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maintaining their independence as States that she ceased to celebrate, as in former times, the natal day of the "father of his country," who was indeed "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." On the other side, the northern people substituted Abraham Lincoln, Gen. Grant, and their subordinates, as characters of greatest concern.

Passing for a time the thrilling and awful experiences of the past third of a century, it seems fitting that we all should recur to our Washington and take mutual pride in the fame that he established as an American citizen.

The distinguished son of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington was born February 22, 1732, near Bridge's Creek, in Westmoreland County, Va. When baby George was three years old, his father moved his family to a place on the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg, then a village. When George was eleven. years old his father died, leaving a family of young children and a fine estate to the care of his widow, Mary, whose exemplary career has been the pride of Americans for a century and a half. Subsequently, Mrs. Washington moved into Fredericksburg. Visitors to the historic place are ever delighted to find the house in which she lived in excellent preservation. They may also see a monument, erected within

MT. VERNON FRONT.-THE HOME

a past year or so, upon a beautiful spot in a suburb of the town, which was a favorite resort by her. The mother of Washington reared two step-sons, four of her own, George being the eldest, and a daughter.

Mt. Vernon, when George Washington was in his teens, belonged to his half-brother, Lawrence, who took much pride in and advanced him in every possible way. He wanted to make George a midshipman in the British navy, but Joseph Ball, Esq., his uncle, who had studied law in London, opposed it; and so, instead, the young gentleman became a civil engineer. When but sixteen years of age, he was given important appointments by Lord Fairfax to survey extensive landed estates, and afterwards, through the Fairfax influence, he was made the Public Surveyor.

George Washington was in his twenty-first year when his brother Lawrence died, leaving him in charge of an infant daughter, and his sole heir if the child should die. He had a year or so before his death procured the position for George of AdjutantGeneral for the Northern District of Virginia. Fortune favored Washington in every way. He possessed wealth and fine military prominence at an early age. He was fond of, and, of course, popular

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Interior St. Peter's Church, Virginia, where Washington married Martha Curtis, January 6, 1759.

with the first ladies of his time. It is said that he was in love with Miss Mary Bland, who afterwards became the wife of "Light Horse Harry" and the mother of Robert E. Lee. Now and then critics have insinuated against Washington's morality, but his life of heroic sacrifice marks him an upright.

When the Revolution began, Washington was, of course, a Rebel and concurred with Mr. Gadsden of South Carolina upon the determination to stand upon the broad ground of "Natural Rights." Resistance to Great Britain, it may be recalled, was strongest from North Carolina. Massachusetts, however, led in the declaration that "a king who violates the chartered rights of his people forfeits their allegiance."

The story of the Revolution with Washington as the military leader is well known. The "Rebel" flag was the "stars and stripes." In this connection, it is consistent to revive a bit of history that should have universal acceptance. In promulgating the patriotic Declaration of Independence, we should not fail to

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give the highest praise to North Carolina for having done the same thing at Mecklenberg, May 29, 1775. more than a year before July 4, 1776. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution to the Congress that "the United Colonies ought, of right, to be free and independent States." Washington was very persistent in his plea for declaration of independence "to secure foreign alliance."

because he commanded successfully the defensive army, but his patriotism induced sacrifices involving his entire personal estate, straining his credit to the utmost, and, when the war ended he was reimbursed for the amount paid out by him nearly fifteen thousand pounds, but he neither charged nor received any pay for his services.

Our President Davis, and our General Lee had a model in Washington. When Mr. Davis is being criticised for not making terms sooner, let it be remembered that our prospects for success were hardly as hopeless as were those of Washington's army. Gen. Lee followed quite often the methods of his noble, self-denying example. Hear Washington when resigning his commission to the Congress: "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God. Washington's career as President is not reviewed here.

The writer will be pardoned for expressing much sentiment upon this theme. His father was given the honored name Washington, and in his death left on boyhood's memory a very similar face. His first article for the press was written about a trip to Mt. Vernon, a little more than twenty-five years ago.

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Frances Tavern, corner Broad and Pearl street, N. Y., in second floor, corner room, Washington parts with his officers, Dec. 4, 1783.

