Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-08-19
STAUNTON, VA. TUESDAY, AUGUST 49, 1873

| moment my plans have been thwarted by al
over-ruling necessity. [ am now warned b.
eminent medical advisers that my condition il
such as positively incapacitates me for the po
| sition of field commander, and for doing jus
tice to yourselves in that relation; that furthe
service in the saddle must result in the ruin O
my constitution, if not the destruction of my
life, without enuring to the benefit of the coun
try.
Under these circumstances. have been as
signed to the command of the reserve forces o.
the State of Virginia. I have not sought the
position but struck down by the casualties o
war, and unable longer to lead your veteran
battalions, | believe it an imperative duty te
yield obedience to the order.
1t is the most painful duty of my life to sever
the relations which for three years have har-
mopiously united us; which have carried us to
gether through memorable and fiery trials, and
have bound you to my heart with ties stronger
than ''hooks of STEEL" No portion of our ar
mics will present to the world more splendid
annals of valor than the First, Third, Seventh,
Eleventh and Twenty. fourth regiments of Vir-
ginia infantry. Let US ever remember also as
honored comrades, though now separated from
US. the noble Seventeenth Virginia, identified
with us by two years OF common tolls and
achievements. 1t were enough of honor to
have shared the fortunes of any Of these regi-
ments. Any soldier might we'll be proud to
possess the command of them all. Stouter he
roes have not trod the field of battle. 10 your
gallant dead, you bear memorials of long sue
cession of glorious conflicts. From the smoke
and fire of not one of them have you emerged
without honor.
will not tell you to preserve unsullied in the
future the reputation. above all price, which the
past has secured. The veteran brigade which
Longstreet, Ewell, and A. p Hill were proud
successively to command at the beginning of the
war, as dauntless as the Imperial Guard, knows
how to die but not to surrender.
Fellow-soldiers bid each Of you an affec-
tlonate adieu. L cease to be your commander.
but firmly and forever remain your friend. |
SHALL as heretofore, watch your career with the
profoundest solicitude for your welfare. May
the God of battles steel your nerves and shelter
your forms amid the perls of the field May
peaceful homes, stable Government, an ad-
miring country, be at once the monuments and
and the rewards of your valor!
JAMES L. KEMPER.
Since the war General Kemper has been
peacefully pursuing bis profession, 10 which his
ability. both as lawyer and as speaker, have
won him high and remunerative position at
the bar
During the war General Lee esteemed KEN
per as one of his most efficient commanders.
and when Kemper, at Gettysburg, wounded,
was borne to the rear near Gen. Lee, the latter
on learning who the wounded General was.
made a remark similar to that which he uttered
on a previous occasion when he learned of the
woundiDg of 'Stonewalp' Jackson.
Col Walter Harrison, A A. and Inspector
General of Pickett's DIVISION In his hook en-
titled "Pickett's Men," says Gen. Kemper
was an excellent officer in the field With all
the courage and pure chivalry of volunteer
patriot fighting for his countrys honor and
inde pendence, he combined the solid qualities
and sound Judgment Of practical statesman.
battle or in council he was an officer of su
perior capacity, and his distinguished career,
along with that of many of his associates in
arms, is demonstration of what excellence
may be attained by the highest type of citi-
zen soldier.
His own Adjutant General, now editor of the
Vicksburg miss. Herald, in recent editorial,
says:
General Kemper is not mere Ajax whose
only claim to the respect of his State is brute
force, but man whose history has given assu-
rance of his ability to be patriot In counsel as
we'll as in the fied-no man of straw, no buck
ram warrior, no soldier in time of peace, no cit
izen 10 time Of war whose acts belle his Words
but a statesman, scholar, warrior, who in
Virginia's defense barred his bosom to the red
band of war;
The editor Of the Meridian (Miss.) Gazette,
in late article, also says:
General Kemper is we'll known to the Mis-
who followed the fortunes of the now
folded banner from the first Bull Run battle to
the Gettysburg slaughter-pen, where Kemper
fell into the hands of the enemy, badly, and
supposed then to be mortally wounded. In
him are admirably blended the soldier, states
man and erudite scholar In ante bellun times
he was often sent to the Legislature, and we
believe served a couple of terms as Speaker OF
the Lower House, where he not only took
high rank in the distinguished body of which
it was then an honor to be member, but ex-
hibited talents and powers of eloquent and
learned debate that the Virginians have never
forgotten. We would be glad to see the faith
ful and intrepid Kemper in the gubernatorial
chair which has been occupied by strangers fer
years.
s'In these corrupt times of rings and roguery,
the people of every State need just such man
at the head of affairs-a firm defender of the
rights of the people-an eloquent pleader with
out hope of reward or fear Of punishment, send
ing forth the voice of calm wisdom, wise coun-
sci ana prOpneIlc WaTnlng, utVer !oI oIgetuuS tue
old oracles of freedom that once echoed in ring
ing tones from all Virginia. historic mountains.
Let the winding James carry the news of Kem-
per's nomination to the East: seed it along the
rufAed slopes of the famous Blue Ridge; pro-
claim it from the Peaks of Otter, the Natural
Bridge arch, where the loftier name of Wash
ington stands carved with his own hand, and
from the cragged gorges of the Aleghenies,
and when the struggle is over Virginia can
gather up the skeleton of her old glories, bid
her sons and daughters look up again-that the
breezes of heaven are once more free, and the
superiority which God decreed again vindica-
ted"
COLONEL ROBERT E. WITHERs.