The Van Buren press., 1866-03-17

spectators. NOR spies, nor renegades noI
enemys emissaries, nor pride, nor pov-
orty, nor privation, nor heat nor cold,
nor sufferings, nor toll, nor danger, nor
wounds, nor death, could impair their
constancy! They fought with devout
confidence and courage which was un-
cOnquerable, save by starvation, blockade,
overwhelming Numbers, foreign dupes
and mercenaries, 1ankeedom, NegrodOm
and death. Prodigies of valor, miracles
of miracles of victories, undoubted and
undOubting devotion and endurance to
the last, entitled them to honOrs of sur
lender, which gilded the arms Of their
victors, and even eXtorted from them
cheers on the battle field, where, at last,
they yielded for Peace Alas! how ma
ny thousands had fallen before their few
surviving comrades laid down their arms.
OF these men of the ranks, their beloved
leader, Gen. r. f. Lee, said to me, dur
ING the last Winter on the lines "Sir, the
men of this war who will deserve the
most honor and gratitude are not the
men of rank, but the men of the ranks
the privates."
l cordially concurred in the justice and
truth Of the compliment, for l had seen
them tried on the rocks of Coal River, OF
Gauley and the Pocotalico. / had test
ed their endurance in the marches and
cOmtermaches, and scouting and sldr-
mishing ofthe Kanawahaha Valley Il had
seen them in a first fight and victory
against all odds at Scary, and their last
stand against greater odds on the Sewall
Mountains: | had seen their constancy
and courage proved at Hawks Neck, at
Honey Creek, at Big Creek, at Carntax
Ferry, and Camp Defiance in Northwest
Virginia. / had seen them leap with
alacrity to the defence Of Roanoke Island
knowing, when they went, they could not
return except as captives or corpses. /
have seen them in the Slaughter Pen
there slay twice their numbers before
they stacked the arms for which they had
no ammunition. have seen them en-
plOy their leasnre and amuse their ennui
at Chatfee's Farm by mechanic arts for
army of blockaded country! l have
seen their efficiency on the peninsulas OF
the James and York, and of the Chicka-
hominy and Pamumsky. | have seen their
successful strategy at Williamsburg and
Whittier's Mills, and their steadiness in
the din of metal at Malvern Hill. Ihave
seen their temper and spirit tried in the
lagoons and gulls of the Edisto and
Stone, and their pluck on Johns Island
in South Carolina.
| have heard the shouts of the Vir-
ginia men when ordered back from South
Carolina and Florida, to rally again
around the affairs Of home, and heard
raise the slogan Of "Old Virginia Never
Tire" when they pressed forward to
open the defile at Notaway Bridge, and
rushed to Petersburgh twice in time to
save the Cockade City against odds OF
more than ten to one | have seen them
drive through the baraicade and cut at
Walthall Junction, and storm the lines
at Hewlett $, not five days only, bnt for
twice five days successive fighting. !
have seen them on the picket lines, and
in the trenches, throughout all seasons OF
the year, in heat and cold, day and night,
in storm and sunshine, often without food
fit to feed brutes, with not enough Of that
without half enough of fuel or clothing,
or blankets, without forage for transpor.
tatron, or transportation for forage
scarce Of ordnance stores, not supplied
with medicines for the hospital, all
the time rolling Sysyphian stone, OF
parapet and traverse and breastwOrk and
bomb proof, for the want Of material for
revealment, and for want Of tools to dig
out and work up the Indispensable lines
Of detenses. | have seen their manhood
worn by every variety OF disease and
wounds in the hospital ward. Starved,
half naked, rest broken, | have seen them
summoned to stand to or storm the
breach, and do it, filling bitches and a
crater full Of the assailant's dead. have
seen their brigades, blasted by the shock
Of mines, rise from the debris and rub
bish to repel and conquer the storming
enemy. / have seen them bivouacked
on the right of Hatcher Run, and on the
ever memorable days Of the 29th and
3lst of March last, advanced first one,
then two, then less than three brigades,
Oh the Military and Boydton Plank Road
against two corps, and fight them for
hours, so stagger them that they dared
not follow the rptroat | have seen them