It is well to re-read the story of the Revolutionary war occasionally. The final success of American arms under Washington, must have been providential. When we consider how disobedience of orders by subordinates caused disasters, the incompetency and treachery of others whom he had trusted, at times of sorest depression, and then the inefficiency of the Continental Congress, the results seem indeed miraculous. No other event, perhaps, in the war was so shocking to Washington as the action of Benedict Arnold, who possessed not only his confidence but his affectionate regard. It depressed him sorely.

Washington had to be much more self-reliant than did Lee or Grant at any period of our later and greater war The capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown was an achievement very similar to those of "Stonewall Jackson's way," when he dashed so often upon the Union forces unexpectedly and with such disastrous results to them.

When the great war was over, and the hero was present before Congress to make a final report, he gave expression of the patriotism, and the unselfishness that had marked his career from the beginning. He recommended in particular those who had continued with him in the service as "worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress," and he considered it an indispensable duty to close the last act of his official life by "commending the interest of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping." It is well to review the career of Washington, and the men of the South, yes, and the men of the New England too, for they did noble service. New England then was made up of a people much more similar to the South than it is now.

Washington was the father of the country not only

MT. VERNON VAULT-FOR GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON.

But for the inspiration of that visit there would doubtless never have been founded a CONFEDERATE VETERAN, anyhow by the writer. He had the honor of being Commissioner for Tennessee to the centennial celebration of King's Mountain, (October 7, 1880), and has ever been gratified with John W. Daniel's great oration on that occasion. He was at the centennial centennial celebration of Yorktown, heard the oration by Mr. Winthrop, and heard Mr. Blaine read the order of the President, that the British flag be saluted, and there witnessed such an exhibition of firing from war ships as he had not witnessed in our four years of war. He witnessed the centennial celebration of Washington's first inauguration as President on the Sub-treasury steps in New York, marked then by a superb statue of Washington. was gratified to witness the homage paid that Virginian, that great Statesman and patriot, by hundreds. of thousands. He has admired many statues of Wash

ington, and that magnificent monument in Richmond. Let us all learn lessons from the life of Washington, who without example or guide established principles upon which so much of liberty and happiness have been enjoyed.

All honor to Washington! Let the Capitol be gilded and beautified while liberty lasts, and let that marble mark on the sky, the highest monument ever erected, stand as grateful tribute for sixty millions, and their children's children to the end of time.

LAST BATTLES OF THE WAR.-Continued.

B. L. Ridley's notes from his journal, dated at Smithfield, N. C., March 26, 1865.-General Bragg has been relieved from duty, it is said, at his own request, and his command, composed of a few North Carolina reserves and Hoke's division, have been turned over to Hardee. This gives Hardee now a good command. Gen. Bragg still commands Department of North Carolina, and left yesterday for Raleigh. No moving. Orders anxiously awaiting the development of Sherman's movements. Dr. Lowe White tells me that he has just heard of the death of his father, mother, and little brother, caused by some disguised assassin, near Big Springs, Wilson county, Tenn.— Oh, the lingering agonies of the war!

March 27th. Generals Cheatham, Clayton, and Walthall visited us this morning, and had their minds quieted about the transportation which has created so much anxiety for fear of excessive reduction. Sent out this morning to learn the topography of this vicinity. This afternoon went with General Stewart to depot, where we found Col. Allison, a Tennessee Cavalry man, on his way westward with the body of his son, who was killed a day or two ago near Goldsboro, trying to rescue some nice ladies from the clutches of the enemy. We saw a squad of forty yanks, their prisoners. From their brazen looks, they consider us virtually whipped, and that our complete overthrow is only a question of time. Numbers may subdue, but cannot conquer. Capt. Charles F. Vanderford, ordinance officer is relieved from duty with us, and now an assistant to army ordinance officer. We had a telegram from Gen. R. E. Lee this morning. He says that Gordon took two lines of the enemies' breast works, but was compelled to give them up before night, and also the eight pieces of artillery they had captured. It was yesterday stated officially that Maj. Gen. Howell Cobb was in command of Department of Tennessee and North Georgia, lately commanded by Gen. Hood.

