The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-17

able to fill his troops with an enthusiasm and CO
ndence In HIN and his plans, and a willingness
an opportunity offered, to throw them with irres
tibleforce upon anYo Elective point. No more thu
ling sight could be witnessed than to see him mo
INTO Dattle at the head of his troops, his gracef
ana imposing form everywhere conspicuol
where the fighting was the 1ercest. You wor
have said then that the battlefield, and not
Senate Chamber, was his appropriate place.
AS hard and desperate fighter, and success1
manager OF his command when actually engag
IN battle, he had few. If any superiors, in eth
army. Whenever he had separate command,
gave evidence, too, of the greatest ability in t
| higher departments OF military science. In m
and IN aucEp
ing and counteracting the combinations al
plans of his opponents, he exhibited wonderf
| skill and power. Without pausing to enumera
particular instances illustrating his abilities
military man, must content myself with u
statement that all military men assigned him
very high rank. and that Gen. Lee, who was Il
highest authority on such points, entertained al
| freely expressed a very high opinion of him
| one OF the best officers in our army. With us,
course this is conclusive. In the winter OF 1854
s., when the cause Of the Confederacy was we
nigh desperate, and the highest ability was nee
ed in the administration OF the War Department
Gen. Breckenridge was called fr ON the field
take charge of that Department. Although
understood all the difficulties Of the position. y
he did not hesitate to accept it, anxious to di
charge his duty to the country in every way pc
sible. In that position he labored, until the en-
with all his igreat abilities, doing all that was
fell, he retired with the last ofthose who Iingere
among her burning streets. After the surrendt
OF Gen. Lee, he was with Gen. Johnston in Mort
Carolina, when the terms OF capitulatiOn wei
agreed upon between that General and Gen. She
man, and those terms as reported, give evidenc
Of having unquestionably been in part the wor
AFTxR THE WAR.
The terms OF surrender, thus fixed, having bee
rejected by the U. 8. Government, and Gen. JohI
ston having surrendered his army Immediate
after, President Davis and his cabinet officer
were left to escape from the hands OF the enem
as best they could, they not being embraced il
the terms given by the Federal General. 1t wa
to the trans Mississippi Department, and Their
continue the contest. Not SO with Gen. Breckin
ridge. He knew that the contest was virtual
and safety OF, the people OF the country and 70
the public good. He Understood very well tina
the luminosity OF the enemy was more excite,
against him than lagainst any other officer con
xa ns Of a
by his friends to make his-escspe, as they and h
knew that he, with his physical energy and activ-
ity, and knowledge OF the country, could readily
the Presidents Cabinet, to remain with him. anG
aid him as long as there was any hope of carrying
out his Plans or OF his eluding the pursuit of the
enemy He did not hesitate to express the opin
ion to President Davis that the war should close
and to urge him to do all in his power to terminate
it. and he closed letter to him on the 23rd April,
1855, the in following impressive manner: what
ever course you pursue, opinions will be divi-
sded. Permit me to give mine. Should these OF
sslmilar views accord with your own, think the
respect s1u VIII i1 spring
from the wisdom to see the path Of duty,and the
courage to follow it, regardless alike of praise or
"blame"
This closing sentence contains the chart by
the aoisdom to see the path of duty, and his the
courage to follow it, regardless alike Of praise or
blame, and it was the blending of this wisdom and
courage which formed his character, which good
men everywhere will continue to admire.
When all hope OF the Confederate cause had de-
parted from the hearts Of the most sanguine, and
IL was certain that the banner. which he had so
proudly and heroically borne upon so many
bloody fields, had been furled forever, and that
fully upheld. was lost. he felt that his duty was
done, and that all that was left for him to do was
to leave country where he was a prescribed
man. and where he had by solemn enactment OF
that Senate OF which he had heen so bright an
ornament, been denounced as a traitor. Death
vas to him preferable to capture.
He therefore determined to make his escape
rom the coast OF Florida to Cuba, where he would
be free from persecution, and accordingly with
,wo companions. ne embarked in an open boat,
Ind trusting to the great God, who had thus far
protected and directed him. he pressed out into
The vast ocean spread out before him. This exploit
nerve which he had so often exhibited during his
1fe. After being exposed for eight days to the
winds and waves, he landed at last upon the coast
-
Who, although foreigners, had learned to honor
lin. although he felt keenly that he was an exile
rom his native land. He remained in foreign
ands until the fall OF 1868, when sectional feeling
md the animosities OF the war having subsidized,
!pon the earnest solicitation OF leading men both
warm welcome which awaited him everywhere.
resence, showed that, iist he " was poweIless
east in the affections OF the people He had been
Ugh in position; men had courted him for his in
uence; all the honor that office could bring had
zen his; now he was simply private citizen with
II the avenues to office and position closed to
i'm. yet men focked to him, and loved and rev. I
renced him. -.
