Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-23
IT WASALOVE FEAST
NORTHERN VETERANS AT LEE
CAMP PRAISE soUTHs PATRIOTS.
1 MESSAGE FROM G. 4. R. POSTS.
Infriendiy AIiusions to Their Old
Enemies Have Becn Eliminated
from Their RftuaI-Remsrkable
spcechcs iu the Confederate Hall.

with so many Of It's members at the
rYunion in Atlanta, the session of the
ramp last night gave every promise OF
being stale fat. and Improbable. But
II was none OF these. Tne opening was
mosaic enough and the audience was
somewhat sad and scattered, but the
Introduction OF Messrs. Elmer II. Baker
md Alfred Craighead, representatives Of
Grand Army posts and members of the
delegation that came here last Wednes-
day 10 present an invitation from various
organizations In the Quaker City to the
survivors OF Picketts Division. was a
pleasant incident, that led to veritable
loye-feast. and 10 the exchange OF many
complimentary remarks that bore every
evidence OF sincerity.
The historic walls that have rung so
pften with the glowing eulogies of south
trn heroes uttered by southern patriots,
echoed last night, for the first time. per-
hans. with an honest and manly tribute
T. the southern patriots from the lips
Of northern soldier. and with a frank
admission that the cause for which the
South contended was at least not unreal
sOnable.
SPEECHES MOST PATRIOTIC.
a Reunited Country" was the theme
OF several speeches. which woke the audi
ence into enthusiasm, and there were
maledctions for the politicians and those
who have by the waving of the "bloody
Shirt kept Mason and Dixon's line a
very real and present thing.
In the absence Of Commander Laugh
-
presided. and the meeting was opened
with prayer by Comrade Gervas Storrs,
in the absence OF Chaplain Smith. The
usual preliminaries were followed by the
transaction Of routine business. which
Included the presentation of the name OF
Nr. n. p. Cofer for election. and a ia
yorabe report from the sick committee
respecting the condition of Messrs. Tan
per. Mitteldorfer and Riddck.
report from the detail which attended
the funeral of Mr.. James Peasants was
upon the record.
ADDRESS OF MR.. BAKER.
Colonel r. n. Northen. of Pickett Camp,
az the request of the commander, then in
troduced Mr. Baker, of Philadelphia, who
assembled the rostrum. 1t afforded him
unbounded pleasure, he said TO meet the
veterans and patriots OF the late war. He
remarked upon the beauty OF the hall. and
tho strides that had been made by the
camp in this direction since he last visited
Richmond. Some years ago. he said,
81 was his duty TO visit many northern
posts, and he was always asked when
ehOwn through their rooms. DO our
southern friends have such nice halls as
this?" Then he had been compelled TO
admit that the posts were the better,
but now." he said, "it is with feeling
Of pride that / can answer that there is
nothing better than there is here. Things
have transpired in the last two months"
he continued, that have brought about
state OF things between the veterans of
the North and South that are very graft
flying TO me. The terrible line of de-
narration has been wiped out. We hear
now. in the northern posts. about south
ern patriots the best we used 10 hear
was Confederates. Personally, | nave |
always felt that men who would take |
powder, and dig bitches, and march with
out shoes day after day, often without |
food. 70 defend their homes, were pa
triots." Applause).
ADDRESSES THEM AS COMRADES.
Mr.. Alfred Craighead, of Post No. 49, |
was next introduced. Comrades" he |
said, Il call you so because all good and |
valiant soldiers are certainly comrades !
hail from Philadelphia, the City of
'Brotherly Love- l have often heard
Of the beautiful city OF Richmond, in the
Sunny South, and have long had a craving
TO get here" He went on to speak of
his futile efforts to accomplish this pur-
pose thrty-five years ago. He spoke
warmly of the hospitality that had been
shown him since he arrived here. Con-
he said: 81 and some others have
been lighting for our southern comrades
I'm the Grand Army posts for thirty years,
but we won't have to do any more fight
Ing. The old line has been wiped out and
the link which binds the reunited country
has been sealed so strongly that IL will
never be broken. We boys in the North |
feel that we know no longer any North, |
South. East, or West, all we know is an |
united nation" He spoke with pride |
and affection OF the national flag, which |
had been displayed and floated to the |
breeze for the first time in Philadelphia. |
and said he hoped that the veterans OF |
the South would be seen more often in
where the right hand Of |
love would always be extended
10 them.
PATRIOTIC RESPONSES.
Commander Peay thanked the visitors
Tor their speeches. and In the name of the
amp expressed the hope that when they
Or any Of their comrades visited Rich
nond they would not fail to call at the
amp.
Mr.. Joseph Dickerson. replying TO the
speeches OF the visitors. expressed much
pleasure at hearing such sentiments from
he lips Of northern soldiers. He spoke
Il the righteousness of the South's cause.
md said that the position OF the southern
older had been greatly misunderstood.
The flag 10 which Mr.. Craighead had al
uded. he said, was as safe in the hands
# a Confederate veteran as soon as the
var was over as ever IL was in the hands
Il northern soldier I'VE are as true
o our parole as the magnanimous Gene
al who granted II. The Stars and Stripes
re always carried by us and fly at the
op OF our fiag-poles; but that flag. he
aid, turning TO the Confederate emblem.
we love It, and you wouldn't think much
Z us II we didn't" He apostrophized the
two grandest armies" fighting for what
hey believed to be the truth. and said
hat he was more than gratified that the
nan who now occupies the Presidents
hair. who drew his sword In defence OF
is country, had not thought II unwise 10
ppoint Confederates TO posts Of honor
nd responsibility in the army OF to-day.
Sir. Baker rising again, said with some
violence of feeling: "rhe flag of to-day is
OF the one Of 1861. The war grew out OF
Jrrupt court decisions and crime but our I
az OF to-day has been made pure by the {
.Ood OF patriots who are patriots, every
ne within this broad domain"
NOW THEY REALLY FEEL IT