The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-01
sOUTHERSERS IN NEW YORK.
Interesting Guests at the Annual Dinner
on Lees Birthday.
Navy York aftnr


We have in this city an organization
known as the Confederate Veteran Camp.
1t is composed of Southern men who
fought in the late war and who have since
made their homes in this metropolis. 1t
has upon its rolls about 300 names. Some
of these men are conspicuous IN com
mercial and professional life here.
Quite a number of them came to New
York penniless. The majority of them
have shown great business tact and energy,
and it would be difficult now to find bet
ter class of citizens. The Confederate
camp was organized for social and
charitable purposes. Every time a desti-
tute ex-Confederate turns up in this town
he makes call upon some of the South
ern colony for aid. 1t was decided among
the Confederate comrades 10 have some
system for dispensing of charities-hence
the camp. The organization gives dim
ner every year on the birthday of Cen
eral Lee. | attended the dinner on
the 18th at the Colonnaie hotel. was par
ticalarly struck by the proiusion of Ameri-
can hags IN the dining-ro0m. / never saw
a more liberal display in that line. The
toasts were thoroughly patriotic, and the
most capIious loyalist III the land could
not have found sentiment to quarrel
with. The best speech Of the evening was
delivered by John :. Wise, son of the Old
Virginia Are-eater. now resident of this
CITY and very successful railroad attorney
The most interesting man among tie
guests was General Fltz John Porter. The
general looks about IS he did twenty wears
ago barring the fact that his hair and
mustacGe are whittier. His shoulders are
beginning 10 Gr0op, and AJs age IS mani
Test IN his voice. This Old and much
abused son OF New Hampshire Was
called upon 10 respond TO the toast
al The army and Navy of the United
states. Inc reception given him
was most enthusiastic, and he spoke with
great emotion. No man ever passed
through more trying ordeal than Fjtz
John Porter. After his magnificent record
III Mexico, wounded AZ the Belen Gate.
foremost with Mcclellan in the Peninsula
cam psign. fighting az Autiefam while
under disgrace, tried before court-martial
Ter practical treason at the second
battle OF Bull Run. cashiered from
the army and disqualified forever from
holding office. what a stigma TO bear up
under. Week after week and month
after month. for twenty years General
Porter complained aud fought against the
lhJGsGce OF his sentence, but without
avail. With 8 soldiers persistency he
held 10 bis firm purpose, and finally that
magnaaimous ana most generous of men
General Grant, came To his aid and
wrote the letter which will forever stand
as monument TO his true and rnagnlt-
cent manhood. lie admitted that for
years he had iabored under false impress
SONS touching his old comrade, but he felt
that he could afford 10 do justice. He re-
viewed the case and urged that General
Porter be vindicated by restoration 10 the
regular army. Congress acted promptly. and
one OF Grover Cieyeland's proudest acts vas
signing as president. the bill which re-
stored General Porter and INDICATED him