The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-11
TALES OF The LOST CAUSE.
Gen. COrdOn'S Story Of the Last Days
Of the COlledeTaCy.

AASA bAS south Has reason TO BE
Proud-A Remarkable Painting of
Men and Incidents During the
Years of Civil Strife-Gen. Gordon
Warmly Welcomed-His Reception
by the Military and Citizens-The
Veterans Tribute to the Hero.
Gen. John B. Gordon received a hearty
greeting in Savannah yesterday. He ar
rived from Augusta by the South Bound
at noon, and was met by Gen.
Lawton and Col. Olmstead, who es-
corted him to Col Gordon's residence, on
South Broad street, where Mrs Gordon
and daughter were, having arrived from
Atlanta in the morning. The afternoon
was spent quietly, carriage drive being
taken around the city.
The theater was crowded to the doors
last night to hear Gen Gordon deliver
his famous lecture THE Last Days of
the Confederacy." storm of applause
greeted him as he walked upon the stage.
The gentlemen who accompanied him
were Col. Charles H. Olmstead president
of the Confederate Veterans Association
Gen. A. r. Lawton, Gen. S. M. Sorrel,
Gen. p. McGlashan, Capt. D. G.. Purse,
president of the board of trade; Mr.. w. G.
Conn, president of the cotton exchange /;
Capt. o. M. Carter, United States engi-
neer; Col. w. w. Gordon, Maj. P. w.
Meldrim, Col. VIM. Garrard, Capt. ]. F..
Wheaton, Mai, G.. M. Ryals Capt J. r.
F. Tattnall, Rev. L. c. Vass, Rev. J. O..
A. Cook, and Mr.. J. F. B. Beckwith, col
lector of the port.
Gen. Gordon's lecture fully met the
high expectations entertained of it. 1t
was heartily applauded throughout, and
it was exceedingly interesting. Gen.
Gordon spoke as he felt, and what he
said was what he saw and the result of
his observations.
At no time did the interest of his audi
ence lag. He was as generous to the
northern leaders and soldiers of the war
as to the southern, and his sentiments met
with instant and hearty approval. He
spoke eloquently of the flag of the coun-
try and the pride which the south, as
well as the north, feels in it
and the response was spontaneous and
enthusiastic.
The fact that he spoke truth was recog-
nized. Those who heard him last night
now understand why it is that his lecture
has D. met with such popularity.
north and south, and has
| made such good impression.
1t is lecture that is calculated to do
| good. 1t draws the people of the north
and south closer together and makes them
respect and admire each other more. 1t
| leads them to feel that each has a right
to feel proud of the valor and
achievements of the other. 1t gives
| the young a clearer and more correct i'm
preston of the great civil struggle and
! of the men who led the contending
armies. 1t contains humor and pathos,
and, history that is reliable. II all
! lectures were as entertaining the lecture
| platform would rival the stage.
COL. oLMsTEAD's INTRODUCTION.
After the applause which greeted him
| on his entrance had subsided, Geng
| Gordon was introduced by Col Olmstead
in the, tasteful and elegant style for which
he is noted. Col. Olmstead said
Ladies and Gentlemen: Custom. and GUS
| tom alone, has imposed upon me the pleasing
| duty 1 am here to discharge; for he who is to
| speak to us tonight needs no Introduction to
| any audience that may be assembled within
| the boundaries of Georgia, nor indeed any
| where in Dixie, from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande.
His deeds made his name household word
at time when the whole land was attuned to
| heroic measure, AMI it will be remembered by
| this people so long as true hearts eat respon.
stve to knightly gallantry, TO lofty courage,
| and toa sublime devotion, constant and un-
| changeable that burned with brighter and
| clearer flame, as the cause to which his life
was oonsecrated slowly and surely declined
| sinking from zenith of glory to an abyss Of
| disaster and defeat.
Who so well lifted TO speak to US of the
| closing days OF that nozzle army OF Northern
| Virginia and Of the confederacy upheld uy its
bayonets as the great soldier who was idel-
tined with its history from Manassas to Ap-
pomattox; who led whenever there was
| man to follow, who rode to meet Sedpwick
at Maryes Heights into the storm Of battle on
and still on, until, as an eye witness has said
Il lost sight Of him in the smoke Of the enc
| my's guns;' who was borne from the bloc ly
| field OF Sharpsburg with five wounds in his
body TO tell ofduty faithfully performed to the
last limit of human indul anee;
whose fierce charge in the Wilderness
| won for him, by baptism of fire, indeed
| the appellation of the man of the 18th of
| May and who stood with undaunted mien
on that last fateful April morning in 1865 at
the head OF devoted little band of famished
| and exhausted men-a noble remnant
| fought to IA frazzle''-ye as ready to do and
dare all things in that final hour as IN the full
| thrill with a noble pride when the story was
trst told to usy Yea, even amid the crush
| ing, aching pain of that sad time. And shall
| we forget II now Never Neverll Never II
honor the brave men and fair women Of
the north who have crowded to hear what we
! shall listen to this evening. Their action
| gives assurance that the Bile ssed day has
dawned IN which the great deeds of those who
wore the blue and gray shall alike be accepted
as the common heritage of the American pso.
| pie. So may it be; so may dissension and
strife become but as a fading memory OF the
| past, while Hope looks forward to
| happy, prosperous and united fu-
| ture for our children and their
| children 5 children. Yes, so may 1t be- we
| repeat from the bottom Of our hearts with
| simple honesty OF aspiration, and vet. shall it
| be said,with no fear of nisapprehen sion from
| any loyal soul-we love the memory of the
| men who died for us--we love the heroes who
came back TO US rlch in wounds and honor
| though poor in all else beside.
| Soldier, statesman, Georgian. TO his hearts
| tnmost core and TO its latest breath, present
| to you John b. Gordon.
GEN. GORDON CHEERED.
Col. Olmsteads eloquent words drew
loud applause, which was continued for
some time after Gen, Gordon arose and
faced his audience.
Gen. Gordon expressed his deep sense
of appreciation and his feeling of unwor-
thiness of the highly complimentary re-
| marks of Col. Olmstead and his gratifica-
tion al the greeting he had received from
his audience In speaking of the reasons
which had induced him to enter the lecture
field, Gen. Gordon said that he trusted