Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-11-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
LEE CAMP SOLDIERS HOME.
DESCRIBED BY A CORRESPONDE1
OF A NORTHERN PAPER.


A special correspondent writes
from Richmond, Va, to the Phila-
delphia Times:
The Soldiers Home, which lies
half mile west of Richmond, has
the distinction Of being the largest
Confederate home in existence, as
well as the first established. 1t was
founded in 1854 by r.. f. Lee Camp,
No. |, of Confederate Veterans, as an
asylum for Confederate soldiers of
good war record who are unable
longer to provide for themselves
Since that time ,120 men have been
received and cared for, of every
grade of military rank, from major
general to private.
Having heard much of the Insti-
tuition, we decided to visit the place
before the excitement attendant on
the reunion should begin. Passing
through the large entrance gates we
found ourselves in well-kept grounds
facing long line of buildings. To
the right of the main building is the
mess hall and hospital, and to the
left row of cottages, ending with
the quaint little chapel donated by
friends and admirers. Around the
grounds, by way Of ornament, are
grim looking cannon, some Ofwhich,
we were told, saw service on many a
stirring battlefield, and have inter.
esting histories of their own.
In the main building the offices of
the cOmInandant and adjutant are on
one side of the hall, and on the other
is large room, half library and half
museum. The latter apartment is in
charge of genial old veteran-a
former captain Of infantry whom
we found busily engaged, with the
aid of pocket-knife, converting
prune seeds into watch charms.-
These he gives away as souvenirs.
This amusement, he told us, was a
relic Of prison days, and had helped
pass many weary hour for captured
soldiers during the war.
The museum is filled with inter.
esting mementoes of the late un-
pleasantness. In glass cases are flags
stained with blood and torn in innu.
merable places by shot and shell ;
bugles whose clear notes sounded
many a charge; drums and uni
forms parts of the armOr of the
celebrated Merrimac newspapers
published In war time, notably one
published in Vicksburg July End,
1868, two days before the fall of
that city, and printed on wall paper,
as were so many Confederate papers
toward the close Of the war. The
old captain pointed out with pride
the saddle and bride used by Gen
eral Lee during the war, and the
sword of General A. p. Hill, pre-
sented to that gallant officer by the
ladies of Columbia, S. G. He then
proceeded to take with great care
from its resting-place a diminutive
Dox, which contained, he said, q
days rations of coffee issued in the
hard times of 1864. In it we counted
eleven grains of shriveled Coffee
A recent tourist had been so much
impressed by this that he had tried
In vain to purchase Ii, Offering a dol.
lar apiece for the grains. In the
SuoO WIN tho SoiiCO "e bplGu a queer
looking object, and on investigation
found 1t to be the petrified thigh.
bone of soldier, riddled with shot.
In it remain two mimic balls and a
smaller bullet. 1t was ploughed I'D
not long since on the battlefield of
Cold Harbor.
BY far the most interesting OBJ
ipct i'm tho coIlection and tho nna
which attracts most attention, is
"Old Sorrel," the horse on which
Stonewall Jackson was killed. An
inscription reads, General II. j.
Jackson fell from the back of Little
Sorrel las the horse was affection
ately named by the Second Corps)
at Chancellorsville, ortall y
wounded, after riding him through
the battles Of First Manassas, Kerns.
town, Mcdowell, Winchester, Port
Republic, Cross Keys, on tho Chicka.