March 28th.-Visited Raleigh to get an overcoat. No one but a North Carolinian allowed to call upon the State Quartermaster, but soldier-like I called upon Gov. Vance-claimed kinship to North Carolina on account of its being my father's birthplace. Old Governor Vance was so taken with my cheek that I got the order to his Quartermaster for the smuggled goods.

March 29th.-Spent last night at Yarborough House-miserably kept, and board $55.00 per day. The Capitol is made of imported granite, and excels any in the South, Tennessee Capitol excepted. The population of Raleigh nears five thousand. Maj. Hooper, Quartermaster, was exceedingly kind, and

permitted me to buy an overcoat and a suit of gray clothes. Returned to camp, only to be scolded by Cols. Sevier and Gale, because I neglected them.

March 30th.-Lieut. Terry Cahal returned this evening from a long leave of absence, and brings us the intelligence that our wagons, which were left at Tupelo in February, will be here next week. He speaks of the kind treatment of the South Carolinians towards him. Visited pickets to-day, by order of the General; found them attentive.

To digress. Our troops took trains at Tupelo, Miss., after retreating from Nashville, and went via Mobile, Montgomery, and Augusta; footed it through Edgefield, Newbery, and Chester districts, S. C.; thence boarded cars via Saulsbury, Greensboro, Raleigh to Smithfield to intercept Sherman, leaving our transportation behind. It was a quick movement to divert Sherman's course, hence we only got to Bentonville with fragments of commands, and made Smithfield the connecting point for the new organization.

March 31st.-Gen. Hood's report of operations. from the time of his taking command at Atlanta until his succession by Johnston has just been received. He abuses a great many for tardiness and dereliction of duty, and, I think, some unjustly. Lieut. Gen. S. D. Lee arrived this evening with some of his troops. The balance fast coming-about six thousand. This will swell our ranks greatly, and besides there are about 2,000 at Augusta, that have collected since he left.

April 1st.-Senator Wigfall, of Texas, arrived at Johnston's quarters to day. Maj. Gens John C. Brown, of Tennessee, and Patton Anderson, of Florida, reached us with a portion of their commands. Both had been absent on account of wounds; Brown's last wound was received at Franklin, on the 30th of November, 1864; Anderson's at Marietta.

April 2d.-Stoneman, it is said, is attempting to reach the railroad, near Salisbury. Young's brigade of cavalry are sent to meet him, and the soldiers that Lee brought from Augusta are halted there. A cordial reception awaits him. Heard to-day that Johnston had preferred charges against Hood for misrepresentations in his report.

April 3d.-To-day one or two other brigades of cavalry have gone after Stoneman. Hardee reviewed his corps of army this morning-Gen. Johnston witnessed it. The post office of the army arrived yesterday, glad news. Peace rumors rife again, but laughed at here. laughed at here. Fighting supposed to be going on both at Mobile and Richmond. We have been living for some days on shad, caught near Smithfield, excellent to one unaccustomed to them.

April 4th.-I witnessed to-day the saddest spectacle of my life, the review of the skeleton Army of Tennessee, that but one year ago was replete with men, and now filed by with tattered garments, worn out shoes, barefooted, and ranks so depleted that each color was supported by only thirty or forty men. Desertion, sickness, deaths, hardships, perils and vi cissitudes demonstrated themselves too plainly upon that old army not to recur back to its history. Oh, what a contrast between the Dalton review and this one! The march of the remnant was so slow-colors tattered and torn with bullets-it looked like

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funeral procession. The countenance of every spectator who saw both reviews was depressed and dejected, and the solemn, stern look of the soldiery was so impressive-Oh! it is beginning to look dark in the east, gloomy in the west, and like almost a lost hope when we reflect upon that review of to-day!

April 5th.-The shades of sorrow are gathering upon us-horrible rumors! We to-day have heard of the distressing news that the fall of Richmoud took place the first day of this month-understand that all the archives of the State were destroyed, and that in the engagement Lieut. Gen. A. P. Hill was killed or captured. Heavens, at the gloom and how terrible our feelings! A city that has been protected for four years now to succumb to the world's minions-Lee has to give up and leave the bones of our braves behind. About the three days' fight we have not yet heard. It must be a great relief to Grant to break up Lee's lines about Richmond, "but it is death to the frog." Wigfall's comment upon Hood's report was very severe.

