American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-04-24
" The Closing Scene"

As appropriate to Memorial Day
. which will be celebrated on Monday
5 next, we reproduce the memorable
. General Order No. 80" which fell
like the death kncll of hope upon
the brave hearts of the gallant men
to whom it was directed. 1t was
the farewell address of General
LEE-the last order issued by that
peerless soldier, and will go down
to after ages as a touching memen-
to of that gloomy day in April, 1860:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN I
| VIRGINIA, April 10Th, 1S65.
"After four years of arduous service.
marked by unsurpassed courage and forth
tudc, the Army of Northern Virginia has
been compelled to yield to overwhelming
numbers and resources. ! need not tell
the survivors of so many hard-fought bat
ties, who have remained steadfast TO the
| last. that have consented to this result
from no uistrust of them; but, feeling that
valor and devotion could accomplish moth
that would have attended the continuation
of the contest, hav. determined to avoid
tho useless sacrifice Of those whose past
services have endeared them to their
countrymcn. BY the terms of the agree
ment, officers and men can return to their
homes, and remain there until exchanged.
''You will take with you the Satisfaction
that proceeds from the consciousness of duty |
faithfully performed; and | earnestly pray !
that a mercifnl God may extend to you
his blessing and protection. With an I'M |
ceasisg admiration of your constancy and |
devotion TO your country, and gratefni
remembrance of your kind and generous
of myself. bid yon an atfsc-
tionate farewell. r. f. LEE, General"
The close Of the great drama of
the struggle for civil iberty-wbose
recol!ec,ions yet cause moisture
to the eye and thrill to the nerves
of the reconstructed old Confederate
has been pathetically portrayed
by our gifted townsnan, the late
John Quitman Moore, in one of the
finest sketches to be found in the
language. His description
of the Closing Scene is literary
gem of the purest ray. We give it
below;
"There stood the mournful rem
1ant of that once glorious army
hat had dipped its conquering bar-
lers in the crimson tide of eight ]
md twenty sanguinary battles, and
|trewn its heroic slain from the foot
# the Pennsylvania mountains to
he gates Of it's own capital city;
hat gave Manassas to Beauregard,
nd twinud the fame of the Seven
Pines battle in the laurel wreath of
UhnstOn; that had caused the u
raters Of the Shenandoah eternally a
o murmur the name Of StOnewallf
ackson; and stretching ITS arm out
0 the distant West, had planted
ictory on the dropping banners of ~,
'rage; that had Witnessed four =,
igantic campaigns, and through all =
heir shifting and tragic scenes, and =
nder all difficulties and dangers, "
al remained sreadiast and faithful a
} the last. And after having wit. =,
essed the rising of the Southern u
as it loomed UP
rightly OF the horizon OF war, pur-
ing to it's splendid zenith the fiery
,tli of Mars, now beheld, not UNI n,
owed, its declining splendors going
,wn in the gloom of eternal night.
"And lie, its iIlustrious chief,
hose lofty plume WAS ever its raj q,
ing point in battle, and around !,
HON it's affections clustered, now st
it for its past devotion m
I'd babe iii adieu forever. Slowly, su
I'd sadly, he rode from the mourn
| field, and the cause he had work 81,
for was beneath the foOts of Pow
. Few were tho eyes that grew
u moist at that departure. 1t was
e agony OF great cause finding
preston in the soul of its sc
fender. ma
"And though that cause be dead,
It will its memory continue to live,
id ever honored will be those CT
mes that were sacrificed at its
tars. And on the scroll of Fame,
} name among the list of worthless
III shine IN a purer, serener, or
IRE respiendent light, than thatof
1BERT EDMUND LEE. His fame
monumental. His name will he do
aced by the side of those of the Gle
eat Captains of hietory-Of Marl- ma
rough and SAKE, of lilly and Flu
ne; and AZ long as the fame of the
struggle shall finger i'm ing
ldition and song, will his memory Sb
cherished by the descendants of m2
Q Southern race; while his charac
!, will stand out in the twilight of
story like some grand old cattle
al lifting itself in impcrishable
auty above the objects of earth,
'jestic in its solemn stateliness,
blime in its severe simplicity" dr.
w;
WEBER says now is the time to M
We the children's hair cut, before
) hot weather sets in, 1t