Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-05-28
Col. Jas. III. Skinner.

II. Skinner ct Staunton. Thursday
May 22d, 1884.
Veterans of the Tscenty. Eighth Neu
ReV York Regiment. and ladies anc
gentlemen of New York.
You are now in the very bosom o
the old Estates of Virginia, and the
heart of this people is freely open t.
you. Virginia, then, receives you To-
day IN her ''heart's core, ave, in he
hear. OF hearts," Applause. Oul
citizens of all ages, venerable men and
matronly women, young men and
maldens, ''the expectancy and rose o
the fair state " the veteran soldiers oil
the past, anG the volunteer soldiery Of
the present, all are gathered here to
give emphasis to my otherwise in
sufficient words, when, in their name, l
bid you a hearty welcome.
The events which have led to this
suspicious reunion Of the survivors OF
two veteran regiments that we're an"
tagonlsts in our civil strife, are too in-
terestIng to be passed 10 silence. III
he permissible, after such lapse oil
mellowing time. to treat pleasantly
what once wore quite tragic aspect, l
will cay that band of New Workers,
known as the 28th Regiment, we're en-
gagged on the 9th of August, 1882, on
the plains of Culpeper, near Cedar
mountain. 10 making a very lively as
sault on q Confederate regiment
While so engaged, body Of Virglnians,
known as the 5th Regiment OF whose
achievements. as part Of the historic
'Stonewall Brigade" we all here are
very proud-made a flank movement
against them 10 other words, got In
the rear Of the aforesaid New Workers
"a much pleasahter position doubtless
than to have been IN their front just
then-[applause]-and observing that
these strangers were gong much too tai
in their hot career, and were commit
ting terrible transgresSion against tn Q
peace, dignity, and security OF this
Commonwealth, Llaughter] closed up
on them and arrested them IN their mad
dolngs. The Twenty Eighth being tai
too gallant body ever to desert then
fate. and was taken with them. Las
year, it occurred to some of the survlv'
ing Virginians to propose to return this
FLAG to its former brave owners. " e
offer was not oLly promptly NJ
graciously accepted, but in a spirit o.
true chivalry the captors were invited
10 deliver it 10 person, aud were pro
missed cordial reception at the ami
versary reunion OF the Regiment a
Nisgra Falls. Right royalty did yo'
OF the Empire State fulfill your hospl
ia BILE undertaken. Our veterans, ant
the friends who accompanied them on
their visit 10 you last May, came bacl
with hearts deeply impressed with you
kindness, and with tongues loud in you
praise. You are here to-day to return
that visit, and our lovely Valle'
stretches wide open her arms to vel
come and embrace you. Applause
DO not know in what terms the 10
vitation 10 you was couched. Did thel
ask YOU, as ancient gossps do, Il
"come ard bring your work" and spen'
some sociable days with them VI on
thing, however, l am sure, that thel
might well have hidden you. in th'
name of this people, to come and brlni
your work and spend the remainder o.
vour days with US, Tor our lands arr
broad and fertile, or capital not over
abundant, and we should be glad Il
have the silence Of our fields broken b.
the ella tier and hum of those manufac
turing in dustries which are 80 mucl
N ore common with you than with US
But on whatever terms you come, it Il
most observable, that your visit fulfill
very strlkingly the conditions OF Sam
sons riddle to the Philistlnes. sine
from the mouth OF devouring war w
ga Their to. day the sweetness Of one o
the most signal triumphs Of peace
[Applause.]
My countrymen, l trust you hol'
with me the comforting belief that al
all.wise, almighty, and benignant Pro
yld ence rules in the affairs Of nation
and of individuals. His ways are no
as our ways, nor His thoughts as GU
thoughts" Will it be pardonable t.
point this truth by personal refer
ence? IT 30, then let me say tina
twenty years ago IN this lovely month
of May, so full in general of budding
| life aud joyous expectation, your spea
ker lay. on the PLAINS Of Spotsylvania
almost in the embrace Of death from I
wound Inflicted by Hancock's corps
How Impossible it would have been 70
him then to have even dreamed tina
sixteen years thereafter be would b
striving might and main 10 elevate Il
the Presidency of a reunited countr
the nohle man and distinguished genera