Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-12
GlNTER AND HARRIS.
THEIR PORTRAITS PRESENTED TO
LEE CAMP LAST NIGHT.
MAI. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SPEECH
lie Pays Touching Tribute to the
Late Philanthropist ana Public
Spirited Citixen-sTnJor Cnpers Ex-
tolls HIS Commander.

One OF the largest audiences that have
assembled in Lee Camp Hall Cor some
time gathered in that comfortable home
OF the veterans last night TO witness the
presentation to the organization Of cil-
paintings of the late Major Lewis Ginter
and General N. III. Harris, the latter of
Mahone's Division, HnPs Corps. Army Of
Northern Virginia
The presentation of the portrait of Ma
jor Ginter was made by Major Charles s.
Stringfellow, and the picture was. accept
ed by Mr.. Joseph Bryan in behalf If the
camp. Major James II. Capers presented
the oil-painting of General Harris, in
whose command he served. and Nrr.
Joseph C. Dickinson responded for the
organization.
Commander Lawton called the camp to
order, and prayer was offered by Chap
| lain Smith. After the transaction OF
some routine business. which Included
the election OF Mr.. Charles T. Turner as
| one OF the trustees, to fill the position
made vacant by the resignation of Mr.. NJ.
| Il. Ryder, the Commander stated that
| two portraits were TO be presented 10 the
camp, and that the organizatio was
ready TO receive them.
| GENERAL HARRIS'S PORTRAIT.
Major Capers, as the representative OF
the surviving members of Harrfs'S Mis-
sissippi Brigade Mahone's Division, Hill S
Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, then
presented the beautifully executed oil
portrait 10 the picture gallery OF Lee
Camp of his friend, comrade, and former
commander, General n. III. Harris, and
in fitting terms eulogized his character
as a civilian and soldier. General Harris
sprung from illustrious ancestry In the
State of Mississippi and graduated with
distinction in the regular and law course
OF the University of Louisiana. Just pre-
ceding the civil war he began the prac-
tice Of law in Vicksburg. and rapidly rose
TO eminence in his profession. At the
first call to arms he raised and equipped
a company Of infantry, and by tele-
graph rendered his services to President
Davis at Montgomery, which were imme-
diately accepted, and he was ordered to
report with his command TO General K.
r.. Lee at Richmond, Va, and on what
is now Monroe Park the Nineteenth Regi-
ment Mississippi Volunteers was or
ganized under those distinguished pa
triots. Colonel Christopher III. Mott; Lieu
tenant-Colonel l.. q. G. Lamar. later one
Of the Supreme judges of the United
States; Major Benjamin Aston, and Ad-
jutant Andrew III. Gogan. Captain Har-
riss company was made the color COM
pany of the regiment. This regiment i'm
mediately reported TO General Beaure-
gard. and was engaged In the first battle
of Manassas. The Nineteenth Regiment
afterwards took part In all the cam
paigns Of the Army Of Northern Nir-
ginia under the command OF Brigadier-
Generals Forney, Wilcox, Featherstone,
Posey, and Harris. Captain Harris was
promoted successfully major, lieutenant
colonel. and colonel of his regiment for
gallant and meritorious services, and on
the death of General Posey from wounds
received at Bristow Station was pro-
NOTED to the rank of brigadier-G general.
and was assigned to the ever famous
Mississippi Brigade. composed of the
Twelfth. Sixteenth Nineteenth. end
FoTty-eighth regiments, and was attach
ed TO the division of Major-General r. II.
Anderson, who was succeeded by Major
General William Malone. Major Capers
spoke in feeling terms OF the distinguish
ed gallantry Of General Harris at the
bloody angle at Spotsylvania Courthouse,
and on the last and final day az Peters
burg OF the world-renowned defence of
batteries Gregg and Whitworth by Har-
ris's Brigade, staying the onward adj
vance Of Grants legions until LOngstreet
arrived from the north side of the James.
and in closing his address he spoke of
the tender regard that existed between
the veterans of Weislger's Virginia Bril-
gade, and the der leave-taking, when,
with decimateG ranks. the few surviving
members of these two illustrious brigades
babe adieu TO each other at .Sppomattox
Courthouse. ''rhelr Names" he said,
"are written on the hearts of their coun-
trymen; their deeds are priceless heri-
tage to their children, and will be cherish
ed as long as men worship truth and
women love the brave"
Mr.. Joseph c. Dickerson, in fitting
speech, accepted the portrait in behalf
Of the camp.
LIKENESS OF MAJOR GINTER.
Major Charles S. Stringfelow then pre-
sented an oil-painting of the late Major
Ginter, and in doing so delivered a splen-
did address, in which he reviewed the
war record of Richmond's late public
benefactor, and dwelt at some length
upon the latter's life after the great
struggle ended. "A generation has
come and gone" said Major Stringfellow,
since the Confederate soldier, during
four long years of sunshine and storm,
of victory and defeat, with sublime de-
votion and knightly courage, never ex-
celled. If ever equalled, followed through
this Southland of ours from Big Bethel to
the fateful field of Appomattox, that flag
which was to him the emblem of consti-
tutional liberty and constitutional law;
the symbol OF the rights and liberties
which our fathers wrested from the
crown of England in the Revolution of
'76, and sought TO preserve in the great
confederate compact which they or
dained-"in order to form a more perfect
union, establish Justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fence, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty'-to them
selves and their posterity. In the re-
suit OF that tremendous civil war, which
converted that constitutional union into
a national consolidated democracy, not
by the force of reason and truths Of
history, but by the weight Of numbers.
no one more completely acquiesces than
does the old Confederate soldier"
BRAVE AND TRUE PATRIOTS.
Major Stringfellow eulogized the Con-
federate soldier and the cause for which
he fought, and, continuing, said: II am
commissioned, sir, TO present to this
camp the portrait Of another gallant Con-
federate soldier, for many years one OF
your most honored members, and to ask
that you will give Il a place with those
that already adorn these. TO us, almost
sacred walls. If superb physical and
moral courage, unconquerable will, incor-
ruptible integrity, the love and practice
of truth and justice and right, an all
pervading and all-embracing charity,
guided and governed by strong intellect
and cool judgment, and not mere rank
and opportunity. be any test of true man.
hood, then | think that the portrait or
the late Major Lewis Ginter Is worthy or
a place by the Worthiest OF them ALL
Il do not propose TO narrate or review
the details of his life and works. That
were TO you, at least, twice-told tale
He was born some four and seventy years
ago in the State of New York, of sturdy
and respectable Dutch stock, OF the line
OF those Protestant heroes who. under
William OF Orange, organized resistance
10 the inquistion and the tyranny or
Spain. Brave soldiers and gallant sailors
they WERE who, after enduring untold
hardshps and suffering in the long war.
unparalleled I'm the inhuman atrocity with
which IL was waged by the inhuman