The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-07-22
.MagnallImItY.

There was festive gathering Of the he
roes Of the Departmental the Gulf recent
ly at Long Branch, over which Admiral Far
ragut presided. It was a re union of modes.
ty and magnanimity- sfow of soul' when
Wits electric flame flashed through brim-
ming glasses, and the valiant became doubly
valiant. The N. Y. Times reports the fol-
lowing:
"Gen. Sheridan, on being loudly called for,
arose and said in his simple, manly, modest
way:
l do not know any men who have better
right to be jolly than we. l think that the
Government owes us its safety and the safety
OF the country. It was the volunteer army
that hurled back the enemy, and the senti-
ment Of the country is that it was the yolun-
teer force mainly that saved it.
This was received with enthusiastic cheer
ing.
Gen. Frank P. Blair was brought forward
by somebody as soldier. and Immediately
commenced to make a speech as politician.
He said that, so far we had only heard Of
such men as Sheridan and Farragut. but in
the future we would hear of Lee and ssStone-
WALL Jackson This language was received
with loud cries of dissent, and General Blair
was called to order by many members fof in
Producing subject calculated to mar the har-
mony of the occasion, contrary to the rules
governing tho Association Admiral Farra-
gut, the presiding officer, being appealed to,
said that he felt constrained to call General
Blair to order under the rules for introduc,
ing subject calculated to mar the harmony
Of the meeting. Gen Blair sat down with
! flushed face 1t is due to him to say that
he had apparently enjoyed the hospitality Of
gree that rendered it difficult for him to ex-
press his ideasswith his usual clearness. His
conduct was universally condemned, and es-
pccially by his friends. The excitement pro-
duccd by this little episode soon blew over,
and General Blair left the room"
Who will not admire the modesty Of Sheri-
dan, the house-burner and robber of our mag
nifcent Valley? The nation is indebted to
us jolly fellows for its salvation =! Donder
and bitten didn't ,cc make the rebels cover
didn't ave save the nation?
Gen. Blair's speech, as quoted in other
journals, was no particular eulogy on Stone
wall Jackson or Gen. r E Lee, but he mere
y mentioned them as enemies worthy of the
steel Of the Union army, and men who might
in all probability live as long in history as
any one then present The bare mention Of
their names was received with Kisses and
jeers. ':Stonewalr is dead, and Lee holds
the honorable though humble position Of in
structor Of youth, yet these redoubtable he
rocs Of the Gulf became uneasy in their boots
when their names were mentioned '.The
harmony of the meeting was disturbed" by
any allusion to the chivalry Of the Southern
sol1iers There was time when the officers
of the U. S. army would take pleasure in APP
plauding the bravery Of an enemy-in re-
counting deeds of valor Oh the part of their
opponents, and considering them foemen
worthy of their steel; but times have chang
ed; nearly every officer who is honored with a
commission by the Government becomes a
party tool, and chimes in Justify with 'the
powers that be-