The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-02
BATTLE 0F FREDERICKSBURG
ADDRESS OF GENERAL SCALES BE-
FORE THE A. n. v. ASSOCIATION
Letter from the Ladies' Association WIN
Reference 20 the Lee Monument.


Reference 10 the Lee Monument.
For more than ter years--sincc the
Association was organized in 1S70-one OF
the most delightful features OF "Fair.
week. has been the reuDion OF veterans OF
the Army of Northern Virginia, who
gather TO revive memories OF the brave OLD
DAYS OF 'GI-'65, and TO hear recited some
chapter from the grand history which they
helped 10 make.
TIE ORATOR.
Thus far the Association hss been ex-
ceedingly fortunate in its annual orators.
First they had Colonel Charles ;. Nenable
10 tell the story OF the Campaign from the
Wilderness TO Cold Harbor"; next Colonel
Charles Marshall spoke on the Strategic
inheritance OF Richmond; then Major
John w. Daniel told the story OF "Gettys-
burg: the next year they had Captain
w. Gordon McCabe, on the "Defence OF
Petersburg; the year following, Leigh
Robinson spoke on "Tbe Wilderness;
next they had Colonel William Allan on
"Jackson's Valley Campaisn" next,
General Fitz. Lee on Characteristic
next Major II. Il. Mcclellan on "Stuart
and His Campaigns" and then Colonel
Archer Anderson on Chlckamauga."
GENERAL SCALES.
Last wear the committee had been happy
In the selection OF the gallant soldier and
accomplished gentleman. General A. NJ.
Scales, of North Carollna, and were much
disappointed that he was lroyidentlally
prevented from being present. But they
determined not to lose the address, and so
invited him again. He came this year, and
was greeted with crowded house.
There was the usual Misunderstanding and
greeting Of old comrades and interest OF
the audience TO see prominent soldiers
present.
GENERAL LEE.
General w. III. +. Lee, president Of the
Association, called the meeting to order,
and asked the chaplain. DIR. j. William
Jones, TO open the meeting with prayer.
General Lee then gave his comrades cor
dial greeting and a warm welcome TO their
annual reunion. They had, he said. made
struggle for constitutional liberty, which,
though il had failed because OF overwhelm-
ing numbers and resources, had been
fought out with such persistency and
courage that we claim that we made a
record from which every true Confederate
soldier can look the world square in the
face.
of the Confederate armies may hold such
reiinions as this without adverse criticism
from either our former enemies or from
the "weak-kneed" among our own peo-
ple, He said that these old soldiers did
not meet to revive bitter memories OF the
stormy past-certainly not TO renew ques-
tions which were settled by the war-but
simply TO see to il that we are put right on
the record, and especially that the story OF
the heroic deeds OF our noble dead shall
be handed down to posterity. These he
roes did not stop TO argue the constitu-
tional questions involved
"Theirs not TO reason why.
Theirs but to do and die"-
ut the call OF the land that gave them birth.
As a guarantee OF their fame we should
see to il that the true story Of their deeds
be given to the world. AS in part fulfilling
OF this purpose he was glad to be able
to present a gallant soldier who won his
spurs i'm Virginia, and whose glorious bri-
gade did much to make the history Of the
Army of Northern Virginia and win the
imperishable fame of the splendid soldiers
of the Old North State, whose blood en-
riched every battlefield in Virginia anC
whose bodies sleep in every vale and or
every hillside. He had the honor anC
vi us OIutol VI wv
evening, General a. NJ. Scales. OF Nortl
Carolina.
THE ADDRESS.
General Scales was received with grea
warmth, and was frequently interrupted
with applause during the delivery OF hi
splendid address.
With graceful introduction, he an
nounced as his theme "The Battle O
Fredericksburg" After brief summary
OF the glorious victories of the Army o
Northern Virginia during the campaign o
1862, which were the prelude TO Frede
ricksburg, during which he paid hand
some tribute to Mcclellan ard voiced TIN
universal contempt felt for Pope. Genera
Scales proceeded to sketch the battle
His account of the preliminary movement
was clear, his tribute TO the women O
Fredericksburg eloquent and touching
and his statement OF the strategy OF til
campaign able He wildly described tn
crossing Of the river. and the lombard
ment Of the town, and paid an elOQuen
tribute to "the gallant Pelham" who, wit
such heroic persistency entiladed the az
yancing troops OF Franklin with tw
pieces OF Stuart's horse artillery.
lie first described the attack on Jackso
near Hamilton's Crossing and its blood
repulse, and then gave very vivid d,
scription OF the repeated attacks on Ions
streets position and the fearful carnage
the best troops OF the Federal army. II
gave the Federal numbers engaged ;
$4,000. the Confederate force presel
tusly engaged. He reiuted the popul,
idea that General Lee ought to have q
tackled Burnside after his defeat.
He made an eloquent vindication OF Pr
s'dent Davis, and paid touching tribu
to his patriotism, which was applauded
the echo, showing that President Da,
still lives in the hearts Of the soldiers
the Confederacy.
THE PERoRATIoN.
lie closed as follows:
No; we were overwhelmed by number
IL degenerated into war OF friction al
waste. They could lose two TO our one al
yet be greatly superior to us in number
The immigrants from the Old World
countless numbers were rushed 10 4
front TO supply the places made vacant
wounds, desertlon, and death. Grant.
his campaign. but continued the policy /
augurated early in the war OF accomplis
ing by the wearing-out process what
\ could not accomplish by skill or proves
we yielded to overwhelming numbers, v
ieii commanding the respect of our en-
mics and the admiration Of the balance
mankind. Richmond was the object,
point OF every movement. For tb
Fredericksburg, Charlottesville. and j
the battles OF the Army OF the p,
tOmac were fought. For this, Sberma
marched through Georgia to the sea. Ieayiu
in his wake burning cities, ruined home
and dcsolate land. Richmond was d
object. and Virginia. for the most. was d
battle. ground. She barred her bosom
the storms and for four long years breaste