Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-16
TEE CITY.
THE FALLEN cHuErrAiS.
Meeting osEx-Confedera.s soldsel


Eloquent Speeches, Resolutions, etc.
At the hour appointed, 12 o'clock yes
terday, the Criminal Court was allied with
those who had formerly fought the battles
OF the South in the ranks Of the Confeder
ate army. They met to pay tribute 10 the
worth of their fellow-chieftain, Gen. Rob
ert T. Lee. Gen. w. B. Bate was called
to the chair, and, on motion of Albert
| Akers, Gen E. Kirby Smith was appointed
Vice President The members OF the
press were appointed Secretaries. On
taking the chair Gen. Bate spoke as follows:
We have met to-day not only as citizens.
but as ez-Confederate soldiers 10 do
homage at the shrine of our late chieftsin
to whom that dread summons, which all
await, has so recently come. The an
nouncement of the death of Gen. Robert
E. Lee has filed our hearts with SORROW
and our eyes with tears-and to-day, the
old and young, the matron and daughter,
the sire and son, ali are bowling over his
sacred bier with broken-hearted affection.
while the SCARED veterans of his old COM
mand stand appalled, at the sad catastrophe.
It is meet for those who belonged 60 his
military commentaries who fol-
lowed the asune flag with him through
Its varied fortunes during the late war, to
assemble and pay fitting tribute to his
memory. This is distinctive feature
which, we think, becomes the occasion of
his posthumou5 ceremonies, and which we
render as part of the once great military
family, of which he was the honored head.
Gen Lee, above all others, was the grand
embodiment of the Confederate soldier.
and was without fear, and without reproaeh.
He was not only the pride and glory of his
native Virginia, but belonged in common
to our glorious but ll-fated South. Az a
Christian, the Church loved him; as a pa
triot, his people adored him; and, as a
chieftain, his star was the cynosure of all
eyes. We think, and we believe
the world thinks, no brighter Jewel glist-
ened in the urn of history, and though
the casket In which its glory was set is
broken, yet It's light is undimned and It's
beauty fadeth not away. The flash from
his scimeter has its reflection upon the
page of history and will light up, in all
time to come, some of its boldest features.
Cast In natures choicest mould, and de-
veloped into ripe manhood under auspices,
the most favorable, Gen. Lee was soon
marked as one on whom all the gods had
set their agnet of approval, Not flashing
as meteor, but as Light gradually bright
ening and strengthening, he with
modesty, yet steadiness, pursued the
even tenor of his way until all
other lights passing near his orbit we're ab
sorbed, or became respectful satellites, do
ing reverence as he passed.
Once fairly upon the military arena, COM
petition fed from him as from the glance
of destiny; malice lost its power to harm
envy YVES extracted of its sting, and the
earnings OF criticism were silenced into verv
shame. Adored by his own peopIe-re-
spected and honored by his foes-he was
the admiration of the world. He retired
at the close of our late war, with an unfor-
tunate but an untarnished escutcheon-
amid peoples Sorrows and praises; and.
/ with that modest merit that bespoke his
| greatness, declined a publicity which
smaller men so often covet. His
/ garments were never soiled in
the slime of politics, or stained
even by the semblance of dishonor. He
lived soldier and patriot, and died a
| philosopher and a christian. He passed
over the highway of life as glorious sun
in its course, and when his task was finish
ed, he set calmly and quietly In the placid
sea of the great hereafter. Full of wears.
full OF honor, full of glory, our gallant and
| good commsnder has gone 10 his eternal
camping ground, amid the prayers and
tears OF loving people. His tattoo Is
chimed By an angel choir as by the side of
our salnted jackson ne wraps the drapery
OF has couch about him and lies down TO
pleasant dreams, As he passed away he
oeckoDed us, his former comrades to fol-
low and meet him where there isno defeat
where the crown OF victory is immortal,
and be with him in that mansion not made
with hands-eternal in the heavens. II is
this Christian patriot-sOldier to whose
memory his former soldiers here assem-
bled contribute praises amid their tears
Gen. Smith said that he was troubled
with hoarseness and bad cold, and could
make no speech detailing his feelings of
| grief He heartily concurred in the re-
marks Of Gen. Bate, and feelingly and
eloquently referred to his former great
commander, now stricken down In death,
though he was immortal here and in the
great hereafter among those who have.the
reward of well done good and faithful
| servant. y o. 90 i. -
| At the close of Gen. Smiths remarks il
was moved that Committee Of seven be
| appointed to draft suitable resolutions ex.
pressive of the feelings of the meeting.
| The following gentlemen were appointed.
| Capt r L Csruthers, Col John @ Buch; Col
James G Malone, Col Baxter Smith, Gen
VIM Jackson and DR. Paul + Eve. ~
DR.. G. d. Elliott being called on, said
that our great Captain who had led our
hosts in victory, nor faltered in defeat, had
passed over the mysterious river. We had
not met to honor him. That We could not
do. We had met to take lessons in death.
| as we had taken lessons and command from
| him during life. He referred to those dark
| April days, when the waving pines bent in
| mourning at our defeat. Though our
| chieftsin has gone, he felt that it was
| through Gods will that he had been called
away. He was too great man to CON-
plain, though the fallen fortunes of his
country and her adyersities preyed hourly
| upon his great heart and fastened his pre-
mature fall. He belonged to Virginia, and
| right well would she cherish him. Yet
there was one sense in which he belonged
to US all. History presented no such
Christian soldier as Gen. Lee, and his
name would be spoken by public men and
by ministers of the Gospel to the last sylla-
BILE of recorded time. Fellow-soldiers Se
was an incomprehensible man-ineompre-
hensible to the aspirant and the man of
selfish ambition. As illustrating his Chris
tan virtues, he said that Gen., Lee,
Just after the battle of Get
| tysburg, stopped TO wounded soldier
and said, This ia all my, my fault.
1 lost this battle" He challenged all his
tory to show parallel to such humility
and self abnegation. This showed that he
was hsbitually Christian. He was sans
| guine Of the accomplishment Of no earthly
measures, but bis confidence in an over
| ruling Providence surpassed that Of any
| man ne ever knew or of whom he had
ever read. Whatever our brethren of the
North may say, they love the brave they
knew Gen. Lee AZ we knew him. The sol.
diers would sayat the parapet, when the
battle was raging, let us wait and see
what Old Bob Lee says The wealth of
glory there is in his name as American,
should largely compensate the North for
the victories he gained over their armies,
in after times. So grand was his character,
that it would not affect it 10 know on which
side or for what he fought. We wasleIni-
nently man of piety and the speaker adj
rnonished the youth to follow and emulate
his example. .H'ii l's. p $500
Gen. Frank Cheatham responded to calls,
and said that he was glad 70 be here, and
that he joined In the feelings Of the me ct
ing. He was no speaker, but his heart was
as full as anybody's. He was much obliged
to them for the call 49,,
Mr.. E. B. McClannahan said that we
should and did feel deeply. Just ct this
hour the people Of Virginia we're letting
down into the grave the body Of Robert E.
Lee, the greatest man on this continent.
Our hearts and emotions gather around
that grave. And though we hear no NUT
fed drum notes, our saddened affections
are there We feel great deal Though
Gen. Lee has fallen, he wears an immortal
crown above. -i'.A s. .r rf-ufs [ .,
Col. Turner said that he did not come
here to-day for the purpose of making a
speech, but to join in the general sorrow.