The Washington herald., 1914-07-10
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Home Of Famous Banjo Player.
Cwrtten expressly for me HerAld-i
HI DR. Il. .. EDWARDS,

NJ ohs ~ Ss Ed ~ AhOos
In a recently published study OF the
Confederate Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. which
was written by GamaIel Bradford. OF
Boston-who appears 70 have inherited
the fine discriminating and descriptive
ability which was characteristics of his
distinguished ancestor. Gov. Bradford, OF
Pilgrim days-he speaks admirlngly Of an
unofficial companion who was with Gen.
Stuart throughout the war until he re-
ceived his mortal wound. Mr.. Bradford
says that Gen. Stuart's banjo player.
Sweeney. was as near to him as an aid
de-camp and followed him everywhere.
Stuart used to write his most important
correspondence while Sweeney was play
ing the banjo. and frequently would
pause and Join uproariously in the
chorus.
This reference to Sweeney brought to
mind an incident of the day in the sum-
mer of 1881 which / spent at Appomattox
Court House
It was my good fortune at that time to
have the companionship Of James Hicks.
leading citizen Of Appomattox Court
House. He was especially qualified to
point out TO me places which had gained
permanent historic interest since he was
the owner of the field which contained
the famous although partially mythical
apple tree Mr.. Hicks showed me the
place where the apple tree stood and
called my attention to a great hole in
the ground which. he said. was made by
the relic hunters. who. after the tree had
been despoiled and carried away bit by
bit, actually dug up all the roots.
While We were upon this field, worthy
Of place in history, since there Gen.
Lee sat in the shade, and from that point
Gen. Gordon went forth with an impro-
vised flag of truce. Mr.. Hicks turned, and
facing the northeast, pointed out the
place upon the highway at the top Of
the hill where Gen. Lees army rested
while he. with his staff, went forward TO
begin negotiations with Gen. Grant and
Gen. Sheridan.
observed little low cottage standing
a little back from the road shadowed by
a grove and said TO Mr.. Hicks that this
seemed to be the only. house within the
vista He smiled and said:
That house has a history. There the
Sweeney boys were born and there they
were brought up. There they taught
themselves TO play the banjo. ! have no
doubt OF the truth of the report that they
made their own banjos. and ! am certain
that they learned from the slaves Of the
plantation nearby the distinctive negro
melodies, and especially the 'breakdowns'
which were so popular among the negroes
before the war. and which constituted
an important feature of negro minstreisy
In the war days and afterward.
''one of the Sweeney boys made friends
somewhere with Gen. Stuart. I think he
wandered into Stuart's camp soon after
the war began. He had heard that Stuart
was very fond Of the fife and drum. and
especially fond Of the banjo.
No sooner had Stuart heard Sweeney
play the banjo than he attached him un-
officially to his headquarters. Sweeney
became very fond Of Stuart and knew al
most intultlvely what kind OF banjo music
Stuart liked best. 1t was the kind which
had rattle and go in It. and which set
everybody's feet working. Many times
Sweeney's banjo was as good as rest and
refreshment for Gen. Stuart.
II once tried to find out what became Of
Sweeney after Gen Stuart's death but
was unable to do so. I do know that
he was regarded as the hest banjo player
in the South. and It was up in that little
house In front Of which Lees army last