Newspaper Page Text
The Cartersville Courant-American.
■jVOL. VIII.
the CONFEDER A.TE HOME
The letter Which Led to the Movement
for its Establishment.
The following letter, by Col. Armstrong,
and published several weeks ago, was the
beginning of the grand movement for a
Confederate veterans’home in Georgia:
Editor Telegharh: The Telegraph
has always shown itself the- staunch
Friend and advocate of the claims of dis
abled Confederate veterans to a liberal j
acknowledgement at the hands of the j
hate governments and of private individ- j
ruls. An editorial in a recent issue of j
roir paper, osonipted bv the generous
response made by citizens of the North
to an appeal for aid from the tru's'ees of
he ‘‘Hood National Confederate Home”
it Austin, Texas, and the spirit maui
ested at the meeting recently held at the
Icadetny of Music, New York, in aid or
his enterprise, has doubtless been
-ead with approval by thousands of
four readers throughout the State.
The statement made in your article
that there are comparatively few of
;hese old veterans left to be cared for is
mdoubtedly correct; but the fact stated
n the papers that some 15,000 applica
tions from this class in Georgia alone,
under the pension act-approved by the
legislature, had already been acted
■Cm, and that several more were on file
■.waiting action, may occasion surprise
■is well as comment. It would be unfor
tunate if the source of the state bounty
■hould be cheeked, or the hand of private
■harity closed upon those maimed and
peedy veterans becaue their numbers hap
pens to exceed prior expectations or cal-
Bulations.
For this reason, and to prove the truth
ifyour assertion that there are few of
liem left as compared with the numbers
Actually engaged, from first to last, dur
kig tbeir four years of terrible service
Ind suffering, I propose to submit a few
Lets and figures not generally known or
Ippreciared, because not easily or readi-
I accessible. Eloquent appeals to pa
■•iotisni, gratitude and a sense of duty
1-e well enough in their way, but it is
lily descedding to minor details and
prticulars that areally correct estimate
B.U be formed of what were the trials of
■e Confederate soldier who did his duty
■ring the war, and why the survivors
Be entitled to substantial aid from their
■ore fortunate fellow countrymen. In
ping this I shall travel a little out of
■e beaten track by giving a few undeni
ple facts and figures. Which, rightly
fajyjgdered, may out-weigb a quarto vol
jtjfifltofeloquent and high-sounding ap
■t was the writer’s privilege to attend
B Cartersville, on 4he 10th of August
Bt, the seventh annual reunion of one
■the largest and most noted of all the
Borgia regiments that bore a part in
B war with the army of Northern Vir-
J*ia. This regiment was the Eighteenth
Bngia. It was organized early in June,
■l, and after remainingfor nearly two
Hntlm in a camp of instruction in Cobb
Binty, went to Virginia with an aver-
B* numtier of one hundred men, rank
Hf file, to each company, on its muster
His. Volunteer recruits were, at that
Bie, easily obtainable, particularly for
Hi regiment, and this rather unusual
Bub of was the result of an order from
Hadjutant-general’s office, issued while
Hamj), authorizing an increase of all
companies, from the regulation
to one hundred men before leav
■for the front.
o'v regiments of the Confederacy saw ,
■c of arduous service and hard fight
iduring the war than this'one. It is I
niy purpose, however, to go into any j
's history, but merely to state that j
rivations, sickness and death on the ;
reduced its numbers, the ranks;
id benjirtially and slowly filled again
ppjf&rnits and conscripts, so that it
id be within bounds to say, of at
: a majority of the two companies
posing the regiment that they bore
ieir company muster rolls, from first
st, an average number of one hun
and fifty men each before the close
e war. From these dates it is easy
ake an approximate estimate of thj;
her mustered into service during the
years of conflict through this one
nent alone.
w for the truth of your statement
comparatively few of these old vet
8, and in particular the disabled
, are left to be relieved by public
ity or by private benevolence. A t
late reunion of the survivors of
regiment above mentioned, there
just ninety-nine in number present,
included the remnant of the field,
ell as subordinate officers and pri-
The secretary of the association,
• 0. W . Maddox, of Cartersville, who
held this office for the past seven
i, and bus been indefatigable in his
,s to obtain a full and correct roster
survivors of the regiment, re-
he had thus far succeeded in
uing and registering the names of
nore than one hundred and fifty of
i rank and grade! Doubtless there
tthers whom he had not succeeded in
hearing from or reaching by correspond
ence, but the number of these cannot be
large, since eight of the ten companies in
the regiment were from upper Georgia
counties within a radius of not more
than from fifty to seventy-five miles from
Atlanta. Of the 150 names known to
and registered by the secretary, the num
ber actually disabled by wounds received
in battle was not accurately known, but
it could not have been very large, since
of the ninety-nine in attendance not
more than a dozen or fifteen of this class
were present. The proportion of those,
however, whose health and bodily
strength had been undermined by hard
ships and exposure, and by wounds not
permanently disabling, was much great
er, though lain not aware that this lat
ter class came within the purview of the
pension acts passed by the legislature.
