Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-09
Charleston Mail Tribune.


Charleston Mail-Tribune.
Major j. c. Anderson, OF Washing
ton, the we'll known eX-Confederate SOL
der, native born West Virginian. has
written very patriotic letter to Cen
eral Appleton of this city. in reply to
note the general addressed TO him.
1t contains so much inspiring and no
BILE sentiment that the Mail-Tribune
has concluded to share it with the pub
lie, and consequently gives it space
here. The letter is too long to publish
in full, but the best part will appear be
low. Here is the letter from General
Appleton to Major Anderson:
Charleston, w. Va, March Is, 1898.
Dear Major:-It is very touching TO
me to see you brave old fellows, to
whose courage and endurance we on
the other side can bear testimony, COM
ing forward with the offer of yourselves
for services to our nation. God bless
you, am very proud of you.
Sincerely yours,
JOHN w. M. APPLETON.
To which Major Anderson says in his
reply of April 81:
My Dear General:-I have your very
kind letter in reply to my letter in
which | offer my services to this coun-
try in event of war. The day Of Spanish
intrigu, hypocricy and lying diplomacy
over and the hour for action has come.
The North and South are again united
forever. Every ex-Confederate enter
tains for those who fought us, senti-
ments which naturally fill full the
hearts of true soldiers, whether they
wore the gray or the blue You were
on one side, | on the other when we
were deciding by the sword the ques-
tons involved in that greatest of con-
f1icts known in the history of the world.
The issues are settled indeed for ever.
We believed we were right and you
thought we were wrong. We are all
Americans. descendants from patriots,
who by their blood purchased the price
less legacy of liberty enjoyed by every
man, woman and child of a grand,
glorious and reunited country, the
greatest on earth. A country whose
people are always first to harken to
the voice of those striving for liberty
in every land and cline, and to hold
out their hands and rescue from want,
starvation and wretchedness the help
less the weak and the distressed In
the love we have for our mothers,
wives, daughters and sisters is born
the righteous indignation begot in our
bosoms by the walls of anguish coming
up from the souls of debauched and
murdered women and children in wret-
ched Cuba. We might lay aside all
else but, as true men, we can not turn
deaf ear to the pitious appeals of the
women who are deeply robbed Of their
only priceless jewel, their womanhoCd,
by the fiendish, lustful appetites of the
treacherous, brutal and inhuman Span
iardS. Those of us left who wore the
gray, have no need longer, if ever re-
quired. to furnish evidence OF our 10y
atty. Long years have passed away,
the offspring of a new generation is
clinging to our knees, our children and
our grandchildren have ben %)rn and
have grown up to manhood and wo-
manhood. We have taught them love
of country, patriotism and charity, and
sympathy for the distressed and OPP
pressed, the weak and the vrronged,
and. above all. that they should sue
cor those striving for liberty, God s
sacred gift to man Every old ex-
sentiments. FitZhugh Lee is one of US.
No American can doubt or mistrust his
LOYALTY or his ability as a statesman
and soldier II there be a craven or
coward in this land Of ours who would
stir up the old animosities or rake up
the dead ashes of the past we. with
pride. point to him, and his services in
unfolding the integrity and honor of
great republic, and in preserving un-
furnished the manhood of the Ameri-
can people.
We are ready, waiting and anxious to
march with you. my dear general.
against any enemy of our country and
bring peace prosperity and happiness
to starving. bleeding Cuba. Though
the boys who wore the gray and the
boys who wore the blue are old boys
now. yet our hearts remain warm and
our arms are still strong. Whether we
fought with Lee or Grant with Jack
son or Sherman, with Stuart or Sheri-
dan. we are all Americans: and the
"Old Rebs" will march with you under
the old flag forever, and will in this
crisis shout with you. as we go to bat
tie. Remember the Maine..'
Your Obt. serv't.
]. COLEMAN ANDERSON.