The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-02

the Army OF Northern Virginia last night
was one OF the most brilliant occasions ever
| witnessed in our historic city. The hall OF
the House OF Delegates was crowded to It's
| utmost capacity, while hundreds were un-
| able to get in.
| The address of Captain James Gordon
| hcCabe was received with enthusiastic ap-
| plause, and was universally voted splendid
specimen of careful historic statement,
clothed in most beautiful language. For
over two hours he held his audience spell
bound, and made an Grafton which places
the young orator in the very forefront Of
Virginia orators, as he was known to his
comrades before as one OF our most gallant
soldiers.
Comrades OF the Army Of Northern Vir-
ginia.-I am here in obedience to your or
| ders, and give you Il soldiers greeting.
1t has fallen to me. at your beheSt, to at
tempt the story of defence more mastery
in happy reaches OF generalship than that
of Sebastopol, and not less memorable than
| that OF ZaragoSSa in Il constancy which
rose superior to accumulating disaster and
stern yalor ever reckoncd highest by the
enemy.
1t is great task, nor do I take shame to
myself that am not equal to it, for, speak
ing sobe"lv, it is 4 story so fraught with
true though mournful glory-a story so
high and noble in its persistent lesson OF
how great things may be wrested by human
skill and valor from the malice OF For
| tune-that even Thucydides or a Napier
might suffer his nervous pencil to droop,
| lost, perchance, in wonder at the surprising
issues which genius with matchess spring
eNtorted time and again from cruel odds,
or stirred too deeply for utterance by that
which ever kindles the hearts Of all brave
men-the spectacle Of human endurance
meeting with unshaken front the very
stroke Of Fate.
And il intensity OF sorrowful admiration
might not dnnaturally paralyze the hand Of
the historian who should undertake to
transmit to posteritya truthful record Of
the unequal contest, what mortal among
men could stand forth undismayed when
hidden to trace even the outlines OF the
story in presence of the survivors OF that
incompatible army, the followers OF that
matcheSs leader, veterans to whom 1t has
been given to see its every episode enlbla-
zoned in crimson letters by the very God OF
Battles?
.THE STORY OF THIS FINAL CAMPAIGN.
It is not mine, comrades, to dazzle you
with tricks of rhetoric nor charm your ear
with smoothly flowing periods; but even
were such mastery given to me it would
scarce betit my theme, for we have now to
trace the history Of the army to which we
belonged, not in its full blaze OF triumph
as when it wrote Richmond and Chance-
lorsville upon its standards, but in those
last eventful days when its strength was
well-nigh "too slender to support the
weight OF victory ''-we have now to mark
the conduct of its leader, not as when, the
favored child Of Mars, the clangor of his
trumpets from the heights Of Fredericks-
burg haughtily challenged the admiration
of astonished nations, but in that severer
glory which shines round about him as he
stands at bay, girt with handful OF de-
voted soldiery, staying the arm OF fate with
an incredible yigor OF action and con-
summate mastery OF his art, and still un-
subdued in mind, delivers his last buttle as
! fercely as his first.
And in the prosecution OF the task confded
to me-in my attempts to reconcile the con-
| flicting testimony OF eye-wltnesses, In Silt
ing hostile reports, and in testing by official
data the statements OF writers who have
essayed the story of this final campaign,
although at times it has seemed well-nigh a
hopeless labor, and more than once recalled
the scene in Sterne's inimitable master
piece, in which Mr.. Shandy, taking my Un-
Gle Toby kindly by the hand, cries out,
..BelieVe ne. dear brother Toby, these
military operations Of yours are far above
YOUR strength; yet. remembering the spi-
rited reply Of my Uncle Toby, "What care
I, brother, 50 it be for the good OF the ma
ton, so have been upheld, reflect
ing that if it should be my good fortune to
restore to its true light and bearing even
one of the many actions Of this vigorous
campaign which may have been hereto
| irporappa or
through passion, it would be counted as a
service, however humble, to that army
whose lust renown can never be too leal-
ously guarded by the men who were stead
fast to their colors.
THIRTEEN PITCHED BATTLES.
That should attempt critical eXamina-
ton of that defence in detail Is manlfestsy
impossible within the limits OF an address
when it is remembered that south OF the
Appomattox alone thirteen pitched fights
were delivered outside the works, peslaes
numberless "affairs /" on the part OF the
cavalry and small bodies OF infantry, while
each day was attended by q number OF MI
nor events OF no great historical moment
taken separately, but when combined, eX-
ertine no mean influence on the conduct Of
the campaign.
Captain McCabe then proceeded to con-
slider the morale Of the two armies just be-
fore Grant sat down in front OF Petersburg.
He proved the falsity of the declaration OF
the critics who contend that when the siege
began Lee saw that the inevitable blow
"might be delayed but could not be avert
ed, y and that he ought to have stopped the
further etfusion OF blood. He reviewed the
results of the battles in the Wilderness,
where Lee with so, 900 men opposed Gran.
with 141, 900, and repeatedly fooled him and
inflicsed upon him loss OF 45, 1000, showing
that ut no period Of the war were Confede-
rate prospects brighter. -
FROM numerous authorities Captain Nc
| Cabe quoted to show that those were the
very darkest hours of the contest for the
| Federals, and that had they not secured
successes in other quar- ters an honorable
| peace wonsd probably have been yielded the
Confederates. sg
TIE PLAN OF THE SIEGE
Referring to Grants plan for the invest
uent OF Petersburg, the speaker said it was
not q new one. Mcclellan had proposed It,
but Halleck pnenounced- 1t lmpracticaDie::
Grant, while staM in the West, had urged
the adoption OF this plan, though when
placed In command, unaccountably, ne 1aliea
10 pursue it till he had lost go, ,0GO mens
The speaker proceeded to relate how
Grant, BY "gradHaI withdrawal OF nus
right flank, had placed his army Wathln
easy march OF the lower crossings 0f tle
M, olyabor,;np and .digpafched Sheridan to