Three months after the dedication of the 28th New York Monument at the Culpeper National Cemetery, and the successful brotherly reunion of soldiers who wore the Blue and the Gray, Judge Daniel A. Grimsley escorted another notable veteran around the battlefield of Cedar Mountain. The following two newspaper accounts chronicle the event.
The Scranton Tribune, Scranton, PA. November 3, 1902
THE PRESIDENT AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN
Most Interesting Event Thus Far of President’s Southern Tour.
VISIT MADE TO THE FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD
The President Informally Receives Many Who Had Assembled on the Ground – He is Presented with a Shell That Was Dug Up on the Battlefield – The Party Attends Religious Services at the Baptist Church at Culpepper – The President’s Special Train Will Arrive in Washington Today.
Exclusive Wire from The Associate Press.
Brandy Station, Va. Nov, 2. — President Roosevelt passed several hours this afternoon on the battlefield of Cedar Mountain. Accompanied by Secretary Root, Secretary Cortelyou and Dr. Rixey, the president drove to the side of the Sanguinary struggle and there received from an eye witness and participant an account of the fighting. It was the most interesting event thus far of his present trip. The day was perfect and the drive to the battlefield was as pleasurable as could be desired.
The President, accompanied by Secretary Cortelyou, Secretary Root, Dr. Rixey, Judge D. A. Grimsley and two or three ladies, arrived at the battlefield shortly after 3 o’clock. They were followed by a procession of carriages containing people from Culpepper and surrounding country.
The President drove to the battlefield over the road which years ago was the stage route between New York and New Orleans. On arrival at the battlefield, which is dotted here and there marking the positions of the troops during the fight, the contest was explained to the president by Judge Grimsley, who now is a member of the bench of this judicial circuit. In the very heart of the battlefield, President Roosevelt greeted many people who had gathered and after Judge Grimsley had described the battle the president received informally those who had assembled on the field. Subsequently, the president was given a shell which had been dug up on the battlefield, as a memento of his visit.
Religious Services.
This morning the president and his party attended religious services at the Baptist church of Culpepper, about five miles from the home of Representative Rixey. Until a short time before the service began, it was not known that the president would be present. No special service marked his presence. The Rev. WE. W. Winfrey, pastor of the church, one of the oldest religious organizations in Virginia, made a touching reference to the president in his opening prayer, but did not allude to him in his sermon. The church was crowed and at the conclusion of the services President Roosevelt cordially greeted the pastor and many members of the congregation and introduced them to those who accompanied him.
Subsequently the party took luncheon at the residence of S. Russell Smith, brother-in-law of Dr. Rixey, who is treasure of the county of Culpeper.
Tonight the president is again the guest of Representative John F. Rixey at his home near the village.
The president’s special train will arrive in Washington tomorrow morning at 11.45. Half an hour later the president will leave Washington for Oyster Bay, where he will vote on Tuesday.
Transcribed by Michael Block.
The Richmond Dispatch reported on the visit the following day.
RICHMOND DISPATCH, November 4, 1902.
OUR GUEST HAS GONE.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT LEFT THE OLD DOMINION YESTERDAY.
HIS RECEPTION AT BRANDY.
There He Saw an Infantile Namesake Who Crowed in Recognition—A Little Speech at Remington—Visited Cedar Mountain and Went to Church.
BRANDY, VA., Nov. 3. —The special train bearing President Roosevelt and party left here at 9:30 A. M. for Washington. The party arrived at the train in carriages from the home of Representative Rixey soon after 9 o’clock. The President is in excellent health and spirits, having enjoyed his outing greatly.
On the station platform after his arrival, the President held an informal reception, many of the residents of Brandy and vicinity embracing the opportunity to meet and shake hands with him. Among others, the President met probably his only name-sake in Virginia–– Teddy Roosevelt Fant. Teddy is a baby about a year old, and crowed rigorously in the arms of his mother as the President chuckled him under the chin.
Just before the special train pulled out, President Roosevelt stepped upon the rear platform of his car and in response to the hand clapping from the crowd, thanked the people for their greeting.
AN ALLUSION TO THE GRAY.
At Remington, in response to demands of a small concourse of people, the President, speaking from the rear platform of his car, said:
“I want to say what a very great pleasure it has been to me to be here and to see your beautiful country and to be received everywhere with characteristic Virginia hospitality. I had the good fortune to visit two of three battlefields––the first and second battles of Manassas and Cedar Mountain––and to be shown over them by men who had worn the blue and men who had worn the gray. We are all alike now, and we can all glory alike in the valor of each side and the devotion to duty as each side saw its duty.” (Applause.)
SUNDAY IN VIRGINIA
The President passed several hours yesterday afternoon on the battlefield of Cedar Mountain. Accompanied by Secretary Root, Secretary Cortelyou, Dr. Rixey and Judge D. A. Grimsley, and two or three ladies, the President drove to the site of the sanguinary struggle, and there received from an eye-witness and participant an account of the fight. It was the most interesting event thus far of his present trip. The day was perfect, and the drive to the battlefield was as pleasurable as could be desired.
The President’s party arrived at the battlefield shortly before 3 o’clock. It was followed by a procession of carriages containing people from Culpeper and surrounding country.
The President drove to the battlefield over the road which yeas ago was the stage route between New York and New Orleans. On arrival at the battlefield, which is dotted here and there by monuments, marking the positions of the troops during the fight, the contest was explained to the President by Judge Grimsley, who is now a member of the bench of the judicial circuit. The judge was a captain in the Sixth Virginia cavalry, and was a participant in the fight.
INTERESTED IN CAVALRY FIGHT.
The President, a cavalryman himself, was interested particularly in the account of the famous cavalry charge made during the battle of Cedar Mountain. The Union and Confederate cavalry met in a depression not far from Cedar Mountain. While the battle did not last long and was brought on quite unexpectedly, it was frightfully sanguinary, the losses on both sides being about 3,200. The President was notably interested in a monument erected last August, on the anniversary of the battle, by the survivors of the Twenty-eighth New York Infantry, which lost in the engagement 59 per cent of its men, including nearly every commissioned officer.
In the very heart of the battlefield President Roosevelt yesterday held an informal reception. Many people had gathered from the surrounding country, and after Judge Grimsley had described the battle, the President received informally those who had assembled on the field. During the reception the President was photographed by Mrs. Frances Boddie, of Culpeper, both alone and in a group with Secretary Root, Secretary Cortelyou, Dr. Rixey and Judge Grimsley. Subsequently the President was given a shell which had been dug up on the battlefield as a memento to his visit.
ATTENDED RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Yesterday morning the President and his party attended religious services at the Baptist church of Culpeper, about five miles from the home of Representative Rixey. Until a short time before the services began it was not known that the President was to be present. No special services marked his presence. The Rev. E. W. Winfrey, pastor of the church, one of the oldest religious organizations in Virginia, made a touching reference to the President in his opening prayer, but did not allude to him in his sermon. The church was crowded, and at the conclusion of the services President Roosevelt cordially greeted the pastor and many members of the congregation, and introduced them to those who accompanied him.
Subsequently the party took luncheon at the residence of S. Russell Smith, a brother-in-law of Dr. Rixey, who is treasurer of the county of Culpeper.
Last night the President was again the guest of Representative John F. Rixey, at his country home near this village. Every precaution possible has been taken to insure his safety. Two headquarters men from Washington, in addition to the regular detail of secret service and postal officers, were on guard at the Rixey home.
Transcribed by Bradley Forbush, Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield, June 9, 2021. Newspaper clipping downloaded from Chronicling America, Library of Congress.
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