Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-31
LIE CAMP SOLDIERS HOME
pEscHIsEp BY a CoRREsFoNpES
OF A NORTHERN PAPER.
vIRdlNIA's PENSION LIST.
Mosby's .oreenbnciS R"id-Recoi'ee-
,,ors of one who Was on the
Trasn-protest from n Confederate
paughter.

A specIal correspondent writes from
th,s city to the Philadelphia Times;
The Soldiers Home. which lies half
mile west OF Richmond. has the distinc-
ton OF being the largest Confederate
hocne IN existence. as well as the hrst
established. II was founded in 1884 by
r. r.. Lee Camp NO. /. OF Confederate
Veterans. as an asylum for Confederate
soldiers OF good war record who are u"-
able longer to provide for themselves
Since that time 1.l20 men have been re-
ceived and cared for. Of every graue OF
military rank. from major-general to
private.
Having heard much OF the Institution,
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
welI-kept grounds. facing long line
of buildings. To the right Of the main
building Is the mess hall and hospital
ana 10 the left a row Of cottages, end
ing with the quaint little chapel donated
by friends and admirers. Around the
grounds. by way OF armament are grim
locking cannon some OF which. we were
told, saw service on many stIrihs
battlefield, and have interesting histo-
ries OF their own.
In the main building the Offices of the
commandment and adjutant are on one
eide OF the hall and on the other IS
largo room, half library and half mu-
scum. The latter apartment is in charge
Of A genial old veteran-a former cap
tain of infantry--whom We found buslly
engaged with the aid OF his pocket
knife, converting prune seeds INTO watch-
charms These he gives away as s0uFe-
nirs. This amusement, he told US, was
n relic of prison days. and had helped
. pass many weary hour for captured
soldiers during tint war.
The museum Is filed with interesting
mementoes Of the late unpleasantneSs,, ~
giasa cases are flags. stained with pioou
and torn Ia innumerable places by shot
ard shell; bugies whose clear notes souho-
81 many a charge; drums ana uhho..hs'
parts Of the armor OF the celeorNteu Mel-
rimac: newspapers published i'm war time.
notably one published in Nicksburg Juig
1893. two Gays before the ran OF tnae
city. and printed on wall paper, as w.
80 many Confederate papers TOWARD .Is
close Of the war Inc a6 6Io s snR'Ib ride used
by General Lee during the. war, ana lne
sword OF General A. =. Hill, presented 20
that gallant officer by the laoles Oh ~
lumbia, s. G. He then proceeded 20 taAo
with great care from IT'S resting place d
diminutiye box, which contained. ne saiu.
q DAVIS ratlons OF coffee issued IN tne
haia times OF 1864. In IL we cOuntcu
eleven grains OF shriveied conee. reoens
tourist had been so much impressed py
this that he had tried In vain 10 purcnase
n offering a dollar apiece for the grains.
In the case with the coffee we spree
qaeer-looking object and on ,nVestigatio ~
found it TO be the petrifed tniSh-ponc a.
4 soldier. riddled with shot; In ~ remain
two mimic balls and a smaller bullet. IL
was ploughed up not long since on 'io
battlefield OF Cold harpor.
BY far tho most interesting ooject IN
fhe collection. and the one which attras Is
,,Soaf attention Is sold Sorrel, the morse
OF which Stonewall Jackson was kilieu'
An inscription reads: "GencIai 4. .. JiS IN
SON fell from the back of Little sor.ei Vas
the horse was affectionately named oy me
Second Corps) at Chanceilorsvllle. mortai-
iy wounded, after riding him tnrough tno
BATTLES OF First Manassas, kernstoWn,n'
McDoweil. Winchester Port hepep~H e,
Cross Keys. on the Chickahominy, al Ce-
dar Mountain. Second Manassas, Snaps,
burg. Harpers Ferry, FREDERICKSBURG ana
al last at Cnancellorsville After General
jackson was wounded the horse escaped
into the Federal lines, Httu Nuo - ~f.e-Ne'
The next morning by the Second CORPS.
rndrr command OF j. +. Il. stuart olo
Sorrel was presented to the home by Gen.
cal acksor's widow, and kept there until
his death. During that time ne was sen
down TO the New orleans Exposition Oh
ISS4-5. where he attracted much after
ton. The old horse was 80 years Oiu
when ne died. and his skin was stuiLeai
ard placed in the museum. our guide toiu
ue that on several occasions men who
served under jackson have come In, ask.
ing 'fo sec the old horse once more, ahu
on recognizing him have appeared much
affected.
After looking at the mess hall. an i'm
mense room where meals are served Tor
the 27e inmates of the home. and the hos
nitai in which those brought low by time,
wounds, and disease are tenderly cared
for. We repaired 60 the long lire OF pretty
cottages on the left. On the veranqs.
az one OF these cottages sat two ola
Veterans engaged In that NEST interesting
OF occupations. swapping war tales.
With a touch of that southern chivaity,
or which too much can never be said,
they rose, and. dofiing their wide-brim-
med gray hats, courteously inquired II we
would like TO see the cottage. Inside we
found bright, sunshiny rooms, furnished
comfortably bat simply, and adorned
with many little personal belongings Ia
the way OF badges. flags. etc. Each OF
these rooms accommodates two veterans.
The soe duty REQUIRED OF the men Is 10