It would be safe to say, however, that
fully one-fourth of these old veterans
present at this reunion, would have long
since been in the receipt of comfortable
pensions under the Federal pension laws.
To go a little further into details, the
writer will now chronicle a fact or two
relative to the history of one company
in this regiment with whose record he
was perfectly familiar. This was the
“Dooly Light Infantry,” known in the
[ regiment as Company I. This company
entered the service from the camp of in
struction with fully one hundred men,
rank and file. Like a. majority of the
other companies, it bore upon its muster
rolls from first to last, during its four
years of service, upwards of 150 names.
Four years ago the writer made an ef
fort to ascertain the names of all the
survivors of this once numerous and
gallant company. Of all the names once
borne on its rolls, those of only twenty
six survivors could be counted up, after
dilligent inquiry and effort. Of course,
in this case, as in that of the regiment,
some few names may have escaped in
quiry and recollection, but. with the as
sistance he had these could have been
but few.
These are some of the minor facts and
statistics connected with the war which
one will look for in vain through the
many voluminous and parti-colored
“histories” and memoirs of the war
written by high officials and dignitaries,
military and civil, on both sides since
its close. The truth is, the war is now
so far behind us that the great majority
of people nowadays do not and cannot
realize the havoc it made among the
ranks of the Confederate soldiery. The
writer does not pretend that the case of
this regiment is exceptional. He merely
cites it as being the only one with whose
history and record duringthe entire war,
his position in regard to it made him in
timately acquainted, and wlio few mea
gre record saved from capture or de
struction has doubtless been since better
preserved than of many others. Its sur
vivors were incorporated several years
ago, under the name of ‘ The Survivors’
Association Eighteenth Georgia Regi
ment,” and have met regularly in annual
reunion since 1882, having been the first
of the old Confederate military orgina
zations to inaugurate a reunion of vete
rans in Georgia, which have since become
so common.
In the face of such facts as these, the
question presents itself, why should not
Georgia imitate the ex am pie set by Tex as
and establish a home for her disabled
veterans? Their number, now pretty
accurately ascertained through the leg
islative pension acts, are not appalling,
and are, moreover, fast diminishing.
The state’s bounty, though undoubtedly
a great help, is insufficient tb keep many
of them and their families from want, to
say nothing of even moderate comfort.
In addition, quite a large proportion of
them, who are recipients of the State
bounty set apart r or them, are above the
need of it, and would have no occasion
to claim refuge in such a home. It was
not found a matter of great difficulty to
raise funds for Confederate monuments.
Let not the survivors of those to whom
these memorials have been raised,*and
who shared with them all their toils and
privations, when the cry. for bread and
shelter, be any longer mocked with a
stone. Provide them at least a comfort
able place to die in. A.
The Landrum family, of the county of
Oglethorpe, is a long lived one. The
father of M. M. Landrum, a former citi
zen of this place, is 81 years old, and is
as active as most men at 05. He super
intends his farm, and if anything about
the place gets out of order he repairs it
as quickly and as well as any one. 1 He
is in splendid nealth, never takes any
medicine except a dose of salts or oil now
and then, and has only bought one half
piut of whisky during his life. We con
sider this remarkable, and yet the old
gentleman bids fair to live many years
longer.—Greensboro Herald.
The State Exchange of a Dakota did a
business of three hundred and fifty thou
sand, one hundred and two dollars and
sixty-three cents, and saved the brother
hood one hundred thousand dollars, and
the agency is in its infancy.
CARTERSVILLE, GA., THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1889.
A Day at Mount Vei non.
Mount Yeknon, April 80.
There was a tap on my door early
Tuesday morning, April 30, and a fa
miliar voice inquired if 1 wouldn’t like to
go to Mount Vernon, and spend the day
at Washington’s old home.
#
*
For several days before that the out
going trains from Washington to New
Y'ork had been thronged with people
going to the centennial of Washington’s
inauguration. The common salutation
for the past week in meeting a friend had
been, “Ain’t you going to New York?”
All the talk was about the inaugural
centennial, the parade, the ball and the
banquet. The President was going.
The heads of all the government de
partments were going. The Supreme
court judges were going. The army and
navy officers were going. The politi
cians were going. The swell society peo
ple were going. Indeed, it seemed that
everybody in Washington who was any
body was going. The departments were
to be closed and the day was to be given
over to thanksgiving and rejoicing that
the American Republic had lived and
prospered through an hundred years.
