Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-05-09
The Last Days Of The COwederacy.

General Gordon, Monday evening, told the
fascinating story of the last days of the war
beginning with the crossing into PennsyiVa-
MIA. when the star of the Southern cause was
in the zenith, and ending with Appomatto1
and the eternal setting Of that star. It was
not his purpose to sketch the history OF the
decline Of the confederacy or TO analyze the
causes Of its downfall, to outline the military
operations OF 10 describe the battles OF that
gloomy period. He chose rather to tell a sol
diers story Of army life; to relate the incl
dents of campfire, march and battle that re-
veal the character and illustrate the courage
and devotion Of the men in the ranks 10
vreathe the memory Of the leaders OF North
ern and Southern armies with sincere praise
to offer tribute to the heroism and self-denial
Of American manhood and womanhood IN
those days of storm to make patriots plea
for a united country and common flag. Al
ter music BY the band-including Dixie, OF
course, aud ringing cheers for General Gordon,
instigated and led by John T. Colston, cour-
Ter Of the General at AppomattOx, the lecturer
was introduced most gracefully by Rev DR.. A.
C. Hopkins, who had served upon his STALL
About him sat a company of veterans-Gols.
Geo. A. Porterfeld and W: A. Morgan, Maj.
R. W. Hunter, Capts. George Baylor and Cleon
Moore. and Privates A. S. cambridge, W. S,
Merchant and J. o. Tutwiler. At his left hand
stood an old army tent, with stack of arms
before the door. Around him hung portraits
of Lee and Grant, the Johnstons StOnewall
Jackson. On his right was the conquered
banner and behind and above him hung the
stars and stripes, the flag Of which he spoke SO
proudly. and in which he told the young peo-
pie Of his audience they had, by right of in
heritance, more than an equal interest Be-
fore him sat, all attention, all sympathy, an
asscmblage of the men and women who had
shared the hope and borne the defeat Of the
wartime. and their sons and daughters tc
/ whom he often particularly addressed himself
Without apology, without a shadow Of regret
/ for the past, without lowering the furled flag
an inch in the affection of the Southern audi
ence. the old soldier of the Confederacy de-
clared his love and loyalty to the reunited
republic and thrilled his hearers with glow
ing prophecy ofits sublime future.
It is hardly possible even to mention the tea
lures Of the lecture that most delighted the au
/ dience-the anecdotes of war, many of them
! ludicrous, some pathetic, some mingling ire
sistibly laughter and tears the tribute to the
greatness Of Lee which more than that Of any
great man the speaker had known, increased
not diminished, on closer knowledge, and tC
the military genius, magnanimity and soldier
/ ly honor of Grant; the praise Of Hancock
''the knightliest soldier in the Federal army
and Of Jackson, ''the thunderbolt Of war -
the well-sustained periods of splendid elo
quence worthy Of the speakers fame and o
his theme.
At the conclusion, opportunity was given tC
all who wanted to, and to no others, to SPEAK
to the General and to grasp his hand. They
all wanted to, and there was nothing forma
OF cold about the impromptu reception thai
ended the evening.