Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-03-16
SEVEN PINES
Correspondence of the AleIandril G:zette }
Richaoad, March IS.

| Cor: esp1ndence OF the alaIandrli U .Zette
Richaoad, March Is.
AS boys many a t ns IN the lat
forty years have W5 sat with mouths
/ wids open listening with rapture snd
trembling at the hair raising stories of
the deeds of valor OF the Oonfsdera'e
aoldier as Exhibited GA the fslds OF battle.
| When ne have looked into The eyes OF
! the old Confederate 8nd have eee1 them
moistcn IS he himself resize6 The sad
truth Connected Riih hia story and
beheId his gray LOCKS, indicative OF
service, plisation, age and trouble, We
naturally renem beftd what history has
taught Us and came to the conclusion
that the bali has never team told. 1t
was my pleasure on last Sunday to get
on Clsy street Car in Richmond and
start for Ssven einos, every loot OF
ground of whch-a distance OF nine
mi!es--haa been bsthed 10 humsn blood.
The daT wss besut full one, tie
sun ehone brightly, the birds
sang sWestly, ind the budding tees
gave evidence Of coming spring and
sWeete1ad the air IS 1t agreeably re.
frsshened the visitors on the very warm
day. About hall way from Richmond
to the poiut OF destnst on ia station
called Bath Elou, tt which Is located
the NJ tsouic Orphans Home of Vir: lola.
This is magnificent building OF stone
aud granite, surrounded with spacioa
!awnS, snd numerous coocre.s walks.
Al the stat'oa when the train arrived
were great maay bright faced lassies
dressed neatly il blue awaiting pfrhsps
the arrival of some friend or relst:vs.
1. WAS a besuti III sight representing
in all truth tbs brotherhood OF man.
Tceit fsces beamed With delight and
showed concu,ifely that whoever con-
trolled the working d:stines OF the Co..
siVen institution wera masters in thsir
respective loc5t oas. About Ave miles
farther and Seven Pine S.stion
was reached. This is at the ju,c-
ton OF the Williamsburg and old
NiDe.mile road, and The U. s. govern
melt in the year 1866 commenced the
cematery which nov beauties this
memorable spot. During the yssr sever
small pines we're traneplanted by tie
government along the wall OF this city of
the dead snd today they toHer toward
| the great Rllsr of the Universe SIS proud.
| y IS do The might oaks loca:ed It
| Far Oaks, about mile distant, 8: which
really this great ostta had its inception.
The SsVep Pines spoken of In war times
consisted Of Que lsrga atuup from which
seven email pines grew. At tie time Of
tho battle thia place YVES almost q wi
dsrneas with only nine houses between
Seven Pines snd Richmond. 1t sas
sWampy and great desl of land was
| covered with wa.er. Near here, st Fair
Oaks, there Is an oak t,ea It'll shading
| which daring tae battle hsd the top
taken eff OF i oy LUCE cannon bali.
When oHs realizes that there were from
10000 to 10000 man engaged In this
ba, tie, often ia baud TO hand cor hict, he Ia
filled wl.a wonder that any Escaped. In
the basu ifu: GEM; tery, which 10 In
| chargo of Caps. L. ". Csllsgbsn, e
gena! Hhole.st uied fxuuion soldier
Hho alHsys delights telling bis expert.
ence a1d bearing te!t mOny to the bravery
OF t6e southern soldiers, Is haried l 1898
union solaiers, l. $50 Of waom are an.
kuoEo. The captain snys thst the
mott pleasant experience of his war rec.
ord Was when he Hss in camp abe ut
months Ia 1861 ou tho hills overlooking
ALEXANDRIA Ha vas formerly assittins
superintendent a: Tho Arlington ceme-
terry 10 Alexandria county, AID has an
extensive acqlR.ntaGce in Alexandria
city aud WssaiGgtoa. Til. is Goe
trip aon it only cCss five cents each
Tay-lS miles gcoa cu3 90 ming. e.