Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-17

At no more critical time did commander
ever take charge of his forces. Mcclellan,
with superbly equipped army of $4,000
men, was hammering at the gates Of Rich
mond itself, defended by a Confederate
force of 10000 men, lacking in most of
the munitions of war. Then began that
wonderful series of operations extending
over 30 days, including the seven days
battle and ending with McClellan's re-
treat to the James, although from first to
last he had 100000 men to oppose the $4,000
of Lee. The chief fruits of these opera
lions were not only the relief of Rich
mond, but more especially established
confidence in Lee which his troops ever
afterward reposed, and which contributed
so greatly to their morale.
The rest of the year. 1862, is big with
the name of victorious battles which Lee
and HIS men carved on the scrolls Of
fame. Following his advance into north
ern Virginia, Lee found himself confront
ed by Pope, the little man of mighty
pomp. who boasted of having, as yet,
seen only the backs of his enemies, and
who derided the mere thought of provid-
ing lines of retreat. The crushing defeat
at Second Manassas tells the story Of his
short day of power and his retirement
into kindly oblivion. Following the adj
vance into Maryland. we have Inscribed
in living letters on southern banners the
victories of Harper's Ferry and Sharps-
burg-the latter, the bloodiest battle Of
the war, and immortalized by the cour-
age of southern veterans who in the face
of odds of three to one held their lines.
at times, without a cartridge. and re-
PEELED assaults with stones gathered from
the face of mother earth. Veterans of
the Confederate armies I salute you. In
all the annals of warfare. you are the
wonders of the world. Clad in rags. half
starved. poorly-supplied with the equip
ment of war, you performed deeds not
equalled by the legions OF Caesar or the
Old Guard of Napoleon. You impaired
new heroism to the name of soldier, and
elevated the standard of honor. courage,
and endurance in the minds of men. You
made abiding the fame of Lee and his
generals. for without your prowess even
their genius would have been futile. In
days Of old, tradition would have adj
vanced you to the rank OF demi-gods.
We pay you greater tribute by hailing
you with all that the name implies, our
Confederate soldiers. Wear with all the
consciousness of their grand import those
medals bestowed upon you by the daugh-
tiers Of the south. Won in the cause for
which you fought, and bestowed by such
donors, they are more precious than the
richest orders conferred by the potentates
OF earth.
May the COO OF peace as Wen as OF
battles bless you in your declining years
and when the last great roll IS, called. may
the captain of your salvation muster you
into His eternal service.
Climaxing the triumphs OF so we name
the name Of Fredericksburg, that partic-
ular battle so close to the heart of Geor-
gia, for there 1t was her sons gained VIC
tory by their heroic defense of the storm
centering stone wall-a victory, alas
most dearly purchased by the death OF
the gallant. the brilliant and the accom-
plished Cobb.
The year 1858 opened with the cam
paign and battle OF Charlottesville. in
many respects the high-water mark OF
southern achievement. Here Lees gen.
eralship and strategy reached their cul-
mination. and here for the last time, his
efforts were seconded by a genius scarcely
less inferior to his own. Out of the smoke
and carnage of former battles there had
emerged figure, silent, mysterious, but
by his actions. dazzling the world. Known
universally, but never comprehended. the
apostle Of prayer, the apotheosis Of militia
~ genius. you know that 1 refer to
Stonewall jackson. What need to eulo-
gize? How can we attempt 1t when his