Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-11-11
LEWIsBURG

Ferry, Fredericksburg, and at last
at Charlottesville. After General
Jackson was wounded the horse es.
csped into the Federal lines, and
was re-Captured the next morning
by the Second Corps, under com
mand Of j. r. B. Stuart" Old Sor.
rel was presented to the home by
General Jackson's widow, and kept
there until his death. During that
time he was sent down to the New
Orleans Exposition of ISSi-'S5,
where he attracted much attention.
The old horse was 36 years old when
he died, and his skin was stuffed and
placed in the museum. Our guide
told us that on several occasions men
who served under Jackson have
come in, asking "to see the old
horse once more," and on recogniz-
ing him have appeared much az
fected.
After looking at the mess hall, an
immense room where meals are
served for the go inmates of the
home, and the hospital, in which
those brought low by time, wounds,
and disease, are tenderly cared for,
we repaired to tho long line of
pretty cottages on the left. On the
veranda of one of these cottages sat
two old veterans engaged in that
most interesting of occupations
swapping war tales" With a
touch of that Southern chivalry of
which too much can never be said,
they rose, and, dofiing their wide
brimmed gray hats, courteously en-
quired if we would like to see the
cottage. inside we found bright,
sunshiny rooms, furnished com fOrta-
bly, but simply, and adorned with
many little personal belongings in
the way Of badges, flags, etc. Each
OF these rooms accommodates two
veterans. The sole duty required
OF the men is to care for their roo ms
and render what assistance they can
in keeping the grounds in order.
The various cottages were built
and donated to the home by Pickett
Camp; VIM. II. Appleton, Of New
York; Messrs. Mark Downey, A .
g. Babcock, Lewis Ginter and j. B..
Pace, Of Richmond w. w. Corco-
ran, of Washington, ID. c.; and the
children of eX-GOv. William Smith.
A handsome one is now i'm process
of erection by the Sons of Veterans
in Richmond.
1t is interesting to note the gener-
Gus contributions, both of money
and goods, which the home has re-
ceived, each accompanied by hatter-
ing expressions of good will. Many
OF these have come from the North.
Several veterans of the Federal army
gave their pension checks to this
Southern soldiers home, and posts
or the Grand army of the Republic
sent III liberal donations. The first
contribution received was from Gen.
B. +. Butler for S25, and the first
Northern check was from John A.
Andrew Post, of Boston, The Treu-
ton Post, Of Trenton, n. j., sent a
most useful present In the shape of
an immense set Of china. The
Grand Army Committee, of Wash
lngton, through Corporal Jas. Tan
ner, chairman, furnished completely
one ward in the new hospital. The
largest contributor to the home has
been Major Lewis Ginter, the mil
lionaire cigarette manufacturer,
whose death occurred lately i'm Rich
mond. Besides erecting comforta-
Bile cottage for the occupancy Of six
teen veterans, Major Ginter at vari-
Gus times contributed sums of money
aggregating $4,000, and also made a
bequest in his will of $4,000 to the
home.
The cost of maintaining the insti-
tuition since its establishment has
amounted to 1881, ,723. Lee Camp,
which 1t may be mentioned was the
first Confederate camp ever eStab-
llshed (there are now | ,l23,) has con-
tributed S147,O00 of this sum. The
: State Of Virginia makes an annual
appropriation of $500 for the sup.
port of the home. In consideration
or this Lee Camp has entered into a
contract by which at the expiration
OF twenty-five years the entire prop
erty reverts to the State. This prop
erty, belonging solely to Lee Camp,
consists of 20 acres of land in the
western suburbs of the city, which
steadily gains in value every year.
The last place left us to see was the
chapel, A number Of old soldiers
had assembled there for prayer, so
we could do no more than glance
within the sacred edifice. The scene
which met our eyes was a touching
one. There, reverently kneeling,
was a group of men, for each of
whom tho shadows are lengthen-
ing and the sun is going down.
Each wore the gray, not only in his
uniform but in his bowed head,
while here and there was a crutch or
an empty sleeve. Much touched,
we came softly away in silence
which was only broken as we left
the gate by the sound of feeble
voices lifted in hymns Of praise.
, There are many other Confederate
homes besides the one in Richmond.
The State of Maryland has a hand
some, though small home, near
Pikesville, which was formerly an
old U. s. arsenal. 1t was given to
the State by the United States, and
by Maryland in turn presented to
the Association of the Maryland
Line to be used as home for Con.
tederate soldiers. The other States
supporting Confederate homes are
Florida, at Jacksonville; Louisiana,
at New Orleans; Texas, at Hous-
ton; Arkansas, at Little Rock
Missouri, at Higginsville Tennes-
see, at Nashville and North Caro-
lima, at Raleigh. The State of Geor-
gia has the largest appropriation for
pensions, giving 100000 a year,
of which 100000 goes to the men
and the remaining $780, 900 to the
widows of veterans. Virginia ap-