Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-05-24

why 0eclmaCe tne I'LL Petuous COlunuS Oh
Burnside at Fredericksburg? Why, with
halfthe number, did they force Rockers
"finest army on the planet to flee
in haste from Charlottesville? Such
daring and brilliant exploits are
not performed by men who, with
condemning conscience, commit treason
against rigbtiul authority; t icy are pos
sible to those alone wno deem their
quarrel Just. The spirit that animated
them was the very same that brea' hes in
Magma Charta and the Declaration of
Independence. Mercenary natures are
never willing to submit to the hard
ships which they endured with cheer
fulness. They were true To their
cause when their pay was money only
in name. They made days AMI II C S
forever illustrious when their ony ra-
tions were, sometimes, the green corn
which they plucked at night, after
having borne The heat and dust of rap
id march. Ifihey had waited for COM
misslry wagons they would rot have
captured Harper's Ferry. Foot-sore
thew press.d to the front Of the battle.
or made those speedy movements tn; t
confounded and crippled the opposing
forces. Often were they distressed
with hunger and thirst during the
campaign, and, when they went into
winter ousr.ers, their garments were
thin and their food was coarse
and scant. After years of un-
surpassed exartion and suffering
they ia led to achieve the ind,-
pendence of the Confederate States.
While their guns were shaking the
hills of Gettysburg the muse of history
seemed ready to write the name of q
new nation, but her hand was stayed
by the providence of Almighty God.
The principles, however, for which
they commended and hled, are imperish-
able. The cause failed, indeed. to find
it's coveted embodiment in Southern
Confederacy, but it is not lost; it can
not die. The survivors of the war
riors, whose achievements We celebrate,
and whose virtues we praise, accept
the abitrament of war as if it we're an
audible voice from heaven. Sadly, but
finally, they have furled the old bullet
punctured battle flag, which so often
was Strengthened behind its staff as they
rushed to the charge; and, now, above
their State banners, they hoist the colors
of the consolidated American nation.
They surrendered as they fought, with
out mental reservation. But while they
bow to the decision of Divine Provi-
dence, and yield unaffected obedience
to the American Congress, they have
not made confession of criminality, and
never will. No man is ashamed be-
cause he was Confederate soldier.
While the war continued he was trying
to make good what he believed was
God-given right; and, since its termina-
ton, he reverts with pride to the valor
and the victories of the Southern
armies. It was beautiful September
evening when Maryland was first in
vaded. One who witnessed the pas
sage of the Potomac can never forget
the scene. As he came down to the
margin he saw some who had waded
over and were ascending the farther
bank. A double file of soldiers, bear
ing their banners and FURNISHED mus
kets above the water, stretched from
shore to shore. Behind we're other
troops pressing onward to the river.
In like manner many of those who
made glorious the Confederate name
have crossed the river of death, and the
rest of US are drawing near. Soon all
the host that followed Lee will be rest
ing in their graves. Those who have
gone before shall not want eulogist
while one of US remains; and when the
last one has disappeared from earthly
scenes, coming generations will cele.
brate the heroism of the men who wore
the gray, and scatter by handfuls the
fairest flowers upon the sod that en-
robes their sleeninn dust