The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-15

was won at MOOre'S Creek bridge on
the 9th OF February 1776. And yet a
year ago when an appropriation was
asked from congress TO commemorate
the event. so distinguished a New Eng
lander as Senator Hoar, of Massachu-
sets, declared that he had never so
much as heard of Moore's Greek bridge.
"3. Twenty miles below Wilmington
on the opposite side of the river from
Old Brunswick, and just one hundred
years after the Stamp Act affair there,
the most terrific bombardment since
the invention of g~unpowder occurred
when Fort Fisher fell, and the last hope
OF the C~onfederacy persisted. / myself,
heard an English ava officer who was
at the siege of Sebastopol and also at
Fort Fisher, say that the artillery fire
at Sebastopol was the greatest in the
history of the world UP to that time.
but that it was child's play
to Fort Fisher.
Il might continue the recital of his
toric events which have occurred in
this vicinity, but will not trespass upon
your patience and pom the brief time
allotted to me for the performance of
this pleasant duty, by doing so. Rather
let me utter a few thoughts which your
presence here, n the name of Your
organization suggests.
LAS one who pore a humble part in
the military service OF the ~Confederacy
l. reVerently salute you the wives, and
sisters, n daughters of my comrades,
the noblest army Of heroes and patriots
that ever trod the earth. AS a North
Carolinian I greet You with honest
pride in the fact (Which is sometimes
though but one of eleven seeding
states and by no means the largest OF
them, contributed about one-fifth Of the
soldiers Of the confederate army-that
she lost about one-fourth Of these kill
ed in battle. more than one-fourth Of
these who died of wounds, and one
third Of these who died OF disease
that one of her regiments bore the flag
farthest into the enemy's territory, that
one of her sons commanded the only
ship that carried it around the world,
and that when the end came, both at
Appomattox and at Greensboro she
stacked more rifles than any other state
of the Confederacy. We, therefore,
have certainly as much interest in
everything pertaining to h C~onfeder-
acy as others. and may claim it Withou
injustice to them or to the truth of his
tory.
Your organization is unique in hu-
man annals, as was the struggle whose
memories you seek 20 preserve. The
dreamer and sentimentalist may fold
his hands, and with a sigh exclaim that
IllSlOI VII w JuSlICc Sl"SC IL PAL
ties to that struggle, but experience
has show that History. like Providence.
helps those only who help themselves,
and will honor only those who help her
to record the ruth. There is not one
Of you who will not readily admit that
if the southern people had remained
silent, and had used no printers ink af-
ter the war, they Would have been pill
loried in history as rebels and traitors
who had, causelessly and without the
SHADOW of excuse, drenched the land
with the blood of unoffending patriots.
But the southern people did not remain
silent; they published in a thousand
forms the truth. both as to the causes
which impelled them to assert their
rights as to the battles in which
they maintained them. and have thu
made a partial, unjust. and onesided
history impossible. In this work the
Memorial Association first, and after
them the United Daughters of the Con-
federacy. have been most helpful and
devoted. and they may justly claim a
large share of the credit for success
fully indicating before the world the
cause in which their southern country
men engaged, and in which thousands
of them sacrificed their lives.
I'm of this work o have
honored this city by your presence and
therefore you are dOubly welcome to
the nodTIS anu uClIl6S VI Jul pCOplCs
You can find no community in which
the memories of the C~onfederacy are
more tenderly cherished. or in which
the heroic achievements of the Confed-
crate soldier are more proudly renem-
bered. than this; and no community,
therefore, where your labOrs will meet
with more cordial cooperation. or more
sincere and heartfelt sympathy. Here
and there in the south may be found
LII ,,orfior tho uiC6nn1 of
preserving an organization like yours,
but he will not be found to be n of
these who followed the conquered ban
ner or heard the ringing OF the guns.
Every true soldier is always ready to
uncover head and heart in the presence
of such answering cOnstancV and de-
votion as yours. Would that l could
frame a fitting tribute to it. but the
attempt would be vain. 1t has been the
theme of countless tongues more elo-
uuent than mine. but still, like the
heavenly realm from which it draws It's
inspiration. it's true beauties are beyond
the power of tongue or pen to tell
Il trust, ladies, that you delpera-
tons may be entirely harmonious and
NAV result in the advancement of the
interests you have in charge-that you
NAV find YOUR stay in Wilmington In
eyery way agreeable. and may carry
away with you only pleasant recollec-
tons of your visit to this little CITY py
the sea. And now again, in behalf OF
our people I bid you a hearty welcome
and an earnest God-speed in your pious
work.
Colonel Waddell's happy speech call
ed forth enthusiastic applause. p
Meanwhile Mrs. Sarah Meriweather
| Goodlett, of Nashville, Tenn, the
mother of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy, had taken a seat in the
| auditorium. She organized the first
| chapter and first division. was presi-
dent of each and was the first president
of the United Daughters of the Confed-
eracy. When she vas observed Miss
Mary F. Meares. went down from the
rostrum and escorted her to a seat.
She was introduced and the audience
+, arose and cheered and a~pplauded.
Mrs. E. K. Bryan. one of our charm
ing soprano singers, sang 1.-THE South