The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-06-08
The Maryland Line Confederate
Soldiers Home.

Stopping in Baltimore a few days
ago we accepted an Invitation from
Col. W. F. Beasley to go with him
out TO the Maryland Line Confederate
Soldiers Home. situated about seven
miles from the city. Electric cars run
all the way out and together with
Col. Beasley and Mr.. D. NJ. Dunlop,
both gallant eX-Confederates, we went
to pay our respects to the manned and
infirm heroes of Gigs who are being
cared for during their declining days
in that comfortable and well equipped
Home"
2 There are sc men on the rolls, 6
Of them being North Carolinians, but
only ca were inmates at the time Of
our visit. The grounds are spacious
and delightfully."- shaded, the buildings
are solidly constructed and conveniently
arranged and altogether it is an admir-
able place, a comfort to the inmates
and a credit to the association under
whose auspices it is conducted and to
the State of Maryland whose noble
hearted people have contributed SO
largely to its erection and mainte-
nance. When walking through the
buildings and grounds and conversing
with the aged and iniirm men who
nobly did their duty during the & times
that tried mems souls,' we could not
help feeling sense Of modification
and regret that North Carolina has
not done as much for her old soldiers
the helpless and needy ones all oyer
the State-as Maryland has.
AS we have already remarked there
are six North Carolina veterans in this
Home, being provided with the COM
forts and necessaries of life in the time
of their suffering and helplessness by
citizens Of another State, and but for
this fact their condition would be
pitiable indeed. The condition of one
of these touched our heart indeed. 1t
was Mr.. John L. Bratton, from Chowan
county, who was lieutenant Of Co. A.
First North Carolina Troops. He was
sick in the hospital, in the last stages
of dropsy, and the poor old man realized
that the end was very near for him.
1t is more than likely his suff'erings are
over ere this. After spending some
time with him his eyes filled with tears
as we got up to leave and he detained
us long enough to tell how kind Col.
Beasley had been to him. 1t seems
that Mr.. Bratton has been the special
influence he was sent to the Home and
he has contributed much to the COM
fort and happiness Of the old Tar Heel
veteran since. He was profuse in his
expressions of grateful appreciation of
the many acts of kindness done him
by the man whom he declared was the
best friend he had on earth, and who
had done so much to make his last days
as comfortable and free from want as
they have been. Finally his voice
choked, tears trickled down the old
mans cheeks and with blessings on the
name Of his friend (who had passed out
the door ahead of us) and prayer that
every eX-Contederate soldier back in
the dear old State, situated as he was.
broken in body, health and fortune,
might find as good a friend as he had
in these last years Of his feeble life,
we pressed his hand in silence and sad
ness and left him alone with his
thoughts.
Time and space will not admit OF
our saying as much about the Soldiers
Home and the way it is conducted as
we would like. Our only hope is that
some day, before the last of the needy
and suffering eX-Confederate veterans
shall "pass over the river and rest
under the shade of the trees to dwell
in & home'' in the 6 mansions Of the
sky" North Carolina will have a
similar institution. And we say this
without meaning to reflect in any way
upon the present excuse she has for a
Confederate Soldiers Home or its
management.