South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-08-17

The following address WAS delivered at
fredericksburg, Va. on May 3lst last.
at the urgent request OF the citizens. by
Rev. JOHN 8. HUTCHINSON, stationed
preacher at that place, and pastor Of
The Methodist Church South here. Ave
years ago:
Ladies the Memorial Association,
Comrades OF Maury Camp, Ladies
and Gentleman IL claim but one fit
ness to address you on this occasion,
and that is fitness of sympathy
Your cause Is my cause your memo.
ries are my memories. The SOL
diers whose graves you have
just decked with flowers were my
comrades in the days OF strife; we
marched under the same flag we
fought for the came cause. Shortly
after the surrender of General Lee il
was remarked Ly one who had nobly
borne his part in the struggle we
have nothing left us but memories and
graves But this is not heritage to
be despised; such memories and
graves as are ours, are richer legacy
TO be4ueath to coming generations,
than the proudest trophies that graced
the triumph of the ancient conqueror
who, for the greed of empire, the lust
OF power, or the glory Of renown,
carried his victorious arms over the
known world. Our soldiers were pa
trlots: they died for cause they be-
lieved to be just and holy; they fell
in defence of their country they laid
down their lives for their homes and
hresides. Their graves are sacred,
their memory is an inspiration.
AS we stand here by the side of
these graves, within the limits of this
old battle-scarred city,in sight of these
historic hills, whose SUBMITS on more
than one occasion were crowned with
the smoke Of battle, there comes to us
the memory OF those days when, with
hearts beating high with hopes of sue.
cess, the hosts of our Southern LAND
followed Lee and Jackson over many
we'll fought and victorious fields. We
can never forget those days, marked
by the heroic valor and patriotic de-
votion of our dead. We would not
forget them if we could; not that we
would perpetuate the animosities of
the war, or recall the sectional bitter.
ness cngeniered by civil strife. But
while cultivating feelings Of forgive
ness, friendship and fraternity toward
those against whom we fought, we
feel that we are honoring them
and IGNORING ourselves By keep.
ing green the memory Of our he
roic dead, and teaching our children
to venerate the courage and patriot.
ism OF the noble men whose deeds of
valor have shed II fadcless lusture O.
yer the name of the Army Of North
ern Virginia. Without pay, without
sleep, without equipment, often with.
out food, ragged, shoelcss, hatless they
accomplished marches, fought battles,
and achieved victories which have
excited the astonishment and admra
ton of the world, and won from our
gallant foes the need of unstinted
praise. The standard historian of TIE
North speaks Of the incompatible
Southern infantry, with their ragged
uniforms and bright bayonets. In a
work recently published by Scribner
Sons, Paltrey, in describing the battle
OF South Mountain, says: Lees men
were not embattled farmers, or raw
levies, or disconteLted conscripts
they were men passionatcIy in earnest,
who had developed natural aptitude
for fighting by fourteen months of
sharp and unusually successful cam
they had shown that they
could march hard and fight hard. -
They were far More likely to carry
positions than to be driven
from them Such were the men
whose graves we to-day strew with
flowers; for four long years they
I, fought, & hungered. Their
numbers constantly decreasing, their
ranks growing, thinn r with success.
i've victory, until at last ground down
to mere handful, confronted by star.
walton, surrounded by overwhelming
the remnant Of that gallant
band, crushed, but not conquered, re,
luctantly surrendered.
We all remember those dark and
cherries days when the banners of
the Coniederac were iur!ed, the
thinned ranks disbanded, and men
and women, with palIid lips. whisper
ed, All is lost our sons and brothers
have died in vain But We have
lived long enough to learn that they
have not died in vain. Our very sor-
rows and losses have been woven into
elements Of character. We are stron.
ger for our trials. Our diff eulties
have strung up energies for loftier CT.
forts, and our people have manifested
greatness, a courage, a patience and
torbearance in their defeat and power
ty, that IS not inferior to the proves
shown by our soldiers i'm the field. We
may pballattro Tho ,,,,.II g.. Il -. 80.