Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-22

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5:47. High water 0:22 q. m. ant
l2.54 ?. m.
WEATHER PRoBABILITIEs.-For this
section increasing cloUdiness with rain or
snow Saturday warmer aturd4y noruin
colder Saturday afternoon and Sunday sou l.
easterly winds, shift: g 20 scutherly.
49,
GENERAL RossER's LECTURE At
7:30 o CLOCK Lee Camp, Confederate
Veterans, in full uniform, were assem-
bled in their hall with General Rosser
in their midst exchanging recollec;ions
of the long past struggle in which each
and all present had participated. The
assemblage was for the purpose of at
tending in a body the recital of Gen.
Rosser's personal recollections of the
BATTLES and incidents of the Army of
Northern Virginia and look again
upon once familiar faces and scenes as
shown by the stereopticon. The Alex
andria Light Infantry, many of whom
are the sons of Confederate Veterans,
in fatigue uniform and without arms,
rendered an escort to Gen. Rosser and
Lee Camp TO the Opera House, which
at s o'clock was we'll filled with an in
telligent and appreciative audience.
Gen. Rosser was accompanied by Col.
Arthur Herbert and Capt. Thos. Perry.
Loud applause greeted them as they
passed upon the stage, where Col. Her
bert introduced the lecturer, saying
Gentlemen, ladies and old comrades
of the Army of Northern Virginia 1t
is nv pleasure to introduce to you this
evening Maj. Gen. Thos. l.. Rosser, a
native of Campbell county, Virginia.
To all who wore the grey, and | may
add the blue, ne needs no introduction
from me. To the younger generation
grown up since III civil war | would
say he is a graduate of West Point, he
was Captain of Second Company Wash.
iugton Artillery, that noble band of
heroes whose guns Numbered and echo
ed on every battlefield of the Army of
Northern Virginia. He was promoted
for gallant and meritorious services
first to Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery,
then Colonel 9TH Cavalry, then Briga-
der General of Cavalry, then Major
General. This rank he held when the
C~onfederacy went down at Appomat-
tox. His rapid promotion tells the
story of how intelligently, faithfully
and CALAMITY he filed each position as
signed him. And no mere eulogistic
words of mine could add to his brilliant
record as a soldier. He is here tonight
and with his magic touch will bring
before you the leaders, battles
and incidents of our civil war.
His object is to interest you in the Bat
tie Abbey of the South, to which u
Comrade Chas. B. Rouss proposes to
subscribe 500, 900. One half The pro-
ceeds of to-night's lecture will go to
that object and one half to the Soldiers
Home at Richmond, a charity that APP
peals to all our hearts alike. We will
for one moment, before the General
commences his address, dissolve our
selves into a public meeting to which |
offer the following resolution
Whereas, we have learned with pro-
found feelings of gratitude OF the mu-
nifcent and patriotic donation by u
Comrade Chas. B. Rouss, private Co.
B, 18th Va. Cavalry, of 500, 900 for the
building ola Battle Abbey in the South,
as 8 depository for the archives, souve-
niers and records of the struggle of the
South for independence. 1t is hereby
resolved that the thanks of this assem-
blage be hereby rendered u gallant
Comrade Chas. 3. Rouss for his mu-
nifcent gift.
These resolutions were unanimously
adopted.
Gen. Rosser amid applause addressed
his audience as comrades, ladies and
gentlemen, and after briefly and mod
estly acknowledging the compliment
airy introduction entered upon his
theme, 1.-THE Army of Northern Vir-
GINA, its Commanders and Battles"
Lights were turned down in order to
introduce the stereopticon illustrations,
but the amende was made for this by
the illumination of a large canvas
upon which was wildly depicted many
of the most dramatic scenes of the civil
strife, while the lecturer riyeted atten-
ton with interesting narratives, in
cidents and "reminiscences that were
instructive and historical.
The attempt would be vain to follow
the speaker through the details of his
vivid and at times thrillingly interest
ing address. "The first gun of the war;"
he said, twas fired at Harper's Ferry,
and the first blow against equal rights
was led by John Brown. 1t was against
that invasion that Alexandria furnish
ed the first troops, and Lee was in COM
mand, and later, when the war cloud
broke over this country, Alexandria
was the first city to feel the effects of
an invader, and it is with pride and
pathos that we remember how your
city stood true, and we refer with
pride to the glorious record and bril-
liant achievements of your soldiers on
many battle fields. You sowed in
nope those hopes and aims were burn
ed 10 ashes"
The scene of the battle of Manassas
was especially interesting, as was also
that of Gettysburg. One showing the
devotion of the Virginia woman in hos
pital spoke plainly how they nursed
Che sick, cared for the wounded and
buried the dead.
In describing the meeting of Lee and
Jackson at Charlottesville and while
The audience was looking at the scene
Gen. Rosser said of Robert Z. Lee:
Where shall I write thy name
On glory's page?
Though more than soldier,
No less than sage.
And of Jackson:
His spirit wrapt yon dark mountain,
His memOrv SparklaS in every fountain.