Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-28
MIR. CABELL SPEAKS.
First OF THIS WINTERS Lee
.ruREs BEFORE THE Ar. v. A.
VIRGINIA IN THE REVOLUTION.
An Able Review of the Part Played
nv Her Soldiers In That Great
strugeIc-uer Victories Were Many
and Important.

"The War OF the Revolution O77b-l7SW;
the Military and Civl History Of Nir-
glnia and Virginia Troops" was the at
aractlvo subject OF very comprehensive
and brilliant lecture delivered by Hon. j..
Aston Caben In the Hall OF Delegates
last night, under the auspices of the
Association for the Preservation OF Nir-
uinia Antiquities. The audience was rep
r.senta,ive of the culture. the wealth.
and the fashion OF this city. Hon. vii
liam Writ Henry, in n few well-ehosen
words, introduced the orator of the eve
ming.
MIR. Cabcll prefaced his remarks by say
ing that, as the subject was iar
TOO extensive and important to be pro-
perly treated in a single lecture, it would
bo impossible for him 60 DO more than
touch briefly upon a few Of the great
events in the heroic struggle. and TO
show 70 how great an extent they were
20 be attributed to Virginia patriotism
and Virginia valor.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF VIRGINIANS.
virsinians. said Mr.. Cabell. had been
sadly deficient in studying the history OF
their own State. and in remembering the
achievements Of their own great men,
and II they had failed at any time 10
measure I'D TO the high standard set
for them. the failure might well be at
srlbuted 70 this neglect. MT. Capeli
dwelt more particularly on the armies
as they appeared in the field. Nellher
the Colonies nor Great Britain, ne salo'
were prepared for the war. and neither
marty comprehended at first It's maghl-
tude nor foresaw It's Duration Eng
land entertained a poor opinion Of the
courage of the Colonists. and many Of
the Colonists had too high an opinion
OF their own patriotism. After LeXing-
TON and Bunker Hin the New England
TROOPS left for their homes on the very
dov their short term of enlistment eX-
nired. and II was with difficulty their
places were supplied. This happened
frequently. and each time the work OF
instruction and discipline had to be be-
gun anew.
THE HIIMILIATING REVERSES.
In the first period Of the war, said Mr..
Cabell. there is little for US TO boast
of IL was a series Of reverses. ana
sometimes humiliations. redeemed by an
occasional success. During this time
complaints were frequently made by ofi-
GERS Of the troops under their command.
but no such complaints were ever heard
of Virginia troops. The lecturer theh
quoted from a number OF authorities 10
show in what high estimation the solulers
OF the Old Dominion were held, not ohiy
by the English but by the northern
Generals and from these he deduced the
conclusion that without the aid Of Nir-
sinians the war would have resulted dis
ostrouslv. He then gave a sketch Of the
heroic conduct of Virginia soldiers during
the trying tim6 known as the first PERIOD
OF the war. and the mastery ability oi
Washington In the latter connection
he said. CrawfOrd's statue Of the great
General in the Capitol grounds had al
WAYS impressed him as representing him
when at Monmouth he turned what might
have been an ignominious flight into a
glorious victory.
THE SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE
The lecturer then .dwelt at length in
glowing terms on the campaign thet
ended i'm Burgoyne's surrender, the great
value of which. belonging 10 Nirginians.
could not be too highly estimated. An
Europe had been startled by this victory.
which was the turning point in the tide
of American disasters, and brought many
allies TO the Colonists.
Mr.. Cabell reviewed briefly the conquest
from the British OF the country NORM
west OF the Ohio. which remained a
monument to Virginia valor. The great
central figure in this conquest was Gene
raj George Rogers Clark Of Charlottes-
vile who was but % years old when
he laid his plan for the reduction OF the
British posts beyond the Ohio which
ended so successfully. This plan com
fnf ion "a H.
dians. who had been melted against the
Colonists. and had been the well-spring
of innunerable disasters. The expedi-
ton had been exclusively a Virginia en-
terprise. and won for Clark the title OF
"the Hannibal Of the West" 1t resulted
In the capture of the British Governor,
Henry Hamilton. and the occupation Of
the country between the Ohio and the
Mississippi rivers The conception, the
manner of execution, its perilous nature
and the great results obtained by this
expedition entities 1t TO a place among
the great historical events OF the world.
FOUNTAIN OF SOUTHERN RESIST
ANCE.
The orator then dwelt on the plans OF
the British for the conquest Of the South
Virginia was properly considered the
fountain of southern resistance. ana mus
became a victim Of the common enemy.
Happily for the Union, as for herself
few of her inhabitants had taken side
with the Mother Country, and most OF
these had left the State in the first stage
OF the Revolution. In this campaign the
Virginians were always in the thick OF
the fight. and frequently turned a defeat
into a victory
In conclusion, Mr.. Cabell urged the
society TO continue their excellent work
of preserving the records of this great
and noble old State and bringing 10 the
light the oftimes buried and almost for
gotten achievements Of her people.