Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/393

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UNGENEROUS CRITICISM OF REV. DR. R. C. CAVE'S ORATION.

LETTER OF COLUMBIA POST, DEPARTMENT ILLINOIS, G. A. R.

With the Reply of Lee Camp, Confederate Veterans.

The patriotic oration of Dr. Cave, it is to be regretted, evoked from some bodies of Federal veterans and a few ultra-newspapers, narrow and unbrotherly criticism.

The following letter enlisted widely, public interest and occasioned much comment :

HEADQUARTERS COLUMBIA POST, No. 706, DEPARTMENT ILLINOIS. G. A. R.,

CHICAGO, June 14, 1894.

To the Commander of Lee Camp,

Confederate Veterans, Richmond, Va:

DEAR SIR: On the morning after Memorial-Day, while looking over the morning papers, we noticed the enclosed report of your dedication exercises at the unveiling of the monument to the memory of the private soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy.

The sentiments expressed by the orator of the day in his speech upon that occasion were so different from those expressed by Con- federate veterans in many places, and notably in our own city of Chicago, that we were deeply moved, and cannot refrain from writing to inquire if these are the prevailing sentiments of the rank and file of Confederates South ?

During the solemn services of Memorial-Day, "Columbia" Post, No. 706, together with other posts of the State of Illinois, joined with the Confederate veterans, now living in Chicago, in decorating the graves of their comrades, who now lie in our beautiful Oakwood Cemetery. The sentiments there expressed by all were that, while we were paying a willing tribute to the memory of brave men fallen, we were in no wise referring to the cause for which they fell, or the