The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-14

world weighing the interests cannot I'M
derstand It, Only the South. which knew
the spirit can, and the she treasures the
memory OF their deeds as a mother that
of her sons who died for her, and dying,
have brought glory to their race.
This spirit cannot be illustrated better
than by the following incident: Some
years ago a letter fell into my hands.
II was from a girl OF the class known
as 1.-The poor white" to her sweetheart,
a private, and It had been taken from his
dead body on one of the battlehelds
around Richmond. In 1t she told him that
che had found out that she loved him,
and that II he would get a furlough and
come home she would marry him. Then
as II fearful that flesh and blood might
not be able to stand such a temptation
she had scrawled a postscript across the
coarse. blue Confederate paper: Don't
come without furlough, for If you don't
come honorable / won't marry you"
The poor fellow got his furlough through
q Federal bullet, but i know there was
one happy man in that army, and like
70 think of him as lying In beautiful
Hollywood.
To the left on its hill. rises the fine old
Capitol, surrounded by monuments and
memories, and away on Church Hill
peeps from the grove OF old trees the
white spire of "Old st. Johns" where
Patrick Henry thrilled the great Virginia
convention, composed Of British subjects.
with his liberty or death.
II is a great temptation to linger in
Richmond. To the historical student It
presents attractions only equaled by those
which Il offers TO the lover OF social life
John Smith, Governor of Virginia, planted
a cross on the Island below the Falls as
early as 1907. and from that time 1t has
been notable in the history OF the coun-
try.
II was here that the massacre occurred
which sent Nat. Bacon to arms and
brought forth, perhaps, the most pic
turesque part OF American history
Bacon Quarter Branch still marks
the place where the young planter, little
dreaming of his coming fame, had his
plantation. Shockoe Hill and Creek pre-
serve the name OF one of the Indian
tribes he fought, the sole surviving me-
mortal of them. Bloody Run" where
the great battle took place, is only two
or three miles further down, its name
denoting the terrible retribution exacted.
But bloodier battles than that which
Bacon. the Rebel, fought, have been
fought on the same ground. The swamps
of the Chickahominy extend all along be-
low the city. and just beyond them were
mond."
Crossing the river to the south we pass
at once into the country across which
Lee stretched his thin gray line In the
Petersburg campaign and held Grant
at bay during that terrible winter. We
run through the batteries, now covered
with scrub oak and pine, and are soon
At Petersburg. My first recollection Of
II Is as II was In the winter OF 1864 when
II was In state Of siege. I remember my
host was a major. and he lived in a tent
pitched between two cedar trees. on a
little slope just outside Of a gentleman's
yard. two or three miles from the town.
Other tents were scattered about in
clumps, and the horses were in shelters
made with pine boughs. A field hospital
was on the hill to the left From the door
Of the tent we could see. at night the
bombardment Of the town; and once or
twice during the visit there was a sharp
little attack. which caused much booming
OF cannon and rafting Of musketry down
ION the lines"
The next time visited the spot was
only two years ago. I went with the
gentleman / had visited before The
twenty-six years which had elapsed made
difference We could find the spot where
his tent had stood between the cedar
trees; and the road still wound up the
Nal beyond the little bottom. where the
0eld hospital used TO be: but the tents
- covered the slopes had disappeared,
~id the great army which occupied them
has passed away as completely as their
white camps. Only few old veterans,
war-worn and time-faded. remain scat
tered throughout the land. awaiting the
last roll-call. which shall muster them
out. The house In the yard still stood.
but untenanted. ruinous and forlorn.
Only the great trees remained the same.
How calmly they stand. old trees, tow
sang above ". ags altar age, witnssslnx