Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-02-06
An Flo quent Tribute to Private Soldiers.

On the 23d Of January, Gen. Henry A. Wise
delivered at the First Baptist Church in Rich
mond, an eloquent address in behalf of the Fe-
male Orphan Asylum of that city.
In the course of his address, he paid an elo-
quent and deserved tribute to the private sol
diers Of the late Confederate Army. Cen Wise
said
The noblest bands of men VINO ever fought or
who ever fell in the annals of war, whose glorl-
Gus deeds history ever took pen to record, were,
[ exultingly claim, the private soldiers in the
armies of the great Confederate cause Wheth-
er right or wrong in the cause which they es-
poused, they were earnest and honest patriots
in their convictions, who thought that they
were right to defend their own, their native
land. it's soil, its affairs and It's honors. They
felt that they were no rebels and no traitors in
obeying their State sovereignties, and they
thought that it was lawful to take up arms un-
der their mandates, authorized expressly by the
Federal Constitution, to repel invasion or to
suppress insurrection, when there was such
Imminent dtnger as not to admit Of delnH -
The only reason for the delay which could have
been demanded of them was to have appealed to
the invaders themselves for defence against their
own invasion, and whether there was imminent
danger or not, events have proved They have
been invaded until every sanctuary Of temple,
and fame, and altar, and home has been pro-
famed The most of these men had no stately
mansions for their homes; no slaves to plow and
plant any broad fields Of theirs no stocks Or
investments in interest bearing funds. They
were poor, but proudly patriotic and indomita-
bly, brave. Their country was their only heri-
tage. The mothers and wives and daughters
buckled on the belts, and sent husbands and
sons and brothers FORTH and women toll r for
the bread and spun the raiment of little ones
of sh0nty" homes in country, or of shops in
town, whilst their champions of defence were
In their country camps, or marches, or trench
es, or battles! They faithfully followed leaders
whom they trusted and honored Nor Cabi-
nets nor Congress, nor Commissariat, nor Quar-
termasters Department, nor spectators, nor
spies, nor renegades, nor enemys emissares,
nor poverty, nor privation, nor heat nor cold,
nor sufferngs, nor toll, nor danger, nor wounds
nor death could impair their constancy! They
fought with a deyout confidence and courage
which was unconquerable save by starvation.
blockade, overwhelming numbers, foreign dunes
and mercenaries, Yankeedom, Negrodom and
death Prodigies Of valor, miracles of victo-
ries, undoubted and undoubting devotion, and
endurance to the last, entitled them to honors
of surrender, which gilded the arms of their
victors and extorted from them even cheers on
the battle field where at last they yielded for
Peace! Alas! how many thousands had fallen
before their few surviving comrades laid down
their arms. OF these men of the ranks their
beloved leader, General r. e. Lee, said to me,
during the last winter on the lines: Sir, the
men of this war who will deserve the most hon
or and gratitude are not the men Of rank but
the asea of the ronks-the privates!''
| cordially concurred in the justice and truth
of the compliment for had seen them tried
on the rocks Of Coal river, of Gauley and the
Pocotalieo. ! had tested their endurance in the
marches and countermarches, and. scouting and
skirnishing, of the Kanawha Valley; | had
seen them in first fight and victory against all
odds at Scary, and their last stand against great
er odds on the Sewall mountains; [ had seen
their constancy and courage proved at Hawks
Nest at Honey Creek, at Big Greek, at Carni-
fax Ferry, and at Camp Defiance, in Northwest
Virginia. [ had seen them leap with alacrity
to the defence of Roanoke Island, knowing
when they went that they could not return but
as captlyes Or corpses. | have seen them in
the slaughter PEN there slay twice their own
numbers before they stacked the arms for which
they had no ammunition. | have seen them
employ their leisure and amuse their ennui at
Chaffin' Farm by mechanic arts for the army
Of a blockaded country! have seen their eff
cheney on the peninsulas of the James and Y ork,
and Of the Chickahol2iny and Pamunkey. [
nave Soe1 OcT SuCCSSS ul strategy ct w Illldiil>-
burg and 4Vhitaker's Mill, and their steadiness
in the din of metal at Malvern Hill [ have
seen their temper and spirit tried in the lagoons
and gals of the Edisto and Stono, and their
pluck on Johns Island in South Carolina |
have heard the shouts of the Virginia men
when ordered back from South Carolina and
Florida to rally again around the affairs Of home,
and heard them raise the slogan of "Old Vr--
ginia Never Tire, when they pressed forward
tn Of Noft
rushed to Petersburg in time twice to save the
Cockade City against odds of more than ten to
one. l have seen them drive through the bar
ricade and cut at Walthall junction, and storm
the lines at Howlett's not for five days only, but
for twice five days successive fighting ! have |