Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/161

 A last word for the genuine patriot, Mr. J. D. Home, who, with his own hands re-surfaced the whole face of the tablet in the bridge, and then re-carved the entire inscription. To him we owe deepest and perpetual gratitude, and his name should be taught to our children forever.

With great distress at my enforced absence from our convention, and from the ever-glorious gathering of our beloved veterans, I am,

Most sincerely yours,

(Virginia Morgan). Virginia Committee of "Cabin John Bridge," C. S. M. A.

[Extract from the Minutes of the Confederate Reunion, held in Memphis, Tenn., June, 1909.]

COL. GUION'S ADDRESS.

Mr. Commander, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen,—During the time that Franklin Pierce was President of the United States, and Jefferson Davis was his Secretary of War, a number of important works were projected.

One of the most important, and as a splendid exhibition of engineering skill, was the "Cabin John Bridge." As many of you know, this was a massive stone bridge spanning with a single arch two hundred and twenty feet in length the "Cabin John Creek," and by an aqueduct bringing water to the city of Washington from the falls of the Potomac.

On the arch was cut the names of Franklin Pierce, President of the United States, and Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, to commemorate the commencement of this work.

In 1862, by an order of the Secretary of the Interior, the name of Jefferson Davis was erased. This was done when sectional feeling was very strong in the North against Jefferson Davis, who was then President of the Confederate States of America, and while the act cannot be condoned, it can be understood, when we consider the bitter feeling then existing. It