He lost no time in weak regrets for the past, or
epinings over the present, but strong and self 1
eliant. calmly awaiting happier day for his l
ractice of the profession in which he had been |
rained, and giving his influence to great schemes
2r the improvement Of his State, Nc. murmur /
his changed fortunes was ever heard from his
ps, no words OF bitterness towards others ever l
scaped him. but patiently and calmly taking ap \
he burdens OF his new life leaving the glittering
onors OF the past behind him, he, with heroic II
eviction to the duties OF the present, uncom-A
lainingly went forward in the humber, but still N
History records no more striking instance of
erofc fortitude under the extreme changes, to Il
e6 often the great Of the earth have been sub
'rded by this great man.
HIS DEATH. 3D.
Two years ago, whilst he was thus engaged in
he quiet pursuits of civillife, death came to him,
sease. How he met it, it is almost needless Tor
e to tell you. Whilst others were anxious he
as calm. Whilst his friends hoped that he
e could not have faced death more calmly on the
ttle,feld than he did in his chamber. when
oGa down by long protraeted sickness Patient
giy through the long years OF privation and toll |
rough which he had passed, he calmly and |
sacefully breathed his life away, only anxious |
+ his COuntrV- and for those TO him xuho /
18th agonized hearts, pressed around the dying |
rm OF one whom they SO dearly loved. And then all
lie turf OF his loved Kentucky, which took him |
mother takes child to her breast
HIS CHARACTER. M
His record is finished. mo more for him the
Dad OF care. the cup of sorrow. Flowers will
spring from his grave; storms will beat upon it;
morning will greet it with her earliest light,
light crown it with her stars, and the earth roll.
ng in her great orb in infinite space will bear
lis dust with hers until time shall be no more"
And now. my friends, my task is nearly done, 1
Nv hurriedly and imperfectly no one knows bet.
'onounce eulogy upon the life and character of
hn c. Breckenridge. have contented myself
!th simple recital OF some of the great events 4
18th which his short life was crowded. This re-
tai constitutes the most impressive eulogy
hich could be pronounced, however much it
nguage When the record Of his life is examin- |
|, we are in doubt whether his greatness of char
ter is most displayed in that decade in which |
a.
atesman. AT an age when ordinary men are |
1t making spreparations for public service, he |
vanced, within the space of seven years, to an
allied station in the government, SECOND only in
lportance and high honor to any within the gift 1
Tree people. 10 whatever station he was |
lied, he was found equal to the demands which |
made upon HIM. His political principles, in /;
hich Re believed with the full strength of his |
NEST manly nature, were derived from the I
achingS of his ancestors who were amongst the
unders OF the great fabric of constitutional lib
ty, and these he was ready to defend against all /
mers either in debate or with his sword. Frank, l
arleSS and honest, in private or in public life |
s conduct was directed by the highest code OF
orals and ofhonor, which prevailed
I'm that elder time, when truth and worth
Were still revered and cherished here on earth"
hen he retired from public life there was no
ain upon his bright escutchen, not the slightest
spicion ofdishonor on his high and honorable |
cord.
However men may have differed with him as to /
1nciples or measures, yet all held the man in /
,nor.
In military life he was conspicuous as he had
zen a civilian, very Chevalier Bayard, without !
ar and without reproach. From the time that l
unsheathed his sword to the close of the war,
s career was most brilliant;whefever his plume
ID OF glory. In the words Of one who knew and
we'd him well: when his command advanced |
cut road thro ugh which the light OF victory
'oke; when 1t reiterated, it. was an impossible |
Ill of fire to enemies"
AS much, as with any other distinguished man l
our history, was his life public It was open to
e scrutiny of all.
Many of you have seen him. IN
Behold the man You remember the grace and I
gnity of his person, the manly beauty in which 1
moved amongst you, making him the observed
thousands. ';,-5.rt4-
And his example shall not be lost his influence
all be felt for ages to come. wherever genius /
urage and fidelity to principle shall be homer |
among men. For