Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-03-05
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
by THEODORE TILLER

. WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE sim
gle link that connected the senate OF
the United States with the van
pushed armies of the Confederacy
was snapped when John H. Bank
head, of Alabama, died.
In the two houses of congress now,
there are just five survivors of the
Civil war, men woh followed their re-
spective flags to the end of things
at Appomattox and then came to
serve together in a new generation
at their nations capital. The senate
has left no reminder of the Confeder-
acy. The house has only one-Major
Stedman. There are four yet sur.
viving, in senate and house, who
wore the Union blue.
Across senate aisle, which divides
parties, but not men, there sat two
sorrowing colleagues of the dead
soldier, as Senator Underwood Off
cially announced that bereavement
had come suddenly once more to
that chamber. They were Senator
Knute Nelson, of Minnesota, and Sen
ator Francis E. Warren, of Wyoming.
These two served as privates in the
Union army during the Civil war;
Senator Bankhead served as private
under the Stars and Bars.
Since the death Of Senator Thorn
as S. Martin, of Virginia, only these
three, of all the men who fought
in the War Between the States, have
been carried on the roll call of the
senate. Senator Bankhead was sew
enty-seven years of age; SenAIor
Nelson is seventy seven, and Senator
Warren, father-in-law of General
Pershing, who led the armies of a
reunited country across the fields of
France, is seventy-five.
stedman Only officer
In the rear of the senate chamber,
as Senator Underwood told the sem
ate of the passing of his Alabama
colleague. was Representative Charles
M. Stedman, of North Carolina. Major
Stedman is the sole officer Of the
Confederacy now serving in the house.
Representative Sherwood of Ohio,
better known as General Sherwood,
is a former Union soldier in the
lower body. A second is Representa-
tive Henry Osborne. of California.
Excepting Major Stedman, the last
Confederate soldier in the house an
sWering the final roll call when Rep
resentative J. Fred c. Talbot. of
Maryland. died more than year ago.
"Uncle Fred" dead Of the house when
death came, served throughout the
war as private. -'~'.-'-
The unexpected death of Senator
Bankhead saddened the entire mem
bership of congress, but it came with
peculiar affliction to the little group
of men who fought together, or
against one another, nearly fifty years
ago. .,.
Figuratively reaching the hand of
sympathy across the states that lie
between New England and the gulf,
Senator Lodge, himself one Of the
elder statesmen of the senate, said
there would be no vote Monday on
any peace treaty reservation. o.
"The floor is to be yielded now"
said Senator Lodge, "to the senator
from Alabama, Mr.. Underwood, who
will make an announcement that will
bring sorrow to every member of this
body. I therefore ask that the bust
ness of today go over until tomor-
row." 81
There was a solemn vote of assent
and then Senator Underwood gave
officially the notice of Senator Bank
heads demise. :. e
Senator Bankhead4W the only man
ever to appear on .sthe floor of the
senate in Confederate ufIiform and
receive an ovation from both sides of
the chamber and the galleries.. When
the remnant of the Confederate
armies came to Washington to pa
rade a few years ago on the fiftieth
anniversary of their surrender, the
Alabama veteran walked into the
senate wearing suit of gray. He
was much affected by the tribute
which came to him.
Remarkable Coincidence
When Senator Bankhead's death
was announced Senator Reed, of Mis-
souri,, was speaking on the League of
Nations, and yielded the floor to Mr..
Underwood Several months ago
Senator Reed was speaking when
announcement came that Senator Mar
tin, Confederate colleague of Sena-
dence was remarkable.
At the beginning of Americas war
with Germany, a parade was staged
IN Washington which wildly re-
vealed how death had summoned to
eternity's revei1le the old soldier
members of the senate and house.
This parade, led by President Will