The Washington times., 1902-09-01
Urges Union Veterans to
Aid Needy Con-
federateS.
AN APPEAL THROUGH G, a. R. POSTS
Requests Sent to Every
Northern Soldier for
Contributions.
TALKS OF SOUTHERN VISIT
TALKS OF SOUTHERN VISIT
Attended Annual Meeting of Depart
ment of Alabama and Noted the Eel
lowship-Plans for the Erection of
Cottages at Mountain Creek.

Gen. Ell Torrance will today have
delivered TO every member of the
Grand Army of the Republic through
out the country a request that every
member contribute to the erection Of
much-needed buildings at the Confed-
crate Home at Mountain Creek, Chill
ton county, Ala.
The purpose of the move is not only
to provide shelter for those who are
no longer capable OF providing it for
themselves. but to heal the few re-
manning wounds of the civil war.
Il know of no surer or shorter way
to complete unification of this country
in purpose and feeling" General Tor
rance states in the course of his letter,
than the highway of kindness, and l
believe its extreme outposts should be
Jointly held by the surviving soldiers of
the armies of Grant and Lee"
Visited the South.
In an announcement of his purpose.
as given out for publication, General
Torrance states:
In April last / made my first visit
to the South, and 1t was naturally one
of great interest to me, especially as I
went in my official capacity as COM
mander-in chief of the Grand Army of
the Republic. The departments of the
G. A. R. in thet South are weak
numerically. ard / had no personal
knowledge of the condition in which l
would find them. 1t was, therefore. very
gratifying to discover the happy rela
tionship existing between them and the
of the annual meeting of the Depart
ment Of Alabama, held in Montgomery,
I was honored with a dinner, and be-
tween every .comrade at the table sat
an ex-Confederate soldier The fell
lowship was delightful. On the follow
ing evening the Department of Alabama
were the guests of the Camp of Con-
federate Veterans, and the good feeling
manifested on that occasion and the
patriotic sentiments expressed by all
the speakers would have made any
patriot glad. At Atlanta | visited the
Confederate Home and shook hands
with every old veteran in it. and when
! left they were as reluctant 10 let ne
go as if / had been a brother.
Everywhere ] went | was treated
kindly. and again and again assured that
the war was long since over and that
We are now citizens of common coun-
try and followers of a common flag. The
sentiment was also expressed that we.
the old soldiers. could do more to bring
the people of the North and South to-
gether than any other class of citizens,
and that it was our duty to do so.
have always believed that the most dis
astrous results of civil war were the
animosities and bitter feelings engcD-
dered thereby, and ! am convinced that
the most patriotic service we can render
our country is to earnestly aid in remov-
ing every barrier that separates or es-
tranges the people. The great victory
at Appomattox will produce imperfect
fruit if we cannot win the hearts as
well as the flags of the men who wore
the gray.
Alabama Gives Aid.
-'The Legislature OF Alabama makes
a small annual appropriation for her in
digent ex-Confederate soldiers, but only
sufficient TO provide them with the nee
essaries of life for few months. Noun
tain Creek is twenty-eight miles north
OF Montgomery on the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad high, healthy re-
gion with good water and beautiful seen
cry. The cottages will cost about 81 800
each, and accommodate eight persons.
They will be of different designs. located
on circuitous driveways in a beautiful
oak grove, and will present a very at
tractive appearance
"A hospital and chapel will be built
also a headquarters house. two stories
high, with four large rooms on the frs,
floor and an auditorium on the second
that can be used for religious or other
services, to hold 500 people. 1t will be
called the Bungalo House. built of logs
and anyone contributing SIC can have tho
name OF his dead hero on particular log
and thus perpetuate his memory. There
are about $50 disabled and dependent vet
Grams in the State OF Alabama. forty of
whom are blind. The Department of
Ala abama, g. A. R.. heartily indorses the
home at Mountain Creek, and has AL
ready contributed TO its erection.
The letter TO the members of the G
A. r. is not intended for perusal by any
but the members of the organization of
which General Torrance is the con-
chief but il is nevertheless
Of general interest. The letter follows:
Headquarters of the Grand Army of
the Republic Minneapolis. Mimi. Sept.
|, 1902.-To the Members of the Grand
Army of the Republic: In April last I
visited the departments of Georgia. Ala
bama, Louisiana and Mississippi. and
Texas. Ny visit was in every respect a
delightful one, but most gratifying of
Ill was the cordial good feeling / found
existing between the Union and Con-
'ederate soldiers. affirm without hes
tation that among the best friends of
,ur comrades in the South are the sur
7iving ex-Confederates.
Soldiers Respect Each Other.
This friendship is based upon the |
mutual respect which one good soldier
las for another, and had it not been for |
he bronze button / would often have
seen unable TO distinguish between the |
,lue and the gray. for the cordial well
49, 4rr,l l-I 4.