The Washington herald., 1915-04-10
VETERANS GAZE
ON APPOMATIOX
Scenes Of Fifty Years Ago
Lived Over at Celebration
in G. A. R. Hall.
PEACE is THE KEYNOTE
Blues and Crays Mingle as Events of
Half Century Ago Are
Recalled.
PEACE is THE KEYNOTE

That day at Appomattox fifty Years
ago yesterday when Lee surrehoereo
to Grant and peace dawned over TINS
nation, was lived over again last night
by hundreds of veterans who crowded
G. A. r. Hall and overlooked into
Pennsylvania avenue. The ceiebra-
ton was. perhaps. the most notable
ever held in the historic building, and
there were some among the veterans
who believed 1t the last reunion they
will ever attend.
| Gen. Nelson A. Miles, who command
ed a division at Appomattox. told how
Grant said to the Confederates: Take
your horses home: you will need them
for spring planting" Gen. Miles said
no tongue has, or ever will. describe
Appomattox, for" he declared. tens
and tens of thousands of men went
mad with the sheer joy OF peace.
The spirit that animated Lincoln into
utterance of the words. with CHARITY
| for all, with malice toward none, per-
| vaded Appomattox on that day OF the
surrender, said Gen. Miles. He expressed
| hope that the European war will be the
/ last and told how the present war is
eating Europe's life as the civil war
/ sucked the blood Of this nation.
| Wishes Peace in Europe.
| William F. GUIDE, president Of the
Chamber of Commerce, and chairman
! Of the citizens committee arranging for
| the G. A. r. encampment in the end
| Of summer. said: II wish the news could
| be flashed across the Atlantic and shout
ed in this hall tonight that an Appomat-
tox had been reached in Europe
Former Senator Scott. Of West Virgin
4 ia, said: "A few days ago l met
man didn't know, but / soon found out
| that / had slept under the same blanket
with him and bade him good-by 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 pensions for the nurses
who used to take care of us boys"
| Commissioner of Pensions Saltzgaber
| told OF the day, fifty years ago, when he
| was an orderly serving Gen. Wilson in
Georgia. A messenger came riding along
| the road with flag of truce and the
| message of peace. I'VE were so stunned
with the joy of it." he said, that all Of
| US forgot to do the things We had said
| We were going to do when peace came"
Capt. Thomss E. Mckee. past depart
ment 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. men.
and we are celebrating tonight that day
of half century ago that God blessed
this nation as It never before was
blessed"
Blue and Gray MinGle.
The celebration terminated in a true
welding of the blue and gray. Confeder-
ate veterans sprinkled among the audi
| ence. and. easy to distinguish with their
lapel buttons Of the Stars and Bars,
crowded TO the platform and clasped the
hands Of the Grand Army men. Hello,
Johnny Reb" was the hearty greeting
given them.
In the vanguard Of tho Confederates
was o. F. Smith, who said he guarded
John Brown for seven weeks and
finally led him to the scanold. I'm
IS years old now and still a Johnny
| Reb." said Smith, but I have fought
my quarrel with you Yankees" With
Smith was Mrs. Esther Emmart, who
| is called the mother of the Confed-
crate veterans in the District" She
shook hands with all the G. A. r.
men she could reach.
Col Samuel r Stratton presided
and recited THE Star Spangled Ban
ner." Rev. Henry n. Couden. chaplain
of the House, delivered the invocation.
George H. Slaybaugh read Lincoln's
Gettysburg address. The veterans sang
America" led by E. Albert Emil. who
sang as solos THE Good Old United
A. Whitaker was unab BILE to speak on
Last Days of Lees Army" because of
illness.
Woman Recites Song.
George II. Lillibridge sang "Daybreak
at Appomattox." Mrs. Isabel Worrell
Ball recited Your Flag and Ny Flag"
Mrs. Z. Florence Donahue led in sing
ing 1.-The Star Spangled Banner" The
| reception committee was composed Of Col.
Stratton. chairman. and Col. John Finn,
Capt. r. B. Schwickardi, Capt. Newton
Ferree. Capt. Seth W. Tuley, Judge I.
G. Kimball Arthur Hendricks. Capt.
Thomas H. Mckee. Charles H. Worden.
John s. Walker. Stanton Weaver. Haz-
ard Wheeler. DIR. A. ]. Huntoon. N. NJ.
Brooks. J. NJ. Pipes. Fred W. Sparks,
John McElroy. Mamie P. Dorsey. Isabel
Worrell Ball, Mrs. Nettie Borland. Geor-
gianna Van Fleet, Mrs. Thomas Calver.
Mrs. Ada H. Weiss. Mrs. Anna NJ. Baden.
; Mrs. Mary Van Ness. Mrs. Ida Hart,
/, Miss Rose Seton. Miss Oracle Pierce.
| Mrs. Ida A. Oldroyd, Mrs. Mary A.
Dow, Mrs. Kate Francis Earl, Mrs. EN-
ma Donahue. Mrs. Margaret Walker,
Mrs. Anna Roberts. Mrs. George Howe.
Mrs. Nora B. Atkinson. Mrs. E. L. WASH
h,try Miss Da1y A..