The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-12-05
o we'll was indeed lost Through the Ma,
,otaon;o Connexions of Jackson in Tho vol

ley, and through all the heaviest battles of
Lees army his command passed, sharing
consDieuously the glories, the trials and
the disasters of that noble army under the
noblcst of commanders. 1t is unnecessary,
with our limited time, to follow our friend
through those bloody scenes, to recount
splendid victories which have borne so lit
tie fruit, or to relate melancholy disasters
which have brought destruction on us.
We will not accompany him through the
glorious campaign of 1852, when the i'm
mortal Lee won imperishable renown by
the number, the celebrity, the greatness and
the completeness of his victories; that
campaign over which halo of splendor
was cast by the pOetical achievements of
Thomas j. Jackson in the valley of the
Shenandoah. We need not follow him
through the campaign of 1868, which
opened so brilliantly with the great victo.
ry at Charlottesville, when Jackson, of
immortal, illustrious and blessed memory,
closed his career on Earth, but which end
ed with the loss of Vicksburg and Port
Hudson and the repulse at Gettysburg, and
first brought home to our minds the me.
loncholy reflection, banished before from
our thoughts, that perhaps after all we
might fail to accomplish the objects for
which the South had flown to arms with
SO much alacrity, so much confidence, and
so much enthusiasm. 1t is enough to say
that our friend and his brave followers
were, during the whole time, equal to any
other command in courage, endurance and
determination to do. all that mortal man
could do for their beloved country.
We come to the commencement of the
campaign of 1864 which, it was evident to
all, must virtually decide the struggle in
favor Of one or the other of the combat
ants. The various commanders who had
attempted to lead the 'grand army of the
Union" to Richmond by different routes,
had all failed, and been deposed for incom-
potency by an impatient government at
the prompting of clamorous people.
General Grant, who, by ,dint of uncommon
perseverance, and by the force of vastly
superior numbers, had achieved some sue
cesses in the West, had been placed at the
head Of the Federal army, and had signi-
fled his intention to march to the Confed-
crate capital by route which had proved
disastrous to moro than one of his prede-
cessOrs. Unlimited means and men with
out number were placed at. his disposal,
and he was promised the aid of the whole
power of the government in the accom-
plishment of the desired objects. An army
I as large as any man of much more genius
than General Grants most ardent admirers
ever claimed for him, could command, was
entrusted to his guidance, and he was in
formed that the government would not in
terfere with the plans he might adopt for the
management of the campaign. The larg-
est amy ever seen on the continent was
therefore assembled OH the banks of the
Rappahannock in the Spring af 1854, with
the determination ito fight it out Oh that
line" To meet it General Lee, after draw
ing from every source whence man could
be spared, could oppose scarce one third of
the number of his antagonist: Of this ar
my General staford's command formed a
part. He had been appointed Brigadier
General the preceding Fall, though he had
acted as Brigade commander in many
previous battles by seniority of commission
as Colonel, to which rank he had risen
on the reorganization of the army at the
end of the first yeir of the war; Had he
not been transferred from Starke's brigade
he would doubtless have been appointed
on the death Of that gallant officer at
.Sharpsburg 1t is known that General
Jackson, with whom he was a great favo
rite, earnestly requested his promotion.
The two armies came into collision at
the Wilderness on the fifth of May, and
after two days Of hard fighting the Con.
federates claimed the victory. On the
first day General Stafford received a NOR.
tai wound while at the head Of his brig
ade. Kind friends were near to care fol
him, but his staff, whose special duty it
was to give him their attention, had all been
captured except his youthful son, who was
ably and faithfully performing his duty in
another part of the field, but who refused
to leave it for any purpose whatever until
the battle should be decided for one or til
other of the combatants. The result OF
the victory was announced in one of Gen.
eral Lees proverhially modest and senten-
tious dispatches, in which, among other
things, he said, II regret to state that
General Stafford received mortal wound
while leading his command into action
with conspicuous valor." And thus with
the knowledge that his own son had re-
fused to leave the post of duty to attend
to the wants of q dying father, and be-
meath the approving smile of his illustri-
Gus commander, was Leroy Stafford borne
!, from that bloody field to die. Well might
i he say among his dying words. lit is sweet
, to die for such a cause" / would rather
, have died at such time and in such a
manner, and have left to my children as a
precious legacy the memory of courage and
patriotism which he he has left behind
, him, than to have survived the indepen.
dence of my country.
There are so many horrible ideas that
, the imagination of men has associated
with death that we never view it without
7 feelings of dread and adherence. 1t is
seldom that we can summon to meet it
the pllilosophic heroism of Socrates
in the days Of paganism, or the pious re-
signation to welcome it as means of re.
J lease from the pains of Earth, as it is held
J to be in the beautiful system of religion
; that has been revealed to us. BUTT seems
to me that if death were ever welcome, il
J is death to brave soldier, in the midst OF
the strife aud the carnage which Endles
noble minds, in defense of cause which
he knows to be just, and of rights which
he knows to be sacred. When Lord Nell
son fell, amid the fire and the smoke which
enveloped his victorious squadron on the
waters of bloody Trafalgar, after be had
unfurled to the breeze the banner on which
was inscribed an injunction to every man
to do his duty, it was impossible not to
observe, that while the welkin was ringing
with the shouts of victory, the happiest OF
them all was the great commander who
was dying as he had always said he wished
to die. When man enters upon any pro-
fession it should be his ambition to reap
the highest rewards that are held forth to
his grasp. When he adopts the profession
of arms it must be understood that he not
only covets reputation for ability and
gallantry, but that he would esteem it a
privilege to fall at the head Of his com
mand in defense of the principles for which
he buckled on his armor. As the crown Of
martyrdom is the elimination of the Chris