Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-04-26
Tribute OF Respect.

Richard Poole Hays, of DickersOn, Md,
son of Leonard and Eliza Poole Hays. an
old Confederate veteran, on April 9Th, 1912,
crossed over the river to rest under the
shade of the trees"
He came of a long line of patriots, being
a descendant on paternal side of jeremiah
Hays and Abraham and Eleanor Howard
Simmons. Mr.. Hays mother was daugh-
ter of John Poole (the Pooles came over
from England at an early date) and Pris-
ella Woodward Sprigg The Spriggs were
descendants of Col. Joseph Sprigg, of Colo
NAL fame and ancestor of two Governors
Samuel Sprigg and Thomas G. Pratt
Mr.. Hays leaves a widow who was Miss
Bette Batson, of Howard county, -four
daughters and four sons.
On August 18th. 1862, the subject of this
sketch crossed the Potomac, a company of
cavalry was formed under Captain f. v.
White, this cammand grew to six cOmpa-
MES. and battalion was organized 5th
Virginia-and mustered into service 0cto-
Der 26th, 1862. White was made major
Company b was commanded by Capt. Geo.
W. Chiswell and was spoken Of as CHS
wells Exile Band" At charge made at
Parker's Store November Goth, 1868. the
battalion won the name, given by General
Rosser, "COmanches, and became n part
of the Army of Northern Virginia and was
called the Laurel Brigade, under General
Rosser. He served throughout the war as
a gallant soldier.
Mr.. Hays never lost ardor for the cause,
and he ever maintained they fought for
what they knew was right for the principle
of State Sovereignty. so written in the Con-
stitution of our fathers, and for the liberty
r Il. Oh
and latter such a contest of which the
world looked on In wOnderment how six
millions of people kept at bay for four long
years forty millions with every government
at their back"
He was chaplain of the Ridgely Brown
Camp of the u. C. " at Rockville, Md. He
ever kept a warm spot in his heart for the
old comrades and ever held out a helping
hand to them, and for many years he spoke
Of having a monument erected to the men
who wore the Gray.
The first time the graves of the old Con-
federate veterans at MonOcacy cemetery
were strewn with flowers June 3rd. 1906,
he spoke TO the few that were gathered
there. saying that he hoped to see the time
when a monument would be erected TO the
old Confederate soldiers Of Montgomery
county, Md, and on June 3rd, 1907. was
formed the MonOcacy Memorial Associa-
ton, to be held annually on this date (the
birthday Of Jefferson Davis) and to work
for this object. namely, a monument, which
later he proposed at a meeting of Rid9ely
Brown Camp in Rockville, Md. After sew
eral meetings il was decided that the mon
ument should be erected at this town,
being the County Seat, instead Of Monocacy
cemetery as he so much desired. He was
made chairman Of this committee and ap-
pointed others 20 assist in collecting funds
for this object
Through him and the other old Confed-
crate veterans chapter Of u d. C. was Or
ganized in Rockville. taking the name Of
the camp, and later on another chapter in
POolesville, Md, named for his brave com
mander, Col. E. V. White. Only few
days before his death he said he wanted
to call meeting Of the camp and see If
he could not have the work on the monu-
ment started, trusting before long the whole
amount would be raised as he was 80 de-
sirOus Of seeing il completed before his
DEATH but Our Father willed ii otherwise.
As he was a faithful soldier under the
stars and bars. so also he was the same
under the banner Of the cross, enlisting to
be Christs faithful soldier unto life's end,
and now 1T is well with him He has
fought his last fight, and now through
Christ who strengthened him he has won
the victor's crown and in this has left rich
heritage to his family.
He was laid away in the old cemetery
amid a large conc0urse Of relatives and
friends. and seven old veterans following
His casket was draped with the nag he