Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-08-27
Col. chew,s Speech.
From the Romney Intelligencer.l

from the Romney Intelligencer.l
We announced last week that we
had arranged to have Col. r. p.
Chew's speech at the Reunion re-
ported. We are sorry to say, how
ever, that the stenographer whoprom-
Used to do this for us was unable,
through Illness, either to go to the
ground or to notify us of his indispo-
sition in time for US to get there our
selves while the Grafton was being de-
livered. This unfortunate failure to
secure the gallant coloners extempo-
raneous remarks was a great disap-
pointment to us and taught us a les
son that will not soon be forgotten in
the observance of the proverb about
doing yourself what you want well
done. The best we can do under the
circumstances is TO give our readers
few desultory notes on the speech
kindly furnished us by friend who
was present during the delivery
Our soldier boys were fairly capti-
waited by Col. Chew, and his address
was spoken of in the highest terms
by all who heard it. The notes above
referred to are as follows:
Discussing first the cause that led
to hostiIities between the North and
the South, the speaker referred to the
fact that the right of State to secede
had always been an open question
and a subject for debate since the or
ganization of the government. Col.
Chew repudiated as absurd the charge
of treason preferred against the
Confederate soldiers and said that
the people of the South, having sub
mitted the whole matter to the arbit-
rament of war-and having lost-ac-
cepted the result in good faith, fear
full as were its consequences to them.
He reviewed q number of the great
battles of the war, including Chan
celorsville and Grant campaign from
the Rapidan to the James, in which
latter fights Lee opposed with 60, 900
men the army of the Potomac of 140,-
900 troops, killing, wounding and
capturing as many men as he had in
his entire army. Contrasting the
military genius of Lee with that of
Wellington he stated that in the %
days of lighting with Grant in the
Wilderness Lee killed, disabled and
made prisoners more men than the
Iron Duke did in his whole life; and
that in the three days fighting in the
same campaign, Grants losses were
greater by $4,000 men than the total
number of soldiers lost by Bonaparte
and the allies in the battle of Water
loo and the retreat to the gates of
Paris. ''These facts said Col. Chew,
" speak more than the most eloquent
language of the wonderful genius of
our leaders and the marvellous cour-
age and endurance of our troops, es-
pecially when the great disparity of
numbers and deficiency of our sup
plies and equipment be considered. -
Allusion was made to the admirable
courseof the Confederate soldier since
the war-he having devoted his life
and strength to the building up of the
whole country and also to the success
that had crowned his efforts in the
South.
In conclusion the orator urged upon
those present the Importance of keep
ing up their interest in the annual re-
unions, in order that the young people
might be taught to love and venerate
the men who had fought the battles
of the South-soldiers who stood
ready to sacrifice life, property and
everything in defence of principles
they had been taught to respect"