Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-18
GORDON In NEW YORK
He LECTURES ON THE LAST DA S OF
THE coNFEDERAcY.
Graphic Pictures Of Southern Suffering and
Heroism, with Many Bits of numor-
Lee and Grant.
By teis1rapR 10 the Dlspatch)

ence comprised Of many of the best-hho"n
people OF New York and Brooklyn.
Among the signers OF the invitauon were
+. C.. Barlow, General W. Swayne'
ex- x-Postmaster-General James, c. NJ. De-
pew, ex-Vice-President Morton, Coiohel
Bob Ingersoll. General Horace Porter D.
II. Inman, NJ. j. Verdery. j. ii. Choate'
Henry George. and Senator {. ;. Brice'
General Gordon was interrupted IRE
quently by most enthusiastic applause
and a, the end of his peroration the au-
dience rose and cheered him for seVerai
minutes.
FRED. GRANT PRESENT.
A pleasing incident OF the occasion was
the presence on the platform OF Colonel
Fred. Grant, who shared In the applause
elected by General Gordon's eulogies OK
General Grant. a general reception toi-
lowed
Following IL the invitation upon which
General Gordons lecture was delivered:
NEW YORK, June /, 1898.
General John Il. Gordon, United States
Senator. Atlanta, Ga:
Dear Sir.-Feeiing, as all true citizens
of the Republic do. that the late clVli
war. with it's producing causes, are tor-
ever dead issues. but that the memorable
tragedy will always be OF historical inter-
est and knowing your broad ana true
AlIEfIttulSfn, We TEspINLihiiS go
urge you to deliver In this city, at your
earliest convenience. a lecture tounded
on the closing days Of the Confederacy,
and your personal estimates OF the two
great captains-Grant and Lee
THE ADDRESS.
General Gordon opened by thanking DR..
Talmage for his eloquent introduction
and the audience for its generous recep-
ton. lie said that If his merits did but
Iaf m init hO Wnuld not
disappoint the expectations OF the audi
ence nor bring discredt upon the sacred
associations connected with this, the
noblcst OF earthly temples. lie 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 or
comparing the merits OF the respective
leaders on the two sides.
General Gordon's entire lecture was
reminiscent In this character, and
dotted with those phases and incidents Of
the war which illustrate the spirit and
character OF the American people.
He took Gettysburg and AppomattoX
aS indicating the boundaries of the Con-
federacy's declining fortunes. He de-
scrbed General Lees crossing into Penn
sylvania the separation Of hts own COM
mand from General 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 Wrighisville on
the banks Of the Susquehanna, and he
gave amusing and pathetic accounts OF
things along the route. He then returned
TO Gettysburg. He said that he would
not attempt any description Of that great
battle, but would select from n thousand
interesting events but two incidents. one
of these was the scene between himselt
and General Barlow, whom he picked up
on the field and had sent to the rear.
The other was the amusing explanation
of General Ewell when he was shot
second time in his wooden leg. General
Gordon also related a number Of other
interesting anecdotes with reference TO
this quaint character.
He then said that the failure at Gettys-
burg did not diminish tho confidence or
the .Confederates in their great com
mander dec. but that the simultaneous
misfortuncs OF Gettysburg ana Nicksburs
dld shake TO GONE extent the confidence
of the southern troops in their own IN
vincibllty. He said they were ready
again, however. In the spring of '6i TO
meet General Grant in the Wilderness.
He drew striking picture Of this weird
battlefield, Of Grants fulhlment Of Lee $
prophesy as 10 his (Gordon's movement to
Spotsvlvania Courthouse. and wildly de-
picted the charging OF Hancock. the cap
ture OF the bloody salient, the appear
anca of Lee in the effort to lead "A charge
in order TO restore his lines. etc.
SCENES AROUND RICHMOND.
General Gordon then turned TO the
scenes at Petersburg and on the lines
around Richmond He described graphi-
cally the failure Of supplies the depicted
vitality Of the men on account Of hunger.
and the general gloom which universal
exhaustion had brought upon the south
ern army. He pictured the scenes at
night. when the air was full OF flying ana
bursting shells: described the charges
which finally eliminated In the breaking
Of Lees lines. and his retreat to Apo
mattoX. He introduced with the serious
portions of these descriptions references
to Lees comments upon General Grant
and the position Of the Confederate cause
and enlivencd his account with anecdotes
Of amusing character.
His description Of the fighting by day
ana the marching by night the faintinS
and falling OF men on the road from
fatigue and starvation, and the gradual
depletion Of the Confederate army was
full Of pathetic interest He described
many curious condolences connected with
the meetings of the scouts OF two armies
but the elimination Of General Gordon s
lecture was the description OF the last
council Of war had around Lees bivouac-
fire in the woods on the night OF April 3,
1866 and his account Of the surrender
itself
LAST WAR COUNCIL.
There were present at that last coun-
ell of war Lee Pendleton. commanding
the artillery: Fitzhugh Lee. commanding
the cavalry. and LOngstreet and Gordon.
commanding the two wings OF Lee
army. General Gordon said that the
scene was memorable
There was no tent, no table no camp
stool. but sitting upon saddles at the
roots Of trees, or reclining upon saddle
blankets on the ground, these devoted
leutenants were grouped around their
great leader. whose striking character
istics were never exhibited IN more
conspicuous degree than as he stood be-
fore them. facing them. and discussing
the long-dreaded inevitable.
General Gordon said IL was determined
vt this council that he should attempt
to cut his way through Sheridan's lines
at dawn the next morning. In order 10
open an exit from the Gordon or bayo-
nets which Grant had thrown around
them
1t is impossible in any brief space 70
give any conception of this closing part
of General Gordon's effort. The meet
ing between himself and Sheridan on the
field, his (Gordon's) use OF one OF sneri'
dams aides to carry for him 10 his Con
federate troops the last order he ever
sent, which was made necessary by ths
fact that his own staff had all been as
patched TO different portions of the ned
his description OF Grant and Lee as tney
stood together in the little brick mouse
and the marvellous contrast between
the appearance they presented; his trl'
butte 10 Lees lofty bearing and 10 Grant :
| marvellous exhibition OF consideration
and generosity; the latter's ma<ked
| modesty and his subsequent declaration
OF the inviolabillty OF Lees parole: his
description of the scenes which were oc'
curing outside: the tribute paid by Gene
raj Chamberlain and his command 10 the
defeated Confederates; the briny tears
that ran down the tanned faces OF 'he
southern troops. and the generous open
ing of haversacks by the Federal soldiers
TO the hungry Confederates, etc, ETC.
must be heard to be appreciated.
| General Gordon has been urged 10 re,
peat his lecture In New York city. ana
has consented to do so at Carnegie Music
fUht nj