Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-05-21
JUNIUS.


SPEECH OF FEDERAL OFFICER.
was e-union of the Society of the Army of
the Potomac held at Cincinnati, on the 7th
inst. At this celebration the Grafton was de-
llvered by Gen. Stewart l.. WoolfOrd, of New
Y York-and from this oration We make the fol-
lowing extracts:
The morning crept slowly on first into gray
dawn, then into rosy flush. Still on still onl
The mists crept upward and into line you
wheeled and on your muskets lay down, each
man In place, to get scant rest, which, even 10
the exhaustion of those thirty-six hours of ter
rlble marching, you neither sought nor needed.
You were squarely across Lees front, and had
closed forever his last line of retreat.
The enemy reaching your cavalry advance,
saw the serried line of Union troopers. Cor
don gathered and massed his men for their last
charge. Tattered and hungry, worn by cease
less marching and fighting, with no hope of
victory, with little possibility of escape. they
closed their lines with fidelity of discipline and
a soldierly resolution, to which words can do
little justice-but which each soldiers heart
must recognize and honor.
As the old guard closed around their Emper-
or at Waterloo, so these men closed around the
flags of their lost cause. My heart abhors their
treason. But it warns beyond restraint to their
manhood SO grandy brave, even in disloyaty.
CiuW'y tucJ duEduc0u 10 IHeir IaBL attack. IN o
battle yell, no crack of the skirmisher's rifle
morn. Steadily, silently they came, when
Sheridan drew back his horsemen, as parts some
mighty curtain, and there stood the close form.
| ed battalons of your infantry, the cannon
cleaning 10 the openings, quietly awaiting the
| coming of Gordon's men.
! Instinctively your enemy halted Meanwhile
| Lee has turned back to meet Grant and sur.
render his command Sheridan swung his
| cavalry around upon Gordon's left, and was a.
bout to charge, when Custar reached Long.
street. Assurance of surrender was given, and
| the end had come.
| EThat Sabbath day, with tears and in sorrow,
Southern men folded the banners of the 'Lost
Cause" and their bravest and best sought hon.
orably to bury them from sight for ever.
| How sad it is that poor mbitions, iealousies
of race, the wretched greed of pelf and place
aud the miserable hates of social rivalries
should so often disturb the hearty reconciliation
of that surrender and for time revive the bit.
terness which you then sought to bury in q
common grave.
This hour is no time for politics. Mine not
the lips, trust, to introduce them here. Bu
| when think of that heroic past, which your
faces and presence so vividly recall. and ther
how trading, trickster politicians, forgettul o
what baptism of blood sealed the new birth Of
the nation, seek to array races in needless hos
tility, to excite the ignorance of the one anc
the brutal prsjudices of the other, would like
to summon guard, half from the rebel army
of Northern Virginia and half from the loya
army of the Potomac and 'ake such macontent
out, give them drum-head court martial, imme
diate execution, and soldierly burial under th.
apple tree at Appomattox.
Let US have peace Not stealing By carpet
baggers. No midnight murders by cowardl.
Ku-K Klux. But camp-followers and suffers tt
the rear and true men to the front.