The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-15
NoRFoLK V1HGINIAN: SATURDAY. MAYS. 1857
lleS not stagger under the murderous
storm Of shot and shell?

Cannon to the left Of them
volleyed Snd Numbered"
Can anytHing human live in this sea Of
1lre. IN this mouth OF hell? See there
wide gaps and long lanes ploughad
through the on pressing columns by the
solid shot and the shrieling. shell and
rafting canister.
AND there lay the rider. distorted and
The dew on his brow, ana The rust on his
mail
The very ground under their feet is
req with the blood OF the Slain and
above their heads the air is filed with
strange sounds, as If the spirits OF de-
parted heroes had for u moment left
lhelr battements on high and sped to
earth to witness this immortal feat OF
arms! Sabrcs flash, the artillery peals,
and down goes hero and rider but
straight on they march
Each on himself rcly',!.
AS only in his arm the moment lay OF
victory"
They scale the blazing heights Of Gem
etery Hill: they press through the rife
pits; they capture the death dealing
guns; they drive back the gallant foe:
ana now, planting with eNultant shouts
their glorious battleHags upon the
breastworks, stand for moment, like
eagles with bloody plumcs. triumnhunt
on the crest OF battle"
When can their glory fade,
0. the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered"
turning from these scenes Of blood
and carnage. let us again ask what most
IN human character aWakenS your love
and commands your admiration?
Is 1t manlincss and dignity Of charac-
ter; purity Of private and public life;
fortitude mingled with tenderness. and
chivalry crowned with Christian graccs.
that kindleS your enthusiasm and in
spires you with noble resolves? Then -,
With me, my comrades, 10 the classic
shades Of the little town OF Lexington,
sleeping under the shadow of those blue
hills, where
THE soft curtains Of haze the far noun
talnS enfOld,
Whose warp is OF purple and whose woof
is OF gold.
And there gather fresh inspiration
from the scenes halowed by memories
or the illustrous dead; lingcr awhile
around the spot to which the eyes Of the
whoc world are turned when In search
Oh true greatness: pause but u moment
under the grateful shade Of the over
hanging trees, and study the life and
character Of these two Christian soldiers
who have
Sunk to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest."
those types Of the Southern soldier
ana or the Southern gentleman whose
virtues are chanted In the music OF
every rill that leaps from the mountain
SIDE. and whose fame Is sung in the
Whispers Of every breeze that wakes
the echoes Of the distant hills or stirs the
/ m hiapf nj
Jolced when. at the head Of emDaltled
hosts, lie plucked victory from the laws
OF defeat and carried your honor upon
the point Of his own sword, wcDt YOU
not my comrades, when the great man
furled his banners at Appomattox. ana
in the sublime dignity OF his future life
rose superior to misfortunes and human
calhmitleS? For whatever may he the
OPINIONS OF men as to his achievements
II has been said with truth that no ca
iumny can darken his fame. for history
has lighted up his image with her ever
lasting lamp; that no malice can profane
his tomb, for the whole earth has he
come his sepulchre, and that no power
can hush that funeral march that fol-
lowed him to his grave, and yet fills the
world with the music OF sorrow. for il
is beaten by the loving pulses Of The
stricken hearts OF his countrymen Let
his bright example live! Let it he hand
ed down from father to son and taught
by mothers to infant lips, and on the
undyinE echoes OF tradition"
Let 1t roll from soul to soul
And grow forever and forever
Snail we not learn some lessons Of wis
dom this day. as we stand by the graves
OF our comrades. and witness the glory
and the honor, the undyinG fame the
tender love and grateful memories that
iolloW IN the pathway Of those whose
lives are bcautitied and adorned by love
OF country, by fidelity to duty, by ad-
hercncc to principle, by faith in God?
THE nleancst rill the mishticst river.
Roll minglinS with their fame for
ever"
IT Is only when the passions and prci,i-
diceS engendered by that unhappy
struggle shall have passed away. when
lhe smoke shall have lifted from the
battlefield. and peace, like Il sweet evan
gel. shall have spread its white wings
from the lakes to the gulf and from sen
10 sea, that Justice will be done, to the
men engaged in that conflict.
IN the future some historian shall
come forth both strong and wise.
with love Of the Republic ana The
truth before his eyes
lie will show the subtle causes of Tho
war between the States;
lie Will so back in his studies far be-
yond our modern dates
He will trace out hostile ideas rs The
miner does the lodcs;
to No, no Il