The morning of the 30th dawned fair
and beautiful. It found me in my room
in Washington. My room-mate had left
me, after making one last appeal that I
go, and joined the multitude that sweat
towards New York. I felt that I was al
most alone, and was just wonderieg how
to spend the day, when the tap came on
my door and the request that 1 go to
Mount Vernon. It was my good old
Georgia triend, Y'aneey Griffin, and his
charming young wife, who were waiting
for me, and I was glad enough to join
them.
*
* *
It seemed especially appropriate, while
nearly all faces were turned toward New
York and the popular mfnd, lost in the
gaiety and glitter of that great, occasion,
that thegrave of the hero whose na me was
on every lip should not’be entirely nog
letted and forgotten. Nor was. it. A
goodly company of two hundred or more
had been moved upon to go to Mount
Vernon and the boat was comfortably
full when we stepped aboard.
*
* #
As the “Pilot Roy” swung out on the
fair bosom of the Potomac and headed
down the river the band played that
soothing air from Erminie, the “Lullaby
Song;” the water glinted and dimpled in
the sunlight; the green, willow-fringed
banks on either side stooped low to the
river, and the Goddess of Liberty from
the dome of the capital above us seemed
to stretch out her hands in blessing and
benediction.
Mount Vernon is naturally one of the
prettiest places that could be imagined.
The old mansion sits on the crown of a
sloping hill that commands a sweeping
view of the Potomac in both directions.
It is a three-story house, with a quaint
old observatory on top where one can
sta.nd and see the country for miles
in every direction. A long veranda runs
the entire length of thefront of the build
ing, and is almost on a level with the
ground. The house has a great number
of rooms in it, how many I do not e
-member, most of them being small and
several being mere little “cuddy holes”
that, are hardly large enough to turn
’round it. The idea of the management
is to preserve the house and furniture as
nearly like it was in the days of Wash
ington as possible. Many of the pieces
of furniture are the same ns were used by
him. The room where he died is kept as
it was then, and visitors are permitted
to look on the bed on which he is said to
have breathed his last. A strange, nwe
sorne feeling it is, too, that one has in
standing there looking into that room.
Indeed, I could scarcely rid myself of the
idea that Washington was even then
lying there wrapped in the sheets, white
and cold in death. Those who came and
looKed in at the door spoke almost in
in whispers and moved with soft and
measured tread.
The different states, or many of them,
at least, have been assigned rooms in
the mansion, and over the doors of these
a little card is tacked bearing the word
“New York,” “Pennsylvania,” “South
Carolina,’ or “Georgia,” as the case may
be. Such states have, in many instances,
furnished pieces of furnitur- that once be
longed to the Washington family, aud in
this way the house has been furnished
almost throughout with the quaint old
furniture of Washington times.
Georgia’s room is on the first floor,
front, immediately on the left in entering
by the main hall. It is known as Lady
Washington’s sitting room. It is a
plain, but fresh and inviting looking
room, and atuoug the prettiest in the
house.
*
* *
On the first landing of the hall stair
way is a huge old dock more than six
feei tall that ticks aloug as complacent
ly, I imagine, as it did an hundred years
ago. It is the wonder and admiration
si:—JUST ARRIVED.- *
poeter a Vaughafs.
Clement & Ball’s Fine Shoes and Slippers, for Ladies,
% • #
Hand Turned Shoes, for Tender Feet,
BEAUTIFUL LINE of OXFORD TIES, for STREET WEAR.
Full line New SHOES and SLIPPERS, all Styles and Grades.
Porter & Vaughan's Spring Trade
Has been so large we have had to ordor a big shipment ot New Goods.
RECEIVED THIS WEEK,
Full Line N*EW RIBBONS, NEW SILKS, Beautiful Line NEW HANDKERCHIEFS, NEW
LINEN LACES, BLACK SILK IIORTENSE NETTS, Lovely BLACK
SILK DRAPERY NETTS. Latest Styles, Lowest Prices.
PORTER & VAUGHAN
Have Just Received the.Most Exquisite Line of
Hem-stitched Swiss Skirtings! Flouncings.
Ever Before shown in this Marl et. They were bought fextremely cheap and will be at n very small advance. See those
Beautiful .
HEM-STITCHED EMBROIDERED APRONS
Just Received at PORTER & VAUGHAN’S.
A FULL LINE OF NEW RUCHINGS
*. Just Arrived. See our Line of
]New NVTiite Groods !
Pcrter & Vauglian Have Just Received a New 7 Line of the Latest Styles
GENTS’ COLLARS AND CUPPS !
Beautiful Designs in GENTS’ FLANNEL OVERSHIRTS.
Grand Bargains in Every Department!
