Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-10-06
CONFEDERATE VETERANS.

CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
Yesterday session of the Grand
Camp. Confederate Veterans, of Vir-
ginia, now in session at Culpeper, was
taken up with the discussion of the re-
port of the history committee, which at
tines was quite heated. Past Com
mander w. A. Smoot, of Alexandria,
moved that no member be allowed to
speak over twenty minutes without
special permission, which was unani-
mously adopted. The report recon-
mends Mrs. Lees and Rev, J. William
Joues's histories, while those of Fiske
and of Cooper, Estell and Lemon were
recommended for rejection. One
clause in the report, viz, THAT when
the Confederate soldier laid down his
arms he abandoned and gave up his be.
lief in the right of secession" was the
subject of great deal of argument, o
great many of the delegates participa-
ting, several with some heat. Those
passages of the committees report adj
vocating only the adoption of the
histories of Lee and Jones for our pub
lie schools seemed to be the principal
subject of attack.
Comrade Porter, of Portsmouth, Bit
terly opposed the indorsing of these
histories, stating that they contained
erroneous accounts regarding the
South, its commanders, and the army,
and that Jones's history especially
chronicles the fact that Lee surrender
ed at Appamattox over 100000 men,
when, in fact, Lee only had, including
sick officers.and all, $4,000 men. The
speaker also said that in these books
the reader is led to believe that Ken
lucky was in sympathy with the lost
cause, while in fact she had voted TO
coerce the South. In concluding he
said that the matter had been delayed
from time to time with promises OF
unese errors being corrected, until he
thought that the subject should now be
settled The histories of Fiske and
Estill and others were excoriated by
this speaker, who occupied more than
an hours time in his argument.
Commander Williams bitterly de-
nounced the Fiske history, and said it
was like putting poisonous pills in the
mouths of our children, and advocated
the elimination of this history from our
schools.
Colonel G.. w. Ramsay, of Alexan.
dria, appealed to the camp not to 90
back on its previous action, but to
adopt the report of the committee.
Finally motion to adopt the recon.
mendations of the report, but not the
report itself, was made. The four
books in question were described in de-
tail, the speakers showing remarkable
knowledge of their contents. Af'er q
great deal of discussion the camp voted
to adopt on the recommendation Of the
report.
After the vote had been announced,
Mr.. w. j.. Royal arose and stated that
on account of the wide difference Of
opinion between himself and the camp
1t was apparent that his usefulness as
chairman of the history committee was
ended, and that he would tender his
resignation as such. Some one moved
to accept the resignation. j. Taylor
Stratton, OF Richmond, moved to recon-
slider, saying be had voted under mis-
apprehension OF the question. and sew
eral other delegates agreed with him.
Col. Thomas Smith, of Warrenton,
stated that he had voted as he intended
and that in his opinion the committee
had exceeded their power and au-
thority.
| At the afternoon session the subject
of pensions was taken up. Comrades
Wharton, Parks, Gaines, Randolph and
Post Commander Smith were appointed
committee. Capt. Parks, OF Luray,
then delivered an address, in which he
exposed and denounced the fraudulent
manner in which some OF the State SOL
diers had obtained pensions in recent
years.
The history question was then re-
sumed. A motion was made and car
ried that in place of the word require"
in the history report, the word recon
mend" be substituted in reference to
use of Lee and Jones's histories.
Col. Mayre, of Lynchburg, made g
lengthy address in extenuation Of GER
tain passages of Fiske's history, stating
that Fiske was friend of the South
erner and had no intention whatever
in giving a preiudiced account of the
civil war.
Maj. Randolph, of Richmond, Their
took the floor and severely denounced
this history, saying that Fiske's &C.
count of the capture of Fort Pillow by
Gen. Forest was a falsehood pure and
simple, and that he would never cast
his vote for the use OF such history in
the public schools of Virginia.
The camp adjourned till $50 o'clock
this morning, without taking any de
cisive action on the committees report.
Last night there was a reception and
banquet, which was heartily enjoyed.
FIGHT WITHINDIANS.