Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-06-21
General EarIy's Speech.

from rheumatism and age, but his
eve and mind are both bright. He
read his address from manuscript.
In speaking of his valley campaign
Gen Early said
When last saw Winchester, which
was the theatre of so many stirring
events. il was amid the din OF battle,
accompanied with the roar OF artil-
lery and the flash of musketry. After
desperate and most unequal strug-
gle, which lasted from daybreak un-
til the dusk of evening, my command
was compelled to retire on that oc-
casion before the overwhelming force
of the enemy, which numbered nearly,
if not quite, $4,000 men, OF whom
more than 10000 were cavalry superb
~ armed and equipped, while my
entire force of all arms did not ex-
ceed $4,000 or $4,000 at the farthest
NY command retired fighting, and all
the stores and wounded, with the ex-
ception of those whose condition pre-
vented their removal, and some who
were on the field of battle were safely
carried to the rear, as well as my ar
tillery. with the exception of three
pieces, from which the horses had
been killed, rendering il impractical
BILE TO carry them off. lt is for the
purpose of rendering homage TO the
memory of the brave men who fell on
that occasion, as we'll as other occa-
sions, especially under the lead OF the
immortal Jackson, that you are here
assembled, and that | have come 20
unite with you with all my heart.
There is one thing which must strike
with great force the impartial student
of history, who may read accounts OF
different battles and campaigns OF
the war written from a Federal or
Union standpoint, and that is the
wonderful capacity that Confederate
soldier had of multiplying himself on
the field OF battle. According to
many of these accounts there was
scarcelya battle or campaign in which
the Confederates did not outnumber
the Union soldiers
After giving a description OF the
battle of Cedar Creek, the General
said:
You will perceive that Sheridan
made his famous poetic ride, twenty
miles away over distance OF about
ten miles, and that it took from early
in the morning until about noon to
make it.
He then contradicted the personal
memoirs OF Gen. Grant and the Army
and Navy Journal i'm reference TO
these battles, saying these will give
some idea Of how our adversaries vim
dicate the truth of history, and it will
also show that our men had the fac
ulty of multiplying themselves, not
only on the field of battle, but also
after they are killed, wounded or
captured.
In speaking OF the devastation OF
the valley so that n crow would be
forced TO carry rations, General Early
said: sheridan was placed in com
mand of the army that had been or
ganized for the campaign Of the val
ley on the 9Th day of August. The
orders previously given to Hunter
were turned over TO him for his guild.
ance. IL will be seen from the direc-
tions of Halleck that the devastation
of this beautiful valley was due rather
to the 'magnanimity Of Grant than
to the barbarity Of Sheridan. The
men whose bodies now lie In this
cemetery gave their lives for what
they not only believed TO be, but
what insist was a just and righteous
cause.
THAT cause was lost, but that did
not prove that it was wrong, for the
history Of the world abounds with in-
stances in which might has proved
more powerful than right. The fact,
therefore, that the cause for which
these brave soldiers gave their lives
failed Of success, and that we have
accepted the result with determine
ton TO abide the issue as the final
settlement of the questions which led
TO the conflict, does not justify those
time-servers who pretend 10 have dis
covered that they were on the wrong
side in the contest, either from want
of manly courage or from some sinis-
ter motive Of self-interest. As have
said Oh former occasion: III ever /
repudiate, disown or apologize for
the cause for which Lee fought and
Jackson died, may the lightning OF
heaven blast me, and the scorn OF all
good women and true men be- my
portion And again ] say that the
Confederate who has deserted since
the war is infinitely worse than one
who deserted during the war, for the
former has gone over TO the enemy at
no personal risk 10 himself, and sim
ply from motives Of gain, while the
latter took his life in his hands, know
ing that be would be shot II captured
and number OF cases he was tempt
ed to leave the service 10 go to the
assistance OF his family. which he
was induced to believe was starving
at home"
The General closed by paying a
high tribute to the ladies Of Virginia
and the South.
Mrs. Lugsby-"Old Mr.. Grumsby,
the doctor says, is suffering from ele-
phantiatis.p
Mrs. Bagsby-"Caught 1t at the