The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-12-08


the responsibility for that movement. The en-
elny had long been concentrating his force, ant
it was evident that if they continued thei
steady progress the Confederacy would b,
overwhelmed. Our only hope was to drive
him to the defense of his own Capital, WI
being enabled in the meantime to reinforce oul
shattered army. How well General Lee car
ried out that dangerous experiment need mo-
to be told. Richmond was relieved the Con
federacy was received, and time was obtained
if other things had favored, to reinforce the
army. But, said Mr.. Davis, l shall not at
tempt to review the military career Of oul
fallen chieftain. OF the man, how shall
speak? He was my friend. and in that word
is included all that | could say of any man
| His moral qualities rose to the height of bis
genius. Self-denying always intent upon the
one idea of duty, selfcontrolled to an extent
that many thought him cold. His feelings were
really warm, and his heart melted freely at
the sight of wounded soldier or the story OF
the sufferings of the widow and orphan. Dur
ing the war he was ever conscious Uf the
inequality of the means ut his control, but
it was never his to complain or to utter a
doubt-it was always his to do When in the
last campaign he was beleagured at Peters
burg, and painfully aware of the straits to
which he was reduced, he said: "With my ar
my in the mountains of Virginia / could carry
on this war twenty years longer" His men
exhausted aud his supplies failing. he was un-
able to carry out his plans. An untoward
event caused him to anticipate the movement,
and the Army of Northern Virginia was over
whelmed. But in the surrender he anticipated
conditions that have not been fulflled-he ex.
pected his army tn be respected and his paroled
soldiers To be allowed the enjoyment of life
aud prosperity. Whether these conditions have
been fulfilled, LET others say. Here he now
sleeps in the land he loved so well, and that
land ia not Virginia alone, for they do Injustice
10 Lee who believes he fought only Tor Vir-
ginia He was ready 10 go anywhere, on any
service for the good of his country, and his
heart was rs broad as the fifteen States strug.
Cling for the principles that our forefathers
fought for in the Revolution of l776. lie is
sleeping in the same soil with the thousands
who fought under the same flag, but first
offered up their lives Here the living are as
semblcd 10 honor his memory. and there the
skeleton sentiuels keep watch over his grave
This citizen. this soldier, this great general.
this true patriut, left behind him the crowning
glory Of n trne Christian His Christianity
ennobled him In hfe. aud affords us grounds
for the belief that he is happy beyond the
grave. But, while We mourn the loss of the
great and true. drop we also tears of sympa-
thy with her who was his hrlpmeet in life-the
noble woman who. while her husband was in
the field leading the army of the Confederacy,
though an invalid herself. passed the time knit
ting socks for the marching soldiers, A wo-
man fit Ia BE- the mother of heroes-and heroes
are descended from her. Mourning with her,
We can only offer the consolation OF a Chris. |
Ian. Our loss is not his for be now enjoys |
The rewards of n life well spent and never
trust in n risen Saviour. This day |
We unite our words of sorrow with those of
he good and great throughout Christendom,
or his fame isgonc over the waters. His deeds
will he rcmembered; and when the monument
We build shall have crumblcd into dust. his
;irtues will still live, a high model fer the im.
alton Of generations yet unborn.-Lynchburg
Noes, Nor. ). .r