the war had
not been aSsuaged as il has been since.
In his lecture, which breathed nothing
but kindness TO the Confederate soldiers
(both the living and the dead Corporal
Tanner stated that it panied him to say that
he felt a. ii the southern people had not
shown proper appreciation OF the trials
and sacrifices OF their late soldiers; that
these men who had been 30 faithful i'm the
discharge of what they deemed their duty,
and who had lost their health or had been
MANNED in the service, had no pensions
from Government. no soldiers homes pro-
Yidcd at public expense, no provision made
for their maintenance during their de-
clining years, and that the southern people
owed it no less TO themselves than to their
braves to provide by private charity what
they were unable to do by public donation
RELIEF FOR THE VETERANS.
The truth OF this criticism (meant in
kindncss) must strike every mind and
every heart which Is amenable TO the inllu-
enceS OF charity: but while all may wish
to see this reproach wiped out. many may
need to have the way and the means point
out. / therefore venture to make few
suggestions in the hope that they may be
either adopted or wiser and better plan
offered by some one else. The plan sug-
gested to my mind is for the Confederate
veterans OF every city and county in the
South to organize camps like the Il. +.
Lee Camp. and devote themselves not only
to the temporary relief OF poor and disa-
bled Confederate soldiers, but to the raising
OF money to found Soldiers Home.
am satisfied that il considerable sum
is thus raised by the soldiers themselves,
large additions to the fund may be certain
w realized by private donations from the
charitably disposed, both North and south.
VIII YOU not appeal to Tie press and the
people to make some effort in the direction
indicated and not to relax their efforts I'M
I'll II /. nrnrnnd with sIlnnnssHH