Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-09-20

hammock stretching for miles up ana
down the stream; opposite it on the
south bank was the Army of Northern
Virginia. Both armies picketed close
mp TO The banks of the stream. which
was scarcely a hundred yards wide.
I'm all these months there was no picket
firing There was a tacit understand
ing that there should not be. During
this period I saw General Lee one day
with two or three members Of his staff
ride half way down the hill at Banks
Ford and survey the scene. There he
stopped and sat serenely looking on.
The enemies pickets were in full view
not 800 years away. Within 100 yards
Of him on the brow of the opposite hill
was battery of artillery. l could not
but fear he would be fired on. With
the naked eye the Federal soldiers
could see he was a general officer.
With a glass he might easily have been
recognized. But the mwritten. un-
spoken compact was faithfully kept
No effort was made to harm MIN. Dur
inc that period officers visiting the
picket lines rode up and down the river
banks and often were saluted by enc
mics who might have shot them down
Pickets talked and traded and visited
across the river until orders were is
sued on both sides to prevent it. Al
ter these orders were issued | saw q
Confederate officer ride UP suddenly on
a Federal soldier who was wading
across the stream at SCOTS old dam,
just as the soldier with a New York pa
per in hand. neared the shore. The
soldier stopped and was about TO turn
back when the officer. pistol in hand,
compelled MIN 10 come ashore and told
him he was a prisoner. The soldier
pleaded that the Confederate pickets
who were present had invited him 70
come over. Yes. said the Confederate
officer but they violated orders and you
violated your orders when YOU came,
and YOU are my prisoner. The soldier
was q big manly fellow, but the tears
came. as he said: Colonel, shoot me if
Won want to. but for Gods sake don't
take me prisoner I have only been in
the amry six weeks. I have never
been in a battle; if 1 am taken now my
reputation is ruined. II will be said at
home that I deserted, and l can never
clear il up
The Confederate officer hesitated g
moment. and then said: well. sir, you
may 90 back; but tell your comrades
that you are the last man that viii be
allowed 10 return if he comes over 10
this side Orders must be Obeyed.
Then the Confederate officer who had
so sternly said that orders must be
obeyed, rode straight to his brigedier
and told how he had himself disobeyed
orders. and the general, when he had
heard the story. said: You have done
right. / would have done the same
thing myself That was the spirit that
animated in 1863 the soldiers who TWO
years before had for each other nothing
but hatred. Month after month, as the
years rolled away. and as battle after
battle was fought, the respect and ad-
mirau0n of the two armies for each 9th
er increased. During the thirty years
that have elapsed since Grant refused
10 take the sword of Lee at Appomat-
toX. as We have looked back at the past,
that admiration and respect has con-
tinued to increase. as we have looked
around az the present, we have come 10
confide in and rely upon each other.
and here we are to-day all met as broth
ers TO do honor to the valiant hosts
that fought at Missionary Ridge and
Chickamauga.
Gentlemen. you who wore the blue in
DAYS that tried mems soul, are not more
true to the flag under which you fought
than are the men who fought in gray
at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge.
If the government that ordained the
dedication of this national park IS
yours. also. is it their government It's
privileges are theirs. and its promises
are 10 them and their children. They
take pride in its power and its prestige
among the nations Of the earth. and
this loyalty to the union Of the Conted-
crates. who once fought so bitterly
AGAINST it. is the GROWING glory o. the
heroes i'm blue. to whom monuments are
TO be dedicated tomorrow.