Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-24
VETERANS or THE WAR;
xxsY or xoarnTss VIRGINIA.
A..,., Msr,.ss Address Of a'ssra' Brad
-. 7. ysAusss on skc MARYLAND Cam

Army or NORTHERN ViR0fNiA.
a...., n,te,,.s Address Of Genera, Brad
w =. ysAusss sa she MARYLAND TAM
psirr.
tive, ~ wears ago Richmond was IN
80. q .ts,c- The great campaign from
ssc Rsr,d Arm TO Petersburg. 10 which
ssrrrt Loaf more men than Lee had, ana
sben sal down inkicriously 10 the siege OF
rTsrfshurg and Richmond. had been
sors h, o,,t 10 the bitter end; the bloody
ecbts 81 the sumner ard early autumn were
ever: Grant was proceeding - carry out
III .sttfi,ionv theory, by which he
sagoposcd to wear away the rock on
which be had split, the army which had
rro,sd "a lion IN his rath and TIA. glo.
ilcus Army OF Northern Virginia. Win
lhinncd ranks but defiant stu. stood IN the
trenches wall Of trc around our beautiful
civ While the Confederate Congress met IN
eur Capitol and the Confederate Govern
mtni ruled In our high places. Last night
tlsre assembled In the hall OF the House OF
Delegates gathering 81 very different
character. The stars and stripes now flJat
ever the Capitol and the city. the Con-
f,detafe Government belongs TO bis
tAIt. anu lNt MN. W NVifN's'
virginia has long since dissolved. But
y,tersns Of that grand old army have been
accustomed for some years 10 assemble OF
ibs season In the State Capitol 10 revive
The memory % those brave old DAYS and
make combinations 10 the material for
tine history 81 deeds OF beroism which
lie world eannot afford 20 let die.
This Virginia - Division OF the Army OF
Horthern virginia Association " has been
exceedingly fortunate In their organizi'
ton and In their annual meetings. AT the
sreat Confederate gathering In tbe First
PRESBYTERIAN church, Richmond. Novem-
tsr 3. 1870. which ne. 10 do honor 10 inc
memory Of General X. T.. Lee, lwhen Pfesi-
dent IH,yis presided, and eloquent speeches
were made bv him, General j. \. ETiy,
Colcnei &. :. Venablc, General John ).
Preston, OF South Carolina, General John
n. Gordon. Colonel Charles Harshall, Gen.
srai Henry A. Wise. Colonel william Pres-
ion Johnston, Colouel Robert +. Wiibers,
and etbers,) this organization was started,
and sipte then they have been exceedingly
fortunate in their retlnIons and their ora
tors.
The address Of Colonel G. 6. Yenable on
"Tbe Campaign Of 1894" Colonel Charles
Marshall OF the "In1uence OF the selection
Of Richmond as the Confederate Capitai on
tbe Conduct ana Issue OF the War in Viz
pinia.v Major John w. Daniel on "The
Getfysburg Campaign" Captain w. Cor
don NcCabe on "Tbo Siege OF Peters
burg,o Private Leigh Robinson on " The
Battle CT the wilderness" Colonel Wluiim
Allan on "Jackson's Valley Campaign,
General Fitzhugh Lee on "The Battle OF
Cbaneellorsvillc." Colonel Archer Anderson
on 1.-THE Battle OF Chickamaugl.' MAJOR II.
b. Mcclellan on "Thc Lie aud Campaigns
OF General J. T.. Il. Stuart" and Gcnern
A. NJ. Scales on "The Battle OF FREQ
ericksburg." comprise series oil spiendi1
orafiOns md valuable hi>toric plpers
which no seeker after the truth OF his'ofy
can afford 10 be without.
When u was known that General Brad
lev 4. johnson had been selected to follow
this series in an address on "Tbe FIRST
MARYLAND Campaign " all felt that the ora
tor had been worthily chosen. and that the
gallant soldier who had served so efficiently
in that memorable campaign would fifty
narrate the history he had helped TO make.
Accordingly. the ball was packed last
night 10 its Utmost capacity while many
turned away unable 10 Gud even Standing
room. II was pleasant 10 see 50 manv OF
the old yeterans-with heads frosted with
many winters. but hearts az warm n OF
wore for each other and the cause they
cherished gathering TO honor the occasion
and their chosen orator.
A specially pleasing feature OF this re-
union was tie presence OF abont twenty-five
veterans OF the Mary land Line who came in
a body, under com mand OF General Georg'
III. Stewart, as an escort OF honor to the
orator, General b. r. johnson.
After time spent in pleasant greetings.
the president OF the Association. Genera
W. II. +. Lee, called the meeting to order,
and The chaplain OF the Association, DR.. j.
William Jones. offered prayer.
General Lee introduced the orator OF the
evening in brie! but fitting words. lie
alluded TO the widening space between us
and our heroic past, nearly twenty years
having elapsed since this city safely e'opt
behind the walls Of steel OF the Army OF
Northern Virginia, and the Confederacy
was within a stones throw OF success.
lie gave a vivid contrast between the two
armies in the campaign OF 1864, and the
results attained by each. until General
Grant, after the fearful slaughter NJ Cold
Barbor. begun to seek the accomplishment,
by pick and spade. what be had utterly
failed 10 do by his fierce attacks and bloody
defeats.
lie pronounced an eloquent eulogy on
the Army OF Northern Virginia. which
deserved success, and only yielded when
Il had dwindled TO about 5000 muskcts
and few sabres, surrounded by about
sixteen times their own numbers.
General Lee said that he had the honor
snd pleasure OF introducing On this occi-
sion one who was identified with our army
n. - Ion IN tho nnn nj flp m.
fict. who had left his home and friends and
had brayely fought for the homes and peo-
rle Of Virginia. After the war he had be-
come an honorcd and useful citizen OF
Richmond and Virginia, and he was SIRE
his comrades had cordial greeting for the
orator Of the evening,
GENERAL BRADLEY T. JOHNSON.
General johnson was greeted with loud
applause and hearty cheers. and had TO re-
main standing Cor several minutes before
he could proceed. lie thanked the presi-
dent for his introduction and the audience
for their greeting. lie was no stranger to
Richmond or Virginia, for during four
stormy years OF war he was in the service
Of these people, and always found warm
welcome 10 the homes Of the people.
lie then gave a brief but clear account o.
the origin and progress OF The Army OF
Northern Virginia Association, and said
that while Il part OF their work had been
turned over 10, and had been admirably
done is. the Southern Historical Society,
tie Association still had an important
wo,k which It was doing well.
lie gave a very able statement OF what
had been accomplished during the four
yeprs 81 our Confederate war, and cited
some OF the contributions which the Con-
feGeracy had made 10 military science.
lie gave very clear statement OF the
previous campaigns OF the Army Of North
In Virginia. and announced as his theme
1.-THE sHARPsBvpG CANPAIGS."
General johnson brought out very clear
" that General Lees main object in inyad-
ing Maryland was neither the capture OF
Washington, the invasion Of Pennsylvania,
nor the permanent occupation Of Mary
land. but really 10 relieve Virginia from
the pressure Of INVASION, defeat again the
Army Of the Potomac on ground OF bis own
choosing. and then 10 accomplish such
other objects as circumstances might die
tate.
lie brought ont from official data that
cannot be gainsaid that Lee had nj sharps
burg less tl:an $4,000, while Mcclellan bad
In and about Washington 1G0, coo men, ant
q Ia. .4aef AlAt 10 -.