The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-11-27
Major JamesF. Croker, Of PORTSMOUTH,. Ad-
dresses the Pickett Buchanan Veterans.
'plCKETT'S CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG. I"
The Speaker Deals with His Subject
the scenes Along the Rontc To
and Al The Hnttic-A Vote OF
Thanks Tcndcrcd IsIm.

=. W. was crowded last night with
tho who had come to hear the lee
ture OF Major j. Il. Crocker, Of Ports
mouth. who had been announced TO
speak on The Charge ut Gettysburg"
Many ladies were there. and after
the routine business Of the camp had
been disposed OF. Colonel E. III. Henry
introduced the speaker.
Major Croclser said II had been the
custom OF his camp-Stonpwall Camp
OF Portsmouth-to have series Of war
talks ut intervals. He had been Sc
lected to speak and had selected as
his subject, "Picketts Charge ut Get
tysburg. This talk he would repeat
In beginning the lecture proper he
said:
1T is now thirty years since there
died away on the plains of Appomattox
the sound of musketry and the roar Of
artillery Then and there closed n
struggle as heroic as ever was made
by n brave and patriotic people for
home government and home nntEonali-
ty. The tragic story of that great
struggle has ever since been to me
as n scaled sacred book. l have never
had the heart to open 1t. | know that
within Its lids there were annals that
surpassed the annals OF all past times
in the intelligent, profound, and all
absorbing patriotism of our peoplc-ip
the unselflsh and untiring devotion of
an entire population to Il sacred cause
arms which have shed All imperishnble
glory and honor ON the people of this
Southland! Yet there was such an end
Ing to such great deeds. The heart OF
this great people broken with sorrow.
has watered with It's tears those bril-
liant annals, until every page shows
the signs of nations grief. And with
II all there are buried memories az
dear and sacred rs the ashes of loved
ones. No. l have no heart to open the
pages of that sacred, yet tragic. his-
tory; and not until since you assigned
me the duty of saying something OF
| Pickett's charge ut the battle of Gcttys-
burg have ! ever read the Official or
other accounts of That great battle.
and when ] lately read them my heart
blcd afresh, us my inward being was
shaken to the deepest depths OF sad,
fearful emotions. and wished that you
had given to another the task you
give TO me.
ION the 18th day OF December, 1862,
Burnside lead his great and splendidly
| equipped army down from the heights
of fredericksburg, crossed the Kappa
hammock. and gave battle to Lee. His
army was rcpulsed with great slauSh-
ter and was driven back bleeding and
tnanSled to Its place of safety. The
star of burnside went down and out
General Hooker was called to the COM
| mnnd of the Army of the Potomac
conValescence. with greatly augmented
numbers and with every appliance that
military art and national wealth could
furnish In the perfect equipment OF Il
great army. 1t was proclaimed with
much flourish, amidst elated hopcs
| and expectancy, that his army was
ready 10 move. To meet this great
host Lee could rely for success only on
he great art of war and the unfall-
inE courage of his soldiers. Hooker
crossed the Rappahannock and COM
menced to cntrench himself. Lee did
not wait to be attacked, but ut once
delivered battle. The battle of Chan
cellorsvlllc was fouEht-the most inter
esting battle of the war--in which the
blended genius OF Lee and Jackson
Illustrated to the world the highest
achievement of Eeneralship In the man
agement of the lesser against the great
y superior force. Again was the Army
OF the Potamac rushed and driven
across the Rappahnnock.
And now there arose Il great uues-
ton In the camp and In the councils
of the State. II was n question OF
craftsmanship, rs well as of arms The
question was answered by Lee with
drawing his army from before Hook
er and proceeding through the lower
Shenandoah Valley to Pennsylvania,
leaving the road open To Richmond to
be taken by the enemy If he should
mond." The motto of this move
ment was two-fold--to relieve Virginia
of the enemy by forcing him to defend
his own country, and by possible
great victory to effect public opln-
ion OF the North, and thus to conquer
peace. The first object was accom-
plishcd. for as soon as Hooker discov-
cred the movement of Lee he FASTENED
to follow and to put his army between
Lee and Washington. Had Lee gained
n crushing victory Baltimore and
Washington would have been In his
power and then In all probability peace
would have cnSucd. Public opinion in
the North was greatly depressed and
sentiments of peace We're ready to
assert themselves. An Incident illus
trates this: As we We're marching from
Chambcrsburg to Gettysburg ! obscry-
ed some ladies near the roadway
waive their handkerchiefs to our pass
ing troops. II excited my attention and
curiosity. I rode up to them and said
Ladies, I observed you waving your
handkerchicfs. as If In cheer, to our
army. Why SO? We are the enemies
of your country They replied: We
are tired of the war and want you to
conquer peace. ] was greatly impress
cd by their answer, and saw that there
might be true patriotism in their act
and hopes"
1.-The invasion OF Pennsylvania was
both wise and prudent" said the speak
err from the standpoint Of both arms
and craftsmanship. Everything prom
ished success. 'But, alas, how
different the result: Gettysburg was
such sad ending to such high and we'll
4, IN