The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-23

And what more sacred link to bind
us in the bonds of lasting and perpetual
friendship. than those trying ordeals
through which we passed as soldiers in
the army of Northern Virginia; those
Ordeals which proclaimed in our COM
rades the greatest of all civic virtues,
the patriots love Of his country" and
the greatest OF all manly virtues honor,
courage, patience, fortitude, and the
faithful performance Of his every duty 3?
And what more fit object on which to
exercise our benevolence and charity
than on those Of our comrades who are
in misfortune and distress % distress
brought about perhaps by honorable
wounds received in battles In which you
yourselves participated
Holding these objects in view, my
| comrades, you can do much. Gather
up your treasures for the historian.
Cherish for each other that friendship
which your comrades worth rightfully
deserves. Practice that charity to your
comrades which their misfortunes
claim OF you. Let us, as good citizens
of this great Republic, keep steadfastly
in view our duty to our country, it's gov
ernment, It's institutions and its laws.
Let this Centennial year bring forth it's
full harvest OF peace and good will to oil
men and believe me, ere our next an
nual reunion, much will we havedone
about which we will congratulate our
selves. My comrades, / welcome you
this evening to this reunion.
Upon concluding his speech, the
President gave with great feeling the
following sentiment, which was
acknowledged in silence: "To the
memory of our Lee, Jackson, and the
heroic boys we left in Virginia" The
next toast, 1.-THE Union and the consti-
tuition OF the States," was Justify
cheered, and duly acknowledged in
foaming bumpers Of champagne. "The
officers and members of the Virginia
Division OF A. N. w." was acknowl-
edged with grateful memories, while
"The women Of the South! God bless
them!" brought down laundering ap-
plause from their loving sons. brothers
and husbands.
VIM. M. Burwell, as the veteran of the
Press, responded to the sentiment of
1.-The Press of New Orleans in brief
and eloquent address, not only as q
member Of an honorable profession, but
also as q member of Hays Brigade of
Louisiana Troops.
Georgians, who served i'm North Vir-
gnia," which was heartily responded to.
To the Washington Artillery" Col.
Walton, it's colonel throughout the long
and bloody contest, and now itscomman-
der as reorganized in this Centennial
year, responded in q few appropriate and
feeling remarks to the honor extended
10 nd i,,
being selected as the objects of special
attention. He asserted his pride Of hav-
ing once formed part and parcel of that
corps, now known throughout Christen-
dom as the Heroic Army of Northern
Virginia, reviewed it's deeds Of daring
and abnegation and gave as evidence
that the struggle being over we had re-
entered the Union without mental re-
striction, the fact Of our joyously march
ing under the Union flag to the strains
of Hail Columbia an Yankee Doodle.
He counseled q frank acceptance of the
situation, but cautioned Southerners not
to forget their down trOdden South
at the close Of the Colonel's remarks,
''THE DONALDsONvILLE ARTILLERY"
was given and Captain Landry, of that
company, called upon to respond.
Captain Landry thanked the Louisi-
ana Division for the honor conferred
upon the DOnaldsonviile Artillery
through one of its humble members,
and stated that, upon his return home,
he would call together the old soldiers
and let them know how finely they are
remembered by their comrades in arms,
and that this news would cheer their
poor hearts and inspire them with new
vigor to fight the battle OF life. He
stated, furthermore, that in 1861 the
Donaldsonville Artillery prided
itself upon being the oldest mill
tary organization of the State,
but it. to-day claimed much greater
honor and that is, to have been present,
outside of artillery duels and skirmishes,
at the following BATTLES Williamsburg,
Seven Pines, Cold Harbor, Chancellors-
vile, Fredericksburg, Sharpsburg, Get
tysburg, Williamsport, and at Appoma-
tox, at the last affectionate farewell Of the
illustrious Christian hero, Lee. The
historian may hereafter neglect to men,
ton in the narrative OF the contest the
Donaldsonville Artillery. The partici-
pants to the contest could well afford to
smile at the omission, but it was sacred
duty to transmit to our sons and daugh-
ters the record Of Southern prowess and
valor, and to instill in them respect and
charity for the manned remnants OF the
mighty conflict linked to their fathers by
the trying ordeals Of the Armyof North
ern Virginia. In closing his remarks
Capt. Landry expressed it as his fervent
wish that this centennial year
bring forth a harvest of peace
and good will to all men, and that the
next annual reunion witness this happy
contamination.
At the close Of Capt. Landry's re-
marks, in response to 1.-The Medical
Staff Of the A. N. w." DR.. Robertson re-
sponded in few appropropriate re-
marks, and in closing proposed the fol-
lowing toast, which was drank In ST.
lence:
"To the Dead Commanders OF Louis
lana in the A. N. w.: Stafford, General
First Brigade; Starke, General Second