Captain George B. Guild, present Mayor of Nashville, disagrees with Captain Ridley in his Diary, as published in the January VETERAN.

He refers to the closing scenes of the battle of Bentonsville, N. C., on the evening of the 21st of March, 1865, where the diary reports 66 * * * the enemy in large numbers appearing on our left flank was about to capture the bridge across the large creek in our rear, which was the only means of escape of our army, at which critical moment Capt. Ridley says: "Cummings' Brigade, commanded by Colonel Henderson, of the 42d Georgia, charged the enemy, driving them back," etc.

Now, Mr. Editor, if there is any thing on earth that an old soldier is jealous of, it is the reputation his command made during the war, and he will not sit quietly by and see the honors that it won given to others. I would not detract one particle from the gallantry of Cummings' Brigade, but if they were present at this particular crisis I did not see them: and there are a score or more of old soldiers in this city who were on the ground and participated in the movement, and will verify my version of the affair. About 3 o'clock on the evening in question, Gen. Mowers' division of the Federal Army had advanced so far and unexpectedly on our left-rear as to threaten the bridge. Everything was in great confusion. Gen. Hardee came rushing down the road, and the first troops he came across was a portion of the Texas brigade (the 8th Texas and the 4th Tennessee cavalry regiments) commanded by Col. Baxter Smith. He at once ordered Col. Smith to charge the enemy, which he did in gallant style, with these two regiments, throwing Mowers' division into confusiou and driving them back some distance. Then before they could recover from the suddenness of the attack or could realize that it was but a small troop of cavalry, some of our infantry cam upon the scene and held them in check until the army could recross the bridge, which it did hastily that evening and night. Gen. Hardee accompanied us a portion of the way in the charge, and his son was killed at the head of our command.

We have read from other sources than Capt. Rid

ley, his version of the affair, but the important part taken by the 8th Texas and the 4th Tennessee, as we have detailed it, is correct.

A YOUTH'S COMPOSITION UPON ROBT. E. LEE.

Master John Wilcox, Jr., age twelve, in "Seventh Class" Nisbet School, Macon, Ga., January 18, 1895:

GEN. ROBERT E. LEE.

Robert Edward Lee was born in Stratford, Westmoreland County, Va., January 19, 1807.

His father's name was Richard Henry Lee, better known as "Light Horse Harry." When Robert was a boy he was kind, thoughtful and truthful. His teacher said that it was a pleasure to teach him because he behaved so well.

Every day after school he would come home, hitch the horses to the. buggy, arrange the cushions, put his mother tenderly in and take her to ride. His father died when he was only eleven years old, and his sister was off at school. He gave out the meals, attended to the farm, and saw that the horses were taken care of. His mother said that he was both son and daughter to her.

He received his education at the West Point Military School. He graduated in the year 1829 without receiving a single reprimand and standing second in a class of forty-six, when he was put on the engineer corps and sent to Florida to build forts.

At the beginning of the Mexican War he was assigned to duty as chief engineer of the army under Gen. Wool, as captain. His abilities as an engineer and his conduct as a soldier won the special recognition of Gen. Scott, who attributed the fall of Vera Cruz to his skill.

When the civil war broke out he was asked to command the United States Army, but he said that he owed his first duty to his State. He wrote to the governor of Virginia and told him that he was at his service. He was then placed in command of the Army of Virginia, and was afterwards made commander in chief of the Confederate Army. He fought bravely for four years, but at last was forced to surrender his army of eight thousand men to one hundred and fifty thousand. hundred and fifty thousand. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House, on April 9, 1865.

He died at Lexington, Virginia, October 12, 1870, after a useful life and a brave career, leaving a legacy of the grandest figure in modern history.

LETTER WITH THIRTY-FOUR DOLLARS.

