The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-01
VETERAN CxYALRYMEE.
An Enthusiastic Meeting Held ut tho
Tobacco Exchange.


ing. The large room was compl 'taly
filed with survivors OF the late war, and
the meeting was called TO order by Mr..
T. w. Sydnor, of the Hanover Troop.
Mr.. c. A. Taylor, president OF the Han
over Troop Association, was unanimously
called 20 the chair
After a few eloquent remarks, outlining
the object of the meeting, MIR. Taylor,
in fitting terms, introduced as :he first
speaker General Thomls l.. Rosser. In
commencing his remarks the General said:
I'm the words Of Antony, / say TO you
to-day that we come not to praise JEFF
ferson Davis, but to bury him." The
speaker then went on in beautiful lam
guage to testify to the high character Of
the dead chieftain.
Judge b. w. Lacy, Of the supreme court
of appeals who was next called upon,
spoke as follows:
Fellow Soldiers and Fellow Citizens
AS we look to-day upon familiar faces;
as We hear the old cavalry bugle, sound
ing boots and saddles, we hear the ring
Of martial steps, the trampling and neigh
ing of steeds, we look back through the
vista OF more than thirty years, when,
here on Shockoe Slip, we heard these
sounds, and saw these faces upon the
morning Of life, as we stood upon the
threshold of that stupendous period, which
our country was stripping and girding
for a mighty conflict.
In the old Columbian Hotel, upon this
spot, the Southern boys were throngng,
and there was girding on Of swords and
clanking Of muskets and bayonets; lines
and columns were formed, which stepped
proudly TO the sound of bugle and drum
upon the fair fields of old Virginia, facing
the monster of invasion, which threatened
danger TO our country and destruction to
our household goods. How the scene
shifted and the great panorama unfolded,
amid dust and storm, TO the swell of the
majestic diapason of shot and shell and
clashing arms; how one great event caused
and followed another; how that starry
emblem, the Southern Cross" arose and
stayed in the sky of the storm-tos5ed
nation. history will tell, and we need not
speak of its sweep upborne upon the
bayonet points of Lees immortal in
fantry, saluted everywhere by the sabres
of Stuart's and Fitz Lees troopers. until
It was furled stainless upon that last
fatal field, and was entombed in the
hearts Of those who loved II best. His
tory has told of many immortal banners,
and will tell of others in the years TO
come, but of them ALL none have ever
foated more defantly in the face of the
foe, or was ever followed with more
devoted love.
OF our brothers we miss many IA
miliar face; many fell gloriously on the
ensanguined field, and sleep In unnumber-
ed graves along the plain, and upon the
mountain side, where there is no stone
to mark their last resting-place.
"Nor you, we proud, impute to those the
fault,
If memory DER their tomb no trophies
raise.
Where. through the long-drawn aisle, the
fretted vault.
The pealing anthem swells the note Of
praise"
For they are not unhonored; they sleep
in the bosom Of their native land, and
on their names their countrymen pour
the incense Of an undying love; many
have gone to their last rest, beneath
peaceful skies, and sleep near the old
homesieads they loved and their children
strew flowers there.
Thousands sleep in that beautiful spot,
where the granite shaft lifts its imperish-
able head, and there the noble women OF
this fair city carry flowers with each
returning springtime.
our thinned ranks are here again, on
this spot, where full ranks were forming
I'm the long ago, but we are not here to
don new uniforms. nor to burnish untried
bNOIUS. OtT uUIlOiIlS are III lttdlt iHt
trusty blade has rusted In disuse, and
our flag is furled; but those Virginia
veterans surviving, bearing their scars
upon their persons, their memories In
their hearts. with flowers in their hands
gather around the open grave Of their
departed President, to lay ms mortal re-
mains in their last restng-place In the
capital city of his country, on the banks
of the James, where II pours over its
rocky bed, with murmuring sound. hymn
ing an everlasting requiem to the dead
that sleep there.
With memories that sadden the heart,
We will perform our solemn work:
1.-THE boast Of heraldry. the pomp Of
power, 80
And all that beauty, all that wealth
e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour
The paths Of glory lead but to the
grave"
Thus. cherishing memories Of the past,
we are not unmindful OF the duties OF
the present and the hopes of the future;
at each recurring reunion we are fewer
still; many loved ones have been Iald
low by the sickle of time since we last
assembled; we are drawn together closer
than ever and let us seek TO help one
another as we journey on, at least with
svmpathy and words Of cheer. There are
doubtless some here who Will meet no
more; but facing outward and moving
onward we will not look back too much,
or pause too long over our retrospection,
hut with the elbow touch of old. and the
eyes-front that we have always known,
our course Is onward in the path of duty,
which stretches before us TO the end.
Rev Frank Stringfellow. who was next
called 20 the stand, started out by re-
marking that there was something that
he wanted to tell the survivors OF the
Confederate army, but that pointing TO
the United States flag) is always In the
way. He then went on 10 relate some
incidents which showed the high character
Of Jefferson Davis. During his address
the veterans shouted themselves almost
hoarse, but when General Fttzhugh Lee
appeared on the scene the climax was
reached. The crowd yelled time and
again for Lee" and just before reaching
the stand some one proposed three cheers
for General Lee. which were promptly
given. General Lees talk was greatly
enjoyed, for he referred in fitting terms
70 the love the Southern people have
for their dead leaders. THE crowds"
said the speaker that are in this city
to-day plainly show the esteem In which
he is still held
At the close OF the address the crowd
repaired TO an ante-room. where refresh
ments were served.