The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-29
VISITING OLD SCENES.
A New York COmrads Goes OTsr Old yirsInIi
RalflnnnlHs

/ 4%HAANh NAAAbNAis kiAtNEs uttA tut
| pleasure recently Of spending a couple Of weeks
| looking over some of the old battlefelds aud
| towns Of Virginia. ! arrived in Washington
sept II, the first time since the war IL GER
tainly has become one Of the most beautiful
cities of this country, and, with all its public
buildings, one can spend several days there
with profit.
Ny first visit to Virginia was TO Arlington
National Cemetery and the grave OF the gall
liant Sheridan. / found his grave nicely
situated in front Of the Arlington House, over
| looking the City Of Washington. Everything
| about the cemetery shows the best Of care. Re-
! turning TO Washington, called on Gen. f. w.
Whitaker, formerly OF Gen. KiIpatrick's staff,
and Lieutenant-C Colonel LIST Conn Cav who is
one Of those kind Of gentlemen who believe in
calling spade spade, and uses good English
every time
My next trip was 10 CulpepeT Courthouse, via
Fairfax, Manassas, BristOe Station, Warrenton
junction, and those intermediate places over
which we marched and fought SO many times.
They were so built up ! could not recognize
them, excepting the old town OF Culpcper.
which looked quite natural, and brought back
to those stirring times which passed through
over quarter Of a century ago. / here met
Comrade Patterson, Of the 3Oth Ohio and
superintendent Of the National Cemetery at
| Culpeper, and had the pleasure Of his genial
company IN drive over the Plains Of Brandy
station and Stevensburg. The latter place
looks very natural indeed having changed
but very little since the war.
The old campground Of 1868 and 1864, when
Gen. Grant assumed command, is 70 DO seen
yet though OveTgrOwn with brush; the old
ehimneys and huts still remaining and the
house where Gen. Davis. who commanded our
brigade, had his headquarters. The National
Cemetery at Culpeper is we'll kept, and looks
nicely, and contains the remains OF $50 Union
soldiers about 900 Of whom are unknown.
Returning to Washington, mex headed for
the Shenandoah Valley, passing through
HaTpeT5 Ferry. How natural il looked. IL is
| so situated that il cannot change much. Many
old landmarks Of the war remain, among
them John Browns Fort the remains Of the
arsenals destroyed by the Coniederates in 1861,
the abu.ments of the old bridge across the shen-
andoah River, aud the mountains and hills,
which cannot change.
My next place OF conquest was MartinsbuFg.
The old town has entirely outgrOwu itself /
could hardly recognize the place only by the
lay OF the land. Here lives the good old Widow
Delaney, who did so much for the Union SOL
diers during the war. | hal the pleasure Of
stopping with her while in the place. Some Of
the comrades who received the good things
from this dear old lady should not forget her in
the days Of their prosperity. She is now over
80 years OF age and unable 20 do anything.
l had very pleasant visit 10 the GAR
Post IN Martinsburg Three candidates were
mustered, and everything passed OF nicely and
We had good time, closing up with singing
some OF the old war songs. Owing to tho COu-
tederate surroundings they have hard work to
get along and very little sympathy from the
citizens generally, and they, with all other
Posts OF the GAR. in the South, should have
the sympathy aud assistance so far az pos
sible from all comrades in the North Com
mander Greer aud Adjutant Wabie seem to be
the leading men, and are doing all they can to
build the Order up in the old town. The gro
Gerry store kept by Comrade Greer seems to be
headquarters Tor GAR. men, in which I spent
several very pleasant evenings. ] must not
forget to mention Mr. Chapman, -COufeder-
ate,l Of the lst Va. Cav, q gentleman and a
genial companion.
Winchester next, and how natural tho old
town looked; has changed bat very little.
While here had the pleasure Of stopping with
the pleasant family Of Comrade and Mrs T.. Dr.
Houston. My stay here was one Of much
pleasure. September 10 attended the unvail-
ing OF monument in the National Cemetery,
IN memory Of Gen. Russell, Of the Sixth Corps,
WHO was killed q years ago that day. Gen.
Wright, the old commander Of the Sixth Corps
was present and made few remarks. Qliee a
number Of the old veterans were present. The
National Cemetery at Winchester shows good
care and attention.
went over the battlefield with Mr.. ID. w.
Kline an ex-COnfederate, Of Stonswall Jack
sons artillery. found the place where our bril-
gade was in action, aud where Gen. Mcintosh
lost his leg.
Sept II, the anniversary Of the battle, vis-
TIED Antietam. A large number OF comrades
were present and had fine time. The National
Cemetery here shows the best OF care 1t con-
tains the remains OF 473i Union soldiers, and
to those who have friends there it must DO a
pleasure for them to visit such place
From Winchester / went up the Valley 20
HarTisoHburg. / found changes all along:
none of the places looked natural to me, ex-
cepting the lay OF the land and the mountains.
Near Harri5onburg found the place where we
were eucampet. lt seems To bo quite a live
place. / found quite Il number Of ex-Conled-
crates whom ! bad met in battle, and had
pleasant time talking them over. The place
has improved since the war, though there are
some landmarks which look natural. / drove
ont % Port Republic. where Col AsLby was
killed, commander Of Con federats cavalry IN
the Valley in 1852.
! returned 10 Washington and next visited
Fredericksburg The old place looks about as
il did at the time Of tho war. though it has i'm
proved some. 10 is a live place and the people
arc trying 70 boom the town. There was con-
siderable hard fighting about this section
3larye's flights arc near the town, the scene of
Gen. BurHside's hard struggle to drive Gen
Lee from MS strong position on the HlgutS
with the desperate charges OF the famous Irish
Brigade. few miles distant are the battle
fields Of Charlottesville and the Wilderness
Two fine iron bridges have been built across
the RappahaunOek River. The land on both
sides Of the river looks very natural and alto
gether brings beck TO memory those stirring
times OflOng ago. The beautiful National Gene
terry here is situated on Aaryes flights. and
contains the remains Of u, 2i3 Union defenders
and 1910 Of these sleep in unknown graves
The superintendent is Mr.. A. J. BrdsalI, Major
OF "a n. Y. II. A.
The Confederate Cemetery Of Fredericksburg
is the best attended to of any Confederate GEM
etery which i saw. Some kind hearted lady
furnishes the means by which il is kept up A
few steps away is the grave of Mary Washing.
ton mother OF our first President The grave
Is neglected aud the Strengthening monument
which has been erected over the romans is
knocked to pieces by relic hunters
The Exchange Hotel OF Fredericksburg is
kept by two gentlemen from Connecticut. Col
ton & Hills. the former Past Commander of
Rodman Post, of Hartford, Conn. They are
fine gentlemen and keep good hotel and are
we'll patrOnized by the old vets who visit the j
place. / also met here Comrade c. Van Duseu.
Sergeant Co. l., lst n. Y. Mounted Rifles |
This was tho last place where he did duty at
the close Of the war soon returned was mar
ricd, and has been living here ever since. He
took much pleasure in showing me around.
Altogether this trip was a very enjoyable one |
and all seemed to take pleasure in making it
pleasant for me and in showing me about
found friends wherever | went aud next year.
as the q. A. X. goes 10 Washington, | hope all |