The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-17

battery at his own request, and / understand
is living in Baltimore. ] have no doubt he
will bear me out in the statement that the dis
memberment of this refugee organization was
threatened while at Knoxville, because of the
homogeneous material of which it was composed
The attempt to besmirch myself is retuted by
the writer's own admission that / was made
First Corporal, intrusted with the papers, and
selected as Il guard at ParsOn BrownlOws house.
and subsequently detailed to carry the papers
TO Cumberland Gap, precisely as ! had stated.
In fact, the attack is a ventilation Of spleen,
or personal pTejudices and opinions which are
dubbed " refutatons," that ! should be glad to
incorporate among testimonials The paper
which published the matter declined to admit
a hundred words of reply, because, as they said,
Baltimore is filed with Confederates | have
mentioned this matter in this correspondence
because reminded of it by the receipt of letter
which came to me at Ford's Hotel, cOnspicu-
ously addressed TO the Boy Spy" the purpose
being to annoy or identify me while in Rich
mond. 1t failed of its purpose, as it was my
pla4~tre and privilege TO have been specially
invited to visit the armory of the lst. Va.
Regiment, where l spent a couple of evenings
in the congenial company of 8 number of
young and old Virginian military gentlemen.
was cordially invited TO Z. L. Lee Camp OF
Confederate Veterans, and, indeed, handed
around among the
BOYS IN GRAY
in that hOspitable manner peculiar to Virginis
gentlemen. My companion on this visit was q
well-knOwn newspaper proprietor Of New York
city, whose business engagements in Richmond
secured him certain recognition in this circle.
The Confederate Soldiers Home occupies sew
eral acres Of rather barren ground in the west
ern suburbs. The main building was, l believe,
once used as q school. Seven or eight cottages,
contributed or built by wealthy people, whose
names they bear, are arranged on the tanks,
similar in plan and architecture to our camp
meeting grounds. There are only ITO inmates
at present, which is all they can accommodate.
1t looked quite familiar to mo to see the old
gray clothes on these old boys. The proportion
of foreigners Is greater than in our own Home
at Hampton.
1t is a pretty well-known fact that this
Home for disabled Confederates owes its exist
ence to the GAR. organization Of the Union
armies. Old readers of THE NATIONAL TEIB-
UNE will recall the efforts made through Phil
Kearny Post, of Richmond Va, which secured
$4,000 in cash. ard about $4,000 in other ways
On one of the large buildings to the north
OF she Capitol Square, observed sign
Veteran Armies Association of Gray and
Blue" and also
PHIL KEAREY POST, GAR
During one Of my evening walks CHANGED
to see half-d0zen boys in blue standing about
the doorway, as if waiting for some one.
walked over the street, took a good look to be
sure they were not rebs IN blue, that had fool.
cd me before in Virginia. l quietly asked what
was up?
One clever comrade politely told me they
were to be received as a GAR. organization al
the fair then being held at the armory
Ny surprise got the better of my curiosity
and after introducing myself as 8 visiting
comrade was cOurteously urged TO join them
IN their march to the Confederate armory.
| had no uniform, not even a button or badge
but Commander n. J. Smith insisted and put
me ia charge Of CCmrade TTesnon, arm in arm
with whom l marched to the tune Of -" Yankee
Doodle" through Broad street to the armory
We were only a few; the hall was gorgeously
decorated and filed with some of Richm0Dds
beautiful daughters, who gave the little crowd
their welcome smiles, while the band played
Marching Through Georgia" as We fled
around the hall. 1t was pleasant as well a.
a remarkable experience TO me.
In conversation ] discovered my fIecloser-
Peter Tresnon-was fellow avalryman of the
Army Of the Potomac, Of the 9th n. Y Cav.
Mr.. Smith, the Commander, has been IL
business here for q number Of years
Indeed, al Of the comrades made It and the
ensuing days of my stay most pleasant, and
now thank them for the courtesies shown
stranger comrade Not one of the party viii
know until they read this line that they we're
entertaining the
g BOY SPY" OF THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
1t was my good fortune to subsequently mee
with Gen. Edgar Allen, whom all GAR people
VIII know as leading GAR. officer. Mr
Allen is nos quite prominent lawyer, whC
settled here since the war, and after conquer
ing the prejudices and overcoming the ostra
cism and hostility Of the people, is now liter
ally on top professionally, politically ard fnan
cially. 1t is said Mr. Alien enjoys the mos
lucrative Law practice IN the State, his income
from this source being estimated at $4,000 POI
/ year.