Porter & Vaughan’s low prices please the people. Our increasing (ra le attests this fact. See and price our Parasols, Pans,
Embroideries aud .Races. New styles, low prices. Samples sent to any address.
PORTER & VAUGHAN,
LEADERS OF FTRST-OLASS GOODS AND LOWEST PRICES-
of the children and they never tire of
looking at it.
* I
* *
The tomb where Washingtgn’s body i
lies is about one hundred yards from the I
mansion house. It is built of brick with ;
a front of iron grating. It is large i
enough for several coffins and contains
several members of the Washington fam
ily that mv stored away in the rear of
the vault. In the front and in full view
from tlie outside are the marble coffins
of George Washington ami his wife Mar
tha Washington. What a world of mem
ories rush through the mind as one
stands at that tomb! And how emo
tions swell the heart! 1 watched the lit
tle company as they gathered there, and,
with uncovered heads, stood silent and
sad-faced at the grave of Washington.
The flippant jest and rippling laugh were
hushed mid conversation came in whis
pers. I wish that every American could
stand at least one time at the grave of
Washington. There is a something
around his tomb that blesses and sancti
fies. We came away finding elevated and
ennobled' Theinfluence of the dead man
breathes in the air and his spirit seems
to brood over the sacred spot.
An old-time, shiny-faced b'ack negro
man of perhaps seventy years stays near
the grave during the day with his little
store of stones, and wood and horse
chestnuts to gratify the desire of the
souvenir hunters tor something to carry
away. He makes no charge, but mod
estly suggests that they can give him
whatever they please. I made friends
with this old darkey by taking one of
his “buckeyes” and dropping a dime into
his hand. He was then ready to talk,
aud told me that his father was a ser-
vant of the last owner of Mount Vernon,
who, I think, was a nephew' of George
Washington’s, and that he had nlwuys
lived on the place. I asked him if they
kept a guard at the grave both night
and day. He said not; that electric
wires ran from the grave to the house
and that whenever any one stepped on
the floor of the entrance to the tomb
electric bells would be rung in the super
intendent’s office, thus giving the alarm.
I learned that once, soon after Washing
ton’s death, and before his body had
been moved from the old tomb near the
river, an effort had been made to get the
remains, and that a skull of one of the
members of the family was actually
stolen. The present vault was then
built and in 1836 the body of Washing
ton was placed there, and since then it is
not known that any effort has irn made
in steel the body. He also told tile that
the o dm >• as ojwneil at Ihe time of the
removal iii is.hti + o make sure thn*
everything wits tiv lit , n i.d it was fonml
to be just as when he was imiietj. iv m
the windinir-sheet was good; bat ns soon
as the air struck it, it went to pieces like
ashes.
.lust here the old darkey had to turn
aside to wait on some customers, and 1
settled down to a contemplation of my
surroundings.
*
* *
Sitting there on a bench in full view 7 of
the sarcophagus where his sacred ashes
were resting 1 fell to contrasting that
peaceful scene to the other one being en
acted in New fork, and found myself
wondering where the spirit of Washing
ton was at that hour; wdiether there
w here I eat, or in New York w here his
name was being so royally and so noisily
honored, or in some far away clime be
yond the reach of this world's scenes,
bat lied in glory uml wreathed in light!
And ! could only wonder.
The hoarse whistle of the “Pilot Hoy”
down the river called me from my reverie
and told me I was about to be left. With
a last hasty look at the marble coffin I
turned my face homeward.
Sitting here on the rear deck as the
boat slips away from the landing and
water begins to swish and ripple under
the pressure of the paddles, I look for
the ldst time, perhaps, on the green
slopes of Mount Vernon. In a few short
weeks my face will be turned towards
Georgia, where I hope to again take up
the duties of my profession, am f> as
spot so frought with>n*ied s-m m;„u *
will pridin'! y tmi !• seen i< .ever.
Hut 1 i-M.-- Til** iMiic ilia i tu.a.iiiir nay,
heie, and ho; e laal l luili'*i*ii made
heifer by ill" good luiii,. lices llmt
bleu! he uliolit (lie place, l-'tilevvell, dear
old Movut Vernon, farewell 1. W. ./. N.
XuHmn Hobbs, of Greene county, was
mm ly-nii.e years of age on the Bth of
Juunary. He ims be.n afflicted with
rheumatism since he attained his major
ity and has had a cancer for several
years. His eyesight is good. He reads
without glasses and has a good appetite
and-sound mind and memory. He will
be remembered as the postmaster at
Penfield for more than thirty years. He
has been a member of the Baptist church
for more than thirty years, and oftem
refers to sermons he has heard preached
by the late Jesse Mercer.
Hardy Hamilton, convicted of killing
a Chinaman in Rome, is to hang .June
19th.
NO. 48.