The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-20

! there are but a few meagre lines which
conclude with the statement that Jack
son finally made good his escape. having
| burned tho bridges behind him." And yet
| our distinguished chairman. who served
| on .Tacl<son's staff and who has travelled
| widely IN Europe, will tell you that some
! Of the foremost soldiers and military
! etudents in England have declared to
| him tina. this campaign was the finest
| example Of strategy and tactics OF which
! the world has any record, that In this
| series Of marches and battles there was
| never blundcr committed by Jackson:
| that this campaign was superior to either
Of those made by Napoleon in italy; that
| II Is taught in European colleges as
| model OF military skill. and that Won
| Noltke. the greatest strategist. declares
| n 10 be without A rival in the worlds
| history
Lees splendid defence against Grant
| Is belittied in the same unworthy spirit.
The great Virginian foresaw and
| tnwarted every device OF his antagonist.
| During the FIRST few weeks OF that fear
/ ful campaign he inflicted on Grant
loss greater than the numbers of his own
army with n skill and vigilance and
! devotion unparalleled IN human annals
/ he hold his constantly lengthoning line
| until II broke from sheer attenuation be-
| fore the ever swelling myriads who as
| smiled g. And yet this superb defence,
which would outweigh score of Victo-
r,es on equal terms is derided as q mere
blind struggle in which the dense forests
/ forbade all strategy.
And now steadily. relenuessiy me DIT
ter conflict draws TO its close, anc TINS
tcachable history can scarcely niue i'S
glec. or, 49,.
eo,oht moments repose they were
awakened by the clatter OF pursuing
cavalry Lee. like a hunted fox turned
bithor and thither." but Sheridan closed
in upon him. III, oo,
| ,orpnlate the closing act Of that mighty
drama9 viii no apter figure be found
| than that Of a vile earth-fox TO symDolize
this Heaven-born leader OF mem
The comparison comes naturally enough
10 the author. and IT harmonizes win
t,o npirnus Of all his work. The 'seces-
slonist." the "plunderer' the lnVauer.
the "insurrectlonst." Is driven 10 earth
az last and the writer cannot suppress
an inward chuckle.
shame on those who write such books!
And triple shame upon those VINO tolst
! them ,pon their innocent children'
II may be that the power is not In us
90 ,,ithetand the trend Of the times. And
vet we do know n at in the coming years
when. I'm her own high atmosphere the
Muse Of History shall depict the central
figure of our fallen cause. II VIII not ne
in the similitude OF proving 1ox-pre-
dotorv in life and abject in death-but
rotbcr win there arise before us. serene
in native majesty, the august and pa
tbetic image OF a noble spirit, tried Dy
everv extremity Of fortune yet faithlui
IN the end The image OF
"A GREAT man struggling mia the s'oinhs
Of fate e....,
Ard greatly falling with falling state.
Colonel Clfssons read slowly and I'M
pressivelv and at frequent Intervals our
inc the reading Of the paper was APP
nlaudea and cheered and when he took
his seat he was given long and loud
cheers from every one present.
PROF. ]. 2. INQUIRE.
professor John p Mcclure was next
introduced by DR.. Mcclure and delivered
'.''' Se.,itIe ,velI-written and wel-read
| paper. :, 800.
professor Mcclure said when he was
invited nv the Commander 10 aid In the
rescue work. it was with all his heart he
came Tor he said it was bitter grief 10
hin, IN see a generation Of young VIZ
| oinians -aught to estimate the motives.
deeds and characters of their fathers by
men who i'm their youth were trained to
hate Them. and in their manhood sought
| their lives
He referred TO Mr. Percy Greg's history
| as what some of us think "a good DOOR
| and said that his picture Of General Lee
| and estimate of southern men, and Things
suits us very well.
let the Northern schools teach Norm
ern bows TO honor their fathers, but let us
do likewise.
The boy who has been so taught that
he is not sure that his father was worthy
Of honor i'm character, unless rescued by
influences for which we have no right 10
| look. will be a base man.
He desired that Northern boys shall be
taught TO obey their fathers, and demand
ed that ours shall be.
Professor Mcclure said that he wanted
a truth telling book, and no Southern man
Tears the exact truth, with reference 10
the motives and actions of Southern men
In that tremendous war.
he said the introduction Of the books
complained OF into the schools was un-
necessary and IL was because Swinton
and Barnes were interesting, and the
truth-teling books were not.
The Professor thought we are guilty Of
a breach Of trust. a grievous breach OF
trust to the dead, because they trusted
those living comrades to keep their mem
cries bright. and honor untarnished.
COLONEL w. GORDON MCABE
lie was literally applauded, and was
followed by Colonel w. Gordon McCabe.
Colonel McCabe said that he would not
attempt any speech for anything from
him. after the eloquence they had Just
listened to would be like gliding refined
GOLD and uainting the lilN.
He would only say a few words Oh
practical sort and II was agreed by all
that we do not want those histories that
say we went TO war for the sake of the
negro and then calls the Yankees patfi-
OTIS.
These histories" said he. that make
them win battles on paper which they
lost on land. and make patriots out OF
Grant and Sherman and traitors OF Lee
and Jackson.
We do not wish a partisan history but
we want and demand the simple facts 10
be- stated. There are such histories now
sevcral-and we shall mistake If We re-
commend one and exclude the others.
Colonel McCabe complimented the work
which the Massachusetts Military Soci-
ETY. Of which he had been an honorary
member for twenty years IS doing.
This society asks for contributions
from Southern men on war subjects ana
publish them 20 the world.
lie had been commander of A. +. Hiil
Camp in Petersburg for five years ana
! the Camp had the good habit of publish
| ing It's discussions which were valuable