The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-22
WASHINGTON ARTILLERY.
RECOLLECTlONS OF THEIR R,cu.
MOND TRIP.

The New orleans Daily Picayunc has tbe
following, which will interest many ncrsons
in Richmond;
Last night the Washington Artillery
held a regular monthly meeting, Colonel
Richardson presiding, and large number
present.
In addition 10 the regular routine work
committees were appointed. on motion Of
Adiutant kurshccdt and Lieutenant Baker
% gct up suitable memorials 20 be sent Ia
the Richmond IIowitzcrs, in acknowlede.
mcnt and appreciation OF their kindness
during The recent trip Of the battalion IN
Richmond. ON motion OF Captain {. l.. G..
pupuy. It was voted that the following
minute be spread upon the records of the
battalion:
MEMORIES OF 1871, lS6J, AND 1890.
The Washington Artillery recalls the
afternoon Of May q. 1861. when leaving our
homes we began our march for virginia
through lines Of brayc-hearted bnt fearful
mothers, sisters, wives and children, whom
many oi us nC'cr would see again.
Tn Virginia we met welcome such as
could Zoe given only by people whose men
were knightly soldiers and whose women
were rs heroic rs they were lovely.
shoulder 60 shoulder with such soldiers
in the midst OF such people, and catching
the inspiration Of the majestic mountains.
lovely valleys, beautiful rivers. sparkling
brooks and crystal springs which Washing
tom. Jackson and Lee loved so well. is II
strange that We were melted 10 high re-
solves. aud that honor pcrchcd upon our
tanners wherever our guns were heard?
soon The fortunes of war cut us of from
our Louisiana homes, and the heart of old
Virginia grew all the warmer toward MS
livery home was open 10 US and Virginia
mothers became mothers to lis: and when
want aud famine came, the homeless men
90 ihc far south were still remembered with
even greater tenderness 10y a people who
forgot their OVID wants 10 supply ours.
When the years of cruel war were at last
ended; when many of those Virginia homes
were in ashes; when the few which were
spared sheltered those 10 whom little was
loii save honor. and when our guns were
buried 40 AppomattOX, and our tattcrCd
banners were rcNerenty furlcd, we left
Virginia with heavy hearts, sorrOwing
mostly for the people we were leaving in
sore distrcs>-a people the most unselhsh
the world ever saw.
long Years have passod-"old Virginia
mover tires'-her homes are rebuilt and are
as happy a. of yore. the land again flows
with milk and honey. Richmond has risen
from her ashes and is more beautiful tlan
ever. and irgiuia is preparing to honor the
immortal Lee whom she and we loved 80
Wen.
cur dear old eomrades-in-arms, the gal
liant Richmond BOwitleTs. say 10 us: ''lOu
were with MS and Of us long ago, and YOU
must come t0 us again; the tents are pitch
ed. the cantocus and pipes are filled, the
camp fires are burning brightly and the "a
tionS are cooking; We will take good care of
Nou. it YOU don't come promptly FIH Lee
Will go after YOU with the cavalry and YOU
know what that means"
We remember the way the cavalry had of
bringing the boys into camp, but we thought
they bad % habit Of Keeping them out of
Richmond. Things have changed, howe En-
WehWe ycarued for \irsinia and Richmond
many wears and "On to Richmond il again
the watchword. The old ilag we furled ut
AppomattoN is again uufurlod to the breeze,
the bands are playing Garry Me Back TO
N.d Virginia" and we are again marching
between l,n- lines of friends-there are
some fearful ewes among them, but they are
those of veteran comrades whose hearts are
heavy because they cannot boz with us again.
The afternoon of the 9th of May comes
again. ana with martial music and flying
banners We are entering Virginia the second
time, after lapse Of tWenty-nine cventlul
wears. 10 Is a moment ofumc0ntrOllable JOY
and our voices I'LL the air with ringing
cheers.
We appreciate we are among ihe Virgil
mans. for they are greeting Us at every STA
ti0n with rare flowers and hearty cheers as
they did of wore. Daylight gives place TO
the -ilNery light Of the fun moon and the
clouds disappear that we may again enjoy
The sight of those mountains and valleys
and sparkling streams which were 80 beau
uiul when we lOWlandCrs first saw them.
The quiet beauty Of the night suggests to
our hearts that sweet peace has spread its
ample mantcl over this beautiful and much
loved land Of health ard plenty. and our
rrr,eni PRAYER j. that the tread Of batting
~uldi,ry and the din and des0lation Of terri
h'r war may never again disturb these
Peaceful scenes-this glorious people
pur voices are nusucd. our thoughts. are
in the past, and soon we are dreaming Of
thc clmp fires around which we found rest
wrapped in our blankets of gray.
The dawn Of a beautiful day finds us in
the heroic city Of Petersburg and soon We
are "hone again" in Richmond.
All il Joy and gladness. except when Old
friends come 10 us asking for those they
knew aud loved long ago and 10 whom We
can only say. "Ghey are with Us no longer;
they have gone 20 ioin Lee and Jackson IN
thc eternal camping-grOund.' Their bowed
heads and gli~tcning ewes silently tell OF the
love those dear people bore our boys.
Tie great day has arriycd-the long lines
of veterans are formed are Nirglnia's
honored guests in the fullest sense of the
word the second generation in trim uni
forms are also in line.
cur veteran corps il uniformed as when
first we went TO Richmond, and carry our
war-worn baitle-nag Ohe gift of a Rich
mond LADY, and our regimental Nag, on when
sixty battles are Inscribed.
oar active batteries bear the national
color and the beautiful Virginia nag which
was presented to Us by Virginia.
The march begins; every street and every
locality seems a. familiar as years ago. En-
thusiasm il so supreme that we do not re-
gard the length OF the route. and we are
scarcely conscious of our feet touching The
ground.
Formiles we are marching between mass
- of sNmpaihotic friends. \irginias great
heart D. up in her throat. She knows moth
ing today but the immortal Lee ana those
who followed him, and all along that long
route every door is open and every table
spread. and at every halt of the column the
soldiers. old and young, are heartily invited
90 partake of Virginia cheer. In no place
but Virginia is such graceful hospitality
possible # is the hospitality of chiNal-
rOus. grcai-hcartcd. unseltsh people. III
sought us and miniStercd 10 us on the weary
march. in the hospitals where we lay sick
and wounded yea. even in the heat OF bat
tie, amid kissing shots and bursting shells,
and in the horrors Of the siege.
And now the march Is ended, and we are
drawn up. line after line, around the monu-
lnent The veil is dropped and the magnifi-
cent statue OF the great Lee stands revealed
in lis perfect beauty.
Cheers such as we have not heard for Il
quarter of century salute our noble chiei-
tain. mingled with the thunder of artillery
and the roar and rattle Of muskeiry. II
seems a. il legions Of heroes have risen from
the dead and are lighting their battles again
in defense Of Richmond.
Cur trip has been great JOY 10 our yeter-
ans aud Il revelation and delight to our
young men.
Concentrated happiness cannot last al
WAYS aud stern duty hurries ns back 10 our
life work.
Words can family express our thanks to
the noble friend, we have lett behind. Our
visit 10 them will be remembered with in
tense pleasure all our days.
We rejoice that we met our old friends,
the First Virginia, and recalled the