Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-11
now surviving who, with "the first sol

now surviving who, with "the first sol.
der Of this age and ga hero OF heroes
had his blessed cognizance at the sor-
rowful end OF "Men, we have fought
through the war together" will secure
and pYeservo for Transmission to pos
terity this ennobling tablet.
OF the prime vaue and merit OF the
Compilation, as its editor terms it,
some idea may be apprehcnded from tho
following extracts from the introduction !:
This Compilation has been printed
from the originals of the duplicate pa
roles Of the Army of Northern Virginia,
surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse,
e which were retained by its COM
monder. the other duplicate
being delivered to Licutenant-General
GRAxr The present documents
passed from General LEE into the charge
of the Hon. EoBEaT OULD, Confederate
States Commissioner Of Exchange OF
Prisoners OF War. by whom they were
deposited in the archives of the South
ern Historical Society. Owing to the
Encouragement of his command by
General LEE on the morning pre-
ceding the day OF surrender the
incidental disintegration Of the forces ;
the desultory mode Of parole and
for other causes given, the task of
the editor must have been, as he says
"perplexing ana laborious.' a Vir-
ginian soldier Of the ranks himself, and
an experienced and systematic student
and laborer. only such an one could have
performed the present task. The diff
Guilty of its accomplishment mechanically
or perfunctorily by the authorities at
Washington would have increased the
longer delayed it might be. The intro
dnction is a concise and comprehensive
compilation of every authentic detail
that could be gathered regarding the last
DAYS OF and the final act in the dissolu-
ton of the Coniederacy. There are
valuable foot notes, and the analytical
index is lucid and ample. The asser-
tons of the editor that the achieve
ments OF the armies Of the Con-
federate States Of America have met
undiminishable acknowledgment in the
military history OF the world. Itsfortitude
could not he surpassed. That the causes
OF its surrender were manifestly Insur-
mountable" are now held universally as
prime truths. The parting of General
LEE with his faithful followers is thus
expressed: "The soldiers were pro-
foundly moved at the readirg to them
of this noble farewell address. Respon-
sive to their emotion he touchingly said :
MEN. we have fought through the war
together | have done my best for you
my heart is too full to say more And
erandly. indeed, had the simple utterance
been a.tested. It was a magnificent
pageant from the Chickahominy to the
final act at Appomattox Courthouse
sublime in its realization of valor, en-
dureuce, and patriotism. Freedom re-
cords 10 sacrifices surprising it in mag
ritude. And the grand hero, LEE. re-
illumining the lustrous diadem OF his
mother, Virginia, is jointly enshrined in
the reyerential hearts of her sons with
her WASHINGTON.
"Crushingly overwhelmedthe starving
Army of Northern Virginia laid down its
arms, but its piitul fate invested with
mournful incense only-its heroism and
sacrifices. lis achievements will in
creas.ngly command the admiration OF
the world during all time. "