Evening star., 1915-04-10
Union and Confederate Vet
Grams Combine in Celebrating
Surrender at Appomattox.
SWAP CAMPAIGN STORIES,
JOIN IN MARCHING SONGS
Gen. Nelson A. Miles and Others Ad-
dress Huge Assemblage at
Grand Army Hall.

Lees surrender to Grant at Apo
matox nfty years ago yesterday, the
day that marked the close of the long
civil struggle and the Joining or hands
Of the blue and the gray. was celeprat-
ed last night by the veterans OF the
District and members of the woman
Relief Corps of the Department OF the
Potomac. @. A R Hall, in which the
meeting was held, was not large
enough to hold the gathering. said by
many to have been the most notapie
ever assembled in the historic bulldlns'
and the crowd overfiowed onto Penn
sylvania avenue. The JOY or ootn
armies which attended the announce
ment that the meeting of the two gen
erals In the little white farmhouse hao
resulted in an honorable peace was
lived over again, and. with Lincolns
famous phrase, with malice toward
none; with charity toward all, as the
keynote of the assemblage, the Wnl.e
haired boys" of the southern ana
northern armies swapped campaign
stories and sang together their spirited
marching songs.
The spirit of the meeting was best
typif1ed by the attitude of the veter-
ans in the audience. Side by side sat
the one-time wearers of the blue ana
gray-easily distinguished by their
lapel buttonswho were carried pack
by the words of the speakers to the
day when. as boys in very truth. the
message was borne to them that peace
was at hand, and the thunder of cheers
took the place of the roll OF ordnance
that hung over the fields of Virginia
The dimming eyes flashed back to the
fire of gladness of half century ago,
and the comradeship that permeated
q. A. r. Hall was of the sterling quail
ity borne between men who in times
-xt,&r y. I'M c. Va
men they meet. and so have learned to
respect their comradeshlp-
Gen. Miles Quotes Gen. Grant.
Describing how tens and tens of
thousands of men went mad with the
sheer Joy of peace" Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. who rose from the ranks to the
position of brigadier general, and who
commanded a division at Appomattox,
told of Gen. Grants words to the Con-
federates. when he said: Take your
horses home-you will need them for
spring planting Expressing his nope
that the present European struggle
will be the last war of all times. Gen.
Miles said, in part:
Well may we thank the patriots
who from 1861 to 1855 fought to pre-
greatest republic the world has ever
seen" He continued: Had it not been
for their efforts. we should not today
he living in this city. the capital of an
in Europe struggling and destroying
for they know not what. What is the
difference between them and us? This
that they are subjects of their rulers;
we are sovereign citizens of our ma
tion. difference as great as that be-
tween darkness and light. Today with
in the United States we enjoy the
greatest liberty, comfort and security
o~11 h4y
and in what great measure this is ow-
ing to the men who fought for the
Union"'
Gen. Whitaker Kept Away by Illness
Gen Edward W. Whitaker, who, as
chief -of-staff for Gen. Custer, received
the message that peace was at hand
and rode along the line Of fire with the
white flag that marked the close of
the war. was on the program to speak
on the Last Days of Lees Army" but
was unable to be present because of
illness. A framed portion of the flag
veterans.
William F. GUIDE. chairman Of the
citizens committee in charge of the
general arrangements for the Nation
al Encampment of the G. A. R.. which
Is to be held here during the last week
of September. told Of the work of
preparation for the event and stated
that he promised the full cooperation
of the citizens OF the District in all
instances where 1t was felt to be need
ed. Mr.. GUIDE concluded his address
with the words: II wish the news
could be flashed across the Atlantic and
shouted in this hall tonight that an
Appomattox had been reached in Eu-
rope"
other Speakers Heard.
There was a series Of brief ad-
dresses. Capt. Thomas E. Mckee, past
department commander, said: What
did that flag Of truce at Appomattox
mean to us? Why. men, It meant home
and wife and mother and children and
peace. and We are celebrating tonight
that day of half a century ago that
God blessed this nation as 1t never be-
fore was blessed"
Former Senator Scott of West Vir-
ginia said: "A few days ago I met a
out that ! had slept under the same
blanket with him and bade him good
bye the day we were mustered out
fifty years ago" He said the saddest
regret Of his life was that he had left
Congress without having procured pen
sions for the nurses who used to take
care of us boys
Mrs. Isabel worrell Ball recited the
poem, your Flag and My Flag" at
the special request of the John A.
Reynolds Post of the G. A. r.
George II. Lfllibridge sang "Daybreak