The Washington times., 1894-11-18
GRIM RELICS OF WARFARE
Steps Being Taken to Establish an In
terestinq Museum in Washington.
WAR DEPARTMENT CONSULTED
Grand Army Of the Republic to Take the In
itiative in the Movement-some Of the
Many Curios Of Conflict That Will Be
Used as Nucleus for the Exhibition.

Active steps have been taken toward ths
establishment in this city Of a museum Of
war. The movement is being engineered by
Capt. A. J. Daniels and several prominent
members of the G. A. r.
Capt. Daniels is drawing up a bill for pre-
sentation to Congress, which provides for the
erection of a suitable museum building in the
vicinity of the Smithsonian, Medical. and
National Museums. He has named the park
east of Seventh street, west Of Sixth, and
south Of streets southwest, in proximity to
the United States Fish Commission building. as
a good location for the proposed site. He esu-
mates that 100000 will be sufficient amount
for the erection Of the museum structure and
TO purchase relics in addition to the already
ample nucleus in possession Of the War De-
partment.
Grand Army posts and other patriotic
organizations in all sections of the country
will petition Congress for the establishment
of this institution. which viii preserve for all
time practical "reminiscences, not only of the
late war, but of the wars for Independence,
that with Mexico, the Indian campaigns. etc.
As a commencement for the proposed mu-
scum the articles formerly exhibited in the
old ordnance museum could be contributed
by the War Department, say the projectors OF
the scheme. These include relics of great in
terest. There is a large collection of captured
Confederate 1ags, many OF which have thrill
ing histories concerning their baptism in
blood and fire. The original black flag
raised by the Southerners at Fort Pillow
against the negro troops is among the num-
Der.
Other relics of more than usual interest are
the first cannon fred at the outbreak Of the
war, before the bombardment Of Fort sum
ter. 1t is an antique old piece, mounted upon
ordinary cart wheels. and was discharged az
Mississippi River steamer flying the stars
and Stripes by crowd OF hot-headed seces~
sionisIs; the rifle carried by President JEFF
ferson Davis at the time of his capture; a
section Of an oak tree, cut down by minnie
balls at Spottsylvanis Court House two
bullets which met and fused in midair at the
battle OF Gettysburg; guns and oayonets
gathered from the more important battle
Herds of the South, and huge sabre carried
by giant cavalryman IN gray who was q
member Of Jeb. Stuarts famous command.
The rapId-fre gun similar TO the Gatling)
used during the war is another interesting
relic of the days that tried mems souls. also
deadly chain shots. the use of which were de-
cided against BY both sides on account Of
their terrible destructiveness as agents OF
war. Poison ed arrows, used by the Indians
against United States regulars, and other in-
genious and horrible instruments Of war ara
included in the long category.
There is also a collection of war curioS at
the National and Medical Museums which
could be added to the proposed collection.
These include photographs of wounded men,
uniforms of Confederate soldiers. war dis
patches and papers sent by R. E. Lee and
''StonewalF' jackson, the Gen. Grant eollee-
ton, etc.
Another novel and interesting feature
would be the dummies now on exhibition in
the War Department corridors; clad in uni
forms of the American armies, from the buck
skin garments of the Revolutionary war to
the complete and SNOWY costumes or to-day.
( Also camp and field equipments and the dis
tinctiye insignia of the several branches OF
/ the regular Army.
The Navy Yard Museum could also ba
drawn upon for unique and deadly torpedoeS
and other implements OF war. which vera
used by the ConfederaIes, burSted shells, etc.
/ But perhaps the most interesting govern
ment collection would be a series of many
hundreds of photographs taken from life and
death on the battle-helds and in camp aud
Notifications of the late struggle by Brady,
I the wartime photographer. This collection
I is preserved in the War Department library,
1t contains among other views the dead line
at Antietam, groups of dead on the Gettys-
burg battlefield, long lines Of Confederate
prisoners. Photographic view of Union
battery going into action, and many other
views which take the beholder into some of
the most sanguinary conflicts of the war
Outside OF the government relics, Capt.
Daniels saws members of the Grand Army
Southern veterans, and others would con-
tribute personal relics. which would make
the museum of war one of the most interest
ing institutions in the world for the study Of
/ warfare of the past