Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-16


One of the wards in the hospital attached to
the Confederate Soldiers Home at Richmond
has been neatly fitted up and serves as a me-
mortal OF the fraternal feeling manifested be-
tween the soldiers who wore the gray and those
who wore the blue at the time of the recent
Grand Army encampment. This ward was the
occasion yesterday of sentimental journey
from Washington to Richmond undertaken by
a number OF weIl-known citizens. They ex-
perieneed in Richmond in full measure the
hospitality for which Virginia is famous the
world over.
! The gentlemen who went to Richmond were
the members of the committee appointed by
I Mr.. John JOY Edison, chairman of the citizens
, Grand Army ercampment committee. to make
= suitable acknowledgement to Lee Camp. Con-
federate Veterans Association. for the eour-
4 tesies extended by confederate veterans to
Grand Army men who visited Richmond and
vicinity at the time of the encampment.
The party that went on the pleasant journey
/ was composed OF Mr. John Joy Edison. ex-
/ Commissioner Douglass, Gen. II. '. Boyrton.
/ Gen. Duncan 5. Walker, Corporal James
. Tanner, Messrs. b. u. Warner, Lawrence Gard
ner. Robt. A. Parke, E. b. Hay, Isadore Saks
: and Z. V. DeGraw.
I While en- route the members of the delega.
ton were the guests OF the Pennsyiyania Rail-
road COMPANY. which furnished q special car,
and, through MIR. Parke. entertained the travel
ers in handsome style. The start was made
| from Washington li;tle before noon The
train was DELAYED. so it was nearly O'Clock
when the committee ahghted in the station at
Richmond.
They fell at once into the hospi.able hands of
a committee who Just took charge OF them and
relieved them OF all care from that moment.
1nIs committee was composed OF J. Taylor
Anderson, mayor OF Richmond; Col. Alex. W.
Archer. past commander OF T. f. Lee Camp
Confederate Veterans: Lieut.. Col. A. L. Phil
/ hips, Commander James Pollard of r. L. Lee
Camp. Col. John Murphy. Capt. Frank Cum
nlnsham. Mr.. " '. Randolph. president OF the
Confederate Soldiers Home board: Capt. z. P.
Reeve. I-. ). Cans, Mr.. Jas. L. Ferriter and
Mr.. Robt. Mcintyre OF Petersburg, represent
ing Geo. II. Thomas Post, G. A. r.
4 hne OF carriages conveyed the visitors and
their hosts to Murphy's Hotel. where COLA
| tion was served. Carriages were then taken
again and after rapid drive to points of in
terert about the city the party was taken to the
Confederate Soldiers Home.
| AT tbs CONFEDERATE HOME
\ The buildings of the home form picturesque
| group at;ractively located in ample grounds
/ about a mile ont OF town. This was the scene
| of the ceremony for which the journey to Rich
| mond was undertaken. The visitors received
| the heartiest welcome from ia or Charles p.
gary-headed and grsy-coated old soldier.
First they were shown TO a room where
were displayed a large collection of war
relics. including Gen. Rober: E. Lees
military saddle and Gen. .'Stouewall'' Jack
sons war horse, ..Old Sorrel" with all his
trapIiEgs on. The war horse is in big glass
case. He has been stuffed and mounted by =
taxiGermist in a most life-like manner. "Old
SOrreI spent his last days in life at the SOL
diers' home, and when he died his image was
leyerently preserved Conspicuous among the
modern articles displayed about the museum
are scores OF badges os Grand Army posts left
souvenirs by visitors from the north.
{ The visitors were usnered next into the large
assembly hail of The home. where were assem-
bed the inmates of the institution to the num-
Der OF lie. Many were crippled and MANY
we're extremely decredit. They wore the gray
uniform of the nome. and on the bosom of the
blouses of some were displayed medals won in
service or badges of membership in the Con-
federate Veterans Association.
When the Washington committee had been
shown to seats fronting the assemblage several
young ladies appeared with flowers and pinned
a rose boutonniere upon the coat of each. Mr..
Randolph then without ceremony introduced
Dir. Edison.
MR.. EDsoS's PRESENTATION SPEECH.
Nr. Edison made speech explaining the OBJ
ject Of the expedition from Washington. He
said:
''Our visit to Richmond and to Robert Z.
Lee Camp of Confederate Soldiers has been
contemplated for SONG time as being a very
proper duty on our part and great pleasure
TO perform
Upon an invitation of the people of the
national capital the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie held their twenty-sixth national encampment
in Washington in September, 1892 IL was.
without doubt, the largest assemblage Of people
that has taken place in modern times. The
veterans of the war looked forward and ex-
! pected great pleasure in revisiting the scenes
/ of the war. the camping grounds. CAM
/ paigns and battle fields. From the uni
versal report from the visitors to the capital
/ on that occasion. both the members of the
G.. A. f., their relatives and citizens. it was 30
| them In all respects an enjoyable reunion.
| But there was feature Of all that transpired
/ that was unsurpassed in interest by any other,
out of which has grown this visit OF pleasure
\ and duty here today. We refer to the many
acts of courtesy, attention and comfor:
! tended by the veteran soldiers Of the confed-
eracy to the G. A. II. revisting Virginia aud
/ MARYLAND. The earnestness and cordially
manifested toward the veterans Of the
| Union army made an unusual and
a most favorable and significant impression.
\ The good reports that came from Rich
mond, led US to the determination that the citi-
zens' executive committee having in charge
the reception and entertainment Of the q. A.
K. on behalf of the citizens of Washing ton
q
appreciation and gratitude by visit to the
Robert L. Lee Camp for the purpose of pre-
senting q suitable testimonial After some in
quiry and consideration it seemed most appro-
pirate and desirable that We should fit up in
proper manner a ward in the Confederate Sol
diers' Home, provided for disabled veterans
Nothing else we could find could express our
feelings and good will more approximately
/ While civil wars are the most cruel. involving
they do kindred and friends as antagonists,
the wounds are deeper, the bitterness more in
tense. slower TO heal and longer remembered.
vet fee are well advanced into the time
or have fully reached the era when real recon-
citation shonld be complete and final; that we
should be one people. single in purpose. with
our faces turned solely TO the future, aiming
for and securing the highest degree OF peace,
prosperity and happiness for all believing in
aad devoted TO our government as the greatest
, republic upon the earth and be5towing the
greatest blessings upon the people.
In TO country does there exist SO great in
dividual liberty; SO much universal prosperity
and progress; so many happy homes: SO little
want Is in our native land. We need only to
visit other countries to appreciate what we
enjoy. Instead of railroads and other lines of
transit running almost exclusively east and
west Thirty years ago. there are now operating
and are rapidly being constructed lines OF
7 travel and traffic running north and south.
thus bringing all the people OF this nation.
north, south. east and west. closer together in
social and business intercourse, wonderfully
oohterating sectional p-eiudices, and thus in