USA > Virginia > Post-bellum campaigns of the blue and gray, 1881-1882 > Part 3
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General Campbell's address was received with loud applause.
General Peyton Wise was called upon, and spoke as follows :
" DEAR SIRS :- I find, at the last moment, that I am able to unite with you in meeting and greeting a Post of the Grand Army of the Republic which comes from New Jersey to-day. I
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am, as you know, a veteran of the Army of Northern Virginia, and I am heartily glad to be able to tell, with you, to these veter- ans of the Northern Army, how gladly and with our whole hearts we welcome them to the soil of Virginia.
"It is high testimony to the strength and virtue of the Ameri- can character, and to the intelligence and christian impulses of the American people, that those who have ravaged the fields of Virginia and desolated her firesides in defence of their idea of American Union, should be able to-day to meet in happy accord, which is auspicious of more solid and endearing union, with those of us who tried hard at the same period of time to 'welcome them with bloody hands to hospitable graves,' in maintenance of our idea of Southern liberty and Confederate independence.
"There are those who would tell us that we must not recur to the past. I say, yes! a thousand times yes! Let us talk of it again and again, face to face with each other, as often as possible ; recount the sacrifices and the deeds of which both are proud, and of which brave men have a right to be proud, and to sing with glad acclaim without immodesty. Happy are the brave men who have fought each other, and who, by the mutual discovery of their respective courage, have learned to respect each other. Respect is the broadest and surest foundation of love, and that love has come and will grow into a great tree which will cover and protect from storm hereafter the common country. The sword that once leaped from both our hands, hot and hissing through the air, consecrated to curses and to vengence, shall be the very bond of peace, and the instrument upon which we will swear, standing by a common altar, eternal fidelity to the common country. It shall only be taken down hereafter in defence of the common Union against domestic enemies, or, better still, against those from abroad who would endeavor to interrupt the peace and welfare of these United States.
"Let us to-day, standing beside that mournful bier, whereon rested the great and honored victim of the most felon stroke that was ever struck against the liberties of the American people, and whereby we stand in tears, that flow in no divided stream, and standing, too, in the midst of the common joy which prevails to-
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day over the establishment of American independance by our common fathers, swear, each to the other, that we will be brothers hereafter, and veterans as we are, of hitherto opposing armies, that we shall be sturdy still as soldiers in the common defence of the great Union which belongs to us all.
"I am the brother of every man at Sanger Halle to-day."
General Wise's speech was received with an outburst of applause from the assemblage: partic- ularly from the guests.
Hon. John Hart Brewer was called upon and responded. He said :
"MY FELLOW CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA :
" Allow me to express my entire satisfaction and pleasure with the courtesy of your invitation to Wilkes Post to visit you, as well as with your generous reception and entertainment here to-day.
" We are here, old soldiers of the greatest war of modern times ; and while we are citizens of two of the original thirteen States, and can celebrate with loyalty, honesty and truth, the centennials of Monmouth, Princeton and Trenton, of Camden, Cowpens and Yorktown, do not let us deceive ourselves or each other ; let us be honest. We people of the North believe that you people of the South committed one of the greatest crimes possible to commit in a free government. There seems to us no excuse for your firing on the old flag. We are here to-day to excuse it. You believed we trampled upon the rights of States, and intended to deprive you of what was then property, and I know by this reception that you desire to excuse and forgive and forget. Because we learned to respect each other's bravery and valor on bloody battle fields is no sign of itself that we are true friends. You know there is but very little pure, unadulterated disinterestedness in this world, and after all we desire to be friends, because we feel that public and private prosperity comes only with peace and reconciliation. Just such gatherings as this will aid us, will bring a union of hearts, a union of hands-what loyalty and truth demands. Then will we be kind to each other, then will we know each other
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and feel a common interest in the institutions and industries of the land, and pave the way for a perfect understanding. We take you by the hand, we look you in the eye, we think of the great governmeat that that old flag represents, and we know we must forgive and forget.
