The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-04
SIDNEY HERBERT'S LETTER.
uELATIVES ARE VERY UNRELI-
ABLE AUTHORITIES.

ABLE AUTHORITIES.
credit Given to Some One Else for
Joaauin MiIIer's Grand Poem
..rbe Bravest BattIe"-COmment ON
bishop KeiIey's Memorial Day Adj
dress-References to the Death of
Gen. HamptOn-The Wise Thing
which the Sons of Confederate
Veterans Did at DalIas-A Memorial
talbot Walker, @. S. A.-Other Mat
,ers of General Interest.
Pine Crest Villa, Maitland, Fla,
Nav 3.-Lieut. Gen. Miles and Brig
Cen. Funston are not the only ones to
he severely reprimanded. 1 have re-
Gently got dose of it myself, the
result of my honest efforts to correct
an error of a newspaper writer. He
stated that a certain Revolutionary
patriot had been appointed by Gen.
Washington to a high position in the
administration of public affairs. His
statements, although honestly made,
were misleading and incorrect, and l
so proved them to be. One of the de-
scendants of this distinguished patriot
took me to task in a severe reprimand
because I had not come to his reIa-
tive for information before publishing
my corrections. Now, that is just
what 1 had the good sense not to do,
because they, themselves, had been
misled into the same error, and only
through my corrections did they start
an investigation that sustained every
correction l had made. Strange as it
may appear, yet it is true that rela-
lives are very unreliable authorities.
The editor of the Western Sun of
Vincennes, Ind, the home of the late
Maurice Thompson, must have been
''out OF his senses" when he published
as original" Joaquin Miller's grand
poem, THE Bravest Battle" with this
Introductory note: Written by w. II.
Milan (son of Lee Milan of this city)
a sergeant in the Philippines" AS this
bravest of battles was fought by the
mothers of men," Sergt. Milan prefaces
the poem with Dedicated to NV
Mother" 1t is surprising how a man
can commit such a bare-faced literary
theft as this; one that is sure to bring
disgrace upon himself and shame to his
father and mother. Rishon
Kelley, in his Memorial Day address,
gave "a Fellow Named Miles" about
as hot a roast as falls to the lot of
mortals here on earth, and l am fearful
that If said Miles was in 'Purgatory''
he could not depend upon the prayers
of the Bishop to get him out. 1t seems
strange to me that senators and repre-
CeOfafiWpC in Con
brutal treatment given jefferson Davis
by Gen. Miles, and yet pour out their
walls of wrath" upon Gen. Chaffee for
supposed or actual cruelties to insurg-
ents in the Philippines. Bishop Kelley
may have been somewhat stirred up'
in his feeling of righteous indigna ton,
but in the main his characterization of
the insulting and brutal treatment Wis
tied upon Mr.. Davis by Gen. Miles
himself, or under his orders, was none
too strong.
The death of Lieut.. Gen. Wade
Hampton removes one of the three
lieutenant generals of the U. C. V. or
ganization. John B. Gordon and Steph-
en- D. Lee are the survivors. Lieut..
Gen. W. L. Cabell of the Trans Mis-
slsslppi Department, was only Con
federate brigadier," but like Lieut.,
Gen. S. D. Lee, he was a West Point
er and an old regular army officer.
The only other Confederate generals
IN the U. G. V. list of commanders are
Brig. Gen. George P. Harrison of Ope-
llka. Ala; Maj. Gen. E. NJ. Law of
Barlow, Fla; Brig. Gen. c. A. Evans
or Atlanta, Ga. Brig. Gen. George w.
Gordon of Memphis, Tenn; Brig. Gen.
Tyree H. Bell of Fresno, Cal, Brig. Gen.
Elhson Capers, now Bishop of South
Carolina was brigade commander last
year, but declined reelection. For
some unknown reason the Confederate
generals have not taken a conspicu-
Gus part in the organization, and but
1eW of them ever attend the annual
reunions. The same is true, however,
OF the q. A. r. organization, Very
r." OF the Union army generals are
IN or attend its annual encampments.
10 some extent this is also true of the
society of the Army of the Potomac,
as well as kindred societies.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans
nave done very wise thing in dis
cardlng, as they did at the Dallas re-
unlon' all military titles. 1t is in no
sense a military organization, and vet
us close relation to the U. C. V. en-
uIes its membership to be held in
Hgn esteem. They are the sons of
noble slres-of the patriot-heroes who
JARED their bosoms to the storms of
ndttIe IN cause they felt was Just and
!ight; No military titles, not won on
me held of battle, can add anything
10 the honor and esteem in which these
sons VIII ever be regarded by a patri-
9uc and grateful people. The time
u[aWs near. if it is not already at hand,
Mhen the Sons of Union Veterans and
me Ine sons of Confederate Veterans can,
IKE their fathers, march "arm in arm
70 the music of a reunited country.
with all forgiven, brave hearts and
true,
me ne boys in Gray and the boys in Blue:
me me IN the Union which shall not cease
LII tne flags are furled in the Port of
Peace"
Durlng my recent visit to Atlanta 1
TT1Ht through the rooms of the State
b LloLary in the Capitol. and in small
"9Ck room / found the portrait of
HaJor General Hugh Mccall" also
.apeiled Georgia's first historian. The
po!lralt is not large one, and is
paIIlted in the uniform of a major gen.
NJ, aI although Capt. Mccall was sim