Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-13

diers. On our way horne, at Chatta-
nooga, q confederate named Larkin,
who had been soldier under the dar-
ing General John Morgan, wished
some of us to go home with him to
supper accepted the invitation, and
am glad l did. We had a good visit,
Mrs. Larkin greeted me by assuring
me that she felt honored by my being
their guest. After supper my host
took me to the hall of the confederate
camp of veterans. Then l.. took me
Git was Sunday EVENING" to the church
services of the colored people; nearly
all our party were there. The pastor
gave US an excellent serr"o on, ana there
was good singing. 1t was a congrega-
ton of neat, tidy accent, well-benaved
worshipers. The preacher, in the in
PRODUCTION to his sermon, gave us a
cordial welcome.
"OE, think we had a fine time of
it ali round. I'd like to tell much more,
but there would be almost no end to
my talk, so may as well stop right
here"
Comrade Russell-"Want me to tell
what impressed me most at Anderson
Vile? Well, it was the excellent talk
from our speakers, Governor Davidson.
General Boardman and Mr. bancroft.
They all gave expression to sentiments
Of peace and good will,--such as Lest
become us in these days. l was there
in Andersonville myself about five and
half months, and in Florence, which
was just as bad,-or worse-but do no
not now wish to sherish any i'll will con-
corning my treatment toward any liv
ing person. Those vino abused us are
dead.
"In selecting the design for our
monument down there, we members of
the commission were in favor of some
thing that would do more than express
cur grateful remembrance of those
375 Wisconsin dead who were buried
there; we wished our monument to
tell the world that peace should reign
in the hearts of men, not the old, old
doctrine of an eye for an eye and a
tooth for tooth, so we put on our
memorial there the language of Gen
aral Grant. Let us have peace.
"Our chaplain at the dedication of
the monument was a man connected
with the work of Booker T. Washing
ton, and we had for singers a double
quartet of colored people. They had
been educated under the system inau-
gurated by Booker T. Washington. and
were people of real culture. Their
music was very fine. They showed by
their bearing and manners what col
ored people under the right kind of
training can come to be. l suppose
there were nearly $50 people there at
the exercises besides our own crowd
of 10S.
THE prison grounds were enlarged
while I was shut up there. AT first
the stockade, measured on the inside,
ITO feet wide and 1910 feet long;
when enlarged, 779x1610 feet in area.
The place is now owned by the Wo-
INNS Relief Corps and cared for by a
Mr.. Turner an old soldier whom the
ladi employ for this purpose. He is
faithful to his trust. The Relief Corps
own SO acres of land there anu this
ground takes in the confederate forts
that once guarded the prison. Comrade
Turner had $50 rose pushes of many
varieties, all covered with beautifu
blossoms, which he had saved for us.
He made us welcome to as many OF
them as we wished, tell you they
were fine
Everybody treated us eourteously
every where we went, as if the Union
soldier is worthy of all honor, south
as well as north We heard it said
more than once that the war ended
right and that It is fortunate that slay-
cry was destroyed and the union pre-
served. The war is over is common
saying. Several men asked US anx-
lousy about the real feeling of the
north toward the south. know they
cherish our good viii. Those who did