The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29

hood to oppose him with it-had eluded
his tolls bv retreat up the Peninsula so
cleanlv conducted that little was lost be-
vond the space vacated: had turned and
fiercelv smitten his advancing columns
near the old colonial capital OF Williams
burg on MAY ,. 1862, and had planted his
army firmly around Richmond. Pending
the siege Of Yorktown thing had hap
pened that probably had no parallel in his
tory. The great body OF General john
>ton's army had rcOreanizcd itself under
the laws OF the Coniederacy. while living
under the fire OF the cncmy'S guns. the pr
Yates OF each company elccting by ballot
the officers that were TO command them. y
singular exercise Of suffrage was this. bui
there was "a free ballot and a fair count,
and an exhibition worthy OF that
E. Fierce Demo .rncy which Numbered over Greece
TO MacedOn and Art1NcrNcs's throne "-
an exhibition which would have delighted
the heart OF Thomas Jefferson. and which
certainly nut 10 the blush the autOcratlc
theory that armies should be mere compact
masses OF brute force. Still later on.
Nav 31st. Johnston had sailed forth
and stormcd and taken the outer entrench-
ments and camps OF McClcllan's army at
seven Pines. capturing ten pieces Of artil-
lery. six guns, and other spoils of war, and
DESTROYING the prestige OF the second ION
TO Richmond movement.
Rul ere the day was done victory had
| been checked. and glory had eXacted costly
tribute. for Johnston himself had fallen,
| terribly wounded. The hero, covered with
ten wounds received in Florida and Next
60. had been Frustrated by another; and
when June 1st dawncd on the confronting
armies the Army OF Northern Virginia was
without the leader who held its thorough
confidence. but now lay stricken wellnigh
INTO death. The casualty which thus de-
priycd the army OF its honorcd commander
| and closed to him the opportunity when
| in LARGE measure his own great skill had
created. opened the opportunity OF Lee.
Fortunate the State and great the people
from whom sprung two such sons; torlu-
nate the army that always had leader
worthy of it; happy he who can transmit
his place to one 50 well qualified TO MI II;
| and happy likewise ne who has had such
predecessor to prepare the way for victory.
GENERAL LEE IL COMMAND OF TIE ARMY OF
NORTHERN YIRGiNIA-RICHMOND, MANAs-
sAs. HARPER'S FERRY, SlIAIPsBURG, fKEDE'
RICESBURG.
On fine I'd OF June, 1862, General Lee
was assigned to command in person the
Army Of Northern Virginia; andfrom that
day TO April .. 1865, nearly three years, he
,yas nj lis head. And IN the page OF histo-
nv now laid open are crowded schemes OF
war and feats OF arms as brilliant as ever
thrilled the soul Of heroism and genius
u,itb odmiration-a page OF history that
feasled Glory till Pity cried, "No more"
swift was Lee to plan, and swift to exc
cute. Making feint OF reinforcing Jack,
SON in the Valley, startling the Federal
authorities with apprehensions OF attack on
the Potomac lines, AND practically elimina'
ting Mcdowell, who, with his corps, re,
NAMED near Fredericksburg, he suddenly
descends with Jackson on the rightan real
oi Mcclellan. and ere thirty days have
nassed since he assumed command, Rich
mond has been been saved and the fields
around her made immortal, and the broken
ranks of Mcclellan are crouching for pro.
lection under the heavy guns OF the irou
! c.aGs at Harrlson's Landing. Sixty days