The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-29
GETTY sSBURG. !
THE :, q IF G'NJkEA.4T j 4 I BATTLE I! /. +
IT'S Hr story ANDR RESULTS.
- q !. .F.4,EffI-s :.
ADDRF &s ny MAJOR DANIEL BE
.Ez EQRE TEE A.aN.vA. stifss

Htsg
~ E0RE TEE A.aN.vA. atifse3
tt 4e arasual reunion Of the veterans of the
m ay o4 ]; Northern Virginia has been for
~ lefai years q most interesting feature IN
atr-wcek, but the gathering this year has
Eea rke grsndsss jet had. The large mum,
Der of old soldiers gathered here 10 attend
The meeting last night the largest aud most
entirasiastic pet held The haf OF the House
d Delegates. and even the rotunda, was
gathered withia It's walls. ~ -. Il: 81!
: General W. a., f. Lee, lvice.president Of
the Association OF the Army OF Northern
Virgins, called the meeting to order, and
the meeting was opened With pray er BY Rev.
j.. William Jones. s..e..s 8. Saa ,.i,siq
.-..,-, GENERAL LEE
then Introduced the exercises by graceful
and touching alusi0u 10 the fact shat hes was
In the chair only by the death Of the lament
ed Pickett. ,s,csts.yl
- In hts death the Association had lost not
only president but comrade tried aud
true. he said that Notwithstanding the as
sertion OF the General Of The United States
army that the children Of our Confederate
soldiers will one day be ashamed OF their
fathers the name OF Pickett will live as long
as deeds OF honor are apprecisted-as long
as such heroism as Picketps charge on the
heights Of Gettysburg Is henored by
men-while his name will be green
ia the memory Of his comrades. BE
said that these veterans were, gathered
not only as comrades TO review the friend:
ship Of other days, but to drop tear TO the
memory Of fallen comrades. He insisted
that their living comrades are the special
and only Repositories Of their honor and
their tame, and urged that we should NEE.
our obligations in this respect. BE protested
against the too common phrase &c The South
fought for what she believed to be right 7
as throws the shade of 3 shadow on the
Justice of our, cause. He eloqnently. urged
that our brave men fought not simply for
what they belieued to be right, but for what
they kseto to be right. ..,s
He alluded to the scrupulous care with
which the soldiers of the South have kepttheil
paroles, maintained their honor, and at The
same time showed themselves ready TO meet
any advance towards reconciliation from the
other side. He expressed the hope that the
day is not distant when such expressions o.
fraternity as were recently utteredby the gal
Iant soldier Of Massachusetts,, General Bart.
lett, should became general. and good Will
between the sections return to bless the
country. He then gracefully introduced as
the orator Of the evening Major John w.
Daniel, of Lynchburg. as one known In the
councils of the State as well as 8 gallant SOL
dier. .rs,I..as. e:r.,. ~
Major Daniel was received with loud ap.
plause, and spoke as follows: ~. a...,,. -.
Fello,o. Soldiers Of The Army Of Northern
Virginia: --..,..,-..-'-.....,.-.,
Not with the ringing bugle nor the throb.
bing drum in our van. nor with the battle
flag floating proudly o'er our tattered uni.
forms and bright muskets," !" come we again
to the historic city which was once the busy
federate revolution.
Stately palaces now line the avenues so
lately filled with charred. smoking ruins.
The fields around US smile 10 cultivated
beauty where lately trod the iron hoof OF
war "fetlotk deep in blood" The slordly
river, no longer grim with batteries on its
banks and iron.clads upon its surface, nor
,choked with obstIuctioDs in its channel,
rolls its majestic tides in unbroken currents
to the sea. And save here and there, where
some rude earth work. overgFown with grass
and weeds, scars the landscape, tair nature
tells no tale of the devastation of civil strife
But long after the elements, changing sea
sons, and the slow process OF time have oolit
Grated from the physical world every sign OF
conflict the scenes around US, animate VIII
their heroic actors, shall be portrayed to
other generations with all tho yividoess OIL
artists brush and poets song; and faithful
al shnn n
story which has made the name Of Richmono
not less memorable than the name o.
ancient Troy, and has immortalized those
more thsn Trojan heroes, the devoted citi
zen .soldiery of the Army of Northern Viz
gnia.
Surviving comrades of that valiant host,
hail you with comrades warmest greeting
In Virginia's name welcome you back tt
Virginia's capital city, amongst those gen
erous people who nerved your arms by their
cheerful courage, who bent over your wound'
With mipistering care, who consoled ADVERSE
ty by fidelity, and p!ucked from defeat 1T
sting.
Here tonight we come as men of peace
rendering unto Caesar the things that are his
but happy to touch elbows once more to
gether in the battle Of life, and proud to re
yive the cherished memories OF the Draw
days Of gore " and to renew the solemn ant
high resolve that their bright examples ant
great actions shall not perish from the re
cords Of time. 80
Happier, indeed, would have been II on
this occasion the task of reproducing some
page of your famous history had been con
fided to other and abler hands than mine
for In this distinguished presence with mj
superiors in rank, ability, and military ser
vices around me, the soldiers sense of subor
dipation creeps over me, aud L would fail
fall back into the ranks of these who arr
seen but not heard. .4 WE. ~:
But since it is I who am appointed TO pla!
the role of the old soldier
WHO shoulders his crutch
And shows how fields were won !"
I bow obediently to orders. trusting thai %.
themes may supply the deficiencies Of you
orator. and that your generosity las char
actesietie of the soldier as his coursge-ma.
sheathe the critics sword in its scabbard.
mHEHE SUGGESTED.
In their courteous letter Of invitation you
committee expressed the desire that / shoul
select ga the subject Of my discourse som
one Of the great campaigns or Battles OF tn
Army OF Northern Virginia. And acced
Ing to their wishes Il reviewed In my Biad To
|iong iipe, OF Its splendid achievements, n
little embarrassed by their very variety ant
brillisoey in fixing attention upon any par
ticuar one. 7 There was no campaign Of tba
match lees army that did not abound in &c
rious exploits Of both generals aud soldiers
There was 30 single action. whatever It's re
suit, that draped the baGle.fag in dishono'
and it is q significant fact, an eternal eulog,
in itsef,to chat stout-bearted band Of heroes
that 1t was never driYenjn disorder from an.
field of battle under its eoemy's fire, unti
wheu, worn out by, ceaseless strife with con