"Now, it's not only our duty to be friends socially, but we must be friends politically ; this can only be accomplished by free schools, free discussion, free immigration, a free ballot and fair count, for all her citizens all over this broad land, North as well as South. We must not only work for what we believe to be the interest of our section, but we must obey the laws and uphold the dignity of the United States, and love the flag, that emblem of all that's great and enduring on earth, a free government by a free people. But we are now all citizens of this great Republic, and have a common interest in it and in each other. We are all proud of the wealth centered in the well watered hills and fertile valleys of the North and of the illimitable and abundant plains of the West; and do we not all look with an American pride at the richness of the Sunny South, her undeveloped material resources ? The brawny muscles of her colored sons, and the vigor and nerv- ous energy of her white population, betoken, in the near future, a development equal to the abundance and wealth of the busy North. We are not jealous of this; we only fear that you will not grasp the situation and develope it soon enough. What we all wish is a country ' the first on earth' in all her material re- sources and developments, a country with every mine and every hillside, valley, plain, water-way developed and contributing to the vastness, greatness and glory of us all. Is not this our coun- try-did we not win it-have we not preserved it-and is it not possible that the 'late unpleasantness' has contributed to cement and perpetuate it? All we need is a commendable American pride, a pride that says America for Americans-(I mean all her citizens). Let us develop all her mineral, mechanical and manu- facturing resources, and then will follow intelligence, culture, re- finement, loyalty, law and order-a unity of purpose, a union of States, and last, but not least, a resource for Almighty God, who created and provided for us all."
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The band discoursed some fine selections, after which Judge James Buchanan was called upon and addressed the assemblage. Among other things he said :
" We come to you a band of wandering pilgrims, from historic grounds to historic grounds, from the battle field of Trenton to the battle fields of Virginia. We are here and we greet you because we are citizens of the proudest country on earth. We come to you as men who are proud of the courage and valor you displayed upon the field of battle in defence of your convictions. *
* * Do you know why this was continued for four long years? It was because Americans met Americans, and 'when Greek meets Greek then comes the tug of war.'"
Remarks were also made by Captain E. H. Mur- phy, Adam Exton, Esq., and Dr. Minster, of Phil- adelphia. This concluded the banquet, after which the guests were taken in charge by their hosts and escorted on a tour of inspection to the several points of interest in the city.
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CHAPTER VI.
Farewell to the few I have left with regret,
'May they sometimes recall what I cannot forget, That communion of heart and that parley of soul Which has lengthen'd our nights, and illumined our bowl. Moore.
Tuesday was spent in visiting the city and sur- roundings. It is not the intention of this book to give a detailed account of personal experiences. The members of the Ex-Confederate organizations proved themselves hosts most hospitable and cha- perons most courteous. They were determined that there should be no cause to complain of neglect in anything that would go to make up a visit of the pleasantest description, and it was evident that their intention was that the "Boys in Blue " should carry away with them nothing but the most agreeable recollections of their sojourn in Richmond. They placed themselves altogether at the service of their guests, and it was found, to the great regret of the campaigners, that " North- ern " money was not current, at least on that occasion or in the possession of men who wore the blue uniform of the Grand Army. There was a time when this was otherwise, but, as has been already said, there has been a change. Every- thing was free, and when refreshment or any
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other article was ordered by a Grand Army man, and an attempt made to pay for it, the universal reply was, "That's been settled for." So it was with everything, and had it not been for the re- spect inspired by the kindness and geniality of the reception, and the fact that the members of Wilkes Post were captives, there might have been a row. However, the men, although they questioned "Must I endure all this?" and were answered " All this! Ay, more," determined that, some time or other, they would be revenged and pay their captors in their own coin.
