Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-19

airy VIVA carried BY Color~sergeant Walter
| 5. Calls. who concealed u on his person
and brought Il from Appomattox.
Some Of the old veterans proposed to cut
up the flag and divide u out, 10 be keot a.
heirloon,s IN their families, but the gallant
Sergeant replied: mo! have been using
II 10 wrap my babies In that they may
cntth the spirit which It breathes, and learn
the lessons which it ienches. ! hare
already wrapped seven Of them IN ~"
He did. however, as SPECIAL favor, give
| small piece Of Il 10 the wife OF an OLD
romradc Of tho Ninth tB. +. Curtis. OK
Kentucky. whose brother was captain IN
Morgsn's command. and who says tbat she
Will nnitc this memento Of the boys who
followed Jeb, stuart and the Lees with
sctae that WIN tel OF those who rode with
John Morgan.
TIE spEAKISc.
A stand had been erected on "the Island"
where tables were spread with NIL sorts OF
| refreshments for the inner man and where,
| beneath the beautiful shadc-trees, the old
veterans spent several hours In "1gating
! their battles over again." rs they crowded
| around and shook hands with General Lee,
or met in little groups 10 talk over their
| war experience.
Abou; 8 O'Clock Judge Goolrick called
| the crowd together and introduced Rev. j.
| :. Hutcheson, who opened the exercises
| with PRAYER.
| In brief but very felicitous little speech,
| Judge Goodrich said that lie had the honor
! and pleasure OF presenting gentleman who
4 needed no introduction 10 Virginia au-
| ditnce, and especially none TO the old Ninth
| Virginia calvary, whom he had SO often
| led In the thickcst OF the fight. He need
| only announce the name Of that gallant
soldier. distinguished citizen, and stainless
| gentleman,
GENERAL W. u. 8. LEE.
General Lee was greeted with cnthusi-
| aslic applause, and "thrce cheers" were
| given for him with will. After the OPP
| plause had subsidized General Lee grace
| July returned thanks 10 his old comrades
| for the greeting they had given HIM. He
| never attended a meeting OF Old Coincide
| rates that his heart was not in bis mouth;
| but il was peculiar pleasure TO HIM
to meet and greet here to-day old
| comrades who rode with him 10
battle for the land and cause they loved
so well. There were missing forms aud
silent voices which came not to this
rolnioD, and he sadly missed the heroic
dead who answered not to the roll.calI OF
| the " Old Ninth" to-day. But while drop
ping tear TO their memory he would pay
| them the higher honor OF clinging forever
| 10 the principles for which they fought. as
| they grsndly illustrated the old but tue
proverb, "lt is sweet TO die for ones own
| country"
lie eIoquentIy protested against the idea
| that these men had "died in vain" No!
| They had once more taught the world the
4 hi hnt
| in numbers or resources. will, IL true 10
themselves and to duty, submit to oppres-
SION and wrong without making struggle
whIeb shall make their streams red with
patriotic blood, and their hillsides and val
| ieys rich in the graves OF heroes.
These men were animated by the same
love Of freedom, the same patriotic impulse
- that which fired the hearts OF patriot
| freemcn at Thermopylae in the palmy days
| Of Rome. in Switzerland. in Holland, III
| Poland. in Scotland. in Ireland, or in the
days OF the first American Revolution. He
| claimed forOur dead the sane need OF praise
| as that which belongedto struggling patriots
| in ali the ages. He fought not for what ne
believed to be rigat. bat for what he knew
10 be right. and while be fully accepted the
logical results Of the war. he should ever
| maintain that our Confederate boys were
true patriots; that they fought it ont
against overwhelming numbers aud IT,
sources as long as there was any hope OF
success, and that they had furled their tat
tered battle flags with no stain OF disgrace
upon them. General Lee here gracefully
introduced and quoted with fine effect
Father Ryan's exquisite poem on - The
Conquered Banner"
He then said that these old Coniederates
"A I,x,, in ag in
and drew vivid and eloquent picture OF
them rs good citizens, submitting to the
laws OF the land. and by the industries OF
peace making our desolate land bloom and
blossom as the rose.
lie looked back TO those "times which
tried mems souls" with pride and pleasure
as well Us with sadness, and he cOniended
that in that great contest defeat was more
glorious for us than victory was for the
mighty hosts which opposed us.
They did not meet in these reunions 10
revive bitter memories Of q stormy past, or
TO dig up again buried political issues. but
simply 10 clasp hands ~ comrades of grand
deeds, to talk over past that is secure,
and TO go forth with fresa inspiration and
fresh courage for the duties OF to-day and
the hopes OF the future.
Judge Goodrich then introduced
DIR. J. WILLIAM JONES,
who said that he did not come with any
expectation OF being houored with place
or the programme, but in the confident
hone that IN listening TO his distinguished
friend General Lee. and his gallant friend
Captain ]. j. Smith, who rode with old
Stonewall on his splendid campaigns, and
in mingling with old comrades who made
our glorious history. be should DC able
TO carry with bin TO bis work
some history worth preserving. And
yet, rs he never heard OF a Confederate
reunion from Maryland to Texas, from
Virginia 10 Missouri, that he did not feel
like packing his knapsack to attend it, 80
he was never called on TO speak on such an
occasion that he was not ready 10 respond
from a full heart. With this introduction
DR.. Jones made speech which the
crowd listened TO and applauded, but
which dor obvious ressons) your corre-
spondent cannot report. Judge Goodrich
next introduced, in fit and complimentary
phrase,
REV. J. r. SMITH.
OF Fredericksburg, who had been gallant
ard trusted staff officer OF Stonewall Jack
son. Mr.. Smith was warmly greeted by
the crowd.
He said that the first time he had ever
seen Fredericksburg was on the Sunday be-
fore the battle, when he sat on his horse
beside General Jackson and saw the reiu-
gees streaming from the town as their
homes were being battered down by hostile
guns. lie saw there the tears in the ewes Of
the stern soldier. and he remembered that
one Of the first acts OF the great chieitaln af
ter the battle was 10 issue TO his command a
call for contributions for these sufferers
and to appoint him as treasurer of the
fund.
General Jackson beaded the list with
liberal personal subscription, aud the
speaker had now In his possession a receipt
from Mayor Slaughter for $4,000 contrib
uted by the ragged, hali.starycl veterans
OF Jackson's corps. lie thought that the
people OF Fredericksburg ought TO revere
the name az jackson.
lie gave very vivid and accurate pic
tune OF Jackson's personal appearance and
characteristics. He said that he was retl-
cent Of speech but quick to execute. He
said that the Little sorrel" which Jackson
rode, and which was accustomed to get
over the ground 30 fast that IT was very hlrd
for the siaff 10 keep up, was a horse cap
tured 1T Harper's Ferry In May, 1861. from
| an Ohio drover, whom Jackson insisted on
| paving In gold, out OF his own pocket, the
| full value Of the horse. And he never used
I