Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-06-17
The Monument 9ueation.

Always exceedingly dlsCasteful TO me,
arr especially one upon 50 sacred q
quesIon; but the many nisstate-
ments of facts made by correspond
emit in your paper, signing himself
"Spectators,n cannot pass by uM-
noticed, and characterized as they
deserve; for there is scarcely one word
of truth in the whole article. l did
not intend to take any part in the
newspaper discussions now going on,
for l felt that had done my duty, as
l saw it, and l hoped the final meet
ing at Hallwood would end it all, and
especially with Spectators" who
was present at the meeting MS guest
and by the courtesy and invitation
OF the Camp. A higher sense OF
honor and good taste, should have
caused him to remain quiet, but it
seems as if he is devoid of both good
taste and an inclination to deal fairly
with those who may differ with him.
l. do not know who spectators is,
or if he gave one penny to the fund
for erecting the monument, or one
hours labor to the cause-if 80, we
may look with little charity on him,
and attribute the impressions made
upon him at Hallwood to a jaundiced
eye, that sees all things with yellow
tinge, with the monogram &c. Fl ~ in
the centre of the retina. / imagine
he cares but little for what the monu-
ment will represent, but only for the
location, to adorn some town. and
the advantages he hopes may accrue
therefrom. AS for myself, the loca-
ton has always been of minor i'm
portance, and it would have been
imnaterial to me if located anywhere
on the Eastern Shore. That, l
imagine, is the difference between
your correspondent and myself.
Our Camp was organized at Cape
Charles, July 81, 1891. l was made
Commander, much against my wish
es, and ever since that time, nearly
eight years, have given both time
and money, often to the neglect OF
my other duties, to the work we had
in baud. have had the responsible
ty, as no other one has had, and have
asked the Camp to select another
Commander, but they always insisted
on my continuing in office. Our Camp
was formed at first for social and
other reasons, but in a communica-
ton to your paper, dated October 3,
1901, l there stated that 1.-The object
of our association should be more
than social, more than an annual re-
union to cement the ties that should
exist between fellow soldiers who
fought under the same banner-a
most worthy object and one that
should be, not only a patriotic duty,
but pleasure, would be the erection
of q monument at some suitable
point, to our fallen dead, to CONS
memorate the deeds and perpetuate
the principles that actuated all who
gave the best years of their lives for
the cause they loved so well. Time
and energy, of course would be re-
uuired to consummate such an OBJ
ject, &c." That was the first time, to
my knowledge, the subject was ever
brought publicly to the attention Of
the people. Very soon after that /
contri buted lady's saddle, costing
fifteen dollars, to be voted for at an
agricultural fair at Cape Charles, the
proceeds to 60 to the monument fund.
This, thought was the first money
even raised for the fund. However
this nay be, and l care not, it is im-
mate. al to me, for it was a work Of
love, aid my devotion to the princi-
Piles that cost the lives of our honor
ed dead, is sufficient reward. 1t is
sentiment with me, and not of the
earth, earthly-location-as with your
correspondent. At our first fair at
Cape Charles much interest was
manifested by the people, after that
it began to wane until we could never
get meeting of the Camp. An ex-
ecutive committee was then formed,
as provided by our bylaws, to take
charge of all affairs. Of this com.
mittee, for the past several years,
four have done practically all the
work, and no one not a member OF
the committee can we'll imagine the
amount of work we have given to it.
Months before eve-v fair that has
been held, we would meet one day in
each week, for eight or ten weeks to
perfect arrangements. Speakers had
to be procured which could not be
done in a month or two, arrange
ments made with railroad, provisions,
CONNECTIONS and hundreds of other
little things. The committee would
work faithfully. and alone day after
day, and year after year, giving of
their time and means and yet such
as your correspondent, who probably
never contributed penny, como in
at the last moment when the work is
completed and wish to dictate to
them. They hurrah, and cry what a
wonderful work "we" have accom-
plished.
And now as to the misstatements
made by your correspondent about
the meeting at Hallwood, and l will
close. While the resolution allowed
only three minutes for each speaker
there was not one who did not speak
more than double that length of time
and am sure the opponents of the
report, including Mr.. Thos. Scott,
occupied more time than the other
side. Mr.. J. 81. Fletcher was recog-