The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-06-19
A Touching Incident at Chattanooga.

The following description OF a
touching incident of the Chattanooga
ceremonies, was written by Colonel
Blandipg to one Of his grand daugh-
ters who kindly gave it to the press
for publication:
Ore Of the most appropriate and
pathetic incidents at Chickamauga
happened at the beginning of the
ceremony of the unveiliDg of the
monument. It was truly typical of
two leading thoughts Of the occasion
war, peace.
General Capers, noble specimen
of the South Carolina soldier of 1863,
still full Of the FIRE of patriotism,
had reached the last clause cf his
address; up to this moment be was
the representative of war and earn
age, of mans inhumanity to man"
But one thing more was to be said or
done. He called for the four little
girls who were to unveil the monu-
ment. The second brought forward
was little Ethel, grand daughter of
General Walker in command of the
South Carolina q G. Veterans, who
had been in battles from Gettysburg
to G .lvestop. She was as bright as
one of the gay flowers that bedecked
the battlefield. Her childish timidity
made her shrink back till she was
hidden by two Of her compeerf; and
as she could not be seer, Col. Holmes,
A. A. G. pulled chair to stand her
on it, when General Capers,
prompted by his big, but tender
heart, picked her up in his stalwart
arms, held her aloft, the perfect type
of peace and purity; and himself,
now converted from the stern warrior
to the man OF God, proclaimed by ac-
tions louder than words, "Peace on
earth, good will toward men," "Of
such is the kingdom of heaven"
The contrast was so impressive
that tears flowed freely down the
bronzed cheeks of many old veterans.
Would that some poet had been pres
ent to pen companion picture to
that, in The Peri at the Gates of
Paradise" of the rough warrior, a
PROSTATE penitent, and the Peri fly
ing to the Heavens Chancery with
the muttered prayer and demanding
admittance as bearing the gift most
acceptable to the God of mercy.
Those of us who have followed wars,
now that the fires of youth have
burnt out do hate bloodshed and love
the peaceful freside.
Standing, as We were, under the
shadow of a magnificent monument
to so many of the Confederate dead
of South Carolina, and in view of
grander monuments to many more OF
the gallant dead of our former Fede-
raj foes, with the Stars and Bars and
Stars and Stripes floating above our
heads, General Capers, representative
of the one, and General Boynton of
the other, grasped hands, with the
little girl, the dove of peace, uncon-
sciously chanting the refrain in words
inaudible, but louder than could fall
from her cherub lips, II come, [ come!
the Angel of Peace to cement this
bend of brotherly love between for
mer foes"
May the incident be truly typical
of the future of this great republic.
I sincerely hope that Colonel Hender-
son may prove as true a prophet as
he is great orator, when in Gaping
the climax of soul stirring thoughts,
which crowded each other so closely
through his address, he declared,
this mighty, reunited people can
never again be divided into hostile
ranks-the great republic of States
never again be separated one from
the other-nevermore; ne7ermore!"
Chattanooga. j. D. b.