Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-31

which, afterward perceived and execut-
ed by the commanding officer. carried
confusion and defeat to the Federals.
Had the need arisen, as in the case OF
the Theban army in Thessaly, more
than one Epaminondas might have
been found serving as private in the
Confederate ranks.
"And they acted like gentlemen not
merely because the order of their COM
handing General required them so to
act, but because the spirit within them
selves was in harmony with and re-
sponded to that order. In the ranks Of
the southern army, uncomplainingly
and cheerfully performing the duties of
the humble soldier, with little hope OF
promotion, where intelligence, ability
and daring were so common, were men
true as the knights of story.
"They are honored by all the true
and brave who have heard the story of
their valiant struggle. Courageous self
sacrifice resulting from honest convic-
ton of duty, touches an answering
chord in all manly hearts. The heroic
soul greets all heroes as kindred spirits,
whether they are found fighting by its
side or levelng lance againstit. 1t is the
narrow, ungenerous and selfish soul that
can find nothing to admire in the cour-
age, devotion and heroism OF its enemies.
Hence the northern writer's who have
disparaged and ridculed the valor and
devotion of the southern troops have
shown themselves to be wanting in true
nobility. In vain have they sought tic
dim the fame of the Confederate war
riors. That flame will emblaze the
pages of history when they and all they
have written shall have persisted from
memory.
"The high, majestic worth of the
Confederate soldiers and sailors shall
be survivor of its woe and, surviving,
shall help to lift the world into higher
life. Although they were defeated,
their struggle was not in vain. In the
worlds life wrong has often triumph
ed for a season. There have been many
times of oppression, when human rights
were trampled in the dust by despotic
power and the hopes of men seemed
dead. But the student of history will
find that every chaos has been follow
ed by cosmos. The agony and sweat
and tears and blood of every age have
brough forth new and better era.
"And reasoning from what has been
to what shall be, 1 believe that not in
vain were the battles, and not in vain
was the fall of those who battled and
fell under the banner of the confeder-
acy. Having by their glorious deeds
woven crown of laurel for the brow OF
the South that drew to her the admir-
ing mind of the world, by their fall they
entwined in that crown the cypress
leaves that draw to her the sympathiZ-
ing heart of the world The land in
which we live is dearer to cur hearts
since it has been hallowed by their sac
lifces and watered with their blood.
Though dead, they speak, admonishing
Us to prove ourselves worthy of kin
ship with them by being heroes in peace
as they were heroes in war.
SIN the fourteenth century, when the
sturdy sons of Switzerland confronted
their Austrian oppressors at Sempacb,
Arnold Won Winkelried, commencing
his family to the care of his country
men and crying, Make way for liberty,
rushed forwardwith outstretched hands,
and, gathering an armfulofspears intohis
own breast, made an opening in the
seemingly impenetrablc line of the
enemy, through which his comrades
forced their way to victory. Thus fall
ing in the cause of liberty, he won i'm
perishable fame, and his deed, immor
talized in song, has awakened noble
and generous emotions and nurtured
the love of freedom in the hearts of mil
lions. So shall the story of the men
who battled for the confederacy go
down through the ages, kindling the
fires of patriotism and devotion to the
principles of free government in the
hearts of generations to come"