Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-08
THE GRANT MONUMENT.
Protest Against Amy organized
Body Of Confederntes Attending
the l-nyeiIin=.

Protest Against Any Organized
Body of Confederntes Attending
the dwelling.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
AS an humble Confederate, l desire 10
enter my earnest protest against tho
idea that any body OF organized Con-
federates ought 10 be seen IN the process
sion at the unwilling CT the Grant monu-
ment in New York
| am glad the committee has not IN
vited General Gordon and the United Con-
federate Veterans. and n they DO.
hone that General Gordon Will decline
the invitation, as l have no doubt DO
will, for he will surely sec that he has
no authority, even though he Is our hon
ored commander, to commit the United
Confederate Veterans 10 a course which
they have never sanctioned~ and which.
on fair presentation Of the matter %
them, they would. in my judgment, over
Whelmingly defeat. / Will not now go
into any discussion OF the career OF Gene
raj Grant, as q soldier or as "a politician.
but will only say, i'm passing. that h.s
magnanimity at Appomattox was SD
dimmed by his orders 70 sheridan 20
desolate the Shenandoah valley, 70 hang
Mosby's men when caught, and 20 carry
10 IllSOn tll 1illA'hn A1HiN III 'AN.'f ID
Confederacy," and his career as poiiti-
clan I'm the dark days of "Recorstrc-
ton" that IL does not seem to ne that
cd Confederates should now be especially
anxious TO honor his memory.
But the especial objection / make Is
that organized bodies of Confederate SOLE
dlers should march in no procession
where they cannot carry their tatteret
battle-hags. and be treated as the fnil
equals OF any others.
When last year the time OF tho re-
union In Richmond was changed. in
order that our old fellows might join DO
a grand Fourth OF July celebration in
New York, the leaders of the Grand Army
OF the Republic violently opposed. AMI
broke up the scheme because they were
not willing 10 see rebel uniforms on tho
streets OF New York" VIII they 30
more friendly now? And does IL bee
! come us TO be cringing, and crawiini'
and begging the privilege OF putting our
selves on exhibition, that gaping croNas
may gaze at prisoners OF war on
parole" marching in the triumphal pro-
cession or the conqueror2
Were there any organized bodies 't
Grand Army Of the Republic men in 'Ne
! professions at the unyeiing OF the moll-
/ ments to Jackson. or Lee. or \. i. hHl'
] OF the lllFGle Gtiui'if % ~ A"'
| of the cornerstone Of the Davis monl-
ment In Richmond2
! And when representatives Of the Ph.ia'
/ delphia Brigade came 10 Richmond io iAe
unwilling OF the Pickett monlmeA.
| (Which, by the way. had been refused
place at Gettysburg TO mark the ad'inc,
point reached in the immortal charse OF
those heroic Virginian9, did they h'l
make a serious trouble and come near
breaking up the procession by rciusihs
ito march in the same line with DC
| flag?
The answer which r. T.. Lee camp
gave upon that occasion, when Private j..
! TAYLOR F,Eyson sprang 10 his feet ana
moved. amidst the wild enthusiasm %.
his comrades, that "R. T.. Lee Camp WEI
march I'm no procession whore they 'AN-
not carry their colors." IS just the 'N-
! swer we ought 20 send 20 New YORK 60
II after so long waiting, and so long peg
| ging, we should be hOnOred with ah i"-
vitatlon and place in the procession
II individuals choose 20 be present or
10 march IN the procession, 70 p i",.
! privilege, OF course. 10 DO So Dnt 1 NO.
j upon IL that l but voice the over ~.
ing sentiment OF our UNITED como 80
! Veterans" when / enter my earnest -
test against our organization ,,
committed 10 any such scheme ~ Hy,r,,
ing our Confederate rags III Ne" =,
for the delectation and Amusement. W
| Yankeedom. j. Wll.LlAM
Miller School, Va, April z 1851