Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-08
s. A..s i ,s;YEjnl Oz. 81. ,.
SATURDAY EVENING. JUNE 8.
Gen. Early's Address.

ten. Early AQuTeSS.
The graves of 8 800 Confederate veterans
In Stonewall Cemetery, Winchester, were
decorated Thursday afternoon in the pres
ence Of 10000 people. Gen. Jubal early
the orator of the day, was introduced by ex
Gov. Holiday in an eloquent speech. Gen
Early, In opening his address, referred to
the battle of Winchester, in which, he claim.
ed, his force was outnumbered by the enc
nv. Continuing, he said "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 federal or Union
standpoint, and that is the wonderful capac'
ity the Confederate soldier bad of multiply
Ing himself on the fields Of battle. Accord
ing to many of these accounts there was
scarcely battle or campaign in which the
Confederates did not outnumber the Union
soldiers"
After giving description of the battle of
Cedar creek the General said:
'You will perceive that Sheridan MADE
his famous poetic ride, Twenty miles ava ;
over distance of about ten miles, and That
it took him from early ln the morning un.'i
about noon to make it
He then contradicted the personal mem
oirs of General Grant and the Army and
Navy Journal in reference to these battles,
saving these will give some idea of how our
adversaries vindicate the truth OF history,
and il will also show that our men had the
faculty of multiplying themselves. not only
on the field of battle, but also alter tney
were killed, wounded or captured
In speaking of the devastation OF the ve!-
Law $50 that q crow would be forced to car
nv rations,n the Generni said Sheridan was
placed In command of the army that had
been organized from the Caupaian in the
valley on the 5th of August, and tho orders
previously given to Hunter were turned
over to him for guidance 1t will be seen
from the directions of Haleck, that the de
vaststion of this beautiful valley was due
ratheg to the "magnamity" of Grant than
80 the barbarity of Sheridan.
1.-THE men whose bodies now lie IN TINS
cemetery gave their lives for what they not
only believed to be, but what L insist was
just and righteous cause. That cause was
Lost, but that did not prove that 1t was
wrong. for the history of the world abounds
with instances in which might has proved
more powerful than right. The fact, there
fore, that the cause for which these
brave soldiers gave their lives failed
with determination to abide the issue, as the
final settlement of the questions which led to the
conflict does not justify these time'servers who
pretend to have discovered that they were on the
wrong side in the conflict, either from want OF
manly courage, or from some sinister motive OF
self.interest AS have said on former occasion:
If 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 DO my por-
tion' And again say that the confederate VINO
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 to
himself and simply from motives of gain, while
the latter took his life in his hands knowing that
he would be shot if captured, and in number OF
cases he tempted to leave the service TO 60 70
the assistance of his family, which he was induced
to believe was starving at home
The General closed by paying high tribute to
the ladies of Virginia and the South.