The visitors divided into squads and, under the guidance of one or more of their hosts, some in carriages and others on foot, visited the places which their several inclinations prompted. The doors of the Industrial Exhibition were thrown open, through the kindness of Captain H. C. Jones, and here the fair ladies of the city kindly greeted the members of the Post who had accepted the invitation to examine the numerous and interest- ing display of the productions of the South. The Commercial Club, old Libby Prison, Belle Isle, the State Capitol, the extensive tobacco warehouses and manufactories, Hollywood, where twelve thou- sand Confederates sleep surrounded by those for whom they died, their graves tended with care and watered by the tears of friends and mourning relatives; the " Old Stone House," the oldest house in the city, where, it is said, Washington, Lafa-
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yette and other men of note had lodged, were visited. It would be impossible to describe the many places to which the visitors were conveyed, and the many kindnesses extended to them. The defenses of the city, and the surrounding bat- tle fields, were also points of interest which a number of the Veterans took the opportunity to
view once again. There was no "rest for the weary " on Tuesday night, and but little sleep fell to the lot of either hosts or guests. The fighting of battles o'er again was in order, and a glorious time they had of it. The Ex-Confederates and Grand Army men exchanged badges as tokens of friendship, and when Wednesday morning came if one judged by the badges that were worn, the " Boys in Blue " would have been set down for the "Boys in Gray," and vice versa. Such a display of the Stars and Bars as were seen upon the bosoms of the members of Aaron Wilkes Post had never been seen before upon the persons of Federal soldiers, and the Ex-Confederates, learning that the Grand Army badges were made from captured can- non, were delighted to obtain them as mementoes.
It was the intention, in fact orders had been issued, to have all of Wilkes Post on board the " Gratitude " on Wednesday morning, but, owing to the inducements and attractions, the kindness and fraternal regard which the old soldiers had formed for each other, orders were disobeyed, and the hour of departure was postponed until noon.
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By noon the scene upon the wharf at " Rockett's" was an affecting one. The new made friends must say farewell. There were hand shakings, long and earnest-pledges of eternal regard and re- membrances that will last through time, and maybe, for who knows, will endure even when time shall be no more and the great mystery has been solved. The order was given " All aboard," and then the last adieu was said. If ever there was regret at parting, it was on this occasion. Old foes, in so short a time, had become as old friends. They are brothers of a common band, and had accomplished a feat that will endure and do more good than can well be measured at this time. All this had been done-
And then to part ! to part when Time Has wreathed his tireless wings with flowers, And spread the richness of a clime Of fairy o'er this land of ours. When glistening leaves and shaded streams In the soft light of autumn lay,
And, like the music of our dreams, The viewless breezes seem'd to stray- 'Twas bitter then to rend the heart With the sad thought that we must part ; And, like some low and mournful spell, To whisper but one word-farewell.
At last all are aboard, and the "Gratitude" slowly leaves the wharf, amid the cheers of those who are left behind responded to by those on board. The band is playing, and as the shore is gradually
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becoming more distant, and the cheering is be- coming more indistinct, as hands and hats are waving, a turn in the river shuts out the manly, generous and noble hosts from view. The promise made of "a soldier's greeting" was fulfilled, and those who participated in the visit to Richmond, it is safe to say, will never forget or regret it.
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CHAPTER VII.
" Thus far our fortune keeps an onward course, And we are graced with wreaths of victory."-Shakspeare.
Yorktown is reached about ten o'clock on Thurs- day morning, and the "Gratitude," a very pigmy in comparison with the huge men of war and transports that lay anchored in the river, resplen- dent with flags, steams on swiftly to the wharf. On debarking the Post was formed in line; the members bearing the Corps flags, and presenting a very imposing appearance. Comrade Mac- kechney, of "Ours," one of the employees of the Quartermaster General's department, who had gone to prepare the camp, look after stores, &c., met the Post on its arrival, and escorted it to the Camp of the New Jersey Battalion, nearly three miles distant, over a road covered with dust almost ankle deep. The great military review is in pro- gress. The soldiers of the North and South are here united. The troops of sixteen States and the governors of ten are present upon the field. On arriving at the Camp of the New Jersey Battalion, the Corps flags were placed in the tent of Major Donnelly, who was likewise Commander of the Post. Ranks were broken, and the members went upon tours of inspection wherever fancy or inclina-
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tion led them. Meanwhile, after the review, the N. G. N. J. return to camp, and the members of the Post experience the hospitalities of Majors Donnelly, and Yard, D. Q. M. A photograph of a group of about half the members of the Post was taken in front of Major Donnelly's tent. Wink- ler's Band discoursed some of its choicest selec- tions in its most admirable style, and the line of march was taken up for the wharf.
