The herald., 1895-05-15
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
One Man Only Objects to Monumentins
Confederate Dead
Touching Letter Referring to Deeds Of vAlor
Written By General Underwood.
Pathetic Conclusion

CHICAGO, May IA local paper
says: So many statements have gone
abroad in other cities than Chicago as
result of Commander Thayers recent let
ter to the Massachusetts G. A. r., pro-
testing against the proposed dedication
of the confederate monument at lakewood
cemetery Memorial day. that many per-
sons deeply interested in the event believe
that part of the public has been led to
misconstrue the significance of the cere-
monies to be performed.
Ever since the bitter attack was made
General Underwood. commander of the
division Of the north. United Confederate
Veterans, has kept silent, but the protest
has caused so much comment from some
quar- ters that he deemed it advisable to
issue letter defining his position. The
letter is addressed "To the Citizens of the
United States as united people of one
nation" He says, in part:
fhe permission to erect monument
over the remains OF 60O0 Southern soldiers
IN Oakwood cemeter. was granted by the
secretary Of war;"
Contin Aing, General Underwood saws:
Accordingly fund was raised, two
thirds of which has been contributed
by citizens of Chicago. and the monument
as it stands was erected under the direct
provisions OF the permit that emanated
IRON the war department..
Last Decoration day number of G.
A. X. posts joined with the confederate
camp in the memorial exercises and pro-
fuseiy decorated the confederate graves
with northern flowers-the southern men
returning the courtesy in memorial cere-
monies by decorating the graves OF union
soldiers in the same cemetery.
"On that occasion Major II. G. .Purring-
ton, commander of Columbia post No. 7O6,
9. A. r.. suggested that the monument
be dedicated the next decoration day,
May 80. 1895. that G. A. r. veterans, be-
cause of its being holiday, might attend
and take part in the ceremony. The hol-
iday feature of the day applying as we'll
to my own command. that day was se-
lected. and without any thought or in
tention OF Infringing upon prerogative
OF the G. A. r.
II am the recipient of letter from
Lieutenant General John NJ. Schofield.
commanding the United States ARMY,
and an Endorsement on the back OF his
photograph by General Thomas B. Law
Ter, commander-in-ch of the G. A. r.,
each commencing The monument;ng OF
the remains OF my dead comrades. It is
pardonable to refer to such high and dis
interested approval of humanitarian acts,
and although at this juncture no charac-
ter OF discussion is desired, still l deem
it entirely right and proper to announce
that in monumentina the confederate
dead every observance of law was com
piled with and no purpose of uneartbing
the dead confederate flag that went
down at Appomattox was for moment
entertained. the only purpose of the liv-
ing confedcrates being to monument the
fortitude ana bravery constituting the
heroism OF the private soldiers who sur
rendered their lives under the most try
ing circumstances imaginable and by SO
doing have added page to the reuown
of the American volunteer 1 will be in
command during the dedication of the
confederate monument on the morning
OF May Both next, and know in advance
that neither an objectionable sentiment
nor disloyal word will be uttered, and I
will personally see that the Stars and
Stripes are alone given to the breeze on
that OCCASION" "