Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-09-03
Twice To Richmond.

The first time was in 1862, the second
time was in 1908; the first in June, the
second in August. The first time came
from the South, the second time Icame
from the North; the first time l wore
the gray, the second time l wore the
black of conventional cut; the first time
I came with the musket, the second time
| came with the trumpet of the Gospel;
the first time l came and charged across
the field into Seven Pines, the second
time came charged the people Win
the sword of the Spirit; the first time l
Law in line of battle all night with gun
m hand, the second time l came L was
received as a conqueror and slept In
nalace the first time | came was
warrior for the shedding Of blood, the
second time came was messenger OF
peace from the King OF Heaven and OF
earth; the first time meant nell, the sec
ond time meant Heaven, and peace ana
good will. ,,.., "a.
In 1852 Richmond was a little city,
now it is a great city OF one hundred
thousand, and beautiful for situation,
for wealth and culture, and for the
scientific and aesthetic arts, and the
hospitality and cordiality Of its people.
Some of the churches are historic mon
uments and memorial tributes. The
hall of Lee Camp on Broad street is an
art gallery. The Confederate veterans
meeting there gave US q most cordial
welcome and made Mayberry Mckee
smile all over his face, and the smile
stuck fast over night and was visible
next day. A visit to Seven Pines re-
yealed to me that the thicket of pines
had become thicket Of graves, where
900 Federal soldiers sleep beneath the
grass, guarded by man wearing the
blue. A look at the old house among
the trees by the pike from which they
tried to deal death to usshows the holes
of mimic ball and canister shot which we
threw at 1t to drive out the Snapshot
sr. And close by the old chimney in the
sand picked up q mimic ball-hrst
thought it marble, but it is the genu-
inc thing that tipped so much during
the war, and usually made the most
heroic jerk the head. The Gould mil
lionaires have bought up three thousand
acres Of that land, built trolley line to
Seven Pines, and give you seven-mile
ride for five cents. They now call that
section East Richmond. Seven pines,
planted after the war in row, now
large trees of different variety from
the native pine, mark the site, as they
stand like sentinels by the sixteen hun
dred dead
Then we trolleyed from there to Hol-
lywood Cemetery on the opposite side
of Richmond, not less than nine miles,
for five cents, and saw the most beauti-
full cemetery in the United States. 1t
is the most beautiful because it COM
bines in such fine harmony the roman
tic, the natural woodland, hill and dell,
and the artistic skill of mans cunning
hand and fertile brain. l saw the place
where lies the first Southern soldier
killed in the war, Henry Wyatt, of
North Carolina, and there l uncovered
my head at the mention OF his name.
With him sleep sixteen thousand COM
rades who wore the gray. Stand still
and your homage pay.
On Sunday afternoon atfour preach
ed to the Confederate veterans IN the
home which royal old Virginia prepared
for her State-sovereignty veterans, now
that they are aged and hating close by
the rivers brink. Forty of the three
hundred there passed over last year.
The whits-oak grove is beautiful place
for the cottages where rest the veterans
and the chapel in the form of the cross
in which they worship every Sunday
evening at four was built by friends who
ha We caught glimpse of the mansion
above by faith In the cruclted One. 10
spend an hour in strolling about the
grounds, shaking the hands of the COM
rades, looking at the relics Of mortal
strife, scrutinizing the form of the ver-
liable horse that Stonewall Jackson
rode, a medium sized sorrel, standing
and shifting the air and smoke of battle,
ready to plunge forward at the COM
mand OF its intrepid master, was no
small delight. Then ID enter the chap
ell and to talk to the more than two
hundred weary and war.worn veterans
about the final victory and the giving
of the crown of life by the Prince Of
Peace, was Joy enough to make me feel
like giving a glory shout. Miss Coffee
and another glad and good singer led
the song service with spirit and evident
musical culture and Christian faith.
Was it good to be there 1t was place
where a little of the sunshine OF Heaven
fell and glory bloomed.
Well, such glimpses of my second
trip to Richmond, Virginia. The Syn
cd of Virginia met there and it was the
call of duty crowned and TRANSPORTED
ny pleasure so as to leave with me a
memory that shall be joy forever. l
wish you could have been with me
there, and have seen what | saw, and
have felt the thrill of the glad spell.
II. @. II.