The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-18
LAST OF The CONFEDERACY.
Cen. Gordon Tells the Story in the
Brooklyn Tabernacle.

=
The Last Council of War and the
Surrender of Lee.
New York. Nov. 17.-In response to an
invitation, signed by number of gentle
men prominent in various walks of life,
Gen. John B. Gordon, United States SEN
ator from Georgia, delivered his new
lecture entitled ''The Last Days of the
Confederacy'' in the Brooklyn Taber-
Dacle this evening.
The building was filed to overfowing
with an audience composed of many of
the best known people of New York and
Brooklyn.
Among the signers of the invitation
were Gen f. c. Barlow, Gen. w. Swayne,
ex-Postmaster-Genera James, Chauncey
NJ. Depew, ex-Vice President Morton,
Col Bob Ingersoll, Gen. Horace Porter,
J. H. Inman, M. j. Verdery. j. H. Choate,
Henry George and Senator c. S. Brice.
Gen. Gordon was frequently interrupted
bymost enthusiastic applause, and at the
end Of his peroration the audience arose
and cheered for several minutes. A pleas
inc incident of the occasion was the pres
ence on the platform of Col. Fred Grant,
who shared the applause elected by Gen.
GordOns eulOgies of Gen. Grant. A gen.
eral reception followed.
THE INVITATION.
Following is the invitation upon which
Gen Gordon S lecture was delivered:
New York, June I, 1s93.-Gen. J. B. Gordon
United States States Senator, Atlanta: Dear
Sir-F'eeling, as all true citizens OF the repub-
lie do that the late civil war. with its pro-
I'M iutr re- bTf
that the memorable tragedy will always be of
historical interest. and knowing your broad
and true AmericaniSm. we respectfully invite
and urge you to deliver in this city al your ear
liest convenience u lecture founded on the
closing DAYS of the Confederacy, and your
personal es mates Of the two great captains,
Grant and Lee.
THE LECTURE.
Cen Gordon opened his lecture by
thanking DR.. Talmage for his eloquent
Introduction, and the audience for its
generous reception. He said that if his
merits did but equal their magnanimity,
he would not disappoinU the expectations
of the audience, nor bring discredit upon
the sacred association connected with
this, the nOblest of earthly temples. He
also said that in selecting his subject,
The Last Days of the Confederacy," he
had no intention of drawing comparisons
between the northern and southern forces,
comparing
leaders on the two sides.
Gen. Gordon's entire lecture was
reminiscent in its character and dealt
with those phases and incidents of the
war which Illustrate the spirit and char
acter OF the American people. He took
Gettysburg and Appomattox as indicat-
ing the boundaries of the confederacys
descending fortune. He described Gen.
Lees crossing into Pennsylvania, the
separation of his own command from
Gen. Lees army and the march of his
(Gordon's) command through the valley
Of Pennsylvania, the city of York, the
CONSERVATION of its people, the burning
OF the town of WrightSville on the banks
OF the Susquehanna, and gave amusing
and pathetic accounts of the scenes along
the route.
THE RETURN TO GETTYSBURG.
He then returned to Gettysburg. He
said that he would not attempt any de-
sCriptiOn of that great battle, but would
select from a thousand interesting events
but two incidents. One of these was the
scene between himself and Gen. Barlow,
whom he picked up on the field and sent
TO the rear. The other was the amusing
explanation of Gen. Ewell when he was
shot a second time in his wooden leg.
Gen Gordon also related a number of
other interesting anecdotes in reference
to this quaint character. He then said
that the failure at Gettysburg
did not diminish the confidence OF the
confederates in their great commander
lLeel, but that the simultaneous misfor-
fortunes of Gettysburg and Vicksburg
ana shake, to some extent, the confidence
OF the southern troops IN their own in
Tincibility. He said they were ready
again, however, in the spring of 1864 to
meet Gen. Grant in the Wilderness. He
drew a striking picture of this weird
battlefield, Of Gen. Grants fultllment of
ten. Lees prophecy as to his (Grant's)
movements to SpOttsylvania court house,
and wildly depicted the charge Of Gen.
Hancock, the capture of the Bloody
SeFenta, the appearance of Gen. Lee in
lhe effort to lead charge in order to re-
store his lines, etc.
THE FIGHTING AROUND RICHMOND.
Gen. Gordon then turned to the scenes at
Petersburg and on the lines around Rich
Mond. He described graphically the fail
Uta OF the supplies, the depleted vitality
OF the men on account of hunger, and the
general gloom which universal exhaustion
Lo4 brought upon the southern army. He
pictured the scenes at night when the air
was 1ulI Of flying and bursting shells. de-
S1i0ed the charges which finally culmi-
HtJeu IN the breaking of Gen. Lees lines
ana his retreat to Appomattox. He intro
Uu0eu, with the serious portions of
IitSe descriptions, references to
Gen. Lees comments upon Gen. Grant
a1Q the position Of the confederate cause,
auu enilvened his account with anecdotes
ot amusing incidents. His description of
.Ae retreat, the fighting by day and
;-4fchlng by night, the fainting and fall
lDs OF men on the roadside from fatigue
oe o44 starvation, and the gradual depletion
vi vi Jne confederate army was full Of pa
."eJlc interest. He described many curious
.re-oents connected with the meetings of
we recruits Of the two armies.
THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR.
But the elimination of Gen. Gordon's
lecture was the description of the last
teouncl of war held around Lees bivouac
iIle. Ire IN the woods on the night of April 8,
i3ol' and his account of the surrender
',9e4I' There were present at that last
oooltll OF war Gems. Lee and PendletOn,
ccoolLILAanding the artillery; Fitzhugh Lee,
,loCgILandlng lC the cavalry, and Longstreet
oFI rEI Gordon, commanding the two wings
~ ven. Lees army. Gen. Gordon said
,v n-ov me scene was memorable. There
'a9 no tent, table, chairs or campstool,
~ mat sitting upon saddles at the roots
NJ .reeS, or reclining upon saddle blankets
", n" 'ue ground, these devoted lieutenants
,,t t'1 grouped around their great leader,
srt,,77e. striking characteristics were never
tI,-.otIed IN more conspicuous degree
tn as he stood before them, facing
'@-e4ll, and QlSpuSgincr tha ioucr 9ragdnd in