Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-09
PICTURE OF GORDON
HIS PORTRAIT PRESENTED TO LEE
CAMP LAST EVENING.
BY REV. DR.. SMITH.
Hon. j. Taylor stratton Accepts 1t
on Behalf of the OrgnniEation-A
Speaking Likeness of the Great
Georgian.
Georgian.


hall large gathering Of ladies' and gen.
tlemen.
Rev DR.. W. r. Il. Smith, pastor of the
Second Baptist church, a Georgian 10y
birth, and a veteran of the Army Of the
Tennessee, made the speech Of presenta-
ton, and Hon. J. Taylor stratton accept
ed it on behalf OF the camp. After the
routine business Of the camp had been
disposed OF, Commander LaughtOn intro
duced DR.. Smith, who assembled to the
platform and made most eloquent adj
dress. In the outset he said: Virginia
never had n drawer defender and my ma
tive State never produced a more distin-
guished son. If. at the close Of the war.
1t had been asked, who is the rising star
Of the Army of Northern Virginia. the
unhestating reply would have been John
u. Gordon, Of Georgia. Applause)
There is something remarkable in his
speedy ascent to fame" continued Or.
Smith. He ran nearly the whole gamlt
of promotion from captain, in April,
1861, TO a major-general, acting as lieu
tenant-general, In April, 1865. one day be-
fore the surrender General Lee, at Cor
dividing his army into wings; Longstreet
to command one, and Gordon the other.
When we consider that he was then out
ranked by nearly a dozen officers, the
circumstance shows I'm what high esd
nation the young soldier Of 80 years was
held by his magnificent chief"
A DRAMATIC RECITAL
DR.. Smith discussed the ancestry Of
the subject Of his address, and then
traced his war record through the four
years Of bloody strife, telling with dra-
matte effect how on the field at Seven
Pines he fought desperately against great
odds. and how at Sharpsburg though des-
perately wounded and unable TO stand,
he remained on the field. supported by
two Of his men, until again shot through
the face and rendered unconscious.
DR.. Smith dwet at some length on the
lovely Christian character Of General Cor
don, telling how, when not actually en-
gagged I'm battle. he spent his time in
preaching TO his men. The speaker also
touched upon the great strategic work
Of the General. and Of the wonderful
movements he made with his army from
time TO time.
CAPTAIN STRATTON'S ADDRESS.
When he concluded. DR.. Smith was
loudly appauded, and after the applause
had subsidized and quiet had been restored,
Commander Laughton presented Hon. J.
Taylor StrattCn, who. on behalf of the
camp accepted the portrait. Captain
Stratton said:
ION behalf of r. f. Lee Camp 1 ac-
cept this picture Of General John b.
Gordon. Words are too faint for me TO
tell of his grand services or glorious
achievements IN behalf of southern indie
pendence. Springing from the private
walks of life he joined the ranks Of those
immortal heroes who drew their swords
in defence of tho South, and by their
deeds of noble daring on the ensanguined
field for four long years woye around the
brow OF the infant republic the chaplet
Of immortal glory.
Fitting is it that among this gallery
Of southern heroes should be placed the
picture Of the great soldier. who fought
his old corps to a fragile. Fitting is II
that Lee Camp should keep upon its walls
these representations Of the living line
ments Of those great soldiers whom
living, we honored, and dead, we revere,
and tell to all mankind their deeds of
suffering and devotion to the cause OF
right, that generations yet unborn may
draw from their lives inspiration for pa
triotic devotion and heroic action.
"Grand was the conception and patriotic
Portrait Gallery Of Lee Camp for time
can only reveal the great contribution
it will yet become 70 Confederate history,
and among all this grand array of pic
lures Of representative southern soldiers,
few contributed more glory to that his
tory than the gallant Georgian whose
picture we this night gladly receive.
AN OBJECT LESSON
- H.,
is to be accepted, that information is
best impaired by object lessons then in
this camps gallery of southern soldiers
is the greatest material for the future
student of history. and we, in its crea-
ton and preservation, are best contrbut-
ing 10 the glorious record of the days Of
1916. There is a cry to let the past
lie buried in the grave Of oblivion; that
the deeds of the Confederate soldier is
an old song. IL may be- but the strains
of his glories will ever be sweet to every
southern heart Let us keep alive our
| halloWed memories, and transmit 10 pos
terity the South's glorious record, while
we abate not jot or title of our loyalty
to restored Union.
I'm the language OF the lamented bard
OF the City by the Sea-
"'The South utters no invectiye. she
writes no word Of blame.
But calls all men 10 witness that we
stand up without shame;
Nay, send it forth to all the world
that we stand up here with pride,
With love for our loving comrades,
with praise for those who died,
And in this manly frame Of mind It'll
death we will abide
"Then let us keep up our efforts to add
to our gallery the portraits of such Con-
federates as the gallant Gordon, and
make 1t famous as the great gallery OF
soldiers, where the youth of ours and
other lands may come and study their
lives and characters that IL may be the
sun Of every cline TO keep the Soldiers
firm, the patriot true and let the Con-
federate soldier, proud of his record, and
TO that record ever true, ever have for
his motto, Nulla Vestigia Retrosum."
DELEGATES TO ATLANTA.
The question of the camps representa-
ton at the reunion soon TO be held in
Atlanta was taken up, and the following
delegates were appointed all OF whom
are expected to attend: A. G.. Peay. d. c.
Richardson, J. Il. Stratton, c.. II. Baugh-
man, A. ]. Vaughan, T. Duly, D. A.
Brown, Jr., ]. r. Medlicott, j. William
Jones, j. Taylor Ellyson, Charles T.
Turner. Joseph Bryan, A. ]. Wray. j. Z.
Phillips. T. II. Rahm, J. V. Bidgood, John
Lamb, and Polk Miller.
These delegates will meet at Lee Camp
Hall Tuesday night at $50 o'clock, for
the purpose Of perfecting their plans for
the trip.