Gen. H. B. Stoddard, Bryan, Tex., February 11: The inclosed list and money order is the result of the united work of Maj. J. W. Tabor, Drum Sergt. J. W. Johnson, and Adjt. S. M. Derden. I am instructed by these comrades to say that this list will be added to from time to time, and we hope to make the number at least seventy-five. As heretofore, no commission is charged, but if you desire, you might send a copy to Col. B. G. Baldwin, at this place, who at one time was Chief of Ordnance on the staff of Gen. R. E. Lee, and to whom fortune has not been kind since the days he wore the gray. A more gallant officer never led a charge or faced a foe.

GEORGE PEABODY TO THE SOUTH.

HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY OF THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST.

Few Americans pay respect to the memory of a man a quarter century after his death. The birth day of George Washington is four days later in the month than that of George Peabody, (63 years before) but this February VETERAN honors both.

GEORGE PEABODY.

Mr. Peabody was born Feb. 18, 1795. While Washington was of the South, and Peabody of New England, the latter who had lived among our fathers was broad enough in his patriotism and philantrophy to give more to the South, because of her misfortunes by the war, than any man of any section.

On the twentieth anniversary of Mr. Peabody's death, Nov. 4, 1889, Dr. William H. Payne, Chancellor and President of the Peabody Normal College, with which important position the College is still benefited by his ability and zeal, delivered a memorial address, extracts from which are here given: Twenty years ago to day there died in the city of London, at the age of seventy-four, a man whose fame as a philanthropist has filled two continents, and in whose history we have a peculiar and personal interest. On that day a midnight message was flashed across ocean and continent, and struck sadness into the hearts of tens of thousands in Europe and America, where manifold deeds of mercy and charity had made this man loved.

A day or two later there was opened in the world's proudest burial place, Westminster Abbey, a temporary resting place for the mortal remains of this

merchant prince. At the funeral services the Queen of England was represented by General Gray, and among the mourners were the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Gladstone, the Prime Minister, the Lord Mayor, sheriffs and undersheriffs of London; and among the carriages that had followed the remains from Eaton Square were those of the Queen and the Prince of Wales. What other American, what other merchant, had ever received such a burial? To be mourned by the ruler, the princes, and the statesmen of a foreign nation, and to receive burial beside the kings, queens, statesmen, and men of letters of a long procession of centuries, in the noblest sanctuary yet reared by the hand of man-this surely was a tribute of respect and homage rarely paid to a plain citizen, and we may well feel a conscious pride in the fact that the man whose memory was thus honored was an American.

And a little later there was another scene in this funeral drama whose solemn grandeur has never been surpassed. The remains of The remains of this "philanthropist of two worlds" were to be conveyed to the land of his birth, and the vessel set apart for this service was the "Monarch," the noblest vessel in the Queen's navy; "and he who began life as a grocer's boy was to be borne to his transatlantic grave on as proud a bier as any dead king could have." To give added grandeur and dignity to this funeral cortege across the sea, the "Monarch" had for consorts an American and a French vessel that had been detailed for this service. Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, who was from the first the President of the Peabody Board of Trust until his death, said in the funeral oration:

Who, certainly, can contemplate the immediate close of this extraordinary life without rejoicing not only that it was so painless, so peaceful, so happy in itself; not only that it was so providentially postponed until he had been enabled once more to revisit his native land to complete his great American benefactions, to hold personal intercourse with those friends at the South, for whose welfare the largest and most cherished of these benefactions were designed, and to take solemn leave of those to whom he was bound by so many ties of affection or of blood; but that it occurred at a time and under circumstances so peculiarly fortunate for attracting the largest attention and for giving the widest impression and influence to his great and inspiring example?

Mr. Peabody's parentage was humble, though he came of sturdy, English stock, "with honesty ingrained in every fiber." grained in every fiber." While yet a mere boy he became a grocer's clerk in Danvers. Thence at the age of eleven he went to Newburyport and engaged in business with his older brother; but in consequence of a fire in 1811 he went to Georgetown, D. C., and spent some time. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812, and for a brief period served his country as a common soldier. He became a partner with his uncle Riggs in the wholesale drapery business. In 1815 they removed to Baltimore, where there was a rapid increase in the volume of business. In 1837 he became a merchant and banker in London, and a few years later he was counted one of the world's merchant princes.

Further, in Dr. Payne's memorial address, he said: If George Peabody were now living, I feel sure that

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