Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-06-06
MEMORIAL DAY.

A considerable thunderstorm and rain
on Saturday afternoon last prevented what
would doubtless, from every Indication,
have been the most successful and largely at
tended msaOriol occasion ever celebrated in
this county. As it was, however, it was in a
remarkable degree a success. \ large and
respectable meeting was cougregated at Wash
ingtOu Hall, pursuant to published notice for
citation under It's recently secured charter, and
Col r. ". Baylor being called temporarily
to the Chair, and y. W. Hawks appointed
Secretary, by the iacorporators, the names of
ell present who desired to enroll themselves
as members Of the Association were received,
after which 4 committee was appointed to pre-
pare a basis OF permanent organization. The
committee retired add in short time reported,
through its Chairman, Hon. w. II. Travcrs,
that the officers of the Association should be
a President, Secretary and Treasurer, with
.Ezec1t;ge and FiaaaciaI Committees, to con.
sistoS f:e persons each. The report of the
conmiss e vas adopted and the following Off
GERS Gle ci:
Pesiaens-Rev. \. c. Hopkins.
Secreey-A. W. Hawks.
Treashrer-Wm. L. Wilson.
The President named the following persons
to compose the " Committees provided for
Erscutire C3n,m0tce.-Hon. W. II. Tray
ers, Geo. W. Sailcr, j. N. Ga!laher, Capt.
George Baylor and Mrs. a. f. Kennedy.
Financial C1nsminee.-Col R. W. Baylor.
Capt. D. II. CockEilI, David Howell, Maj.
Jas. Law. Uogf and Mrs. Isaac Fouke.
After the completion Of the organization of
the Association under It's charter, it was
moved that, as the rain had not abated, Col.
Jno. ". Leigh (of Richmond, the speaker
of the occasion, whose services had been
secured in consequence of the failure OF Gen.
Terry to be Present) be invited to deliver his
address at Washington Hall, and the exercises
for the occasion be carried out there. The
motion was adopted, and the Association adj
journed to meet ut the call of the President.
After music BY the Bands, Col. Leigh rp-
peared, escorted by Maj Jas. Law. Hoof,
1919 ~ = postum On nc StdSG HlIu Tue OH
GERS of the Association. Prayer was offered
By the Rev. \. C. Hopkins, after which
"Stonewall Jackson's Dirge" was sung by
the Musical Association. Wm. L. Wilson,
Esq, then explained to the audience that it
had been at FIRST hoped to secure as speaker
for the occasion the veteran commander Of
the Army of the Valley, Gen. JubaI a.
Early, but he could not attend, and read a
letter received from him regretting his in
|, ability to be present. Gen. Vim. Terry, of
the old "StoncwalI Brigade" aud now member
of Congress from Virginia, he then said, had
been written TO and expected to be present.
but a subsequent letter from him announced
THAT he, too, could not be here. Then, at the
last moment almost, tho Association had. as it
were, laid violen: hands upon a gentleman
who happened to be sGjouEning in our town,
Col John T. Leigh, of Richmond, Va, a
member of Gen. Beauregerd's staff during the
late war, and he now had the pleasure of it,
PRODUCING that gentleman to the audience.
Col. Leigh advanced, and after gracefully
addressing the ladies of the Lee Memorial
Association, his f~ellow-ci,izens and comrades,
stated that he did not, by any means, appear
to take the place Of the eminent speaker who
had been expected to be present; but he had
come because he felt that he had a right to
be here, to join heartily in paying honor to
his own noble comrades who had fallen in
this beautiful Valley. We should prize the
opportunity to pay honor to their memories;
1t had been bought with priceless blood, aud
he trusted that the beautiful custom Of this
annual public remembrance would be handed
down to our children, and to their children's
children through succeeding geueratiOns.-
Here in this historic Valley of the Shenan-
doah, what memories crowd upon US! Under
each hillock, here and there, rest the bodies
of the Confederate dead. And go to the
banks of the noble James. There you will
find a monument even larger than yours, to
mark where rests the soldier dead, Every