Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-06-11
The Fredericksburg Celebration

Lee Camp, the Sons of Confederate Vet
Grams, the Alexandria Drum Corps aud the
other AleIandrians who went to F;ederioks-
barg yesterday to take part in the ceremo-
niles attending Confederate Memorial Day
and the uoveiling of the Confederate monu-
ment, returned last night, having had a
most enjoyable trip.
An account of the celebration was pub
ished in Yesterdays GAZETTE General
Bradley T. Johnson, of Baltimore. the or
ator OF thu day. (who WAS escorted from
the train to headquarters by the Alex
andrla Drum CorDs) In his speech
commended for the ,iehs of States to rete
against OF 1sl d scrim!r a ion. He dsclaim-
I, d any desire TO diicnss the question of &C.
tual secession, but held that the war hsd
been forced upon the people of the South as
matter of ee;-defense, privilege which 10
man or people cond gsinssy. THE war;"
he continued, "was a scheme of contractors,
who drsin;d the national pursa and kept
the turmoil raging until the drainage was
completed" Turning to the women of the
Sou h, the speaker eulog'z'd the spirit
which could bring Itself to the performance
of minion labor. all the more re,essary On
accoun OF q cor fl OF, which had proved dis.
astrcus not acne to the agricultural and
material interests of q section, but crushed
to atoms an en- ire social fabric at once the
most refoed aod cultured of tbs age. Gen.
Johnson also said: "For the last twenty
years l have been observing with growing
wonder the phe en- omenon of feeling toward
the actors on the Confederate side. 1t s a
fact, and wonderful fact, that pathos. SEN
timent, the romance of the war between the
atea, is concentrated and orystsl.zsd about
the cause OF the Cor federacy. Ia the North
to-day no name thrills humsn hearts like
that OF LIE. no name elsctrifss people like
that Of Sionewall Jackson; no hig flashes,
no sabre glistene like that of s uart. Meth
er Grant nor Sherman nor Sheridan, the
great and successful soldiers OF the victori-
GUS side, have left euch an impre ssion on the
imagination Of the hearts OF the people ss
have the leaders OF the Oonfederates who
died In battle or yielded to overwhelming
forces when further resistance would have
been criminal"
Ia it account of the celebration the Bal
more Sun ssys:
1.-THE first of the visiting organic ,tions to ar
rive were B. E. Lee Camp of Veterans and 3. f.
Lee Camp, Sons OF Veterans, fr m Alexandria.
They came on a special train that reached the
town about nine o'clock, aud were received by
tbs local organ 'tions, headed by bsnd OF mu-
sic After them followed in rapid succession the
CAMPS from Richmond Washington and else
where, until in the crowds the streets the gray
slouched hats and gray coats formed the most
conspicuous element. The early part OF the day
was spent by the veterans in renewing acqusint-
snces and revisiting the scenes whore most OF
them had been called upon to display moro than
ordinary vslor. Msny OF then trsmped or rode
over the bsttle6elds, white others oontented
themselves with remaining in town and recalling,
by "reminiscences exchanged with old comrades,
the contest Of years sgo. Ia sl THU Gen. Corse,
who accompanied the Alexandria camps, WAS the
central figure He was followed about the streets
by gray haired men, and at each place he stopped
some of the men who were formerly under his
command pressed forward to grasp his hand.