Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-12
WAR AND IT'S RELICS
Argument in Favor of Els
tablishing a Museum.
NUCLEUS IN STOCK
PAPER SHOWING WHAT THE Gov
/. ERNMENT HAS STORED.
Trophies From Various Conficts-Rev-
olutionary Camp outdt-Collections
in Government Buildings.

Jersey today presented In the House
statement of exhibits Of the proposed mu-
scum of war in this city, which was sent
to him, by instruction, by National Histo-
rian ]. Walter Mitchell of the Spanish War
Veterans The paper recites that the writer
sends to Congress the requests OF the
Spanish War Veterans the American His
tory clubs and other kindred organizations
for the establishment of national mu-
scum of war in the city Of Washington,
D. c., as provided by House Of Represent
atives bill No. 67SS, introduced by Repre-
sentative William Hughes of New Jersey
He mentions some of the exhibits and rel
les of war which are already in possession
of the United States government, and
which would, in his opinion. form splen-
did nucleus for the proposed museum
Taking the National Museum at Wash
ington first, he said, and noting some OF
the most important and interesting war
exhibits in that institution, l found there
the valuable and imposing collections OF
Generals Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Han
cock and other famous American captains
the camp outfit and military parapherna-
liza Of Gen. George Washington, the pa
thettc Capron collection, father and son,
both Of whom gave up their lives on the
altar Of their country in the war with
Spain
The Grant relics are said to be the most
interesting, historical and valuable OF the
many COlleCClOnS IN the SAloISifo 4<attOHe@i
Museum They represent many phases In
the eventful career of the great military
leader from his boyhood days In Illinois 10
the last hours of his existence on Mount
McGregor. Preserved with the greatest
care by the great soldier during his life
time, these relics are even more zealously
guarded by the nation which he served SO
periodically and effectively in the days OF
it's greatest peril. The intrinsic value OF
the collection is great; Its sentimental!
value to the republic cannot be expressed
in words.
In National Museum.
The war relics in the National Museum
can be classed under these heads Those
Of the revolution and the war OF 1s12, the
war with Mexico, the civil war, Indian
campaigns, the war with Spain, the insur-
rection in the Philippines and the campaign
in China. The civil war relics form a
most interesting study of the deadly strife
in the COS, and the glass cases containing
them are nearly always surrounded by
eager throngs of people. The central piece
of the exhibit Is a section of large oak
tree, which stood inside the confederate In
trencbments near Spottsylvania Court
House, Va, the tree being literally cut
down by musket balls during the attempt
to recapture the works previously carried
by the second corps, Army Of the Potomac,
during the battle of Spottsylvania Court
House, May r. 1854. Near the bullet-torn
oak stump is all that remains of United
States flag it came out of the three
days fight al Salem Church, Salem Heights,
Va, early in May, 1863. There are but
few faded shreds of silk left clinging to a
section Of the Flagstaff. While CARRYING
this flag three color sergeants were killed
and several others severely wounded. The
adjoining exhibit is a model of the United
States ram, Monitor, armed with two H.
inch Dahlgren cannon, which craft, known
TO the confederates as 1.-THE Yankee cheese
box" defeated the famous southern ram,
Merrimac, in Hampton Roads, March 8,
1862
Fort Mou1trie Flag.
In the collection of flags is the garrison
flag which foated over Fort Moultrie,
Charleston harbor, S. c., when Maj Robert
| Anderson evacuated the fort, December 20,
| 1850. Then there is the flag of the Kear-
! sarge, which fioated from her peak when
she caused the surrender of the confederate
| cruiser, Alabama; also the first Union flag
| hoisted in Richmond after its evacuation,
| which was used headquarters flag by
| Gen. Ord when he took possession of the
| confederate capital.
The double-barreled shotgun with which
| Col. Ellsworth was shot and killed by
| James F. Jackson, in the Marshall House,
| Alexandria, Va, Is another tragic relic of
| the early days of the civil war. By its
| side is the regulation army rifle with sword
bayonet, with which the death of Ellsworth
was promptly avenged by BrowneIl, one of
his soldiers. The ponderous KEY Of the
old War Department building on 18th street,
which weighs nearly five pounds, is among
the myriad relics of the civil war in the
National Museum.
The Confederate Exhibits
Nor are exhibits from the confederate
side Of the strife lacking. There are the
several styles Of gray uniforms worn by
southern officers and enlisted men, includ-
ing the military coat worn by Col John g.
Mosby. the partisan ranger. and a confed-
crate regulation sword. with buckskin belt
attached, which was drawn from the ord
nance department at Richmond by Lieut..
Patrick McDevitt Of the confederate army
in 1868. A clumsy-looking ten-barreled re-
volver, LIE Mott patent, carried by south
tlefsld of Wilson's Creek, Mo, August 10,
1851, is on exhibition. Another confeder-
ate exhibit of interest Is a large decorated
china punch bowl, the former property of
white house Of the confederacy' when
Richmond was evacuated In the last con-
federate line Of battle at Appomattox Court
House, fought April and 8, 1895, was
found a Masonic militant sword, which had
been carried by a southern officer. 1t has
a pretty ivory handle surmounted by the
armor headpdece of an ancient knight, and
a blade Of fine Damascus steel. and is on
exhibition among the war relics Of the
National Museum.
There is huge cavalry saber evidently
hammered out by some village blacksmith
In tho southland and said to have been
welded during the war by giant confed-
crate cavalryman in Gen. "Jeb." Stuarts
command.
The war sword of Gen. Lyon killed at
Wilson's Creek, Is a nearby exhibit.
/ These are only a few of several hundreds
of equally interesting and Instructive relics
of the great civil war in the National Mu-
eeum. Under the head of exhibits of the
war with Spain are many Spanish naval
relics connected with the sudden and COM
plete destruction Of the warships Of Mon
toto and Cervera by the American navy,
illustrative of the terrible accuracy OF the
gunners on the United States fighting craft
The old-Nme Warfare.
Ancient warfare is recalled by five battle
axes. such as were used by the Spaniards
in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
with wide expanding blades and handles
nearly five feet in length. These were cap
tured by the United States troops at the
fall of Santiago Their there are Spanish
battle flags OF vivid red and yellow. the
equipments and arms Of the soldiers of
Spain used in the late war. and many other