Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-23
BATTLE OF cHANCELLoRsv1LLE.
Lecture by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee--A Bril-.
liant Audience and a Delightful Treat.

liant a udIence anu a DtAAShtlul treat
The lecture delivered last evening at
the Savannah Theatre by Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee. Of Virginia, under the auspices of the
Georgia Historical Society and for the
benefit Of the Southern Historical Society,
was an event that will long be remem-
bered with pleasure in our community.
At half-past seven O'Clock the commit-
tee appointed assembled at the Pulaski
House, where carriages were ordered ior
the purpose of escOrting Gen. Lee TO the
Theatre. A magnificent barouche, drawn
by four handsomely caparisOned grey was
rendered by Mr.. \. W. Harmon, for the
special use of the distinguished guest
There were several other carriages
for the committee. This barouche
was occupied BY Gen. Lee, Mayor Nhea-
ton. Gen. X. II. Anderson and capt. Geo
A. Mercer. In the following carriage
were DIR. ]. VIM. Jones, Secretary Of the
Southern Historical Society, MjOrs. g.
NJ. RIVALS. A. 4. VIM, Gen. cOrrel, and
in the third carriage were Gen. h. L. Alex
ander. Major Lachlan Mcintosh and Or
Charters. At five minutes before eight
O'clock the party left the hotel and pro
ceeded to the Theatre, which was filled
with a brilliant audience, representing
the culture and elite of Savannah, the fan
daughters Of the Forest City being out il
numbers. The audience was credit t
the city and to the occasion, and the dis
tinguished and hOnored orator.
The Savannah Volunteer Guards BanC
was stationed in the upper circle, anC
PLAYED several airs to entertain the audi
ence before the commencement of the lee
ture.
Shortly after eight O'Clock Gen. Lee
accompanied by Captain George \. Mer
Ger. appeared on the stage, followed by
the committee. and was enthusiastically
received. They took seats in the centre
and were surrounded by the following
named gentlemen, several Of whom fig
ured conspicuously in the historic battle
which was the theme of the lecture Gen
Lafayette McLaws. Gen. 4. p. Alexander
Mayor John +. Wheaton, Judge William
ID. Harden, Gen. g. NJ. SOrrel, Gen. r. IL
Anderson, Col. Chas. II. Olmstead, Major
G. VI. RIVALS, Col. Rufus f. Lester, Major
\. \. Winn, Major Lachlan Mcintosh
DR.. VIM. Charters, W. ). BogaTt, Esq, r
J. LarcOmbe, Esq.
After the band had played a lively air
General McLaws arose and requested tina
the audience remain seated IA few minutes
after the close of General Lees lecture, a,
DIR. Jones, the Secretary Of the Southern
Historical Society, desired to say a few
words.
Capt. George A. Mercer then came for
ward, and was received with applause.
In a beautiful and eloquent, but brie
speech, he presented to the audience thu
distinguished orator, Gen. FitZhugh Lee
who needed no introduction to this com
munity. He referred to the fact that the
speaker who was about to address then
was. in blood and name, the representa-
tive of that modest young Lieutenan
then unknown to fame, who, titt!
years ago. entered our city on visit, anC
whose fame and renOWn had subsequently
extended over two cOntinents-and who
when the great contest in which he
made his name immortal was over
sheathed sword that knew no stain
He referred to the noble work Of which
General Fitzhugh Lee was the rep
resentative, of collecting and pre-
serving a correct history Of tina
eventful and glorious period il
the history of our country, and CLOSED
a beautiful tribute to the '|COnquereC
Banner by introducing Gen. Lee, whC
was received with an outburst of enthu
siasm which lasted several minutes, anC
which Enthusiastically demonstrated the
love which our people have for him.
After the applause had subsidized Gen
Lee, with a very graceful Introduction
announced his theme, the Battle o
ChancellOrsYille,' and gave first brie
sketch of the events Immediately pre-
ceding the movements of Mcclellan after
Sharpsburg until he was relieved by Burn
side: the battle and great victory O
Fredericksburg, the relieving of Burnside
and the caustic letter Of Mr.. Lincoln re
lieving Burnside and placing "Fightin2
Joe Hooker in command. He gave Z
brief but vivid sketch of the great cavalry
fight at Kelleysville, where a splendid
Confederate victory was dearly bought il
the fall of the gallant Pelham" to whom
he paid a touching and eloquent tribute
Sketching the preliminary movements
which brought on Charlottesville, and
quoting some very amusing CORE
spOndence between Mr.. Lincoln and
his chieftains. the General showed
that on the eve of that great battle Gen
Hooker had under him 1873, 70S fighting
proceeded to detail the movements by
which Hooker crossed the river at Fred
ericksburg and at the upper fords and
held under SedgWick an army opposite
the town fully equal to Lees whole force
while with his moving column at Chan
cellOrsyille he threatened to move down
on the Confederate flank. He brought
out clearly and ably the splendid strategy
of Lee bv which he held his army like &
wedge between the divided wings of the
enemy, and boldly assumed the offensive
and showed that the grand flank move
meut Of jackson was suggested and or.
Uered by Lee himself.
He gave a very life-like and vivid
sketch of the last conference held between
Lee and jackson the night before the great
movement, and of their parting the neXt
morning as Lee stood on the roadside anG
saw JacksOn's column file by.
~ 900 I,I lot 10 . IL
important duty of shielding with his brave
troops Jackson's men as they marched
across HOOkeT's front to strike him il
rear of his right flank, and he gave I
graphic account Of an interview he haC
with Jackson when he conducted him tC
an eminence from which he had a full
view Of the enemy's position, and formed
rapidly his plan of hurting his foot
cavalry on his flank. His descrip
ton of Jackson's attack and its
crushing effects upon Towards corps
of the fall Of jackson at the fire Of meI
who would have laid down their lives fol
him, of the calling of Stuart to the com
mand and how this Flower of chiYalry'
led the charge and carried line after line
of the enemy's works, singing at the tOI
of his ringing voice, ''Old Joe Hooker
won't YOU come out of the wilderness! =
the movement against Sedgwick, which
drove him across the river, the final con
centratiOn against Hooker and his igno.
miniOus retreat under cover OF stormy
night across the RappahannOck, were al
admirably done with the hand Of an able
military critic, and the viVidness OF al
eve witness and participant.
His summing up of the results of the
campaign, and quiet humOr over Hooker
famous general order contained some very
fine touches. His closing eulogy on stone
wall jackson was an eloquent tribute
from gallant and able soldier to one Of
the great military geniuses of all history
The lecture was, in word, an able
military criticism OF a great campaign, 9
vivid description of interesting move
ments. and an eloquent tribute TO the skill
of our leaders, and the heroism of oul
men which emblaZOned "ChancellOrSVille'
on the tattered battle flag of the Army OF
Northern Virginia.
His references to the gallant part borne
i'm the memorable conflict by Gen. l.. Nc
Laws division and Col. f. p. AleXan-
der's battery of artillery, were received
with loud applause, those distinguished
citizens being on the Stage.
His reference 10 the scene at Mr., Cand-
ler's residence, where the great Jackson
breathed his last when little girl said
that she wished God would let her die in
the place of the beloved General. for then
there would benO one but mamma to cry
but if General StOnewall Jackson died the
whole people of the country would cry J,
was peculiarly touching, and brought the
tears to many eyes.
General Lee spoke throughout in a
strong. clear, pleasant voice, and every
word could be distinctly heard by the
large. delighted and interested audience.
which paid the closest attention to MIN
from the commencement to the close. The
lecture was frequently interrupted with