Evening journal., 1904-04-09
Union Veteran Legion
Holding Open House in
the Lodge Rooms at
Third and Market
Streets
All Veterans of the Civil
War and Their Friends
Made WeIcome-Ad-
dresses to be Delivered
Tonight

Seated around their rooms on the
walls Of which are prints Of battles in
which they figured. telling Of the hard
ships OF the different campaigns in
which they played a prominent part.
are the members OF the Union Veteran
Legion, who are today celebrating Ap-
Vomatox Day. the anniversary of the
surrender OF General Lee.
IsH~ Is the second time that this
gree day In the annals Of war has
been celebrated In Wilmington. Before
that time the veterans Of the legion
have gone TO Philadelphia for the an
niversary. But two years ago they
decided TO hold this anniversary, which
means so much to them, ia this city.
It's object is to celebrate the close Of
the war In which every member OF the
legion had seen much hard fighting
IL is necessary to be a member OF
the legion to have been a member OF
the union army for three years, two
years OF which was spent at the front,
Fighting for the country's honor.
on this day all members Of this or
ganization meet 70 talk over the stirr-
ing events through which they passed.
In small groups about the rooms these
men who fought for their country forty
years ago. many OF them now decrepid.
but as enthusiastic as when they won
In the great war; are swapping stories
lof those times when they scaled the
learthworks OF the enemy or bivouaced
under the stars, waiting for the next
days battle.
There was plenty Of refreshments.
and not only. were the members OF the
veteran Legion presnt. but also Grand
Army men and their friends.
Different From Meomrial Day.
Appomattox Day is different from
Memorial Day lnasmuch as this day Is
set apart for celebrating among the old
soldiers while Memorial Day is OBJ
served for the purpose its name inn
: plies.
There are about one hundred Of the
veterans taking advantage Of the day.
The officers are; Col. j. w. Agnew;
Northumberland James L. Haw-
kins; Major, John Kelley; Chaplain p.
E. Layman; Omcer of the Day. Cap
tain J. /. French; Adjutant. w. v.
IuNbsry; Surgeon, Frank Neeley; Ser
geant- Major Alexander Mason: Color
Bearer, Parke Mason: Bugler, II. Fuld
meyer; Quartermaster W. A. Riley;
Quartermasters Sergeant. L. L. Will
son; Oficer OF the Guard, William L.
McCray; sentry, John Brear.
Doors Open All Day.
Open house was held all day for old
, soldiers and their friends. The doors
of the rooms were thrown open at 10
= o'clock this morning and until mid
night every guest viii be looked after
3 Col. aHrry Feldmeyer is commissary
p He has been indefatigable in his ef-
= forts in getting the banquet prepared
= for the comfort Of the guests. This is
. sufficient assurance that all will be as
7 it should.
Tonight there will be speeches by
General James II. Wilson. United
States District Attorney j. p. Nields
= Leonard f. Wales and others.
Death Has Trimmed Ranks.
There are not as many present this
year as last. Death has claimed many
Each year the quota of deaths in the
ranks Of the veterans is increasing. II
viii not be long before their Appomat-
tox Day celebrators will be confined tc
but a few. but they will lose none OF
. their impressiveness as long as there
is a veteran left to celebrate them.
Although a resolution was passed
giving the Historical Society of Della
2 ware the flags and other trophies oi
the camp. they were missed by the ole
soldiers this morning. For many years
the tattered flags they followed through
carnage and suffering hung upon th'
walls OF their rooms or in cases. where
they recalled the stirring scenes
e through which the veterans passed
3 The flags now occupy a case in the his
e torical building and several Of the ole
soldiers We're heard TO remark the,
a wished the flags were back upon thl
II walls.