Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-23
SATURDAY, .. OCTOBER q, 1897
DEMOCRATIC STATE TICKET.
FOR GOVERNOR:
j. HOGE TYLER,
OF Pulaski county.
FOR LIEUTENANT-GOV
EDWARD ECHOLs,
of Staunton.
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
ANDREW JACKSON MOyTAGUE-
of Pittsylvania.
HISTORICAL ERRORS.


The persistency OF error which Ia,
oiten been the subject of lamentation
Is shown in some of the published pro
ceedings of the veterans meetings. hell
on THURSDAY, when the gallant gentleman
VINO led the fight against the creation NJ
courtesy colonies was himself referred
to as colonel instead of as "com.
mander." And most of those there nres.
emf were wearers OF like misleading
titles. which had obscured the more hon.
orapie ones they had gained in the Army
of the Confederacy.
VIII 1t ever be possible to undo the mis-
chief that has been done by the con-
ierring OF these courtesy titles? We
Tear not. AS we have said before. thew
VIII stand forever upon the records Of
some OF our Confederate camps to con-
found and mislead students of history.
However, better late than neverp'
This session Of the Grand Camp Of the
Confederate Veterans of Virginia will be
memorable not only because ii took de-
cisive action in the matter of school
histories. but because 1t passed a resolu
lion discountenancing the use Of fictitious
military titles.
another instance OF the persistency of
error Is the popular designation of the
CID stone house here as "Wasbineton's
Headquarters" That this claim on he
half OF what is unquestionably the old
est house in Richmond is base)ess has
been proved time and again, but without
the desired effect. The house is forever
looming up in our newspapers as "Wash-
fngtons headquarters"
This claim on behalf of the old stone
house Is of rather recent origin, and there
are two objections to it-first, II Is NOT
demonstrable that 1t was any officers
headquarters during the Revolution; Sc
cond' Washington was never in Rich,
mond at the head of his army. The |
American army hereabouts was COM
manded by the Marquis de LAFAYETTE
but we have never heard that his head |
quarters were In the city. On the borders
or Richmond, both above and below the
city, Lafayette's headquarters certainly
were but never in the city, so far as we
know.
The only headquarters" we ever knew
to be In the old stone house were those
|of United States military officer. who
soon after the evacuation of Richmond
held court there, after the manner NJ 4
police justice, and sentenced to iau
numerous civilians who were accused of
petty offences. That was at a time when
Fhe CIVIL law was in allegiance. and when
tne Federal army officers exercised m
United authority over our people.
IL would seem that there Is no wav
20 maintain the metes and bounds Of {
history. except to expose every transeres- +;
Pion against them; but that is a difflcu,t
Pnd endless work. ''washington's head 7
quarters" is proof Of this. However, we 7
may hope for better things for recent :
history from the stand taken by the y
Grand Camp OF Virginia. n
That dignified and able body recognizes r
PIE fact that II and its subordinate camns Z
IRE looked upon by the public as the y
repositories and preservers of Confederate -
istory' The records of the camp ought "
herefore. TO be kept with precision. Even t
Where much care is exercised, errors are a.
pt 10 creep in.
Inc human memory. always tricky. is o,
ot over-reliable after the lapse OF thirty Ia
|wo years. In proof of this. more than Il
pc OF the distinguished survivors OF OF
ICES army have at times been unable
say with perfect accuracy what their "
ftual rank was when they signed their !"
froles at Appomattox. 1t cannot be w
Pncs'ved that they would willingly make
|'ss'atements: 1t is far more probable - -
Pa' 'neir recollections are confused by :"
20 tact that their pro tempore positions
eie higher than their actual rank. -,
|nn ms but rcdoubles our regret that "a
's'n'A ms rot Possessed herself OF a -
Pps OF ner original muster and pay-rolis ,
= are now u the keeping Of the United ga,