The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-03
A SUNDAY IN VIRGINIA.
President Roosevelt Visits Cedar
Mountain Battlefield.

Brandy Station, Va. Nov. 3-Presid ent
Roosevelt passed several hours Sunday af-
ternoon on the battlefield of Cedar noun
tain. Accompanied by Secretary Root,
Secretary Cortelyou and DR.. Rixey, the
president drove to the site of the san
culinary struggle and there received FROM
an eye witness and participant an accu-
rate account OF the fight. 1t was the most
interesting event thus far of his present
trip. The day was perfect and the drive
to the battlefield was as pleasurabIe as
could be desired.
The president accompanied by Secretary
Root Secretary Cortelyou, Dr. Rixey
arrived at the battlefield shortly after 8
O'clock They We're followed BY process
sion of carriages containing people from
Culpeper and surrounding country.
The president drove to tbs battlefield
over the road which years ago was The
Orleans On arrival at tbs battlefield which
is dotted here and there by monuments
marking the positions Of the troops during
the fight the contest was explained to the
president by Judge Erirase=. who is d
member of the bench of this judicial cir
cult. The judge was a captain in the Sixth
Virginia cavalry and was z participant in
the fight
The president a cavaIryraan himself was
interested particularly in the account Of
the famous Filst cavalry charge made
curing the battle OF Cedar mountain The
Union and Confederate cavalry met in q,
depression nc. far from Cedar Yiounua in.
While the. battle did not last long and
was brought on quite unexpectedly, it Was
| frightfQlly sangunary, the losses on both
sides being about 5000 The president was
notably interf sted in monument erected
last August Oh the anniversary of the bat
tie, by the survivors of the TWerty-signth
New York infantry, which lost in the en-
gagement 80 per cent of its men. including
nearly every commissioned officer.
IT. the very heart of the battlefield the
president held informal reception. Many
people had gathered from the surround
! lug country and after Judge Grimsley had
described the battle the, president receive 4
informally those who had assembled on
the field Subsequently shell which had
been dug up on the battlefield was given
to the president as a memento of his
visit.
In the morning the president and his
| party attended services at the Baptist
church at Culpeper, about five miles from
the home of Representative RiXeN. Until
a short time before the services began il
was not known that .he president was &c
/ his presence. The Rev. E. w Wnfrey
! pastor of the church. which is one of the
Oldest religious organizations il Virginia
made a reference to the president in his
opening prayer, but did not anude to him
/ in his sermon. The church was crowded
and at the conclusion of the services Pres
| ident Roosevelt cordially greeted the pas
tor and many members of the organiza-
ton and introduced them to those who
accompanied him.
! Subsequently the party took luncheon at
! the residence of S. Russell Smith, broth
/ of the county of Culpeper. Last night the
president was gain the guest of Repre-
sentative John F. RiXev at his country
home. near this village. Every TrecautiOn
possible is being taken to insure his safe
| ty Two headquarters men from Wash
| ington in addition to the regular detail of
secret service officers, on guard a the
| Rixey house.