The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-30
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.
A Union Soldiers Tribute to South
ern Hospitality.

The following very Interesting letter
from a former soldier of the Union has
been received by Charles D. Wheat, we'll
known citizen of this city, who was for
merly in the Confederate service Mr..
Wheats father was a physician, and it
was at his house that the writer of the
commun ication was tenderly cared for
during severe illness. The incident Is
distinctly remembered by the whole fam
ily 1t seems fitting that this evidently
sincere tribute to Southern hospitality
from the pen of a Northern soldier should
be given to the public on Memorial day:
RoYALToN, Wis, Feb %, 1898.
Charles Whedt-DEAR SIR: Although
stranger. am not altogether unaeqHain ed Il L
member Of the S Soons NeW
General Ktlpatrick's own regiment. served
in Virginia from August, '61, until Septem-
During June. '62, while scouting along tho
banks Of the Potomac River, below the mouth
of Quantico Creek, was taken suddenly SICK
soon after ealing meal at a small house near
some old forlitcations. some four or fiVe miles
from the town OF Dumfries, and laid PROSTATE
on the ground until next morning, when was
found by some OF my command. sent out III
search OF me, was carried to your fathers yard.
where portion of my regiment had camped
that night. The command were about ready TO
move when l arrived. | was unable to roe and
we had no amDulances or surgeon with US.
Your father saw me and made an eX-
animation and pronounced life dependent
on medical care Immediately and proposed that
l should be left with your family. l accepted
the hospitality and was carried by some of the
slaves into your fathers house, and remained
with your parents about TWO weeks, until able
to mount, when your father took an old horse,
which the armies had left him. and rode a half
day with me TO put me on road the least
liable to be exposed To your raiding parties. AT
parting lie refused all compensation OF any
nature, and the only request made OF me was
by your sanity mother. with tears flowing
|
Frank ana Charley. are liable TO fall into your
peoples hands, aud if so | only hope that they
may be well treated" with warm shake of
the hand. "God bless you, and may these ter
rible trials SOON pass away aud our friends be
PERMITTED 10 return to their homes in peace.
Good-by."
Your parents were loyal TO The cause, or
rather as they expressed themselves at differ
ent times In our conversations: I'VE always
tried to remain under the old nag, but we stay
| by our State."
My stay al your parents home gave me an in
| sight into the political situation, which soft
eued my feelings toward the Inhabitants of
Virginia and possibly had beneficial effect,
and whenever L had an opportunity 10 either
defend or favor any OF lie citizens during the
following years / always did So and l should
| not hesitate at this period, if | were TO take
| trip through that region, 10 make myself known.
| Duty never took me IN tue vicinity of Dum-
| fries afterward. and neither could lean posi-
lively of the family. Whenever l had an OPP
| portunty To 60 among any prisoners taken dur
! Ing the many battles l made inquiries for the
| brother was In the Fourth Virginia Cavalry, but
! forgot the regiment Of The other.
My position during 1868 and 1864 gave me
chance to examine all prisoners taken by our
cavalry and think that If / had found you
| should have given evidence of my appreciation
of your parents treatment toward an enemy of
| their cause, who by fate became an inmate of
| their home. have always spoken of that Incl
dent as type OF Virginia hospitality and
honor.
My regret has been that 1 could not have
| afterward met them and III a measure com
pensated them by at least memento OF re-
membrance.
In 1870 1 tried to get into correspondence
| with your father through the postmaster al
| Dumfrles, but learned that he mad gone 10 Cali
| f0rnia, but his address was not given at the
! time. A1terward became heavily interested
| in business and forgot all about the army, and
| up until three years ago If any one asked me TO
| what regiment | belonged | should have hpsi-
| tated before answering. Having the leisure
| now my mind begins TO run back over this three
years experience in Virginia. and the most
| pl, asurabe recollectons Is that OF your old
| home at Dumfres in 1862.
| l member that small brother was there
and all the slaves remaining with your parents
IL was great source OF anxiety to your mother
during my stay as TO how TO provide food for
these slaves. She even then appreciated the
fact that they would eventually be set at lib.
| erty, which did NOT annoy her as Il property
| loss, bur tn question as 10 their ing able TO
care for themselves was constant thought In
all her talks with me. The iouI years of such
trials must have had depressing effect unOn
| her sensitive and sympathetic nature and prob
ably short ned her lie many years. She gave
me quite grueful history OF The trials up TO
| the time was there as to the soldiers OF both
| armies, their liberties taken and the carrying
| away of the personal property, such as cattle
| horses, furniture, goods stores, etc.
| think your people were disposed TO treat me
other than an enemy, and our conversations
were very beneficial 10 me at least, and the
picture OF your parents countenaDces remains
| fresh with me, and IL there are any photographs
| in The family of them l should deem it a favor
| TO have some copies taken at my expense.
wish TO show my friends that war does not al
ways make demons. Yours, w. X. CRAIG.