The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-15
|GIVE THU VETERANS A HOME.
OPENING NIGHT r. E. LEE CAMP
FAIR.
BRILLIANT ASSEMBLAGE.
THE DISTING UiSHED GUESTS
PRESENT.

The Speeches and Letters-Sctnes and In
cidcnts-The Undertaking Great Sue
cess.
Ever since the $500 WORKOUT, starved
veterans OF Lees army stacked their
muskets and packed their blackened guns
at Appomattox, and the "50ys in blue j"
offered them their canteens and shared
with them their ratious, there has been a
gradual return OF good feeling between
brave men who fought on opposite sides
Of the great issue. Indeed, the goodwill
between the soldiers OF the North and the
South has always been OF the most marked
character, and the bitterness has been be-
tween those OF whom the late Ben. Hill
wittiIy said "They were invisible In
war and have since been invincible in
peace"
The strewing Of flowers on the graves OF
their old enemies by soldiers OF both
armies, the interchange OF visits and OF
courtesies between "the Blue and the
Gray" and other causes have combined to
bring the two close together.
This returning good feeling has ELECTED
a number Of very sweet poems, one OF the
best OF which was delivered at the Valley
Forge Centennial, on the 10th OF June,
1878, by Rev. }. G. Walker, OF Phila-
deiphia, and is so appropriate that 1t Is
given, rs follows:
As years passed on, from homes apart
Our brothers SPED themselves away;
With fierce intent IN every heart,
some wore the Blue and some the Gray.
They marched 10 fields OF deadly strife,
And met IN fratricidal fray;
With purpose strong as love of life
Some fought In Blue and some In Gray.
Each deemed his cause both true and Just,
And bravely strOve TO win the day;
And of the hosts who bit the dust,
some fell In Blue and some In Gray.
Where flowers bloom In southern wales,
Whore waters dash in crystal spray,
Where hills are famed by northern gales,
Some sleep in Blue and some In Gray.
On mansion and on cottage wall,
Hang the dead heroes of The fray,
Whose mute lbs answer not the call
Or comrades wearing Blue and Gray.
And out from homes both South and North,
The orphaned children bend their way;
And widowed mothers issue forth.
To drop their tears on Blue and Gray.
Over the dead the same sun throws
His warm, benisnant, peaceful sway
| And in their uBdisturbed repose,
The Blue lies buried with the Gray.
Night darkens all the deep abyss,
And stars shoot forth with silver raw
The moonlight pales and dew-drops kiss
The moss-grown graves OF Blue and Gray.
Yeliying. bring your garlands fair,
And clasp YOUR hanSs anew to-day!
One flag yet floats upon the air.
We're brothers still. both Blue and Gray!
But nothing has occurred which has so
brought out the common sympathies OF the
two sections--so blended "the Blue" and
| the Gray "-as the recent efforts of Lee
Camp, Confederate Veterans, TO establish
home for disabled and needy Confederate
soldiers. The Posts Of the Grand Army
OF the Republic and the people Of the
North generally have responded with a
generous enthusiasm which has elected
the warmest gratitude OF our people. and
there has been mingling Of sympathies
which must be great blessing to our COM
mon country.
There can be no better illustration OF this
point than the following letters which have
been received by the " Committee on Re
ception OF Lee Camp Fair.