The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-06-01
PATRIOTIC LErrERs.
Correspondence Between Former Con-
tcstants ON Battlefield.

Correspondence Between Former Con-
testants ON Battlefield.
Washington. d. g., May IS. 1907.
Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser copies
an account from The Fredericksburg
Star of May 23rd, of the erection OF
a Monument to Commemorate the Ser
vices OF the 23rd New Jersey volunteer
Virginia. May 23rd. 1885," and / have
noted with unmixed pleasure that while
on one of the plates upon the monu-
ment aresinscribed the words:
TO the memory of our heroic dead
comFades who gave their lives for
their country's honor on the battle
field. this tablet is dedicated
Upon another plate Is this inscrip-
tion:
To the brave Alabama boys. our
opponents on this field of battle. whose
memory we honor. his tablet IL dedi-
Gated.
was with my regiment. the sth
Alabama. and was its lieutenant-col-
onel in the bloody fight which you
and your brave soldiers have so fifty
concentrated. Indeed. the Sth Ala
plank road. and therefore almost i'm
mediately confronted your gallant reg
iment. Being the Oldest surviving field
officer of the five Alabama regiments
that participated in that memorable
struggle. / feel that I may appropriate
ly assume. on behalf of the Alabama
boys whose memory you and vour
brave soldiers so chivalrously extol. TO
extend to You and the other survivors
of the 23rd New Jersey, as do hereby,
the heartfels thanks of the living Ala
bamians who participated In that bat
tie.
When you and / recall the forty
four wears that have passed since Sa-
lem Church, and congratulate our
selves as all patriots do upon the Won
derful changes that time has wrought
in public sentiment, North and South.
IT. Is but natural that we should recur
to the words of Daniel Webster. at the
dedication of the monument ON Bunk-
er's Hill Heaven mas bounteousiy
heightened out your lives that you
might behold this glorious day That
generation after generation. but to me
the simple words inscribed by your
regiment on the monument to their
heroic dead at Salem Church. are more
eloquent than any uttered by the i'm
mortal orator at Bunker's Hill. Web.
stcr was addressing the survivors OF
one armv. the American Army OF the
Revolution: your monument speaks 10
all the survivors of the two great ar
mics that fought against each other IN
the civil war. 1t is fitting last wore
in the lessons of that great war. 1t Is
plain now that 1t was not lust OF poWe.
that nerved the hearts Of Jerseymen AZ
Salem Church. and also that IL was
not any wicked desire to destroy Amer
lean liberties that prompted Alapam-
ians to do battle that day both 1T
mics were fighting for American instl-
tutions as they understood them; SINCE
in the sunlight of peace. has becnm"
clear and the tablets on your monu-
ment at Salem Church now remind the
survivors of both armies that 10
among the choicest of Heavens boun-
ties that their lives have been length
ened out until they behold this glor~
ious day in which American liberties
are safer than ever before, Tor olsuI-
lon is not longer thinkable; the people
of the United States are more united
today than they ever have been at any
time since the gun was dlscharsed AZ
Lexington the sound OF which echoeo
around the world.
Jersey are not the first. either Federal
or Confederate, that have done honor
to those who were their opponents IN
the civil war. Many an orator. tnahA
God. both Northern and Southern, has
delighted his audience by patriotic
sentiments along this line. But, so far
as / know. the gallant regiment
which you had the honor 70
command at Salem Church. is the first
to inscrioe upon an enduring monu-
ment erected to the memory or itS
own dead so noble special tribute 10
those who were its antagonists In the
particular field marked DIV the mohu-
ment
In conclusion, permit me to person
ally testify, as / well may, to the SUI
perb courage OF the gallant boys wnoIn
you so nobly led in that bloody Dattie
Mt Salem Church.
Expressing the hope that at some
time in the future l may have the
qualification of meeting you IN per
son / am, sir, with the sincerest ad-
miration and respect.
Yours very truly,
Hilary \. Herbert
Last Colonel Sth Ala Vols
General E. Burd Grubh:
Edgewater Park, N J.
Edgewater Park. N. j.. May %, 1907
Col the IIon'ble Hilary A. Herbert,
Washington d. c. ,-.
Dear Colonel Herbert-It has surely
fallen to the lot of but very rev men
from a brave and gallant foemap. Tor
ty-four years after a battle, such
splendid letter as / have the honor u
acknowledge from you. and moreover.
to have received II unawares from one
who, after the war was over, served
re-united country in one OF It's hlghs
est offices with such signal ability ana
distinction. -
my comrades, the survivors OF the 2Srd
New Jersey volunteers. their descen-
dants, relations, and friends, whose
name is legion in this State. to tender
our most sincere tHdHh5 AOi SONta
ter. to reciprocate most heartily all the
noble sentiments contained therein. ana
to assure you that we congratuiate
ourselves that by good fortune we hap
pen to be the first to mark in en-
during bronze, the sentiments whlch
we are sure are uppermost in the
hearts of every Northern soldier, Tor
the men who evinced the courage OF
their convictions by such heroic Draw
cry in the days gone by.
/ may add that while we knew that
General Cadmus Wilcox had noted IN
his report of the battle OF salem
Church how CALAMITY Lieutenant Col.
onel Hilary a. Herbert had rallied ana
fought the 9Th Alabama after, a dis
abling wound to Colonel Royston, we
certainly did not know that our coun.
try was indebted for distinguished
services as Secretary of the Navy to
the oficer whose final line of battle
we could not break through.
4 hope, sir, l may have the pleasure
Of meeting you personality and 1 shall
have the honor of calling upon you
when | am in your vicinity. With
great respect. / am,
Very sincerely yours.
F.. Burd Grubb.
NeUsonOer Philosophy.