Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-21
greeted enthusiastically es he ascended
the rostrum.

nv ooNiOuc. ne S8lu, Wnen COnitutTttc
soldiers were in question. and the capi-
tai OF their own beloved Confederacy
In defence Of which they had fought and
under these skies dearer 10 Confederate
veterans than that on which you now
stand" he said. and then he told in elo-
quent terms the story OF the days when
grim war made hospitals of Richmond
homes. and nurses OF her matrons and
her maidens He made happy allusion
TO the sponsors and maids OF honor. and
incidentally. he paid an eloquent tribute
to the women Of the. Confederacy. In
conclusion. he again welcomed the mem
bers OF the Grand Camp In the warm
est terms.
COLONEL wILLIAMSS RESPONSE
Colonel j. J. williams. of Winchester
who had been selected TO respond TO the
addresses Of welcome. said 1t might seem
TO some that when the Grand Camp, Con-
federate Veterans OF Virginia. is well
coined by no less exalted and distin-
guished personages than the Mayor of
Richmond and the Governor Of the Com
monwealth. It showed lack OF appre-
ciation Of that honor when one who had
aspired to no higher honor than that
which attached to a private In the ranks
OF lhe 0OIlcucIdit army Ndo SNiNSNeN "
reslond. Continuing, he said II take II,
however, that the private soldier Is rec
ognized in the Grand Camp OF Virginia
as worthy of all honor and dignity, and
yet I feel oppressed by the honor, and
by a sense of what / represent" Colo
mel Williams then drew graphic pen
picture of the fidelity of the Confederate
soldier, and spoke at some length OF the
war and of his personal experiences.
Speaking Of the eloquent and generous
welcome that had been extended 10 lhe
Grand Camp, Colonel Williams SAID: IN
Richmond Why, of course. hichmohu
welcomes the Confederate soldier. Nheh
has she ever failed TO welcome MN WIN
I'm her gates?' Looking back to the nal
cyon days of 1861, the speaker SAID re
could see the city of Richmond flooded
bv Young soldiers, with new and Dright
uniforms, marching off 10 battle, and all
the bitter experiences of the next tour
wears. They were overwhelmed win
the kindness and profusion OF the nos
pitality showered upon them. lie saw
them again in the spring OF 1867 when the
troops passed through the city from
Rappahannock and the Potomac TO the
Peninsula, when the citizens loaded the
soldiers down with gifts Then the Gays
of champagne passed away, but klchmonu
still shared her last crust, and was never
too proud to do so. even with tPe num-
blest soldier in the ranks. Richmond
can never forget the Confederate SOL
dier we know that we are in the house
Of our friends. he said and that not only
Lee and Pickett camps, but every man,
woman. and child on the streets OF Rlch-
mond will accord her visitors hearty
welcome.
hone the day will never come, he said,
I'm conclusion, when the Confederate SOL
dier will not be welcomed and honored
wherever he may be, but in Richmond ne
must ever feel every inch a king and an
honored guest.
THE SPONSORS PRESENTED.
Following Colonel Wiliamss speech,
the commander introduced Major RAN
dolph. who had been delegated to the duty
of introducing the sponsors, Major Ran
dolph took exception, humorously, TO the
mode of his introduction. He said among
the veterans of the war he had been put
a private and a corporal, though the
honor conferred upon him by Geperal Lee
gave him a claim to the rank OF MAJOR
which he had no objection TO using whe,i
in other company. He had travelled all
NIGHT he said. in order to be present
and perform this duty, which was very
nleasant one. because i'm looking over the
sponsors and maids of honor. he saw not
only daughters of the Confederacy, put
wives and mothers of Confederate sol
diers as well He did not mean any dls-
respect TO age, he said, and his state
ment was received with much laughter.
Continuing. he said he had heard many
soldiers regret that the war had ever
taken place Those who did so, ne no.
ticed. had invariably been those who
remained at home during its progress
For himself. ne said, he was glad the
uar came He had first seen his wife,
a child. waving her handkerchief in the
heat of the battle. 1t was war then, put
there had been nothing but peace ever
since. This meeting OF the veterans
of four years of war would not be COM
nlete without the galaxy OF daughters
and wives" Major Randolph said. point
ing to where the sponsors and ther MAIDS
stood ''They are here from every sec
tion of the State" he continued, ana
then he asked what would Lee camp
or any of the other camps be without the
women of Virginia? Il don't hesitate to
saw" he added, 1--WE wouldn't be In thls
hail to-day. had it not been Tor Inc wo-
men of Virginia. We did our mte-they
did more" The speaker then alluded to
the Soldiers Home, which was a monu-
ment TO the industry of southern women.
THE money had been raised to buy the
land on which the home stood by
bazaar. for which a committee OF men
got the credit, but the women did the
work In conclusion, he said he was
nroud of the honor of introducing the
snonsors and maids of honor, and he
the assertion that man would
have far to go to find such a good-looking
band of ladies as those who graced the
occasion.
CHEERS FOR FITZ LEE.
THE Commander then announced tna'
the Grand Camp took pleasure IN oHerihg
TO two officers who had
served with zeal and fidelity since the
organization. The first of these, he sald'
would be presented by Governor Lee
General Iee-Fitz Lee. The announce
mont was received with great demon
stration of enthusiasm, which lasted ior
soue considerable time, and one veteran
,,,,le,nented the Commanders tnIroduc- |
tion by shouting, "And Senator Lee,
which called forth another outburst OF
General Lee. as he ascended the ros-
-, nointed to the large portrait OF
! lieutenant General Early, which nuhg
,non his right. and said that the likeness
80 that grand old soldier reminded MIN
80 his sterling character and honesty |
md az the same time of story OF TWO
tooIalns one a Confederate ana the |
,thar a Federal. who met after the war,
=, which they had served as priVates. ana
,ad often been opposite each other in ac-
.'o, They decided 10 write book, the
redaral giving the account of his expe-
r,ences and the Confederate relating MS.
md