Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-01-17

last order ever gave you'll see the moisten'
cd eyes and the quivering lips-l hear the
command to break ranks-f feel the grasp a
tho hand, and see the tears on the chees
of men who had dared death so long that !
lad lost its terror And / know now, as
knew then, that each heart suffered with
mine tho agony of the Titan in his resignation
to fate
"1he rock-the vulture-and the chain
All that the proud can feel Of pain"
miss among you the faces of some who
were present that day but have since passed
over the great river land memory brings back
the image of many of that glorious band who
then slept in the red burial of war.
Modern scepticism has destroyed one OF the
most beautiful creations of the epic ages-the
belief that the spirits Of dead warriors
meet daily in the halls of Valhalla, and there
around the festive board recount the deeds
they did in the other world. For this even
ing at least let us adopt the ancient superstl-
tion-if superstition it be- 1t may seem pre-
sumption in me-but man who belonged to
my command may be forgiven for thinking
that in that assembly of heroes, when the
feast of the wild boar is spread, Smith and
Turner, Mountioy and Glasscock, Fox and
Whitescarver and their companions, will not
be unnoted in the mighty throng. 1 shall
make no particular allusion to the part
you played in the great tragedy of war.
Our personal association was so Intimate it
would not become me to do so. But standing
here as ! do amid the wreck of persisted
hopes, this much at least I can say-that in
all the vicissitudes of fortune and in all the
trials of life, have neser ceased to feel as l
told you when parting, ADJUST pride in the
fame Of your achievements and grateful
recollections of your generous kindness to
myself"
/ remember-and may my right arm wither
if ever forget-how, when the mournful
tidings clme from Appomatrox that young
Harry Percy's spur is cold" you stood with
mistaken fidelity to the last and never quit
my side until told you to go.
A great poet of antiquity said, as dcscrp-
tive of the Romans, that they changed their
sky but not their hearts when they sailed
over the sea. As long as lived in far Cathay
my heart untravelled dwelt among the people
10 whose defense l had shed my blood and
given the best years of my life.
In the solitude of exile it was solace to
hear that my name was sometimes mentioned
by them with expressions of good will. Moth
ing that concerns the honor and welfare of
Virginia CHI CNcE US JEQIllclcuG W Lie. =
wish that life's descending shadows had fall
on upon me in the midst of The friends and
the scenes love best. But destiny-not my
shore of that sea, where
1.-THE God of gladness sheds his parting smile
must soon say to you, again, farewell, a
word that must be and hath been. shall
carry back to my home, by the Golden Gate,
| proud recollections Of this evening. And |
Shall still feel as have always felt, that life
cannot offer more bitter cup than the one l
drained when we parted at Salem; nor any
higher reward to ambition than that l re-
ceived as commander of the Forty third Vir-
GINA Battalion Of Cavalry.
During the delivery of the address
the colonel showed genuine emotion,
and those who were present thirty
years ago when he disbanded his faith
full followers say the same scene was
enacted. He was on that occasion
moved to tears, and last night was but
its repetition. Several times during
his speech voices in the audience would
cry out, 1--WE love you," and the senti-
ment would be re-echoed all over the
hall. Great applause followed the
speaker all through his discourse.
Music again enlivened the scene, and
loud calls were made for General John
B. Gordon. The Senator, who is to be
greeted in any gathering, addressed
those present as brothers and sisters OF
the confederacy, and said he felt q just
pride in having been member of it.
He had not been one of COL Mosby's
men, nor WAS he Virginian, but his
heart thrilled with soldiers greeting
toward all who were-they were
brethren in q common cause, and his
soul was entrauoed with Joy to stand in
the old commonwealth amid those OF
her sons who had gone forth at the call
of duty. He wished he were Yir-
ginian and directing his eyes on an
array offemale beauty close by a young
one, too. Laughter. However, for
ought he knew be might be widower
some day. The laughter having sub
sided, the General paid a glowing
tribute to the Army of Northern Vir-
GINA and was uproariously appiauded.
He said he had been Unexpectedly call
I'd upon to respond to this toast, but he
made no excuse for the man who could
not make an /impromptu response to
such a theme. The history of that
gallant army and the principles for
which it battled were immortal. Those
principles were as sacred to-day as ever,
and though barriers may be built in
front of them, like river, they will
rise above all barriers and flow beyond
them. The doctrines enunciated in the
DAYS when that army was a reality
might be checked, but, like Truth,
crushed to the earth, would rise
again. They have their source in the
God of Liberty. who had ordained that
the principles of human liberty should
never be quenched. The General closed
by paving a pathetic tribute to old
Alexandria-he history and her trAdi-
tions.
Senator John w. Daniel was next
called upon. He responded to the
toast. "Robert E. Lee" and responded
as only he can, sending electric thrills
through the assemblage and bringing
forth tremendous applause at his flights
of eloquence. He began by saying
thew were men in the southern army
under the command of this and that
leader and at the mention of each loud
applause would follow. He thought
lesslv omitted General ]. E. B. Stuart
and was reminded of the fact by one of