The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-21


vicinity Of Seven Pines presented
such warlikc appearance az Satur-
day morning
With Secretary of War Jacob NJ.
Dickinson. major in the Confcd-
crate army: General William w.
witherspoon. president of the War
College. and a dozen or more stu
dent officers" all of them in khaki
uniforms. riding over the ramparts
and fields that once ran RED with
the blood of heroes. ono could almost
hear the martial music Of fife and
drum. and the strident commands of
generals deploying their forces here
and there. and the crack of mus
kets
A Soisiieriy Secretary.
Secretary Dickinson. riding a black
charger, looked most soldierly as he
rode over the fieids and battiemeuts.
hating now and then with the MEM
bers OF his party to survey the terri
tory about him. directing hts fee
glasses TO the four points OF the COM
pass and pointing out breastworks
which were thrown up by determined
nten who subsequently fought AN
died over them TO sustain their In
depreciation Of the constitution.
Major Dickinson. General Wlther-
speen and the other officers gave tn
closet attention to the battiements
and fields. and frequently consuite
charts and maps they had OF the ter
ritory. They were also equipped with
drawings of the tine Of battle during
the days OF So. when Northern ana
Confederate generals ssparred for
points Of vantage. Forty eight years
had caused as much change Ia the
physical aspect of the territory as
had in the hearts OF the men who
opposed each other. and In following
the battle line of almost half CEN
fury ago the Secretary of War and
his party We're forced To penetrat
woods and thtckets TO keep ''th'
trail
They rode all over the Seven Pines
battlefield. visited the spot where
General Miles was injured. rode
through the Seven Pines ceu1eterrt
gased interestedly at the old, bullet
ridden white house used as Coufed-
crate headquarters. charged over the
backgrounds near Savage Station as
f II the5 had shifted the war spirit,
broathed from the historic, bullet
pierced pines and oaks and then re-
turned to Alien Crossing for lunch.
Camp at Mems Crossing.
At Aliens Crossing the War College
students, all young captains and lieu
tenants in the army have established
camp which they will make their
headquarters until the middle OF next
week, The camp looks most military.
there being several score circular Sib-
ley tents. 1--WE army wagons and a
dozen or more large square officer S
tents, in addition to a kitchen and
mess hall" With the student officers
e. 'sAF Is vents II white and coloreu
soldiers from Fort Myer and other
\ .444As, detailed to go over the Viz
ginia battleficlds and retrace the
flower bestrewn but Quondam thorn
ard bullet heset paths trod by the de-
fermtned warriors Of almost half Il
century age
Sunday morning Major Dickinson
and the mem bers OF the war college
party will mount their steed again
and ride Marvin Hill. Fraxer's Farm
and White Oak Swamp. trip cover
Ing about twenty-five miles.
The visit OF the soldiers has arous-
ed wealth OF reminescence among
the men and women around Seven
Pines Cedar Fork, Fair Oaks and the
surrounding territory which was the
theatre OF war and the scene Of some
EFF themes desperate a ~at!ag during
1.-THE late unpleasantness." On all
sides, particularly at the cross roads
and the country stores, Confederate
soldiers we're out in their faded gray
uniforms. their shoulders thrown
back and their heads held high as
they excitediy waved their canes In
this, that or thu other direction ana
told OF the operations forty-eight years
ago which they seemed TO remember
ns distinctly as II II were but yesterday
that the dark cloud of strife lowered
over the fields to which they directed
attention.