On the route to the boat lays the camp of the First Virginia Regiment, and here a halt is made. The band tenders the representatives of our Rich- mond friends the compliment of a serenade. The officers of the Post are introduced to those of the regiment.
Commander Campbell, upon being introduced to Hon. John A. Wise, son of the ex-governor of ' that name, made a brief address, to which Mr. Wise responded, substantially as follows :
"Soldiers, in behalf of the old soldiers of Virginia, allow me to thank you for this cordial expression of your feeling of patriotic love. The happiest moments of my life are now being realized by the meeting together of the Blue and Gray. If you think there are any among us who entertain any feeling of hatred toward you, whom many of us, perhaps, have met face to face upon the field of battle, you must discard that thought. We love you all the more. We fought for what we deemed was right, and were beaten, but we are to-day as loyal to the old flag and the institutions of national liberty, integrity and freedom, as yourselves, and God grant that the ties of patriotic devotion to country, and the maintenance of the principles as established upon this sacred spot a hundred years ago, and handed down to us by our forefathers,
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may grow stronger and stronger, and that future generations may say that we are then as now, the greatest and most patriotic coun- try upon the face of the earth. This great gathering together of the soldiers from all sections of the country, upon the historic battle fields of Yorktown, and the interchange of friendly feelings with each other, will do more to bind us together in one common brotherhood as American citizens than a hundred years of war or peace. Let us all strive to do our whole duty as citizens. Let us vie with each other as to who will do the most to build up our country upon a basis of honesty, loyalty and integrity, and if each will do the best he can, we have no fears of the future."
After remarks by E. H. Murphy, Esq., Captain Richard Wise, also a son of ex-Governor Wise, said :
" I was a soldier in the Confederate army, and I did all I could to bring victory to our arms. I served from the beginning of the war to its close, at Appomattox, and I am proud of the fact. My heart and soul was in the cause. I am not ashamed of any- thing I did. But the war is over, and all true soldiers will bury ยท the hatchet. It is not those who stood in the front line of battle and bared their breasts to receive the deadly shot, in defence of their principles, who are keeping alive the issues of the past, but it is the 'skulker'-he who followed the army, out of range of the rifle, and rifled the pocket of the dead soldier, and turned his pocket inside out expecting to find a gold watch. I say it is the political 'camp follower,' the 'army beat,' the coward, who was always sick when a battle took place, who is doing all the blowing now. We, the true soldiers of the South, love, as you soldiers of the North do, to come together and talk over the experiences of our army life. I loved and admired the genius of Lee, the dashing courage of Jackson, the bull-dog pluck of Grant, and the bravery and fidelity of the private soldier, and now, that the war is over, we must be as good citizens as we were soldiers. United we are a great people, and if we get into trouble with any foreign nation, it would be better for them to settle the differences by arbitration, for, if it comes to a conflict of arms, the southern soldier, side by
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side with the soldier of the North, will give them more than they want. The only thing I am sorry for is that the Confederacy did not hold on to the old stars and stripes. I advocated it in the beginning, because I love the old flag of our forefathers."
Farewell was bidden the "Old First," and in passing the camp of the "Veterans," a brief halt was made, the band played and short addresses were indulged in. After this the Post proceeded to the wharf and witnessed the naval review, and the departure, which had been fixed for the even- ing, was postponed to give an opportunity for witnessing the grand pyrotechnic display, which concluded the Centennial Celebration.
It may not be uninteresting, at this point, to give a brief account of the military review, in which the Jersey Battalion achieved a victory over the other competing military organizations ; and we cannot do better than to detail Colonel Elihu H. Robes of the Third Regiment, who was detailed by Governor Ludlow to perform that duty, to do so for the reader. He is hereby de- tailed, and will be obeyed, respected and thanked accordingly.
