Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/59

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Before that time, however, the Maryland Legislature had given to the Association of the Maryland Line the old arsenal at Pikesville, in Baltimore county, nine miles from Baltimore, with a liberal annual appropriation. The governors of the association appointed a Board of Lady Visitors, with Mrs. Johnson as president, and she forthwith organized them for their work. She divided them into commit- tees, and assigned one committee for each month in the year, the visiting committee being responsible for the sanitation and food of the inmates.

Under this management and supervision the Soldiers' Home of Maryland has been conducted these twenty odd years, averaging more than 100 old soldiers, who are sheltered in its protecting care, who are fed, lodged, clothed, and cared for as no other old soldiers in this country are, North or South. The Home is Mrs. Johnson's monument.

But she has left a larger, wider, more imperishable monument in the memory of her heroism, of her dauntless courage, of her great heart, cherished all over the States of the Confederacy.

BRADLEY T. JOHNSON.

MONUMENT DEDICATED.

The dedication of the monument to Mrs. Bradley T. Johnson was the leading feature of Memorial Day at Baltimore, June 6. The Baltimore Sun says of it:

The day was also the anniversary of the battle of Harrisonburg, where soldiers of the Maryland Line distinguished themselves. Mrs. Johnson's grave and the monument which now marks the spot were profusely decorated, red roses predominating. Over two thousand people gathered to assist in the exercises. The members of the Maryland Line, including about eighty veterans from the Soldiers' Home, at Pikesville, formed a line at the main entrance of the cem- etery and marched to the lot, headed by the Fifth Regiment Veteran Corps Band, under the leadership of W. H. Pindell. Friends of the dead and members of the Daughters of the Confederacy had previously strewn flowers over all the graves.

Capt. G. W. Booth presided at the exercises, and read this appre- ciative sketch of Mrs. Johnson's life :