Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-07-21

the assurance that lie will not ialsliy His
word. but will be true 10 His ip,omise." Il
~ As the great cavalry chief, General j. h. b.
Stuart. was quietly andcalmly breathing out
his noble life, be said to President Davis. who
stood at his bedside; 81 am ready and will
inc 70 die # Cod and my country think that
| have fulfilled my destiny and discharged my
duty" Colonel Lewis Minor Coleman, of tho
University Of Virginia, who fell morially
wounded at first fredericksburg, and fingered
fer some weeks in great agony, uttered many
sentiments which would 3dorn The brightest
pages of Christian experience, and, among
other things, sent this message to his loved
and honored chieftains: "Tell Generals Ice
and jackson that they know how Christian
soldier should kre only wish they %e'e
here 10 see Christian soldier de ! No.
MANY months afterward jackson was called 10
"cross over the river and rest under tbs
shade Of the trees" and left another bright IL
lustra,ion or how Christian soldiers Of that
army are won't TO de Colonel Willie ieg-
gram. ." the boy ariilerist' SIS he was famll-
iarly called. left the University OF Virginia at
the breaking out of tho war as private SOL
dier. rose 10 tho rank Of colonel OF artillery lhe
refused tender of promotion to the command
of an infantry brigadel, upon more than one
occasion elected high praise from A. L. Hill,
Jackson. and Lee, and at the early age OF
twenty.two fell on the ill-iated field OF Fivo
Forks. gallan,ly resisting the overwhelming
odds against him. His last words were
harm done my duty and noe / turn 10 ny
Sdriow."
TRIBUTES or NORTHERN HISTORIAN. ,
And thus nigh, fll columns with the
diving words of those noble men which arc
indeed "apples Of gold in pictures OF silver"
and show that they were taught by Gods
spirit how to live and how TO die. But have
already exceeded my allotted space and mus.
hasten to a close. No it was not discipline a.
lone which made the Army Of Northern Virgin
ia what il was-which gave TO it that heroic
courage. that patience under hardShips, that
indomitabe nerve under disaster, and that full
confidence in its grand old chief and in itself,
that won. against fearful odds, q long series Of
splendid victories, and which even in its de-
feat vrung from Horace Greeley the tribute,
"The rebellion has failed and gone down,
but the rebel army of Virginia and its COM
mander had not failed :" and from Swintou. in
bis Army of the Potomac" the following
graceful eu!ogy Nor can there fail TO arise
the image of that other army, that was the all
versary Of the Army Of the Potomac, and
which who can ever forget that once looked
upon it that army Of tattered uniforms and
bright muskets-that body Of incompatible
infantry the army Of Northern Virginia, which
for four years carried the revolt on It's bayo-
nets. opposing constant front to the mighty
concentration Of power brought againt il
which, receiving terrible blows. did not fail 20
give the like; and which, vital in all its parts,
died only with It's aunhiliation'
II was a noble band Of intelligent, educated,
patriotic soldiers, with n morale such as tho
world has rarely if ever witnessed-men who
were dsvoted 10 their leaders and TO the cause
for which they fought, who were very heroes
in the field, but who submitted with no bitter
or unmanly murmurings when their idolized
chiella.n told them that he was compelled 10
Weld to overwhelming numbers and resources
who have preserved unsulied their honor as
they have observed to the letter the terms OF
their parole, and who will transmit to posteri-
ty, as a proud legacy, the story Of their deeds
as they marched, aud fought, and suffered, and
counted it all joy to be members OF " Lees
Army"