Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-01-17
Army of Northern Virginia Action of the
EXeeutive Committee.

Richmond Wednesday night, Gen. Bradley T.
johnson in the chair; Sergeant J. V. L. Nc
Creepy Secretary.
The committee discussed at length the plan
Of organization and adopted the following res
olutions:
l. Resolved, That the chairman be directed
to take steps to procure reports OF the manage
ment and operations Of the Confederate Quar-
termaster, commissary aud ordinance depart
ments during the war, and to request the heads
of those departments of the Confederate gov
eminent to prepare memoirs of their respec-
tive operations for presentation and publication
by the Association.
g That all persons having reports of battles,
general orders, adjutant and inspector generals
| orders or army headquarters, muster rolls, In
| spectOrs reports or statutes Of the Confederate
States or other materials either manuscript or
printed, be requested to forward them by ex-
press or mail to General Bradley T. johnson,
chairman Committee Army of Northern Vr-
GINA, Richmond, or Colonel c. S. Venable,
| the secretary Of the Association, Charlottesville.
3. That Major Robert Stiles be requested to
collect the evidence and prepare memoir rel
alive to the Dahlgren- Fitzpatrick raid on Rich
mond In the spring Of 1864.
| 4. That the different companies, battalions
batteries and troops belonging to the army of
| Northern Virginia be requested at once to form
| sub-associations to this general association.
| 5. That the senior surviving officer Of each
company is charged with the duty OF organi-
| zing his company into such an association, and
| in event Of his delaying to do so any member
Of it who approves of our object is requested
| to take charge Of it.
8: That the vice president and assistants for
| each State are especially charged with the duty
of organizing the association and sub-assoca-
| tons in their respective States.
I. All persons desiring to form sub-assoca-
tons may obtain printed copies of the plan of
organization by applying to Sergeant j. V. L.
McCreery, of Richmond Va.
s. That Colonel Robert E. Withers is charged
with the duty of assisting in organizing State
and sub associations.
AT that meeting was read the following ad-
dress from Gen. Early, President of the Asso-
citation Of the Army Of Northern Virginia:
To the Surriring Officers and Soldiers Of the
Army of Northern Virginia.
Comrades-At large meeting of officers
and soldiers of the army of Northern Virginia,
composed OF members of that army from sew
eral of the States which furnished soldiers for
it. it was determined to form an association for
the purposes specified in the resolutions which
are hereto appended, and preliminary organ
lzatlon was adopted A more perfect and thor
ough organization is contemplated, in which all
portions OF the said army shall be represented,
and in order to bring about that organization,
the undersigned, who was appointed Presi jent
at the above-named meeting, was vested with
the power OF appointing Central Executive
Committee for the Association and vice pres
ldent and two assistants for each State which
f,~.,, bod o,iJ H. ~.
Virginia. In accordance with that power the
Central Executive Committee and the vice
presidents and assistants, whose names are sub
joined, have been appointed.
The persons designated as vice presidents
and assistants, If they shall accept the positions
rendered them, are respectfully urged to take
steps at once for enrolling all the survivors of
the Army of Northern Virginia il their re
spective States, who approve of the objects Of
the Association, and are DESTROYS of becoming
members OF it, Officers and soldiers residing
in the District Of Columbia or in States which
did not furnish any regularly organized force
for the. army aforesaid can be enrolled with
those OF the commands to which they respec-
lively belonged, and we will recognize as en-
titled to membership in our Association all who,
at any time, served honoraby with the army,
| whether when it was known By the designation
Of THE Army Of the Potomac, or after is
became better known as The Army Of North
ern Virginia" provided they did not desert
during the war, and have not deserted since its
close.
Our lameuted and our glorious leader con-
temp plated writing history Of the memorable
campaigns of his army, but, unfortunately,
death has prevented the execution of his de-
sign, One OF the important objects of the pro-
posed Association is to collect the materials fer
a<oI
| to transmit the truth to posterity. Of course
those who believe that the principles Of right
can be settled by the arbitrament Of arms, or,
in other words, that might is right" are not
expected to sympathize 10 the objects OF our
Association; but we desire the cooperation of
all comrades who have faith ia the eternal du-
ration Of the principles Of justice. Of truth,
and OF right. If success is the true criterion
Of all merit, then indeed is the aspiration for
virtue and truth In vain. Let US, my comrades,
repudlate SO Infamous sentiment and present
to future ages the spectacle of citizen soldiers.
who were willing to incur every possible priva-
ton and danger in almost superhuman
struggle for right and justice, and when forced
to yield to overpOWlng numbers end resources,
were yet not ashamed OF their principles Of
the efforts they had made to uphold them
In this material and progressive age. ours
may appear TO some an idle and Improbable
undertaking, but let US be assured that our
work will not be withouti its and its reward.
When the revolution Of ages shall have buried
in the dust the powers and principalities now
controlling the destinies Of mankind. the mem
DRY Of the deeds and sacrifices of the soldiers
of the armies Of the Confederate States will
live as an encouragement to the good and true,
and brave, in all times, to struggle for the
right, though in the conflict the right may, for
a time, be overwhelmed in the triumph Of
wrong.
We hope to see Associations similar to OURS
organized by the officers and soldiers Of all the
Confederate armies aud also Of the Confederate
navy and that a bond of union and fraternity
may be established among al who struggled
for the same cause, the influence of which fer
good may be long felt
Our plan contemplates reunion Of the mem
bers CT the Association at stated periods, and
as soon as the necessary arrangements are com
picted, there will be cali for general meet
ing OF all the members at some suitable point.
j. A. EARLY,
President Association of The Array OF North
ern Virginia.
General Lee and the War
In his lecture at New Orleans, Gen. Pendle-
ten, Of Lexington, Va, said;
A few hours before the closing scene at Ap-
poma'tox Courthouse, Gen. Lee sent for Gen.
Pendleton, to have private conference On the
desperate condition of affairs. Ii that confer
ence Gen. Lee stated that from the irst-ta-
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