" The grand military review was appointed to take place on Thursday, the twentieth. It was the largest and most imposing gathering of troops that has been witnessed in this country since the great reviews of the Union armies in Washington at the close of the late civil war. Sixteen States were represented by the flower of their citizen
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/
soldiery ; the Army of the United States was re- presented by infantry, heavy artillery, light bat- teries and engineers; the Navy by seamen, ma- rines and marine light batteries ; and the survivors of the late war by a large detachment of disabled veterans from the Soldiers' Home near Fortress Monroe. The whole force, numbering about ten thousand troops, was under command of Major General Winfield S. Hancock, United States Army, who rode at the head of the column,
" Upon the grand stand were the President of the United States, his Cabinet, the representatives of the French and German Governments, the Gover- nors of the States of New Jersey, New York, Penn- sylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, and officers of their civil and military staffs ; the Gen- eral of the Army of the United States, many military and naval officers of high rank, and a large number of Senators, Representatives and distinguished citizens from various parts of the country.
"The column passed in review before the Presi- dent in the following order :
General Hancock and Staff. Second Artillery Band.
Four companies of the Second Artillery, and four companies of the Second Artillery armed as infantry.
Four companies of the First Artillery.
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The United States Marine Band. Four companies of the Marine Corps. Sailors of the flag-ship Franklin, with shovels and picks.
Sixteen companies of sailors from other ships in the harbor, armed as infantry.
Band from the flag-ship Franklin. Sailor boys from training ships, with eight Gatling guns.
Band of Veterans from the Soldiers' Home. Ten companies of the Chatham Artillery, from Georgia, with two guns captured from Cornwallis. Band and Drum Corps.
NEW JERSEY BATTALION, TEN COMPANIES INFANTRY. Band and Drum Corps.
First Delaware Regiment, six companies infantry. Band and Drum Corps. Pennsylvania National Guards. Band and Drum Corps.
Ninth Massachusetts, eight companies. Band and Drum Corps.
First Maryland Brigade, five companies. Band and Drum Corps.
Second Maryland Brigade, five companies. Band.
South Carolina Brigade, ten companies.
Band.
Third New Hampshire, three companies.
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Virginia Brigade, headed by General Fitz Hugh Lee, with mounted body guard of sixty men. Band. Virginia Military Institute Cadets, eight companies. Band and Drum Corps. First Corps Boston Cadets. Band. First Virginia Regiment, six companies. First Battalion Virginia Light Artillery, on foot, three companies. Band. Third Virginia Regiment, seven companies, infan- try. Band.
Fourth Virginia Regiment, eight companies, in- fantry, white and colored. Dodworth's Band and Drum Corps. Thirteenth Brooklyn, N. Y., nine companies. Drum Corps. Company D Veterans, Buffalo, N. Y. Band. First North Carolina Regiment, four companies. Washington Light Infantry, Charleston, four com- panies. Seven companies Second North Carolina Infantry. Band.
Second Battalion Rhode Island Infantry, three companies. Band.
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First Vermont Infantry, three companies. Band. Second Michigan Regiment, six companies. Band and Drum Corps.
First Connecticut Regiment, ten companies. Pennington's Battery, United States Gatling Guns, four pieces. St. Clair's Battery, four pieces.
" As the New Jersey Battalion approached the grand stand, their steady step, compact front, and perfect equipment and distances, drew forth round after round of enthusiastic applause. The effect was greatly heightened by the splendid and man- ifestly serviceable uniform, and the complete equipment of the men. The Battalion was in heavy marching order, with knapsacks, overcoats folded and strapped thereon, red blankets neatly rolled on top of the knapsacks, and haversacks, and even tin cups, all indicating plainly the readiness of our troops for active and immediate service whenever required. Every officer and every man seemed conscious that the credit of his State was, for the time, confided to his personal keeping. No regiment in the entire column drew forth such an outburst of applause from the spec- tators, and the opinion was freely expressed by military men whose State pride would naturally have led toward different conclusions, that the New Jersey troops had won the trophy.
"This proved to be the case, for the next day a
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