Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-25
GENERAL LEES LECTURE.

General Fitzhugh Lee arrived in
| Alexandria at an early hour last even
ing and was the guest of Mr.. P. T.
Yratman, where he was welcomed by
Il number of his old comrades, among
/ whom were Col. A Herbert, DR.. 3.
Brown, Capt. T. Perry and others, who
conducted him 10 the headquarters OF
Lee Camp, where its uniformed mem
bers gave him hearty greeting. Head
ed by the Third Regiment Drum Corps,
about sixty members of the Alexandria
Light Infantry in fatigue uniform and
without arms appeared and gave Gen.
Lee escort to the Opera House, upon
entering which the sounds of medley
of southern airs we'll rendered by an
orchestra composed of Miss Myrer and
Messrs. Dunn, Briscoe and Nails greet
ed his ears. This was followed by the
singing of Dixie, "and solo and chorus,
Miss Blanche Rotchford and chorus OF
80 voices. At the close of the instru-
mental piece, "Twinkling Stars" by the
orchestra, the curtain Wss raised and MIR.
John M. johnson in few appropriate
words introduced Gen. Lee to one of
the largest and most appreciative audi
ences that has ever filed the Opera
House. On the stage were also COL
Arthur Herbert and Maj. r. w. Hunter.
The subject of the lecture was "Mem-
cries of Long Ago." and its object I'M
der the direction of Mary Gusts Lee
Chapter was to provide fund for the
benefit of INDECENT ex-Confederate sol.
diers, their widows and orphans. Gen.
Lee addressed his audience as follows:
Members of the Mary GUSTS Lee
Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy,
soldiers, old and young, ladies and gen.
tlemen," and said the motive which
prompted him to accept the invitation
of the Mary Gusts Lee Chapter of the
Daughters of the Confederacy is found
in the belief that Confederate soldier
should obey the calls of southern wo-
men and that the duty of the survivor
of the war is to bow his profound &C.
acknowledgements to any organization
whose honorable purpose is to protect
the memory of his comrades, preserve
their great war record, and re-
lieve those that are destitute. Valor
displayed on hard fought fields of
battle and devotion to the cause for
which they fell, demand nothing less.
He remembered we'll the Mount Yer
non G. ads Company e., the Alexan-
dria Rihemen under Marye, the Alex
andria Artillery under Kemper, the Old
Dominion Rifles under Herbert, and
watched with solicitude their fiery four
years. campaign and knew that their
places in the war picture was ever near
the flashing of the guns, and that their
proves was never allayed in the four
years of strife. He alluded to the Cap.
ture of two stands of colors by the
18th Virginia Regiment-one taken by
private Saml. S. Coleman. of the
Mount Vernon Guards, from the color
sergeant of the 18th Pennsylvania Regt
at the battle of Manassas, Aug. 80, 1862;
also the regimental flag of the 103d
New York Regiment by Lieutenant
VIM. w. Athey, at Sharpsburg, Sept.
II of the same year. Gen. Lee in closing
his address bid God speed to the Mary
GUSTS Lee Chapter in their noble work
of relieving the necessities of the Con-
federate Veterans of to day. Miss
Rotchford then sang solo entitled
Home Spun Dress" When applause
ceased Gen. Les crossed the stage and
presented her with beautiful bouquet.
A piano solo by Mr.. Payne, of Warren
ton, was artistically rendered. A solo,
Loves Dream" was sung in good voice
and style by Mr. G. Fl. Norton. Then
followed the Confederate camp scene
to perfection and the Leouada Quar-
tette, who took the characters, sang in
happy style the quartette ''Tenting 70
night on the Old Camp Ground" and
brought to close we'll planned and
managed entertainment that reflected
great credit on all concerned therein.
Gen. Lee paid high tribute to the gal
lantry of the Alexandria soldiers OF
the famous old Seventeenth Virginia
Infantry, c. S. A, and read extracts
from the reports of Gen. Robert F. Lee
to show that their deeds had not passed
unuoticed by the commanding general
During his address Gen. Lee said that
if war should ever occur between this
and foreign countries the SOILS and
grandsons of ex-Confederate soldiers
would be first to answer to their coun-
try's call. The uniforms worn by the
Leonada Quartette were those be-
longing to ex-Confederates of this
city, who prize them most highly.
A large number of persons came
FROM Washington to attend the
lecture, among them Mr.. and Mrs.
Colcoquet, the Misses Dorsey and Miss
Minitree. Mrs. Kirk Otey, of Lynch
burg, was also present. Several humid
red dollars will be realized from the en-
tertainment for the benefit of needy
Confederate soldiers.