Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-29
az APPoNIArTox RELIc.
A Supposed Miniature of Lady Washing
ton Found on the Field.

From the PHILADELPHIA Pross.
Marcus A. Root, OF 12S South Fifteenth
street, recently returned home from a
visit to Upshur county, West Virginia.
He brought with him the miniature, on
ivory, which he believes 70 be a portrait
of Mary, the mother OF George Washing
ton. Whether it be hers or anOth er's, the
manner OF its coming to light is sutti-
GENTLY remarkable. From the part OF
West Virginia IN which Mr.. Root made
his stay was raised during the war
the Tenth regiment, West Virginia vol
unteer infantry. for service in The Union
army. Many Of the survivors OF the
command now live in the same section
from which they marched. Among them
is Writ Phillips, the bugler, OF the Third
brigade, First Independent division of
the 1'wenty-fOurth army corps, of which
the Tenth West Virginia formed a part.
1t was the story throughout the country
side that Bugler Phillips had been lucky
enough 10 pick up, on the farm Of Apo
mRttOX on the morning OF Lees surren-
der a portrait OF Mary Washington.
BIZ. Phillips investigated the case, and
brought 10 Philadelphia with him the
original of the cut and this statement,
addressed TO Mr.. Root, S 10 the manner
in which it was found. The letter is
dated at French Greek, Upshur county,
W. Va, Oct. 3, 1885:
On the morning Of April @. 1865. after a
forced march Of six days, having marched
the day previous (the SUI from a. m. till II
.. m. the Twenty fourth army corps. "
which I belonged wac Fashioned in line OF
battle on an Old road running north ana south
through a steep Of woods lying west Of Apo
mattOX Court House and Lees army Our po-
sition was a very responsible, as well as crlh-
| cal, one, being right across Lees path Of
retreat. In the morning we commenced ad-
yancinS through the woods back IN
! the direction OF Lees army. We soon
met the Confederate advance, when
/ place. The Confcderates broke. and retreat
| ed back to the main army. near the court
! house. While passing through this little belt
! of woods just fought over. glanced upon the
/ ground and saw something red partly COW
| cred with the brown leaves. Picking 1t up
I saw it was Il red morocco case containing IL
side a beautiful miniature painting set in a
| gold case, / took il lin medlstely to our brig
AIDE commander, Gen. 7. Nj. Harris. who pro-
| nounCed II a painting OF Mary W ashngt0n.
| All artists that have examined it have eN-
/ pressed the same opinion. Up to this date II
/ has never been positively ldenlhed, never
/ having been opened Refusing all offers Tor
/ its purchase. sent it home Immediately.
During the two years that IT mas been IN
/ my possession il has been copied frequently
10y ARTISTS and others desiring fac-simlles. !
| prize it as q mement0 of that memorable day
| on which Gen. Lee surrendered himself and
army to Gen. Grant ut AppomattoX Court
! House. ! was % musician OF Co. *, Tenth
| regiment, We9t Virginia volunteers infantry.
At the time found the painting was brigade
| bugler FOR Gen. 4. NJ. Harris, companding
! Third brigade, First independent division,
| Twenty-fOurth army corps.
The opening of the case spoken Of by
| Mr. Phillips has been done since the pic
! ture has been in Philadelphia by }. Henry
Brown, the portrait painter, Of Sixteenth
and Chestnut streets. He, however,
found no inscription between the ivory
back and the shell Of plant gold sur
rounding it would lead to the positive
identification Of the portrait. Mr.. Browns
examination with a microscope of the
cOlOrs In the miniature revealed the fact
that the red Of the lips, OF which faint
traces remain, was laid on with a pig
ment which has not been used by artists
during the present century on account of
its liability to fade.
Mr.. Root, who is a cOnnOisseur of pOr-
traits, having first made daguerreotyping
fashionable in this city aud country near
ly 40 years ago at Fifth and Chestnut
streets, thinks that the portrait is OF Mary
Washington and was done by Gilbert
Stuart. HOW the picture came there
among the leaves on the fateful morning
Of Lees surrender would be interesting
to know. Was it dropped by some col
lateral descendant or friend of some col
lateral descendant of the Washington
family who had right to it's possession
Was it looted by some straggler from
some Virginia manor house in the hurry
OF retreat? There was q dead man whose
identity, il established, might have told
some tale Of the portraits ownership. He
lay in mis- butternut uniform. about %
feet from where Bugler Phillips found the
! picture, perhaps the last man slain out
right in the War-but who he was the
bugler did not ascertain.