But presently the band struck up in sweet strains that were wafted across the beautiful Rappahannock, “Home Sweet Home”, and as these notes died out there went up a simultaneous shout from both sides of the river, and the “Hip, Hip, Hurrah!” of the men in blue mingled with the “Confederate yell” of the men in gray.

The music had struck a chord in response to which the hearts of even enemies — enemies then, friends now — thank God! — could beat in unison, and those hills, which had so lately resounded with hostile guns, echoed and reechoed the glad acclaim. And so I feel here to-day that the hearts of Federal and Confederate soldiers are beating in unison — that we can now march to the same music and under the same flag — and that “with malice for none, and charity for all”,* we can strike hands in a pledge of equal justice to every part of our common country, can “keep step to the music of the Union”, will strive together to perpetuate the principles of constitutional freedom, and make this goodly heritage which our fathers bequeathed us, the freest, and grandest, and the happiest land upon which the sun has ever shone.