Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-05

good or for evil Pardon me for this brlet de-
fence of my illustrious friend,
When Virginia joined the Coufederacy, Ro'
bert Lee, the highest officer 10 the little army
Of Virginia. came TO Richmond, and not psus-
ing to inquire what would be his rank 10 the
seTeice of the Confederacy, went to Western
Virginia under the belief that he was still an
officer Of tho State. He came back, carrying
the heavy weight Of defeat and unappreciated
h1 rho neonle whom be served, tor they could
not know. az I kuew. that if his p lans and or
ders had been carried out tho result would have
been victory rather than retreat. lou did not
now. for would not have known it had ne
not breathed it 10 my ear only at my earnestre
onest and begging that nothing be said about
r The clamor which then arose followed him
when he went to Snuth Carolina, SO that it be-
came necessary on bis going to South Carolina
70 write letter to the Governor OF that State,
telling him what manner OF man be was. Yet,
through all this, with magnanlmlty rarely
ennalied he stood in silence, without defending
himself or ALLOWING others to defend him, Tor ne
was unwilling to offend any one wco Was wear
ing sword and striking blows Tor the Confea'
eracy.
MIR. Davis then spoke of the straightss to
which tho Confederacy was reduced, and OF
the danger to which her capital was exposed
lust after the battle of Seven Pines, and too
how General Lee had conceived aod executed
the desperate plan to turn their Hank and rear
which, after seven days OF bloody oattle was
crowned with the protection OF hlcamoou'
while the enemy was driven lar from TIC Guy.
The speaker referred also to the circumstances
attending General Lees crossing the Potomac
and the march into Pennsylvania. tie MT.
Davis) assumed the responsibility tor that
movement. The enemy had long been concen-
tratiug bis force, and it was evident that It they
continued their steady progress the Contederacy
would be overwhelmed. Our only hope was to
drive him to the defence of his own capital, we
being enabled in the meantime to REINFORCE our
shattered army. how we'll Gen. Lee carried
ont that dangerous experiment need not be
told. Richmond was relived, the Coniederaey
was relieved, and time was obtained, II otncr
things had favored, to reinforce the army.
But. said Mr.. Davis, l shall not attempt to
review the military career OF our iaen Chiei
tain, Otthe man, how shall l speak lie
was nv friend, and 10 that word is Included all
that | could say of any man. His moral quail
ties rose to the height OF his genius. Sell de-
pyipg-always intent upon the one idea OF duty
sell controlled to an extent that many thought
him cold. His feelings we're really warm, and
his heart melted freely at the sight Of a wound
ed soldier or the story of the suferings OF the
widow and orphan. During the war he was ever
conscious OF the inequality OF the means at bis
control; but it was never his to complain or to
inter doubt-it was always his to do. When
in tho last campaign he was beleaguered OF
Petersburg, and painfully aware of tue stralghts
70 which We we're reduced, he said: With
NV arms 10 the mountains of Virginia l could
carry on this war for twenty years longer, bis
men exhausted and his supplies failing. he was
unable to carry out his plans. An untoward
event caused him to anticipate the movement,
and the Army of Northern Virginia was over.
whclmcd. But in the surrender he anticipated
conditions that have not been iuiflled-hc cx
nec,ed his army to be respected and his paro!ed
soldiers to be allowed the eujoyments OF life
and property Whether these conditions have
been fulfilled, let others say.
Here he now sleeps in the land be loved sc
we'll, nnd that land is not Virginia only, tol
thew do Injustice to Ice who believe he fought
only for Virginia. He was ready. to go any
where, on any service for the good OF his coun
try, and his heart was ss broad as the hitecr
States struggling for tho principles that oul
torefathcrs fought tor in the Revolution Of
l776. He is sleeping in the same soil With the
thousands who fought under the same flag, bu
first offered up their lives. Here the living
arc assembled to honor his memory. and there
the skeleton scutinels keep watch over hi:
grave. This citizen this soldier this grea'
general this true patriot LETT behind him the
browning glory of true Christian. His Chris
tianity enuobIed him in life, and affords u:
grounds for the belief that he is happy beyond
the grave.
But while we mourn the loss of the Great and
the true, drop we also tears of sympathy Witt
ner who was his help meet in lite-the noble
woman who, willie her husband was in the heIc
leading the Army of the Contederacy, though
40 invalid herself, passed the time in knitting
seeks tor the marching soldiers A woman III
to be the mother of heroes-and heroes are de
sceuded from her, Mourning with her, Vt
can only offer the consolation Of o Christian
Our loss is not his, bat he now enjoys the re
ward, of life will spent and never waveTna
trust in risen Saviour. This day We unite
our words of sorrow with those of the good arc
great throughout Christendom, for his tame /:
goue over the water-his deeds will be remem
Tered and when the monument we build sbal
have crumbled into dust, his virtues will still
i've, high model for the imitation of genera
tinns vel unborn.