The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-20


Robert Il. Lee Besides the members of
Watts Camp, eighteen members of the
IIupp-Dyeric Camp of Salem, under the
command of Col Il. H. Logan, with sons
of veterans and members of the Grand
Army OF the Republic were also in attend
ance.
At about 8 O'Clock Judge Henry f..
Blair, of Sulem and Hon. w ". Bcrke-
ley, Of this city, the speakers OF the even
ing, appeared in the hall and were cs-
corted by Lieutenant Commander G. c.
Taliaferro and Il detachment of veterans
To the stage, where were also seated Hon.
II. 5 Trout, w. p. Dupuy, Phillip Lock.
EFT, Esq, p. l.. Terry, J. ~. Fishburne,
Col. L. u. Buford, commander of Watts;
Camp; Adiutnnt Il. C. Beall, Rev Mr.
Dinwiddic, Col. X. II. Logan. of Salem
Rev. Mr. Dinwiddic, pastor of bethany
Presbyterian Church, opened the cXcr.
cises with an eloquent prayer, in which
after alluding to the thinning ranks OF
the veterans he Begged that they might
prepare themselves for the great reunion
to take place hereafter.
Phillip l.ockctt, EST, Il membcr OF the
Camp, explained in appropriate terms
the object OF the meeting and said that
while the Americans were net hero wor
shippers they had assembled to testify
their appreciation of Il man who had dis
played the coolness and courage of Il
Wellington aud the vaior and unsulIcd
patriotism of II Washington and that
man was the peerless Robert T.. Lee, Vii
gihia's nobicst gift to mankind. He then
introduced Hon. w. w. Berkeley rs one
of the speakers of Tie evening.
Mr.. Berkeley began by saying that
nothing less than such an occasion as
this would have CAUSED him to leave II
sick bed that he might join in honoriu Z
the memory of Gen. Robert Il. Lee
Many who served under him, lie said,
had answered their last roll call, hut when
the great deeds OF that glorious band were
recalled it must be IL great pleasure to
meet those that remained. This ceebr;,
ton would in IL few years have to he
transmitted to posterity; but for the sake
of all that is honorable and glorious let
this natal day be celebrated as lorg us
men love virtue and admire bravery \
mere biographical sketch of Lee would,
he said. prove disappointing, because
the subject had been presented in every
aspect. He would, however briefly re-
view the subject. He cXtoied the vir.
tres OF the great soldier who, though
rocked in the cradle of war. was Il Chris.
tian in whom there was 10 guile, IL hero
who men would follow to the death
The speaker alluded most kindly to Gen
cral Grant whom he praised for his,
magnanimous treatment of Lee and for
which he was ideally applauded Many
points in his speech were greeted with
applause and in the handling of his great
subject he had the hearty sympathy of
his audience.
Captain Phil Locket said: "When the
great CORVALLIS surrendered ut York town
Washington received his sword. When
our noble hero surrendered ut Apponat.
toN General Grant in his magnanimity
refused to receive the sword of Lee
lie then introduced Master John Luck,
who recited 1.-The Sword of Lee
Judge Henry T.. Blair, of Salem. was
then introduced by Capt. Lockett ard for
nearly an hour delivered the address of
the evening. He said III part:
Comrades OF William Watts Camp
and friends, when l received and read the
invitation which you kindly extended to
me few days ago to address you was
most agrecably surprised, rs the girl said
when her sweetheart kissed her. He
paid glowing tributo to Captain Italia.
ferro as IL host and ut once got the large
audience in IL good humor bv his wit.
1.-The chief reason why this assemblagc
is here to might" he said. sis on account
of this day. The 10Th day of january is
the birthday Of the great general and
Southern patriot, General Robert t. Lee,
who ut the opening of the war stood higl
in rank in the army of the United States
but who east his lot with that OF his
State, and fought the battles of destiny
for the Southern people. | stand before
you only as Confederate soldier. There
are many of us now, old and feeble, who
gave the freshness of youth and life to
the Old Confederate cause. knew Gen
eral Lee personally in the army and, as
the saying goes, the army is the place to
learn man $ true character
He made some witty illusions to the
city of Roanoke and it's old mother, Big
Lick, which brought down the house
with laughter and applause.
lie paid Il most splendid tribute to the
life work of Capt. Cook, Col. WIN. Watts
and Capt. Ednlundson, both privately
and as soldiers. lie spoke of the pres
ence of the members of the Grand Army
OF Nl:e Republic, and said that while they
fought each other in times of war. that
they now extend to them the hand of fell
lowship, and the free and unlimited coin
age of welcome among US.
lie then went into II discussion OF the
causes of the rebellion with which every
reader Of American history is familiar
He told of how Virginia was the last
State to recede. Almost every mention
of General Lees name was but a forcrun-
ner Of applause. The mention of the
name of Jackson was the cause of un-
bounded enthusiasm. In a few choice
words and rhetoric e'paid a'glowing trb.
ute to the women Of the Confederacy.