National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-31
AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

fredericksburg, Va, was invaded in 1862
by large army of union soldiers armed with
muskets loaded with powder and balls.
Fredericksburg was invaded yesterday by an
army of Uuion Veterans armed with guns
loaded with bouquets. These veterans were
the Union veteran corps of Washington,
First company, fifty men, under command Of
Capt. Tappan, and Meade Post, q. A. r., fifty
men, and about fifty members OF other posts.
The Washington Continentals, forty men,
undor command Of Mai. Timms, accompa-
MED the Veterans. Pistorio's band also accom-
panied the Veterans. Each veteran and
Continental carried n gun, in the muzZlc OF
which WAS bouquet They left Washington
on special train Mt 8 o'clock yesterday
morning, arriving at Fredericksburg at 10
o'clock. They were met at the depot by
Maury post, No 2, c. ", Of Fredericksburg,
100 men, commanded by Judge Goolrick;
r. Il, Lee Camp, No. /, Of Richmond, 100 men
in gray, under command of Capt. Williams;
tho fredericksburg brass band, Frederioks-
burg lodge of the Knights of Pythias
in uniform, several Union Veterans,
from Phil kearnoy post, q. A. r. of Rich
moud, aud many citizens OF Freder icksburg
The confederate veterans carried no guns, but
light bamboo canes with bouquets tied to
them. Bouquets from guns and canes were
afterward placed on the graves OF union sol
diers Ut tho national cemetery. Two mem
beers of r. Il. Camp aud two members Of
kcarnoy post, both of Richmond, carried a
large floral cross which was placed on the
grave Of the unknown dead.
From the depot tho veterans of both armies
with their guests marched directly to the
national cemetery. Tho formal exercises
there were begun with music. Comrade Il,
q. G. Cook, department commander c. A. L.
of Virginia, called the assembly TO order, and
introduced Judge John r. Goolrick, COM
mandor of Maury camp, who made an
address. After more music by the band, Mr..
| S. w. Russell, of Washington, read % poem
Reunited" ComrAde A, b. Hurlbut read
poem written by Mrs, Emily T. Charles. Col,
Edgar Allen, of Phil Koarney post, q. A. II.
| Of Richmond, made an address.
Tho benodiction was then pronounced by
Rev. DIR, Wilson, chaplain OF Maury post.
Whom the services were completed, the Vote
rams, headed by tho ladies decorating commit
| tee, went alb out among the graves and strewed
them with flowers. From the national cene-
terry the command marched through tho con-
| federate cemetery, the band playing dirges.
| The troops continued the march down tho
road beyond tho cemetery 20 the field where
the tomb OF Mary Washington mother of
| George Washington, stands. This tomb 10
| cracked and Crumbling away and the grass
| 10 growing in between the stones. Tho ont
| side Of tho tomb ia covered with advertise
ments, and there is very little 10 identify it
as a tomb. The walls are dotted all over
with bullet marks and the ravages caused by
relic hunters arc plainly to bo seen.
! When the commands halted here Com
mander Tlmms stepped forward and said that
the proyerbiaI gallantry Of Yirginians had
| found an exception In the case Of the tomb OF
| Mary, the mother Of Washington. The
battered condition Of tho tomb he said, was
! largely due to the depredations of relic
seekers and to the leaden bullets of war
/ these sacred stones had been de5acrated and
dobased by ostipg bills on the walls
At the conclusion Of Maj, Timms's address