The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-02-02

Sos,Cutee toE the patriots Of She North
who could thus fght safely for the Constitu.
ton and the Union. But the south, cut
on rom all foreign aid-with the ear Of
tho world closed against her by tho mis
representations OF her enemies-surrcuud-
cd on ati sides by danger-subjected to
treatment which violated every princi pie
OF civilized waifare-with thousands OF her
sons sleeping beneath the soil they had
died to defend, or by worse fate, perish
ing 10 Northern prisons--had no resources
save In those heroic armies which had 40
iong upheld the cause Of their county.
tiafdshiPs, starvation and the bullets Of
| the enemy were diminishing these daily,
AUG she had no naercenaries TO fight batsles
TOT ner sons. All that she could do was to
night as long AZ one ray of hope WAS left to
cheer her, and this she did do. The end
was not far of, but before IL came the
Army Of Northern Virginia waa destined
70 leave to history
A RECORD OF GLORY As BRIGHT AssaRB
BRIGHTEST
inscribed on its pages, aud Lee a1Dfn his
last campaign To snrpass even his former
achievements. But how can tho story OF
these achievements be told In o few hurried
psges Z ,... .-...
The relative positions Of the two armies
have been stated, as welt as the condition
OF each. Grant, in pursuance Of the plan
he bad adopted moved across the Rapidnn
on the 4th of May with view to turn Lees
right flank, and thus force him to fall back
on Richmond. His passage Of the river
was unobstructed, which he regarded rs q
SO, could have struck him then, for he had
been apprised from Washington Of the
contemplated movement, as we'll as Of the
numbers OF his enemy. He preferred,
however, to draw Grant into tho tangled
depths of tho wilderness, before delivering
the blow he meditated. AS soon therefore
as tue Federal army had penetrated the
iority of numbers. threw his small but
determined army on the vast force that
had come to crush him. Once again the
deep solitude Of these dark woods which
had been shaken by the thunders OF Chan
cellorsville, was broken by the scream OF
shot and shell, aud the roll of musketry |
the struggfe was long, bloody and obstinate,
CORY field overcame the disparity Of num-
bers, and were crowned with success. The
enemy, in o contest Of two days, was re-
pulsed on all sides, aud Grants frat move
had ended in discontinue.
CLOSING SCENES or THE WAR.
The heart sickens rs it recalls the death
throes Of that once mighty army, whose
bayonets had for foar years sustained the !
liberty Of tho South, and it would fain |
u
wrung the heart Of its commander, when !
he saw all was lost. He had done all that
man could do, and he felt now that the |
time had cone, when it was his duty as o
soldier and Christian, to save the farther |
effusion Of blood. No thought Of self en- tered
into the confederation ofthis question. In his
own words, "tbe question Is whether IL is
right, aud if il is right 1 take the respon-
sibility.
Believing that it was right to do so, he |
surrendered the little remnant Of that band
OF heroes, who had followed him through |
three years Of blood, Of victory, and of
glory, and he sheathed forever his spotless
sword. -
Waved sword from stain SO free
Nor purer sword led o drawer band
Nor Nor Sst. ssd t9s sauss n
Nor cause Chief like Lce. :"
The end had come "onr sun had gone
down while 1t was yet day )" that cause, 10
grand, sanctified by the tears, the prayers,
the lifelong agony Of our noble women, and
giorifed by tue devotion, the patriotism,
the blood Of our men, fell when the sword
of Lee was surrendered and with its fall,
the military career of our great Chief ended
forever.
The military career Of Gen. Lee has been
traced at far greater length than was des
irable on such an occasion but rs rapidly
as the subject would allow. 1t has beer
my OuJtCL uOL 70 cUlDdEEASb lUS DaTEAtlVe
by any criticisms of my own, but to let the
great actions which marked that career,
through its whole progress, speak for them
selves. FROM these actious, the verdict Of
history will, after all, be made up, and
that verdict, neither the praise of his
friends, nor the censure Of bis enemies,
will be able to influence. We place him,
without one doubt, before that august trib.
dnai, feeling assured that his motives, his
deeds and his virtues, will be judged by
posteIity, as we, his country men, judge
them now.
his grandeur he derived from Heaven alone.
For bio was great ser fortune made him SO:
And waTA, like msts that rise against the sun.
Made him. bat greater seen'. not greater grow.
His asb,s in q peaceful urn shall rest
His narno great example stands 70 show.
Where piety and vAOr Jointly GO"
At the close Of Gen. Lees military ser
vice he retired quietly to private life, aud
though the record left by him as a private
citizens lie as noble, as any portion Of his
whole career, it was, unfortunately for the
South and for the world, all too brief.
To the cause Of education he devo-
ted himself with all the intensity Of his
great nature, and he was found at his
post when he was summoned to the
presence Of that God whom he had
served SO long and SO we'll. When he
ffiad frnun hia frat attack and vvaro