The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-20

ffon memphis commercial Appeal.
In house simple in appearance. but
imposing in size, Jefferson Davis lived as
president of the southern confederacy,
and that mansion is today one of the
most notable objects in Richmond, the
capital of the confederate states, and
has become known far and wide as the
! white House of the Confederacy."
Situated on Shocked hill it overloolSs
great expanse of country, and from the
broad porehes that surround the wind
| Ing river James can be seen for miles.
While the home of Jefferson Davis is
known to every southerner, but little has
been written of that noble band of wo-
men who have converted it to its present
appropriate uses-a museum wherein the
hallowed relics of the past may be pre-
served from generation to generation
and the memories of that heroic struggle
for liberty and home forever kept alive.
'~he city of Richmond purchased this
property in 1861 and upon regaining pos
session of it from the federal govern
ment in 1874 converted the mansion into
public white school. The historic man
sion served this purpose for many years,
1t being held fitting that the hearts and
minds of southern children should be
trained and taught within its hallowed
| walls.
| As time rolled on, however, the women
of the south talked alb ut the need of
confederate museum. They banded to-
gether, and after long and patient work,
raised sufficient money to secure possess
sion of the building Not change in its
| de ht1t ufo
promptly taken to re der it as nearly
hreproof as possible and to make it
slightly in appearance. The museum was
formally opened in 1895, and since that
time the most valuable relics of every
description have been secured.
Some of the more important relics are
In the Tennessee room, but all the
southern states are well represented. To
those who participated in the four years
struggle and are familiar with the hap
penings Of those strenuous days list of
the relics embraced within the walls of
this historic mansion will prove of in
tense interest, recalling, as they do, men
once foremost In the fray, but since gone
to their last account. as well as scenes
of peril and battlefields where shot and
shell fell thick and fast
Some of the interesting articles to be
found in the Tennessee room are the
following:
Purse and money used by a Confeder-
ate soldier, donated by Mrs. Wilson of
Memphis.
Saddle bags and sword belonging to
John Holeran, Sixty-ttird Tennessee
| regiment.
Epaulets worn by General Banks.
Sash taken from Federal officer at the
battle of Shiloh.
Sword from the battlefield of Chicka-
meuga.
Picture of Mrs. ]. C. Laws, Mother
of the Confederacy."
Picture of Lieut.-Gen. N. B. Forrest.
sent by Confederate Historical associa-
ton of Memphis.
Sword captured by Capt. James Dea-
kins at the battle of Chckamauga, and
used by him until the close of the war;
loaned by Mrs. Scott Hyde OF Chatta-
nooga.
The other rooms Of the historical man.
sion also are rich in memories of the Con-
feceracy, some Of the most striking, neat
ly displayed In glass cases, being the
following.
The sword of Major John Pelham, which
is loaned by Peter Pelham of Atlanta, a
nephew of Major Pelham, through Pei
ham Blaekford. to the Alabama room.
Major Pelham's commission as colonel,
which was sent to his family after he
was killed at Kilbys Ford, March II,
1863.
The passport of Pelham, also his photo
graph, which are presented by his niece,
Miss Neil of Newton county, Ga.
small flag loaned by Pelham Black
ford, and which was given to him by
sister of Major Pelham CMrs. Neil of
Newton county, Ga) This flag was pre-
scented to Major Pelham by Miss Lizzie
Leteher, daughter of Governor Letcher
A letter from Mr.. Benjamin to A. H. H.
Stuart, donated by his daughter. Mrs
Hunter Mcclure. to Mrs. ]. Taylor Ely
son, for the Virginia room.
picture of Acquia church, Overwhar-
ton Parish, Stafford county Va, which
during the Civil war was protected by
General yinton of New York. who would
not let the Federal soldiers injure it.
This was presented by Mrs. George v.
| Moncure to the Virginia room.
A picture of General Turner Ashby,
taken in 1862; also some of his horses
| hair. which has been woven into a spray
of flowers by Miss Conrad of Winchester;
also General Ashby's bugle and sash.
Charles H. Read in sending collection
for the Virginia room, writes: 1.-THE
musket was made during the war in Rich
mond. and owes its present condition to
having been knocked off my shoulder by
a piece Of a shell at the battle of New
market. may Is, 1864, as the corps of ca
diets Virginia Military Instituted were
advancing to make the successful charge
upon the Federal battery that broke their
centre and won the day for the Confed-
| crate army. The same shell wounded
| Capt. A. Govan Hill Of Company C, John
C. Wise, /. L. Merritt and myself. The
cartridge and cap boxes were those l
wore on the occasion, and the cedar cam
| teen was one / wore around Richmond,
and was made in the Confederacy when it
| was irnpOeqibla 10 Ain