The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-30
oRhr srEAxs TO RLUE.
me Patrsetio ana Eieauort Reply er . Confed-
crate veteran OF vtrEinia 60 Gen. bradley
n. Sshnssn asa All tho Unrecoustructed.

SOhnhNDbh AM bbb
had almost said comrades. for, since tho
days when we wero soldiers, our great COM
mandcrs hnvc passed away, their dying hands
outstretchod in benediction upon friend and
foe alike; and thirty years OF peace and hap
piness under one flag and one Constitution have
brought such changes in our hearts that when
we meet we do not question each other too
closely about the side on which We fought, but
find comradeship and fraternity in the fact that
we were soldiers in our youth, and fought brave
ly for the cause In which we were enlisted.
have come a long way to respond to your In
~vitation. Icame because / felt that 1t was a
generous token of your magnanimity, and be-
cause 1 wished to testify by my presence that
the vanquiehed are as honest in their acceptance
Of defeat as they were In the long conflict which
they winged against you. l was born under tho
American flag. Not In tho ordinary metaphor.
cal sense. but literally. 1t foatod over the
house where l was born, and was the protection
and guarantee OF safety to that household
thousands OF miles beyond the territory OF the
nation. 1t was designed by an immortal son OF
my mother State under whom my great-grand.
father fought for 1t at Brandywine and Mon
mouth. In my childhood l was taught to revere
1t as next In sacredness to the holy things Of re-
ligion. Tho day Of my birth our home in Rio
Janeiro was visited by two West Pointers on
their way to Mexico. guided thither by tho
Stars and Stripes floating from the American
Legation. Many years afterward q grizzled
loader Of the Union armies, William Tecumseh
Sherman. told mo he was one OF those young
boys. and that his companion was the afterward
famous Gen. Hallcck. / was rocked in tho
cradle OF old ocean. beneath that flag. upon our
return to the United States In an American
man.of.war. In 1861, at Norfolk, I saw that flag
hauled down from the Federal buildings, and
supplanted, first by the standard Of Virginia,
and. later. by the Confederate flag.
or my feelings then I need not speak. On the
one hand l might be charged with insincerity.
on the other with disloyalty. Suffice &: TO say
that / had been taught TO render supreme allie
glance to my mother State, and that when the
time csmc I gave IL, 30 help M God. without re.
serve and in Al. sincerity and aoyalty. Older aud
greater Virginians doubted then where their
allegiance was due. All were forced to decide,
and. having decided, they did their duty to the
best OF their ability, as it was dictated by their
consciences. Many Of virGinia's sons were
parted at that point. Robert E.. Lee and George
H.. Thomas had stood side by side for many a
year in honorable and brotherly service OF their
State and country. When The flag OF Virginia
was planted opposite to that OF the Union, Lee,
after long and anxious debate. ranked himself
beneath the standard OF his mother State. and
Thomas with equal elaboration under the Stars
and Stripes. Tho time has passed when any
man can doubt that each of these men pursued
the course which his conscience told him was
that of honor and of loyalty. Lee sleeps at Lex
ington beside his Confederate comrade, Stone
wall jackson: Thomas rests with his Union
brethren, Grant and Sherman. His flag is here,
token OF his immortal services to the Union.
Too young to enlist at ono, my heart was
nevertheless in thorough sympathy with the
CDnfpderRfa causa Refore tho war clnsai an
tered that service, and at the age of II was
wounded fighting in the Confederate ranks.
I do not believe you would have me como here
to apologize or express regret for my Confcder-
ate record. / could not honestly do so. Let ME
tell you frankly that l did my little humble best
for Confederate success, and count that wound.
received in honorable battle. as one Of the most
precious legacies / can transmit.
But having said this much, and thanking you
fs the'spirit in which you receive 1t. 1 have yet
moro to say.
We fought that battle to a finish. Taken alto
Gether. 1T was the most satisfying fight I ever had;
and when 1t was finally ended the issues upon
which 1t was Joined were Enthusiastically settled.
No excuse was left 10 any Confederate for future
controversy upon the disputed points. He was
not directed for instruction to any Federal edict
him that the idea OF disunion was at an end;
that his duty was to accept the result. to take
the oath. and to yield ,hencetorth supreme and
union Of indestructible States"
lean speak for no other Confederate but my.
jority Of the real Confederate soldiers when
say that after taking that oath the sovereign TO
whom, our allegiance WAS due was no Longer
doubtful. From then until now. and for ali
time TO come. the flag of our nation is the SUI
s soeinSS gm soidier o, who hns sWore a sqliES!hy; TO to The Il
after A~ppomattox as much as TO the soldier OF
the Union who fought for it in the civil war.
From than MT nnNg uA va irAl Nd 49,
flag in peace and union and prosperity and with
increasing, glory. until the heart which denies it
placed in the class of hopeless maliSnants. The
Confederate has no right 10 cherish one linRer-
ing feeling OF resentment. And time is fast ef-
acing the last traces OF his bitterness.
On the other hand, the Union soldier must not
miseonstrne the pgrgort OF certain demonstra.
paid by him 10 the memory OF his old comrades
and commanders. W o knows better than
OF your military youth and honoring the brave
men who led you are among the sweetest privi-
gather round your camphres and sing your war
songs; YOU honor your leaders and weep your
mics. 1t is not TO taunt a fallen foe. 1t is 10
crafty one of the deepest. and most honorable
serve the memories OF the brave days and
brave companions OF youth; You were the vic.
1t detracts nothing from the glory OF your vic.
tory to let the world see the men whom you dc.
teateu, NARROW anu NlnulCtlNe, indeed, must be
the man who begru ,ges the Confederate soldier
the poor privilege OF such reunions.
What else was lett to himi He emerged from
that war .penni!ess; without clothes upon his
back. or food TO sustain him. Everything for
which he had fought was gone. He was forced 10
abandon every prcConceived idea of his life aud
TO begin anew under changed conditions. with
out money. with his labor system destroyed,
with his land impoverished. ana with the flower
OF his youth in the grave OF the Confcderacy.
All that remained TO him was the memory OF his
own valor and that OF his comrades. He had
been completely defeated. II is true; but even
his most vipdictive foe accorded him homage
for the way he bore privation and fought cour.
aReously to the end.
How he has constructed himself in material
welfare. how he has redeemed his pledge OF 10y.
atty TO the restored Union, history will tell. Do
not deny him the poor boon OF meeting some.
times. as you meet, 10 drink from the intoxicat-
ing and sparkling cup filled TO the brim with ex.
hilaratinR memories Of that past when you and
he were soldiers and were young and brave.
All, my friends. those were the happiest DAYS OF
his life as well as of yours. The poet has said:
hold II true whate'er befall,
feel II when ! sr ow mOst,
It's better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
Tho heart NJ tho ayarapa n.n... 5000