The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-02

organization n credit to the state--an
ornament; TO the Commonwealth.
Virginla's soldiers have never disgraeed
their uniform nor trailcd their colors I'm
the dust Her skies are bcgpanRied with
their glorfas: in every niche in her wall
OF Fame: on every scroll OF her recorded
deeds: on every page Of her illustrlous
history; on every sepulchre OF her great
dead and I'm every graveyard Of her
worthless, are the names OF her soldier
sons.
We read OF her Iczions Of the Revo-
luton. her Lee l. light Horsemen. her
Morgan Rihemen, and her Culpeper Min
uto-men. with exalted pride IN their
achievements. We listen 10 the recital
or The courage and daring OF Picketts
Infantry. Stuarts and Aahby's cavalry
Breathed's and Carriers artillery with
bosoms heaving and souls swelling. We
hear the story OF Lee and jackson and
HiI with moist eyeiids. and in our i'm
aginations catch the rattle Of musketry.
the clang OF the sabre and the roar Of the
cannon. and then the shouts OF victory,
az they sweep over hills and valleys.
which. alas. were stained with the COM
mingled gore Of the gray and blue in
derdly strife. We linger about the fields
Of Manassas, the Valley. Seven Pines
Fredericksburg. the Wilderness Malvern
Hill. cold Harbor and Petersburg. with
emotions that stir our natures. remember
ing that many Of the gallant men whose
hero-spirits took their flight from these
memorable carnage-plains We're our kim
lred I'm name. our kindred in blood, bone
of the same bone, and flesh Of the same
flesh.
We stand at Yorktown I'm ruins now,
and remember that Virginians there ended
hal n
free and the oppressed of every land a
refuge blessed. We stand at AppomattoX
and remember how the soul of Virginia g
Greatest chieftain. chieftain whose deeds
and fame the world proclams and to its
memory chants its prase-hOw that
mighty soul was rent and torn when he
found that the army which had so long
followed his star with blind confidence
and unfatering faith was being crushed
IKE the victim in Poe's horrible story OF
the Iron Shroud." and yet how I'm the
majesty Of that soul he choked back his
emotions when finding further resistance
would be futile, and that the death-knell
Of the Confederacy was already sounding
and the heavens were already hung in
mourning ne determined to surrender that
army 60 that no more lives would be lost.
and no more widows and orphans made.
Here I'm martial array, breathing the in
spirations Of memories so grand. recol-
lections so glorious. stand these COM
panies. battalions. and regiments of Nir-
ginia's volunteer militia Of the present.
Rome I'm all the dazzling splendor of the
heieht Of her power. and when her valor
had carried her eagles from the Tiber 70
"tbo rim of the world" could not boast
of legi0ns superior in physical develop
ment soldiery bearing. chivalrous spirit,
resolution. courage. and devotion to these
batta1ions now drawn up here under
shadow Of this old Capitol. They come
Of the same stock which furnished the
heroes whose statues on these monuments
near MS were erected by a proud and
grateful people in remembrance Of their
services and TO preserve their forms d.
vine for the kindllng eyes Of future gen
erations % behold. They come Of stock
which has neve quailed IN the face Of
danger. never bowed at the feet Of power
nor kissed the shifting rod nor tyrant Is
hand They come Of the same Virginia
stock that stood with Washington az val
lev Forge. with Morgan at Quebec. with
Lee AZ Gettysburg and with Jackson IN
the valley. They are the scions Sons
and grandsons OF heroes. They are the
material which constitutes a State
'Afen who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing dare
maintain