Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-20

cdslon-but. alas-where are they?
hosccfans, the central figure in the
great campaign for CHATTANOOGA IA
no" On The genial shore OF the Pacific,
struggling with age and discas,. attcnS-
Ga by loving daughter and the
prayers ana good wishes Of all the sur
NiNoiS OF the hosts he commanded.
George H. Thomas, the earnest. disinter-
eStti patriot. the soldier. the Rock Of
thickamauga,' sic Us IN a quiet cemetery
near one 81 the beautiful cities Of New
l"fk. native Of Virginia. educated by
'ne hltcd states and one Of the officers
oi the army at the beginning Of armed
strife ne did not yield to the sOphlstry Of
PdI6m0uht allegiance 10 the State OF his
p!tlh' when deluded and misled so many
u'HtIS. re adhereQ o. and followed the
nag or MS country. and died at his post
on duty IN California. No nobler man
HEes and none nobler has died Critten-
q n, always generous. brave and manly.
ana Gordon Granger. who 50 distinguished
hlmscH on this field on the 2tn OF Sep
TENDER. have passed away. and McCook
"iOne' OF Inc corps commanders. survives.
. II may De mat ! owe my selection for
lhlS honorable duty TO my seniority in
rank amongst the survivors Of thar day.
DIt not on account Of sup -rior merit. for
M"cft az did their duty no soldier can
DC sdld TO be superior to any other
i feel hO1Orci. too. that on this inter
tsung occasion I am associated with that
distinguished soldier and orator. General
John Is. Gordon, who. though not a par
ti.-'iN ~ wv Nli'l Li0Ny lFI-. re tNfflt-
81 inc confederate Cause CALAMITY on
many other battlc-Gclds. and has dcscrib-
ti the Last Days Of the Confederacy."
WIN such force and eloqucnca that | can
not hope 10 equal him.
SECESSION.
Soon after the result Of the election
OF 1850 was known, South Carolina. IN
FORM seeded from the Union. ana was
afterwards followed by Otner states and
ne seeded States adopted form OF
Confederate Government.
spent the month of February. 1861. IN
Washington. and mingled extensively
with pubic men from all parts pf the
tnlted states. and can now recOllect
That many Of them professed To believe
that the controversy between the 'ad-
herring and seeding States as they Were
even then termed. would be speedily and
peacefully settled. Some few men of
prominence from the North said: The
revolution is complete and advised that
that the erring sisters he allowed 10 go
in peace Others. like Mr. Douglas. then
Senator from Illinois. and Governor More
head. OF Kentucky. said 10 me: The
peaceful settlement OF our troubles is inn
possible. the southern leaders have gone
too far 10 reccde. and Mr.. Douglas
aided: Before this controversy is Settl,
the continent will tremble under the
tread OF million OF armed men And
Governor MOrehcad, who agreed with Mr..
Douglas said. Misrepresentation has
alicnated the people OF the North and
the South; they have challenged each
other 10 war ana IN that war flaVery
viii cease 10 exist They will fight 90 the
q ath. ana. after "A bloody contest. they
VIII learn to respect each other. and may
live I'm peace. The civil war, according
10 that view. was struggle between
the elements Of American manhood. Politi-
C3I. economic. and moral considerations
may have impressed and influenced stat es-
men and phiianthrOpists and like CON
siieratons affected the great body of the
people. and swept Them into opposing
political parties. ant made them the
adherents Of rival governments.
"The assault upon Fort sumter, which
occurred in April. 1851 made any com
promise Of tho sectional differences i'm
possible ana fully justified Mr.. Toomhs.
Secretary OF state of the Confederate Gov
eminent IN saying: The firing upon that
fort viii inaUgurata civil war greater
than any the world has ctcr seen What
ever may have been hoped. believed. or
feared hy the lovers Of peace in The differ
ent sections OF the Union before that
time. the attack upon Fort Sumter rem
deTed civil war inevitable. After That
event. Mr Lincoln answered the chal-
louge for war by call for 1000 men. At
that time the whole South was practically
in arms and the call FOR 1000 was within
q month responded To 10y the Northern
states with an offer Of more than
quarter Of "a million. and the flame II war
extended across the Continent.
CHICKAMAUGA
"The country is familiar with the clos
ing events Of the battle Of thickamaugd.
and with the mistaken, or misunderstood.
order given by General Rosecrans 70 Gen
rrdl Wood clos, up on Reynolds ana
support him the attempt of General
" OOd TO execute this order determined
the result OF the battle Of ChickamauGa-
il opened our lines 10 an adventurous
'onfedcrat. attack. ] learned within "a
Confederate fire. that our lines were
broken; very soon after ! saw on the
mountain sloDe the advance OF the mon
reserve led by Granger, ana / Witnessed
heir heroic efforts 60 restore the loT-
unes of the day. | ordered Hazen' with
his brigade TO join them. and heard
heir VOlley when they went mo thr
battle. Afterwards. under the orders ol
General Thomas, l retired from me Heiu,
with all my comrades on that ileid l
felt. ana / now feel and believe. that nut ;
'or the unfortunate order given 10y Rose
Grams to Wood. or the unfortunate CON
'truction given by Wood TO that order IN
regard to which | express now no opinion,
he Union forces would have held the
battlefield of Chickamauga. Certainly
men never fought more braVely or even
desperately. than did the men OF both the
armies on that bloody and well-contcstta
My comrades. we who survive to this
lay may well be grateful 10 mat DIVINE
Being who guides the destiny Of nations
hat we are permitted 10 see an establish
"a Union; republic extending from inc
ATLANTIC 10 the Pacific. and from the
Lakes 10 the Gulf and liberty ana
aw the all-pervading rule OF our nauonai
ife We are here to-day with malice
owqrd none. and charity for all; we
meet as citizens of a common country
devoted 10 its interests, and alike ready
10 maintain its honor, wherever or now
sver assailed. o..
'ederate soldiers during all the weary
struggle Of the civil war, beg To say
VAS proud of your gallantry ana courage
never allowed myself 10 forget that You
we're Americans. freely Offering your iiVes
n the defence Of what YOU believed 10
be your rights and in vindication OF your
manhood
lyon are now satisfied that the result
u The civil war established the unity or
he powerful American republic; submit
ed your controversies with your Fellow
.itizens 70 the arbitrament OF the battle
ield and you accepted the result WIN
ublme fortitude worthy or all praise
ma Vour reward is that peace and order
me restored. and the South which you
owed So well. and fors which you fought
10 bravely. now blossoms with abundant
blessings
GENERAL GORDON'S ADDRESS.
General John b. Gordon, OF Georgia
,pened his address by quoting the mus
rious Charles Summers proposal IN the
.-pitcd States Senate to strike from the
,attl.-nacs of our Union all mementoes
II our civil war. He euloglzed The broau
md catholic spirit Of patriotism when
inspired that proposition. though ne saln'
Mr.. Sumner reasoned as a classical SUI
lent rather than a practical statesman
But Mr.. Sumner. he said, was not the
,nly statesman who then believed tha'
he preservation of war memories was the
Of War-passons.
lie was not the only one who failei 10
appreciate the mighty changes which
yere 10 be wrought by time; or the hall
owing effects OF great trials and sor-
-ows upon the tempers of a people. or the
.levating. ennobling. and unifying power
Il our Christian civilization ana free IN
situations.