The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-09
CAPTAIN sPEyCE's SPEECH.
The Hospitality Which Was shown the Rich
rnond Bovs At WrlghtsTille.

Major ". NJ. Evans. assistant adiutant-gen-.
eral Of the State Of Virginia and member Oh
the brigade staff has received several letters
from North Carolina military officers whom
he met at the encampment az NnghtsYiiie;
All of the rnssives breathe broad iTateInai
spirit. and ali wish that Yirgnians shall look
for the latch-string whenever they are N
North Carolina.
Captain 4. Leslie Spence las also received
several letters from North Carolina officers.
and two requested him 70 favor them with q
copy OF the speech lie delivered at the Hotel
Orton. whore tho hhst tlrEi ID regimen
were entertained by the Wilmington Lght
Infantry.
Captain Spence complied with the request,
the speech being as follows:
Colonel Jones Colonel BerchneT and gen
tlemen of the Wilmington Light Infantry;
In obedience 10 an order from our colonel.
which assure you / Obeg far more cheeruily
than did great many that l have mad 10
obey during the past week, ! stand up 10 rep
resent the First Virginia regiment. con,
fess that ! have been very much amused ana
highly entertained while sitting az tins ban
ouet table. at bearing these young gentlemen
Of the First Virginia regiment expressing their
surprise and astonishment at tho royal reeep-
ton end magnificent entertainment we have
received at your hands to-day. For myself, |
bave not been surprised | have received
nothing at your hands that did not fully eX-
pect when left my home, for told members
Of my company thatif for the paltry price ot
this trip they did not come they would miss
the opportunity of their lives.
For sirs. well remember thirty long years
apo when that dark war cloud arose IN our
Northern horizon, with what alacrlty and
promptness North Carolina poured thousands
Of her heroic sons into Virginia 20 protect our
nothers. our wives and our sweetheart5, nor
have | forgotten that the first blood shed on
Virginia soil in that great war was shed at
Bethel by North Carolnlans, therefore. why
should be surprised IN coming among such
people to receive an abundance OF henluS anu
q magnificent dinner.
TeItlemen Of the First Virginia, you
know that in the skirmish drill three days
ago in trying 10 initiate that grand Old rebel
veil that 1 was wont 10 give IN the.days that
are zone. lost my voice. II you desire our
North Carolina brethren TO hear what the ola
man has to say. give me silence
Gentleman. NV feelings were hurt thismorn-
ING when your General Strange, AZ the Cape
Fear club. was giving MS that warm Hearted
aud cordial reception. In those eloquent
words of greeting no alluded - Us as de-
srendants of the heroes Of the grand Army
of Northern Virginia. Some OF US are not de,
scendants of those heroes but claim apart ana
parcel 10 an inheritance OF al the glory ana
names Of Lee aud Jackson famous over the
whole world Applausel.
If you will pardon personal aliuBon lie
sire 10 state that the grandest sight my eve
ever saw and the sweetest sound my ear eVei
heard was IN connection with North taroNu-
isns. For well do / semembor one thursday
afternoon IN June, 1862, when Mcclellan
with his innumerable horde. was tying "a
capturo Richmond on the James, that after
1 al all IA I a CONNER
with the enemy and exposed u continuous tor
rents Of shells at Frenchs farm near
Richmond. that afternoon | saw. and Just
here my memory fails me. and fain
would not do any injustice 70 any one, Dut i
was either the lorty-seventh or tOfty-eightn
North Carolina regiment charge across an
open wheat field uuder terrific tlTe OF sho'
and she'll. aud thoir lines were far straightei
and better dressed than any regiment on the
grand review at Wrghtsyllle Gay peloI.
Yesterday. And when deep gaps were
made in their ranks they we're filed az
prompty as If it were a SNOWFALL contest
between college students and they did wha'
for thirty years I have tried - teach these
voung gentlemen Of the First Nirgnia 20 40
fbav closed 10 tho cOlors and touched elbows
To the guide. ! will not mention what my OWL
regiment did in this same fight That same
NIGHT. after that day Of blood and carnage. IN
qDine II Won can now / ltll Wien thd- ACH''
Colonel Wesiger OF the gallant Twelfth Nr
einiainfantry came down thel line. and gave tni
order 10 Captain f. W Branch, who poured
out his ife's blood in tho defen g OF Southern
independence at Brandy station, VIZ
was captain of company now present IN thii
room. the Richmond Grays. Of which 81 Una
time ! was m humble private CaptaIl
Branch. take your company out on the plcke
line for picket duty" Ah, gentlemen ~,
heart sank within me and was ready 20 giy'
up. fighting all day 70 do picket duty at nlgnt
when just. as We started OF up rode g. q couLle
and gave this order 90 Colonel Welsger
Take your regiment back TO camp, relieve;
by General l,Ransom's North Carolina Brigade
That gentlemen, was the sweetest SOUND
| ever heard.
Now in conclusion desire TO relserate VIVA
my brother officers have saId Come 70 III
| eina come 10 Richmond. and the lateh-strin
of the First Virginia regimentsl armory WI
| he on the outside 10 North Caronnians as loh'
as the sun shall continue 70 roll across u
HAVANA fAnnlatiss