Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-06-26
The First Confederate Chap.
lain.
Touching Comment 6y Mr.. Charles
Broddiodg Ronss.

from the NetrS- observer CItfOufcke OF
May 18th an account of the celebra-
ton of the SD anniversary of the
ordination of the Rev. Jas. B. Ayirett,
well known here. with the following
sketch of tue distinguished divine
add touching comment from the pen
of MFR. Charles Broadway Rcuss:
Mr.. Avfrett bears the distinction
of being the first chaplain ever com
missioned by the Confederate gov
eminent. From then until Septem-
Der 18th, 1864, when disabled by i'll
ness he fell into the enerv's hands, lie
WAS with the army in the field. Till
that gallant cavalry leaders death,
during Jackson's brilliant valley can
paign in 1862, he rode with AshbY's
famous command, and, believe, re-
manned With this arm of the service
till captured. While parOled spris-
oner, in Winchester, he found album
dant work in ministeriDg 10 the sick
and wounded and in burying the
dead. Soon after the war he wrote
the life of Gen. Ashby, which was
received with great favor. For this
work he was admirably fitted by
broad culture and a polished style
For twenty years he was engaged in
active and most successful work in
q parish near Washington, d. G..
Here he came in contact with and
made friends Of many of the most dis
tinguished people in the country, es-
pecially with Senator Vance.
/ Only failing health, brought about
by malaria and arduous and unrcmit-
ting PASTORAL labors, forced him to
resign this interesting charge and
seek more bracing climate in Water
vile, n. Y, and it is tile quest of
health to he used in the MASTER
cause that has now brought him back
to North Carolina.
Our parish is already feeling the
effects of the earnest and Jealous
work of himself and his good wife.
Like sunshine on winter landscape,
frightening, YiYifying, fructifying is
their presence in our midst,
Both are ardent Confederates and
along with charity for all men they
inculcate love and reverence for the
men of whose noble deeds they had
such full knowledge. They have al
ready set on foot movement to have
the Confederate cemetery ut this
place turfed and planted in flowers.
and henceforWard memorial day will
be celebrated here as elsewhere.
Mrs. Avirett is a member of the
Williams family, of Winchester, Va,
than which the South has never pro-
duced men and women who showed
and yet show more devotion to the
Confederate cause. Living as they
did in Winchester, Va, that truly
dehatable land of the Confederacy,
mother and daughter spent the four
years of the war in ceaseless minis
tratfen TO sick and wounded Confed-
crate soldiers. Time, money, health,
all were given with unstfnted hand
The number of North Cardinals sick,
sorely wounded and prisoners in Fed
eral hands who were nursed back to
life and health or had their last hours
on earth made less dark by the ten
der ministration of these most excel
lent women will never be known.
j Mrs. Avirett's most cherished pos
session is an autograph letter of
Stonewall Jackson on this subject.
And when the war ended and the last
suffering Confederate had gone home
to his people, or to rest under the
friendly valley soil, Mrs. Williams
and her daughters went to work for
the dead. 1t was in her mind that
the beautiful Confederate cemetery
ut Winchester had its inception, and
it was her talents and interchangeable
industry and inspiring devotion and
that of her daughters that made it the
model of all others, that it is.
just as in the coming years our
sons will have held up before them
our Lees, our Jacksons, Branches,
Penders and Petigrews to initiate,
so will our daughters he pointed to
such women as these as patterns
after Which TO shape their lives.
o. w. BLAcESALL.
The author OF the abuv. tt son of
an old Confederate Soldier, whose
bones ar bleaching in the StonewalI
Cemetery, has given me no little
plesur in this butiful letter.
For long, long years, hav known
the Reverend james Battle Avirett,
and Mary Williams Avirett. and beg
her, thru the medium of yor columns
to expires the great qualification it
gives me to realize, how gratefully
the Confederate Orfans in the Sllen-
andoah Valley remember their re-
markabl endevor to compensate in Il
rounded education, what tllos inter
esting wards of every tru Confeder-
ate lost, when tina gave up their faith
ers on the Battle Field of Old Virginia.
Many woman, now in the enjoy
ment of rounded education reed at
the Dunbar Institute of Winchester,
Virginia, owes her present power in
the old town and nab0rlood to what
Mr.. and Mrs. Avirett did for them in
gratuitus education.
Ma tia liY for long years to cum,
and ma their old friends be spared 10
celebrate the 50th Anniversary with
them, of his consecation to the Min
istry of that Church in which lie reed
orders at the hands of that great and
Good man, Bishop Meade of Virginia.
I'm thes bFite days of June, / oft
times 90 BACK in afection and sweet
memory to the dear old town of