The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-09-12
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How North and South Fraternized
After the Civil War.
Written EErre=5 for me Herald,
By DR. r. J. EDwARDS.

After the Civil War.
written Expressly for he Hsrah,
By DR. r. J. EDwARDS.
The late Col. Richard Lathers, who died
in 1902, was almost cosmopolitan, GER
tainly an American cosmopolitan. and
was sometimes spoken Of as the citizen
who possessed the largest number of in
innate personal friends who. as q whole,
represented all phases Of American life
scholastic. manufacturing. political. and
commercial.
Col. Lathers once told me that he was
a native Of South Carolina and that his
title Of colonel was not an honorary one,
since he had served as colonel Of regi-
ment OF militia in South Carolina some
years before the civil war. He possessed
beautiful estate near the north shore
OF Long Island Sound, about seventeen
miles from New York City. He also had
country place in the Berkshires. and
maintained for years still another home
In Charleston. 8. c.
/ have never met any one who so de-
lighted IN anecdotal "reminiscences or who
possessed a more abundant supply OF
them as Col Lathers- His personality
was very attractive. His refinement OF
thought and manner OF living were re-
vealed in the tones Of his voice. the play
Of expression on his face, and in a pc
culiarly graceful attitude.
once asked Col Lathers how II hap
pened that he, a native OF South Caro-
lima. cherishing, as he did, her traditions
and loyal in his sympathies and views
to the State and her people, nevertheless
refrained from supporting her when the
civil war began and instead espoused the
cause OF the Union.
II suppose no man Of South Carolina
birth was prouder of his State and more
loyal to her people than /" he replied.
My preJudices and social sympathies
were entirely with South Carolina during
the war, but my judgment told me that
on this continent. south Of the Canadian
line and north OF Mexico. destiny was
for one nation. II that were so, II must
be the Union. / am happy to say that.
notwithstanding the position took at the
beginning Of the civil war, I maintained
the warmest friendships with the people
Of South Carolina.
Let me tell you a little incident which
illustrates that point. A year or two after
the close of the civil war / opened my
house in Charleston and made II a point
to entertain citizens OF the South and citi-
zens Of the North. Upon one occasion
l had as guest at my house Gen. Nc
Dowell, who was the commander OF the
Union forces at the first battle OF Bull
Run. I was very glad to be able to have
as guest at the same time Gen. Bonar
and one or two other South Carolinians
who fought at Bull Run. The tears filed
my eyes when ! saw the cordially which
characterized the greetings between Gen.
Mcdowell a1d these Southern officers
Among others who were present was
Gen. Chestnut. He had been United
States Senator from South Carolina and
was in command Of a Confederate bri-
gade during the civil war. He was one
of the most charming men l ever met.
His wife was a very brilliant and very
witty woman
Il remember that Gen. Chestnut asked
Gen. Mcdowell IL he agreed with all that
Gen. Joe Johnston had said about the
manner in which the battle was fought.
Gen. Chestnut asked this question in the
most amicable manner and Gen. Nc
Dowell replied in the same way. ! re-
member his words distinctly. He said:
Gen. Chestnut. l have read what
Gen. Johnston has said about the battle
of Bull Run and in the main l agree with
him. In one thing do not. He criticised
me for not massing my entire army.
Well. II he had known how difficult II
was for me to keep my first line in bat
tie order he would have understood why
was unable to mass the entire army.
which consisted for the most part Of raw
troops. Three years later that would
have been accomplished without dim
Guilty"
Copyright. 1915. By Z J. Edwards. All rEhts ~
serTed-l