The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-22
THE BIRTHDAY OF LEE.
CELEBRATION OF THE DAY IN THE
FOREST CITK.

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY IN THE
FOREST CITK.
The Grand Grafton Of General Wade
Hampton.
The celebration of the birthday of General
Lee at Savannah on Monday was an imposing
affair." The day was observed as general
holiday. The volunteer companies turned OUT
In full force, and were reviewed by Generals
Hampton, Kershaw, Johnston, Lawton and
Jackson. The Johnston Light Infantry es.
corted General Wade Hampton to the theatre,
where the Grafton was to be delivered. After
the applause consequent upon hlsintroduction
had subsidized, General Hampton said:
Once again, and for the last tlme,,I seem
placed on duty 10 the service Of my old COM
mander, and the voice that summons me here,
waking many of the prondest though saddest
emotions of my heart, comes from the iomb
OF him who, though ''desd, yet speaketh."
In reference to the history OF the war he
said:
Not until the heat of passion, the mlsts of
prejudice and the venom OF hate, which have
80 deeply stained American annals during the
last decade, have subsidized, can the true story
of this last great revolution be given to the
world. Then will the impartial historian be
called on to tell with what heartfelt reluctance
the South, driven to desperation, severed the
bonds, no longer fraternsl, which bound her
to that Union she had so largely aided to
make, and threw off government which her
wisdom had mainly formed, and which her
patriotism and her genius had 30 greatly Illus
trated. :
he then proceeded to give q full and COM
plete account of General Lees illustrious
career. or the gallantry and Christian for
besrance and patriotism of General Lees
nature, he said:
When standing by the grave which had just
been closed over our great captain, President
Davis, while paying noble tribute to- hls
memory. referred to this part Of his military
career in the following language: "When VIZ
glnia Joined the COnfeaeracy, Robert Lee, the
highest officer In the little army of Virginia,
came to Richmond, and not pauslDg to Inquire
what would be his rank In the service OF the
Confederacy, went to Western Virginia under
The belief that he was still an officer Of the
State. He came back carrying the heavy
weight Of defeat, and unappreclated by the
know as know, that II his plans and orders
had been carried out, the result would have
been victory rather than retreat. You did
not know, for would not have known 1t, had
he not breathed 1t In my ear, only at my
earnest request. and begging that nothing be
said about it. Yet through all tnis,
with magnanimty rarely equalled, he stood
In silence without defending himself or allow
Ing others to defend him, for he was unwilling
to offend any one who was wearing sword
and striking blows for the Coniederacy.
The great soldier who had hitherto COM
manded with such signal ability the army In
VlrgioIa-General JOhnston-(thundering ap.
planse) )-havIng been severely wounded IN
the battle of Seven Pines, on the 3lst Of May,
General Lee was appointed tv succeed him,
and assumed command on the I'd of June.
From this time until the close OF the war. the
history OF General Lee is the history Of the
Immortal army of Northern Virginla-that
noblest army that ever trod this earth. TO
record the unparalleled achievements OF that
army while directed by the genius OF Lee,
would be q task far too great 10 come within
the scope of an address such as the present.
General Hampton reviewed at length the
military achievements OF General Lee and o.
his gallant soldiers. and, In conclusion, said:
1t has been my object not to embarrass the
narrative by any CRITICISMS OF my own, but te
let the great actions which marked that ca
reer through its whole progress speak fol
themselves. From these actions the verdict
OF history will, alter all, be made up, and thai
verdict neither the praise OF bis friends moi
the censure OF his enemies will be able TO In
fluence. We place him without one doubt De-
lore that august tribunal, feeling assured tnat
his motives, his deeds, and his virtues will be
Judged oy posterlty as we, his countrymen
Judge them now.
"Hs grandeur he derived from Heaven alore,
For he was great ere fortune made him Sol
And warB like mist, that rise against The sun. :.
Made him but greater seem, not g eater grow"
"HIs ashes iu peaceful urn shall rest,
His name great example made TO show;
aow strangely high endeavors may be blessed,
Where piety anu ValOr Jointly CO." {.
At the close of General Lees military ser.
vice he retired quietly 10 private life, and
though the record left by him as private
citizen is as noble as any portion OF hls whole
career, 1t was, unfortunately for the South
and for the world, all too brief. He lost no
ly TO fulfil the duties that were before him.
Offers of assistance poured In npon him
from all quarters, but though deeply touched
by this evidence of the love entertained ior
him, he refased them all, saying, my friends
have offered me everything except work. "
He felt that 1t was his duty TO work. and with
him "duty was the sublimest word IN our
lHQguHRe. SuTIouuuco W o. snoo eo1Asse'
affection could give, or public veneration
bestow, it was The fond hope OF our peo-
pile that he would long be spared to the
South to teach her sons 10 follow his exam.
ple and emulate his virtues. But he himself
felt that the wounds his heart had received
were mortal. When he rallied from his FIRST
attack and we were cheered by the hope that
his precious life would be spared, friend
called to congratulate him on his GONZALES.
cence and to express the hope that his health
would soon be fully restored. Shaking his
head gravely and placing his hand upon hs
heart he replied: mo, the trouble is here.
The trouble was, indeed. there. For the sor.
rows, the affections and the wrongs OF the
people whom he loved so well, were swapping,
one by one, his heartstrings, and he fell at
last, dying as truly for the South as II he had
fallen In her cause on the bloodiest field he
ever won In her defence. And thus he passed
uway from the scenes OF his labors and hi5
glory to appear at the bar of that great Judge,
who alone can and will decide whether the
cause In which he fought was right or wron2.
But though he is no longer with u!, nis eA.
ample, bis fame and his virtues are stiii ieit W
us, and he thus Is not dead.
But strew his ashes 10 the wind,
whose sword or voice has served MANKIND,
And is he dead whose glorious mind
Lifts thine on hig
To live In hearts we leave Dentnd
Is not 10 die.
Iss death to fall for freedoms rightS
He's dead aloi tnat lacks her light,
And murder sullies In Heavens sight
The sword ne draws.
What can alone ennnble a5htY
noble cause.
At the conclusion OF the address, which was