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Editorial paragraph.
the
R. E. Lee camp Fair opened in
Richmond on the night of the 14th of May under the most flattering and promising auspices.
We have no space to describe the brilliant occasion—the beautiful decorations, the piles of useful and fancy articles sent with liberal hand from all parts of the country, the crowd which packed the large armory hall, the speeches of Corporal Tanner, of New York, and General Wade Hampton, of South Carolina, the appearance of Lee Camp Confederate Veterans, and Phil. Kearney Post, G. A. R., marching in fraternal ranks, and many other features too numerous to mention—but we will only say that the opening was a sure prophecy that the Fair will prove a grand success and add handsomely to the fund already in hand towards establishing here in Richmond a ‘Home’ for disabled and needy Confederate soldiers of every State.
The following letters, selected from a large number received, coming from representative men of opposite sides well express the feeling with which this great enterprize is being prosecuted.
Dear Sir,—I am in receipt of the formal invitation to be present at the opening of the
Fair for the home of disabled Confederate soldiers on the 14th of this month, and your kind letter accompanying it.
If it was possible for me to do so I would accept this invitation, but, as you may know, I am still on crutches—not from injuries received in conflict with those in whose behalf the Fair is given—and cannot hope to be in good traveling condition for some months yet.
I hope your Fair may prove a success, and that the object contemplated may receive a support which will give to all the brave men who need it a home and a rest from cares.
The men who faced each other in deadly conflict can well afford to be the best of friends now, and only strive for rivalry in seeing which can be the best citizens of the grandest country on earth.
Very truly yours,
It should be added to General Grant's honor that the above letter was written amidst his severe pecuniary troubles, and that he had previously contributed five hundred dollars ($500) to the fund.
my Dear Sir,—you will understand how grateful to my sensibilities are the contents of your letter of May 5th, and how gladly I should accept the invitation of the committee and yourself.
It seems now, however, impossible for me to get away from New York at the time designated.
I have delayed answering, hoping that I should be in
Washington and would be
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able to go thence to
Richmond, so as to take part in the pleasing and imposing ceremonies at the opening of the
Fair.
My whole heart is in this cause, but I must deny myself the pleasure of being with you bodily on the 14th.
I shall be there, however, in spirit.
Sincerely yours,
It may be proper to say to our friends everywhere that this effort to establish a Confederate Home on a proper foundation will need large sums in addition to what we may be able to realize from the Fair; that additional contributions will be thankfully received, and that if we can be of any service in giving information or conveying funds to the treasury we should be glad for our friends to command us.
renewals were never more ‘in order’ than just now. We have due us, in small sums all over the country, over three thousand dollars, which would be a very small matter to the individual subscribers, but is a very great matter to us.
We beg our friends to remit at once.
Roster corrections.—General Lane calls attention to the fact that our types in the April number made us change into ‘Coward’ the name of the gallant Colonel, R. V. Cowan, of the Thirty-Third North Carolina, whose death since the war has been so widely lamented by old comrades and friends.
The following makes important corrections in the artillery organization Army of Tennessee, which we take pleasure in publishing:
Dear Sir,—In reviewing your published list of the artillery battalions of
General Bragg's army engaged at the
battle of Chickamauga, I find several errors, which I hope you will not think it vanity or presumption in me to ask corrected, for I think it due not only to myself but to the batteries that opened the fight, and who suffered most, that they should be mentioned.
Very little artillery was brought into the action, the density of the forest not permitting its use. The fight was opened early Saturday morning by
Captains Lumsden's,
Little's and
Yates's batteries, who went with
Colonel Nilson's Georgia regiment,
Colonel Ector's Texas regiment and a Georgia battalion (name of
Major forgotten), to assist
General Forest to hold the enemy in check until
General Bragg could be informed of
General Rosecrans's approach.
The above troops were from
Major-General W. H. T. Walker's reserve corps, composed of
General Walker's division, commanded by
General Gist, and
General Liddel's division.
On the formation of the new corps I was ordered to report to General Walker, and placed in command of his artillery, and Major Felix Robertson ordered to my battalion, the Fourteenth Georgia artillery, Reserve Artillery A. T.
Reserve Artillery A. T., composed of Major Felix Robertson's command; Anderson's Battery, Georgia, Commander Anderson; Havis Battery, Georgia, Commander Havis; Massenburg Battery, Georgia, Commander Massenburg; Basset Battery, Missouri, Commander Basset.
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Artillery of General Walker's corps, Major Joseph Palmer commander.
Liddel's division, Captain Charles Suett commander.
Lumsden's Battery, Ala., Lumsden commander.
Yates Battery, Mississipp, Yates commander.
Suett Battery, Mississippi, Lieutenant Shannon.
Higgins Battery, Mississippi, Captain Little commanding.
General Gist's Division, Major Robert Martin commander:
Ferguson's Battery, First South Carolina, Ferguson commander.
Houel's Battery, Georgia, Houel commander.
Bledsoe's Battery, Missouri, Bledsoe commander.
Le Gardeau Battery, Louisiana, Le Gardeau commander.
Hoping I have not tresspassed upon your time, or asked too much of you,
I am, dear sir,
Yours respectfully,
we take pleasure in publishing the following from the gallant Colonel R. A. Hardaway, concerning the Artillery Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia:
Dear Sir,—In the January and February (double) number of the South-Ern Historical Society papers is published ‘Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, August 31, 1864.’
‘Corrections earnestly solicited if errors are found.’
I do not see the ‘papers,’ not being a subscriber.
This number was kindly lent me by Mrs. Gorgas.
In the Artillery of Second corps, Brown's battalion, Colonel J. T. Brown. Powhatan Artillery, Captain W. J. Dance, &c., &c.
Colonel John Thompson Brown (having been for more than a year previously in command of a division, consisting of two or more batteries, Colonel Thomas H. Carter being in command of the other division of the Artillery of the Second corps), was killed in the battle of the Wilderness May 4th, 1864. Major David Watson, of the same battalion, technically First Regiment Virginia Light Artillery, was killed on the 10th May, 1864, at Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert A. Hardaway had been in actual command of this battalion since August, 1863.
After the death of Colonel J. T. Brown, Lieutenant-Colonel Hardaway was, by order of General R. E. Lee, assigned to permanent command, the same order designating it Hardaway's Battalion.
As such battalion—Lieutenant-Colonel Hardaway in actual command, Major Willis J. Dance absent, wounded—it was surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse.
It is an historical fact, that the last shot of the Army of Northern Virginia was fired by the Third Richmond Howitzers, one of the batteries of this battalion.
Very respectfully,
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