Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-17
THEBUNKEK HILL CENTENNIAL.
SPEECH OF GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE
&c. &c, &c.

SPEECH CF.GEN EhAL I'll LhO6h Lhh.
&c. &c, DC.
;. In Boston,, yesterday the. day was ggep up,
10 thereccption ofvisiting military, BODIES, and
from early morning the streets Wers"-ai'Ve
with gay uniforms and resonant with stirring
strains of martial music The people of'Boston
with much of the enthusiasm Of the war period
gave themselves over to hospitality, and
welcomed the military and civic bodies With
an ardor quite 10 unison with the patriotic
spirit OF the day, forgetting differences of the
past. The crowds who throDged the principle
streets through which visiting military parad-
ed on their way 10 hutcls, bestowed the .heartlest
applause 90 men from the South, and Wave
OF cheers swept along the masses crowded on
the sidewalks and filing every available space
from roof to payemens. The arrival OF. the
Norfolk artillery, escorting as their guest Geo.
Fi,zhugh Ice, afforded cheerful spectacle OF
the iuya people of Boston paying au ovation
to an tx Confederate officer. Gen. Lee bowed
| again and again as applause greeted him on
every corner ~ '.,#.-.
With the Blues, as guests were Gen. Fitz-
hugh Lee, Col. Walter ii. Taylor, who was
adiuant general through the war to Gen. Lee;
Col, Stark, who commanded the Norfolk Troops;
Capt. Joseph N. Gimer, Capt. E. B. White,
who was Of the Confederate navy. AT the land
ing were Gen. Underwood, Surveyor OF the
Port of Boston; Gen. H. Sherman, deputy sur
vcyol; and councilman Dcvereux, who warmly
welcomed their brother, veterans OF. the war.
The Norfolk party aud guests received the most
dcmoustrativc welcome Of the day. Alter a
salute by section OF Battery B, which Was re-
spondcd to by the Norfolk Light Artillery, the
escort arrived aud the line of march was taken
up State street to the Common. 90 the Com
mon the Fifth Maryland regiment was being
reviewed by Gov. CASTOR. The B.ues marched
within the incl osure amid rounds and rounds
of applause About o'clock, aud after being
formally presented to the Governor and staff
by Major Toilet, they passed i'll review! FAT
the conclusion of the display the visitors were
escorted to the Bowdon House, where they
will be quartercd during their stay. .'i,..,,s
The Mayors reception 10 Music Hall 1T
night was attended by IA vast assclnbage.f = The
floral decorations were the most superb ever
seen in the city, and included large number
OF lcrns and palmcttos. Many of the visiting
military, including the Washington Light H.
fau,ry, of Charleston, s. g., and the Norfolk
made speech of welcome, at The close OF which
the Eutaw flag Of the Charleston intahtry Was
borne to the platform amidst the cheers OF the
audience. Governor CASTOR then welcomed
the visitors to the Commonwealth 10 short
and cluoucut speech COL Andrews, of South
Carolina, responded TO the welcome which had
been extended in behalf of his State. At the
close of Col Andrews speech The entire audi
eucn rose TO their feet and checrcd-the ladies
waving their haudkcrchicfs and the band play
lug Dixie. :.
Gen. Fltzhugh Lrc, of Virginia, was then
presented, amidst the widest enthusiasm. A
ringing burst of applause rose from the vast
audience. Men threw their hatslnt the air
aud yelled themselves hoarse, while the ladies
in the galleries waved their landkerchiets and
capped their hands When quiet was restored
Gen. Lee said: .......,' ....
Mr.. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen: | thank
YOU for this most cordial welco me which you
have extended to my comrades and myself: l
came here with the Norfolk Light. Artillery
Blues, II Confederate Organization. Those guns
have roared upon many II hurd-lought field. AS
we arrived before your city this y M, and were
sleaming up your beautiful harbor, the first
notes that reached me on bbard from th q music
sent To meet us, was that good old tune called
Aud Lang Syne," and l. felt that l was not
gong 10 DU-Lpll, UuL iHSL WAS again
to " common Country and d common heritage.
| should havo wished that my poor presence
would have passed unnoticed or that l might
have been permitted 10 have remained q silent
visitor in Boston. When ponder that this is
the first time have ever stepped upon the soil
of Massachusctt | necessarily feel some en-
barrassment at addressing such splendid au-
dience as is before me; but when l reflect that
am an American citizen, and that l. Too, an,
descendant OF those men who fought on Bunk er
Hill. feel that |, too, have a right TO be here
to CELEBRATE Their splendid deeds. [Great ap.
plause We came here, fellow. citizens, to show
that we appreciate those achievements OF these
patriotic lorelalhGrs of ours-those mon who
planted seeds from which our nation has sprung.
We a:c here to show by our actual presence
that We are fully in sympathy with the sentl-
mont which found expression upon recent deco
ration days when loving hands cntwined beauti-
full flowers about graves Of soldiers of both ar
mics without distinction. Lc5reat applause /
recall that right here in Boston one hundred
years ago particular divine spoke in substance
are DESTROYS to fight, to give them fighting
enough; and if there are moro on their way
across the seas, we pray the Lord to sin them to
the bottom of it," Laug liter and applause
Now, when. sec this magnificent demonstration
w hen my eyes look on yours beaming with
k,ndliness and heartfelt good will toward me or
mine feel that hereafter, if foreign or domes-,
tic foes threaten our common country, Msssa-
chuset!s; Virginia California and Florida would
shout in one voice, III they desire to fight, let
them have enoughl" Great applause.
may be purdoned il | recall to your minds
that in those days of darkness, when clouds of
war enveoped your Common westh, my State
of Virginia sent right here into your midst him
who, in the language of my grandfather, WAS
FIRST in peace, frs. in and first in the hearts
of his country men - lie who, in the language of
Andrew Jackson, ''Wiiose character cannot be
too profoundly studied, and his example, too
closely followed" Washington appeared here
in your midst brought order out Of confusion
and saved our couRtry. thank you, ladies and
gentlemen, most cordially for the manner IN
which you have received me. [Applsuse.]
Gen. Fitzpatrick was next introduced, aud
made au effective aud tervcnt speech, referring
m tho cont lnmnn WIN had precne0od him in