The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-09
THERECOROS OF THE BRAVE,
Confederate Diplomas 10 Keep Fresh
The Deeds Of Heroes.
BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS FOR THE HONE.
d. A New and Attractive Plan of Preserving
the History OF Southern Soldiers.
9ho Times ofers Most At.
tractive Induccment,

10 inc Atalt % 'N'is tA-NSAatNNaatc 'HN y
to-day. has been developed into a valua-
Die plan by which to place In thousands
81 Southern homes records Of brave Con-
fodcratc soldiers who participated In the
great civil strife OF 1851 TO IS.
Mr. Robert y. Taylor conceived tho idea
OF this beautiful Confederate diploma,
which will be described and explained
further on In the course OF this article.
Mr Taylor Is a native Of Maryland. where
Dc resided until the close Of the war;
lu July, 1864, when "a detachment OF COL
pacl MOsby's men went into Maryland
end went around Baltimore VIA Pikesvillc
end burned the GunpOwdcr Bridge. on inc
philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
railroad. they found him 40 Magnolia
Station, nineteen miles north OF havl-
more, and four miles from his home. lie
consented 20 pilot them down into Gun
powder Neck. owned by General George
Cadwaiadcr. OF Philadelphia, Pa. mere
they captured nearly fifty fine tnoious"-
bred 'knickorbOcker" horses, ana started
South with them, travelling all night ana
the next day, July OH, found ihem az
Monocacy Junction, near tFcdeUck Wy,
Mo. where he was slightly wounded, ana
taken prisoner. but afterwards escaped,
and went to Colonel John 4. Richie, OF
Frederick Md. who kindly cared Tor nm
and assisted him Boo getting back nome
after several attempts TO put him across
the Potomac. Upon arriving nome ne
found the United states troops stationed
az Bush River Bridge, we're on the look
out for him. Quietly. under the shades
Of night. he crossed the river in a small
boat and went 90 the hospitable home OF
CAPTAIN William NJ. Elliott, who soon
Took him OF 10 school at fredericksburg,
Pa. where no remained until the war
slosed.
After the war he came to Virginia 20
cast his fortunes with the South, ana
bought him a home on the banks Of the
Potomac twelve miles below Mount Yer
non.
THE PLAN MADE.
Last fall his patriotic mind lead him
10 think OF some way TO perpetuate the
individual record Of the Confederate sol
der After much thought and many
drauphts had been made. he visited Rich
Jn0nd. where he consulted many promi-
nent x-Confoderates including Governor
Charles q. OFerrall. all Of whom seemed
We'll pleased with the idea and willing
90 lend him their assistance.
Most credit is due 10 the assistance Of
Governor ond Mrs. O'Ferrall, at their
beautiful home. near Forest Hil Park.
There tho pictures were ro-arranged, and
some valuable additions made. and the
final sketch drafted. After this a water
color sketch was made. and the work
went on 10 completion. A copyright was
procured by Stewart e. Stewart. patent
attorneys. Of Washington u. c., and sew
oral thousand copies were made. and the
work commenced of placing IL before the
different Confederate organizations over
She country. and with most gratifying
results.
The company which had been formed
20 promote the object. received letters
from prominent ex-COnfederates all over
the South speaking in the highest praise
of the project. The pictures were taken
from the best that could possibly be OBJ
tanned. and have been pronounced ex-
cellent and while some old soldier may
NOT rec the face Of his old commander
jn the group that encirclo the diploma. the
selection was made to meet the wants of
the entire Southland
a HANDSOME DESIGN.
The diploma is 22x3O inches in size and
consists of wreath of flowers al the
top enclosing portraits Of President
Davis. Nice-President Stephens. Generals
Robert T.. Lee and StOnewall Jackson on
the sides. life-lke portraits Of the most
prominent Northumberland are set
down either side OF the picture with Sem
mes and Forrest at the bottom of the
group. representing the Confederate army
and navy. Just below this on one side is
the Lee Camp badge. which has been
adopted as the badge Of nearly all Con-
federate associations. Opposite is the
great seal Of the Southern Confederacy.
ln the left hand lower corner Is the
state house al Richmond, designed by
Thomas jefferson. and used as the capt
toi of the Confederacy and now the State
capitol OF Virginia. while on the right
a.. TlFl ont No. Co..
occupied during the war and now used as
the Confederate Museum to keep the ar
chves and other war relics. In the CEN
ter OF the bottom is a beautiful picture
OF the Confederate Soldiers monument I'm
Hollywood cemetery. Richmond Across
this triangular monument Is draped the
Confederate flag Ina natural cOlors and al
the bottom are pretty cuts representing
the first battle Of Manassas and the en-
Eagement between the Meuimac and
Monitor Ina the center OF the picture is
q space OF about SXl0 inches left TO nut
the record OF the soldier. when and whore
he enlisted. his officers and comman-
ders the different engagements he was
in Do wounded or taken prisoner. and any
other Information relative 90 the soldiers
re ord
THE diploma SIS intended as a memorial
which be- may hand down o. his children
and grandchildren. that they may ever
Keep 600 loving remembrance the side upon
which their fathers fought. and tho part
they played DO Tho grandest struggle ever
made in American history.
is HIGHLY ENDORSED.
The design IS beautiful in detail and
svecuuon. and all that true Confede-
Tate could ask Tor. II is the only thing
that has ever been devised TO perpetuate
the individual record Of each Confede-
rate soldier. 10 is endorsed by such well
known men as Governor Charles ~.
OFeuan W. A. Smoot and w T.
Smith. Past Commanders Of the Grand
camp Confederate Veterans OF Virginia.
Mator-Gencral Thomas 4. Brandor. Com
mandcr OF the Virginia Division. United
Confederate Veterans; Captain Thomas
Lileit Adjuiant Grand Camp Department
o. Virginia. and other prominent ex-Con-
feocIatcs an over the South.
ON the diploma are the following words
with blanks left 90 be filed In by an ex-
pert penman Know Sc that enlist
ed from - on the --- dav Of --
i>6 and was mustered into the Confede-
rate states service 40 ----- State Of ---
OF the --- day. 1885, as --- OF COM
pany --- under captain --- and coll
onci --- 20 serve -.--- years of FOR the
war. Uhe regiment was assigned 20 --
brigade ----- division -- corps army
o. -- and participated Ia the follow
Ing engagements. viz. --. prornoted
--. wounded ----. IN hospitals. -:
captured. -----; IN prison az. -. pa-
rolled released or exchanged. --. de-
tailed for special duty. ----. re-cnliefeS