Evening star., 1931-05-05
REWS|TS BATTLE
SCENES IN VIRGINIA
Union Veteran Goes Back to
Where He Fought So
Years Ago.

In May, 1853. exactly 6S years ago,
Albert Milton Lathrop of 1921 Euclid
street first saw the apple blossoms
of the Shenandoah Valley.
One of a. regiment Of Union soldiers,
the 18th Connecticut Infantry, he ar
rived in winchester during one Of the
periods when the Virginia town was
held by the armies Of the North
Sunday, for the first time since he
left "the Valley" 81 years ago, at the
close of the Civil War, Mr.. Lathrop re-
turned to winchester, one Of party
of friends who motored there with
Harlan Page Sanborn, an instructor at
the Emerson Institute, to see the beauty
of the blossoms, now famous through
out the country.
But, although his companions en-
joyed the colorful orchards spreading
their glory over the Virginia country
side, Mr.. Lathrop did not see their
beauty. Totally blind, the venerable,
gray-haired old soldier was returning
to the scene Of his youthful campaigns
to stand beside monument erected in
the United States National Cemetery at
winchester to his old regiment. the 18th
Connecticut where, though he might
not see It, he could lovingly pass his
rades and the battles in which they had
fallen.
Received Great Satisfaction.
THAT was all desired" he explained
simply. 1T was one of the greatest
satisfactions of my life to stand beside
the monument. the unveiling of which
in 1895 was unable TO attend"
AS to the Shenandoah apple bios
Rv AkI Hank
ago, although there were many trees
and the blossoms were as beautiful as
they are today, the great orchards exist
ing today, described TO him by his
friends, had never been heard or con-
ceived Of.
"sixty-eisht years ago" he said,
apple orchards were no more a fea-
ture Of the Shenandoah Valley than
they were Of any other part Of the
country.
But there was much heavy timber
In the Valley at that time, which /
understand has disappeared to q great
extent. At that time campaigning for
both armies was made more diff1cult by
the large forests Of timber, making OBJ
servationS very dif1cult."
Although Mr.. Lathrop Travelled from
his home in Connecticut to the Virginia
Valley, where he spent two years in the
Valley campaigns, he did not pass
through washington at that time. and
his first glimpse of the Capital was in
1919, when he visited his daughter Miss
Edith A. Lathrop, associate specialist in
school libraries Of the Department OF
the Interior.
Settled Large Nebraska Tract.
At that time the Union veteran had
not yet lost his eyesight and he en-
joyed for two weeks visiting the his
toric places Of washington, which as
young soldier he had always wished to
see.
ing Civil War history, but in 1872, as
one of the pioneers of the Middle West
he opened and settled a large tract of
land In Nebraska.
The buffalo were beginning to
leave that part of the country then"
he reminisced. "but scattered far and
wide over the prairies one could see
their skeletons and hides, which had
been left there by the Indian hunters"
-Four years ago, past his eighty fifth
year, Mr.. Lathrop had his left leg
crushed while working on his Nebraska
farm and was obliged to have the limb
amputated. About the same time he
lost his eyesight, which had been fail
ing for several years.
Cheerful and Entertaining.
Despite his handicaps, he Is cheerful
and entertaining and gets more pleasure
out of life than many q youngster of
the present generation.
II take interest in all public, social,
religious and scientific subjects" he ex-
planned, "and in all things which lead
to the progress Of people. Although I
cannot read, enjoy my radio, particu-
larly the speeches. 1t does not make
any difference on what side the speaker
may stand, like to hear all sides of
the question. like to get facts and
information"
Mr.. Lathrop will be 80 years old in
July, and Is strong and healthy, and
takes much pleasure in the companion
ship Of his two daughters. Miss Edith
Lathrop and Mrs. Susan z. Myer, with
whom he makes his home. In addi-
ton to his daughters, Mr.. Lathrop has
one son, four grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.