The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-26
OF FAMOUS CAMP LEE.
THIS RECRUITING POST WAS NOT
NAMED FOR GENERAL LEE.
II Was Established Several Years Before the
Wsr and Was In Honor ofthe Dash
ing Light Horse Harry.

Every yirrinlan knows or has heard
of Camp Lee. and many OF them aiso
| know that the State Agricultural Far
Grounds and Camp Lee, In so far as To-
cality Is concerned. are SYNONYMOUS
| terms. All during the late war TINS place
was n military post. used as quarters Tor
, ,roons when passing through Richmond,
| recruiting stations, camps OF obstruction
+, depot fer commissary and qdartermas-
| for stores. as well as for various other
| military purposes. At that time there
| was hardly any name In the Statr more
| familiar than that OF Camp Lee, ard as
| General r. r.. Lee was the grand cenlia'
| figure. whose name also was on every
| lin. the almos. universal belief that the
| camp was named for him vas perteciiy
| natural The impression prevails To-
| dsy. perhaps, T. a somewhat greater e~-
| tent, as there were many men NJ that
time who knew the real facts IN the
| case who are now dead only a limited
| number of old men still left know that
| Camp Lee was so called in honor OF
| Gen Henry Lee the father Of Gen. X. +.
1 Ice.
| A few years prior 10 the late war five
members Of the Henrico Light DrGeoons
| and three members of the Governor
| Guard met In Richmond as the guests On
a hospitable gentleman, an honorary
| member OF both OF these companies. Jn-
| der the inspiration OF a generous bowl OF
punch. the idea CT getting up cavalry
encampment which should embrace all
the mounted troops In the State was
conceived. discussed ana approved, and
before separating plan OF operation
which promised SUCCESS vas agreed upon.
Subsequently these cdvalr. mon can
yassed the matter in their respective
companies, and these two com
mands, by personal conference and
correspondence, induced the caval-
~ Of Goochland. Hanover. New
Kent, Charles City and Chesterfield 20
join them IN call TO all tho cavalry
In the State 90 meet in council at the
state Agricultural Fair Grounds. Invita-
ticns were printed and forwarded through
the A6jutant-Gererars Office. They
contained many plausible reasons for.
this general cavalry convention. but the
real motive which influenced a few
cavalry men, by far the most active and
efficient in getting mp the encampment
was TO use the assembled troops ia or
ganizing some plan 10 have the remains
Of General Henry Lee removed from
Cumberland Island, Ga. ard Inferred I'm
Virginia soil. Most OF the companies
from the eastern part of the State re-
ported on the day appointed, with pref
ty full ranks, In the western portion.
now West Virginia. there were only
twelve companies (Greenbriar having
two). none Of which reported as COM
panies. but each troop was represented
by delegates.
GREAT PARADE.
II was a grand turnout. considering the
piping times OF peace. The best estimate
which can now be made Of the num-
Der is to state that while here this
cavalry was reviewed by the Governor
who stood on the Capitol steps. and
that when the head Of column. march
ing down Broad street IN column Of
fours. turned towards the Capitol on
Tenth street the rear was still "a little
above Ella Station. Mounted on well
groomed and spirited steeds gayiy
caparisoned, these troopers. in their
snowy uniforms, presented the most bril-
liant spectacle Of the kind ever seen on
the streets Of Richmond. The encamp-
ment lasted three days and was very
much enjoyed by the younger cavalry
men.
After having discussed all the mat
tiers for which they had been ostcnsibly
called together. the subject of the re-
moval Of the remains OF General Henry
Lee TO Virginia was brought TO the at
tentiOn OF the camp, and was received
with great enthusiasm They named
their quarters Camp Lee" In honor OF
the Revolutionary hero. and confirmed
the act by very spirited christening.
The baptismal fluid used was not water.
as camps and ships call for more
potent liquid.
Before breaking camp for the home
ward march, each company. through
their representatives, signed a petition
TO the Legislature asking an apprO-
priauon TO defray the cost OF having
these remains removed and Inferred I'm
Virginia, and suitable monument placed
over the same. The ensuing Legislature
after discussing the matter, voted an
appropriation sufficient to cover al such
expense ana named "A commission OF four
cavalyinon 10 supcrinteid the patriotic
trust Concerning the monument. It was
decided 10 leave that for future consid-
Grafton.
The John Brown raid. the excitement
growing out Of the Presidential campaign
with the dark shadows thrown over the |
land. avant cCuriers Of the mOmentOus
events which followed later on, delayed |
the setting out Of the commission.
There could be no thought now Of do
ing special honor 10 the memory of a |
Revolutionary soldier; the mission was
abandoned and forgotten.
Happily the devastatiOns and desOa- |
tons of war cannot disturb the tranquil |
lity Of the grave, and the Good Knight |
still lies asleep at Dungeress undis- /
turbed unconscious. even Of the once pro-
posed removal, and in blissfu ignorance |
OF the wreck and ruin which forbade It's |
cOnsummat:On.
But this retrosTection does not seek 10 |
revive any interest in the project which /
so signally failed. There is a feeling /
that Dungeness should not be despoiled /
OF the honor impaired TO its soil when it /
received into its keeping all that was
mortal OF Lighthouse Harry Lee.
THE WORDS or GEORGIAN.
A gifted Georgian has written Of Dun |
geness, what is not only appropriate in |
this connection. but will also touch l
responsive chord in the heart of every |
Virginia reader:
silent though II be. there are memo
ries here still vocal amid the mutations
of fortune and the desolations of war
memories Of distinguished hospitality |
refinement culture elegance and enjoy
ment-memories which carry the heart |
back 10 happy days and peculiar excel
lencies which come not again. Not the
least among the marked recolections Of
bungcness are those which recall the /
fact that in the days Of his supreme
weakness its generous roof sheltered and
its kndliest influence alleviated the
agOnies and ministcred 10 the comforts
OF one of the greatest heroes Of the ReyO-
lutonary period, and when the flowers
Of spring could no longer charm by their
beauty and fragrance or TIE soft South