The leader., 1899-10-18
THE SIEGE OF NICKSBURG
Described by Gen. stephen ID. Lee at .
Notable Reunion OF Federal
Soldiers in Iowa.

Soldiers in Iowa.
The papers of Iowa City devoted most
of their space for several days to an ac-
count of the recent reunion of the sur
vivorS of the Iowa brigade that took
part in the assault and capture of
Nicksburg. Our General Stephen ID.
Lee was the special guest of the occa-
sion. His presence and his great
speech, and several short addresses
created intense enthusiasm. His prin-
cipal address is published in full. 1t
occupies seven columns of the Repub-
lican, and is thus introduced by that
paper:
Lieut. Gen. Stephen d. Lee, who com
manded brigade Of Confederate soldiers
who battled against tho Iowa brigade at
Vicksburg, made n striking contribution
to history last night, September 20)
At the Iowa brigade reunion exercises,
presided over, on this occasion, by the
Twenty -second Iowa, he delivered an adj
dress on "Vicksburg from the Confederate
side"
Gen. Lee infinitely and accurately de-
never been described to a Northern audi
cnce by Confederate soldier beforehand
probably such a comprehensive, careful
description by a noted officer of the South
ern army has never been listened to by any
audience anywhere.
Feeling that SO important a contribution
to American history deserves perpetuity,
and desiring to place the document in the
hands of every reader of the Republican,
from one end Of the country to the other,
we present the splendid address herewith,
in full.
We are sure tho readers of this journal
would greatly enjoy the reading Of this
address, and hence We propose to give 1t
entirely i'll two or thee installments. The
seige of Nicksburg was one of the most
notable, as it was one of the most decisive
incidents of the civil war. and it is for
tunate, for the truth of history, that Gen
Stephen D. Lee has been spared to describe
it, as the Republican says, from 1.-The stand
point of Our Friends, the enemy" We
will merely give now Gen. Lees extempore
preface to his prepared address;
when tell you today that your fellow
ernment the same loyalty and devotion
which they once gave to the ill-starred
Confederacy, and that they are Just as
ready to lay down their lives for the Stars
and Stripes as they were to die for the
Stars and Bars generation ago. know
that you will believe me, and | know that
you will trust them. They in the late
Spanish war, | am told by Gen. Corbin,
that the South furnished more volunteers
in proportion to population than any other
part of the Union.
I'm your highly appreciated invitation to
be present at your reunion today, you
say: Our people desire to hear from you
the story of the seige from the Confederate
side of the lines can realize that great
deal depends on the angle of vision. The
success of the Federals gave them glory
that makes their recollection a pleasure
in spite of losses and hardships. The long
struggle of the other side, ending in dis
aster and defeat, is also glorious in heroism
and endurance give you the following
account, taken from the official records
You can verify them at your leisure"
Among many other pleasant incidents
Oh the reunion was Tue eScOrLlng OF
Gen. Lee. by the Iowa brigade, to the
University campus, where he addressed
the students and an audience of three
thousand people. President Mclean
presented him, as president of the
Mississippi State Agricultural College
for nineteen years, with the freedom
of the neutrality-suspicious. by a
copy of the S. N. l. catalogue of 1892
1900, entwined with old-gold ribbon.
1.-The true soldier" said DIR. Mclean,
must have the virtues of the true
scholar, and the true scholar must have
the virtues of the true soldier-Gen
Lee has both"
Port Gibson has voted $1,000 toward
the $780, 900 now being raised for Cham
berlain Hunt Academy. When the full
$50, 900 is subscribed, Mr.. MeComb, of
New York City, will give his check for
like sum.
Progressive Macon has authorized
the issuance of bonds 10 the amount OF
sls.o00 for public school building
The Calhoun Institute lot has been puT-
chased a. The Site