The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-22

ware Thy blessings for Thine ancient |
people so do we recognize Thy merciful
hand In the illustrious leaders Of our
armies Help us gratefully to keep all
their memories green. On this day es-
pecially let us thank Thee. for the
great captain in whose n we are
assembled-the Christian chieftain. by
Thy grace, good as well as gredt-scl-
der, commander. Christian gentleman.
Great on the field Of battle and in VIC
ory-gre also in defeat and private
life, who could carry with him into
his retirement the undiminished love
and v~eneration of his comrades and
fellow citizens; and who by Tiny grace
has set US such a bright example OF
submission and wise adjustment TO
has shown how truly great a private
citizen can be and % nobl the mail
ed hand of the warrior could be mould
ed into the ministering hand Of the
teacher of his fellows"
Mr.. MARTINS GRAFTON.
illcI III pIdJC SopboAA
81 have the honor Of introducing a vet
eran who was among the first to go to
Fort Caswell in 1861 as a sergeant and
subsequently rendered valuable ser
vice as ordnance officer. Lieutenant
E. S. Martin will address YOU.
Mr.. Martin was received with ap-
plause, and he delivered an address
+1ot Dro1ohI,- ocprrniod aao-1U half an
hour. 1t was a splendid tribute to
General Lee, and he eloauently eulo-
gized the Great Confederate
der. He rapidly followed his career as
a soldier and graphically recounted his
great achievements in the fierce strGg-
gle between the two contending armies
in northern Virginia 1t was a fine
effort, was full of interest and instruc-
ton happily grouped. and the eloquent
outbursts called forth frequent ap-
plause from the old veterans and an
appreciative audience. We regret that
our space is so limited we cannot pub
lish it in full, and to attempt a synop-
sis of it would inflict great injustice on
the speaker and his most admirable
ADDRESS. A SIOrh OIL dppiduSS
when he concluded.
In esponse to calls from the crowd,
the old soldiers gave the famous ebe
yell.
Following Mr.. Martins address, Cap
tain Metts in an affecting way read the
| farewell of General Lee to his soldiers
| when the remnant of his great army
| laid down their arms at Appomartox'
Captain Nets then said: Il have the
very great honor of introducing a true
| daughter of the Conference.-The
| widow of as fine an officer and az
brave a soldier as eve stepped to the
tap of drum. Mrs. CASTOR Meare viii
now present the Cross OF Honor to the
veterans"
A GEM OF PATHOS AND MARIA.
TIVE.
Mrs. Meares, still suffering from tht
accident she received a few months
ago, advanced and said with excellen
voice:
Veterans and heroes of our great wal
for Southern independence:
In the name of the Cape Fear Daugh'
tiers of the Confederacy. 1 bid you wei
come on this our Confederate hoI1oay
the birthday of Robert E. Lee!
Just forty years ago our quiet LAM
was stirred by a. great uprising or IL
people. The tyranny Of might ha
forced upon us an unnatural and I'm
welcome war. Submission had ceaset
to be a virtue. and at the call OF Their
sovereign states. from every section
of the south there poured a might!
host of men going forth to meet tn
foe. Saying goodbye to peacefu
homes and all else that men hold dear
they set their faces to the front ant
never faltered; going out. they knev
not whittier, but trustful and strong IL
the righteousness of the cause To-
which they were to fight.
Four years later. with hearts culver
ing with woe and eyes blinded will
tears, we saw the broken remnants o.
that great army coming back in Strag'
Cling squads, to ruined and desolatee
homes. Scared and MANNED by battle
wounds. hungry and sick and destitute
branded with the cruelties OF prison
life, their hearts crushed and bleeding
the Bonnie Blue Flag trailing in 'th'
dust of conquest, our noble presto en-
in hopeless captivity. with kingly dig
nifty wearing for his people a felon':
chains in a prison cell.
All! those days of bitter anguish
4 d. thSy SNSt US olSOllCh. oil ="
wonder that our peoples hopes were
dead?
The memories of the golden deeds o
those four heroic years were all tina
was left to us: and while you men
with greater heroism than ever wa,
had called forth. took I'D again tbs
battle Of life's duties. and fought it gu
to glorious success. we womel
gathered up those memories, en-
shrined them in our hearts, glo
ried in our heroes. treasured as
sacred trust the noble army o
martyrs who never came back ito US
and still with answering devotion t.
the cause for which they fought, W.
honor all who followed the banne o
the Southern. Cross till It vas furlet
forever. (Applause.)
Let me show you a memento Of thOs'
times you well remember. I have herr
a pair of silver cuff buttons mounted
on a card for preservation and thus
inscribed: "These buttons were mad