The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-13


n was with peculiar appropriateness
that the members Of the organization
met on that night. and they were equally
fortunate 90 have with them one 10 re-
count that old war story TO them, who
was a staff officer Of the ever glorious
and gallant Gordon Not only had the
orator been a distinguished soldier dur
ing the war. but he had been even more
distinguished and more true since that
time. Twice he had been i'm the Euber-
material chair of Alabama, and IT hGd
l.an said Of him that he had done more
to keen the people of Alabama true 10
themselves than any other man in ms
stats. He took great pleasure I'm IN
Producing Governor Thomas q. Jones
.f Alabama. as the orator of the evening.
Governor Jones then arose amid loud
.uplause and for over an hour held ms
cultured audience speA-bound by me
Interesting and fascinating manner In
which me expounded the glorious deeds
.f the noble army Of immortal Lee. lie
spoke IN part as follows:
"Four awful years passed before the
armies which started from Washington
r.I the streets OF Richmond; and In
...H OF these years the army Of Northern
ll'uia startled Washington with the
ruu uf its drum. or fought battles for its
possession north of the Potomac.
"The last hours of such an army have
mot received that consideration from the
historian which they deserve Knowing
r Nl prove Of interest 20 the survivors
u. THAT glorious army, and that perchance
something ! may say may serve TO direct
ADLER minds and pens TO this rich epoch
n lfs history. 7 venture TO address my
comrades tonight on The last days OF
te Army al Northern Virginia
"The exact strength Of the contending
armies al the opening Of hostilities.
March o.. 1865. IS "a matter of some dis
rl.e The many reports and field returns
0f the two armies, however, give data
from which the strength Of each can be
determined with substantial accuracy.
"Maf0r-Generai Humphreys. at one time
chief Of stan 10 General Meade, and
afterwards a corps commander IN his
army. n writer Of great ability and fair
ness. states that the total effective force
NJ Lees army on the 25th day Of March,
I,H. was. infantry, 5000; field artillery.
500 and cavalry, 5000, making a total
0f not leas than 5000 officers and men.
I'. appears 70 reach these figures on the
s..umptlon that Wise's brigade. 1000
strong. was not included I'm the reports
" Andersons corps. and that Rosser's
cavalry was also omitted from the last
cu Virginia OF February 20, 1865.
"nis total Of 5000 present for duty
would give Lee not over 5000 10 place
500 Uue OF battle. for about $500 OF the
cavalry reported were dismounted Tor the
Tack OF horses. and these must be sub
N''t.l. also the large number OF men
present for duty in the subsistence, quar-
ordnance engineer and pro-
' a.auments. which II Is an exceed
I'E estimate 10 place at $500.
"..Nee1 the 20th OF February and the
' or Apru lslJ. owing TO the gloomy out
'.' oI tne cause and the great suffering
mon and their families at home.
' ..sefuog from Lees army, according
g., i.e i'a'ement Of his acknowledgement.
to about three thousand In
e.lat on Hare's Hill. on March 18th,
pre- conn derate loss I'm killed, wounded
ana missing was nearly three thousand,
ID "N-.h should be added the loss on other
L.'A ol The line OF about one thousand
p. p. so that on the morning Of the 18th
march. when Grant menced his
.'-' monument and every available man
'1 ll ine. Lee could not muster over
' hFe thous8nd iaen Of all arms 10
''s'"ha the attack. This estimate Is
.''' 'antally that Of Swinton. another
WY careful Northern writer. who states
'.'i at this time. from his left northeast
' richmond 10 his right as far as Pc
,ithuis' there were thirty FIVE miles OF
D.easlwoi Ks which It behooved Lee %
s".'u' ana all the force remaining 10 him
vas ttiriy-seven thoyyand muskets and a
'insu Body of broken-down horses.
DR. stanton, Federal Secretary OF
"ar, reported that General Grant had
available on the LIST OF March, 1865 I'm the |
armies Of Meade. ord and Sheridan. an
effective total OF all arms Of 1929. Cen
sfAl Humphrey argues that this report
uots not correctly state the available
i2ice present for duty because IL IN.
slppss no, only the officers and enlisted
~" OF every branch OF the service pres
''' tor duty, but all those on extra or