Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-24
HOTHEADS NORTH.
PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO SEE R.
z. LEE CAMP.
DEMONSTRATED New Hampshire Men
Who Protested Against Visit
from Rebels, &c.

A telegram in the Boston Herald
from Concord, n. H., says Two
letters have been received from X. +.
Lee Camp, Of Richmond, declining the
invitation of the Executive Committee
Of the New Hampshire Veterans AS
sociation 10 attend the coming Veterans
reunion at the Weirs. The reason as
signed is that large share of the MEM
bers Of the Camp are men in the COM
mon walks Of life, who could not bear
the expense Of the trip, although the
invitation was unanimously apprecia-
ted. The idea of inviting the Camp
originated with "a badly wounded q
Union soldier as there is in the State,
Captain Matt Shackford, Of Lake Vii
lage. The subject was laid before the
Executive Committee, who voted unani-
mously in favor Of extending an invita-
tion TO them, not as ex-rebel soldiers,
but as citizens. The invitation was
sent, and in the mean time parties in
Manchester drew up protest against
it, which, it was openly stated in
communication to the daily press, woul
be sent to Richmond. Whether it wa
received there or not the replies fron,
the Camp did not indicate. In extend
ing the invitation the officers Of the AS
socistion had the approval Of the best
soldiers and citizens Of the State, and
Colonel Carroll d. Wright sent a letter
warmly endorsing their action"
Upon receiving the invitation Lee
Camp declined it for thereasons stated.
Then came letter from the Veterans
Association expressing the hope that
the Camps decision was not arrived at
because of the Manchester protest.
The adjutant Of Lee Camp replied that
they had not heard Of or seen the pro-
test referred to, and il they had would
not hold them responsible for the action
Of a few hotheads, but that it was
quite impossible for the members Of the
Camp to undertake an excursion to
place so distant, and which would un-
avoidably entail great expense. There
upon came the following letter
NEW HAMPsHIRE VETERANS
ASSOCIATION,
PENACOoK, July 81, 1886. )
Captain 4. Il. Spitzer, Richmond, Va.:
Dear end,-Yours Of the 10th is at
hand. | am very glad indeed that you
and your comrades Of Lee Camp size
the situation properly. None Of US can
be held responsible for the actions Of
cIanks-who can be found in every
community-but you can be assured
that the heart of every brave, true
Union soldier beats in unison with
those of the South, who laid down their
arms twenty-One years ago, Loyalty ac-
cepting the situation, and to-day doing
their part in maintaining the unity OF
the nation and the supremacy Of the
law. | fully appreciate your reason for
declining our invitation--the distance
is great the expense equally so-but
with the hope that we can meet some
day, and with the best wishes Of my
self and the comrades Of the Old Granite
State with whom | sm associated for
the comrades of Robert Z. Lee Camp, |
remain
Sincerely yours,
JOIN q. LINEHAN, President.
As a matter Of fact r. E. Lee Cam
did not know thepurport of the Msnches
ter protest until the 22d instant, an
they havenever yet seen the document o:
any copy of it. They declined the i'll
vitation before they heard even so much
as a hint that their presence would
be unwelcome to any one in New llamp-
shire. They have entertained to the
best of their ability dozens Of veteran
organizations from the North, and know
that while here and there there are "un-
reconstructed folks North, very few
such can claim to have been fight
ing.men of the Union armies. The real
old soldiers feel very kindly towards
Confederate veterans.