Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-20
ROBT. E. zLEEss MEMORY.
Appropriate Ceremonies by the Con
fedcrate Veterans Association.


The anniversary of the birthday of Gen
Robert f. Lee was celebrated last night by
Confederate Veterans Association. Camp
III L. c. ", at the hall of the organiza-
ton. corner of E and 11th streets There
were eloquent speeches delivered teeming
with praise and tender with affection for
the great southern commander and the cO3
veterans who gathered to listen showed by
many signs how deeply their feelings were
touched by the tributes
The gathering was called to order by
Capt William A. Gordon, who invited DR.
! u. Wythc COOK to preside over the reunion
both gentlemen making brief but apt re-
marks. The farewell address delivered by
Gen Lee to his troops after the surrender
at Appomattox was read by Maj. Robert
w. Hunter, who was on Gen Lees staff
The principal address of the evening was
made by Judge John Goode of Virginia. in
the course OF which he said Lee was man
who was animated solely with the spirit of
independence, which was above sordid or
selfish motives.
Other addresses We're made by ex-Secre-
tary n A. Herbert, Gen. M c. Butler,
Kew. DR.. Randolph H. McKim Justice Seth
Shepard of the Court of Appeals. Mr. Thos
Smith son of Virginia's war governor ..E,x-
ira Billy Smith; Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Boyd, Representative Talbert and 9TH
erS.
Lee Celebration in the South,
The anniversary Of General Robert E.
Lees birthday was celebrated in most of
the principal cities throughout the south
yesterday. In Virginia. where the day has
been made holiday by statute law, the
observance was general
Major Peter ]. Otey, representative
in Congress from Virginia, delivered an ad.
dress before the Virginia Society at At
1anta, Ca
Major Otey said the old confederate SOL
der must preserve the glorious memories
of his southland, being ever mindful that
hypocrisy Is the tribute vice paws to yir-
tue and that he must stand guard at the
citadel Of truth.
=! am proud to mingle," said the Vir-
gilman, with those whose heroism corr
age and achievement, aye whose unerrine
Workmanship need no more enduring monu-
ment. no more lasting memorial than that
great pile OF bricks and mortar in the
capital city of the nation, known as the
pension building, where 5000 clerks toll
daily keeping bright in memory the fame
and renown of r. f. Lee, writing across
tne lace OF every one of the million pen
sion certlncates, though invisible charac-
tiers. the burning words: Remember the
Old Rebel Private of '61''
Major Otey sketched rapidly the forma-
tion OF the confederate army, laying stress
upon the difficulties under which General
Lee labored and enumerating his triumphs
on the field of battle. He then dealt large
ly in statistics with reference to the killed
GU "otuiueu III lhe southern armies as
compared with those of the north, and
coming to the memorable Seven DAYS Bat
ties around Richmond, said: ct is not nv
purpose to dwarf or disparage the we'll
earned fame and military renown of Cen
erai George Z. Mcclellan, the ablest and
most brilliant soldier whose lot it was to
command an army opposed to the army of
northern Virginia. To do so would dim
the fuster of his great antagonist Him
sell great master of the art of war, Nc
Slelian lived to see his successors, Pope,
burnside. Hooker. Meade and Grant each
In turn recoil from the heavy blows of
greater master than any of them and his
own plan finally adopted to compel the
fall of the confederate capitsI In the hat
ties around Richmond Lee had $1,000 men
and Mcclellan 10000 yet the defeat of
their grand army followed and its COM
MAJ placed Lees force at 100000 men.
And yet it is now known officially that
General Lee had only 5000 men engaged
and Mcclellan 100 $50"