The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-10-26
MEETING OR TIKI CITIZENS OF
sumter, In Honor ofshe Memory Of
GRN. ROBT. EDMUND LEE.

OCTOBER 10Th, 1870.
Alarge meeting of the ladies and gentlemen of
Sumter, and tho surviving officers and soldiers of
the late Confederate army, assembled in tho
Baptist Church, this evening, to manifest some
expression Of thoir deep sorrow at tho death of
tho ilustrious champion Of Southern liberty and
honor-Gensral ROBERT EDAuND LEE.
The meeting was called to order by the Rev.
N. GRAHAM, by requesting Capt. e. @. GREEN,
tho Intendent of the town, to assume the chair,
and Col. T. v. WALSH, Mr.. A. A. GILBERT, and
RICHARD D. LEE, 10 act as Secretaries.
Tho combined choirs Of the various Churches
Of the town, accompanied by the organ Of the
church, with its mellow, gushing tones, having
frst added deeper solemnity to the occasion by
sipsing-
"There is an hour of peaceful rest,
To mourning wanderers given"
At tho request ofthe Chairman, the Rev. Don
aid MoQUEEN, Of the Presbyterian church, offer
Cd an earnest and affecting prayer-the entire
meeting rising from their seats.
On motion, the chair then appointed Capt. j.
s. RICHARDSON, &. W. NOISE, Esq, aud Rev. N.
GRAHAM, committee to retire and report suita-
bic resolutions upon the death of Gen. LEE-for
tho action of tho meeting-the choir in the
interval rendering, with saddening effect, the
hymn
"Thou art gone to the grave, but wo will not dc.
Tho committee having returned, Mr., RICHARD.
SON introduced the resolution with a few remarks
tho sadness OF bis voice indicating tho dopth Of
tho sorrow that rested on his heart at the death
of his great leader.
Mr.. e. W. NOISE, In rising to second the reso-
luton, spoke with his well.known cloquence Of
bis much loved commander and personal ncquaint.
ance. He spoke Of his early and highly honora-
bic military training at West Point, and his gall
liant exploits in Mexico. Ct his strong attach.
ment to the American Union, bat Of his greater
and stronger devotion to his mother State and
tho South as shown in his letter Of resignation to
tho Secretary of War In 1851. And of many lit
tie incidents Of camp life, showing his tonder 80.
licituds for bis soldiers, and tho goodness of his
noble heart, the remarks Of tho speaker sending
sadness TO tho hearts Of many . battle SCARED
veteran present who had followed their grand old
leader to victory through an hundred bloody
fields.
Impressive address, commencing tho life and
character Of tho distinguished christian hero to
the youth Of the South and Of the world
The resolution was then unanimously adopt
Cd, as follows-the entire meeting rising from
their seats on :ae vote:
Resoiued, That In the death of Gen. Robert E.
LEE the world has lost the greatest military
chieftain, and the purest man of our sgs. Tho
american nation, the brightest representative Of
American character which has given lustre and
iamo to our history since tho days Of WASHING.
Ton, In whom alone we find his conpeer; and
.os poor Southern country, our hero, our friend
and our guide.
The meeting then closed with benodic tion
from tho Rev. Mr.. MOOD. every ono present feel-
ing deeply sensitive Of the great national calami-
and Of his individual loss. .
&. G. GREEN, Chairman.
RICHARD D. LEE,