The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-25
This Distinguished Man
LeCtured Here Last
Night.
FINE ORATORY.
The Subject of the Lecture Was
First Days of the Confederncy-
Intensely Interesting History,
Splendid m and
PathOs-Gran Ovation for the
General.

tO5AiZtu lhIOuSIo1l Tic u dS q
great soldier, lecture1 III Wilmington
last night at the Academy OF Music.
This eminent southerne- arrived here
last evening at s o'clock from Wash
ington. N. c., where he delivered a lee
ture on Wednesday nigh. He was met
at Front street station by the committee
appointed by Cape Fear camp, No. 254,
United Confederate Veterans, in honor
of General Gordon as the commander
of the United Confederate Veterans's
organization. The committee was COM
posed of Colonel w. J.. Woodward, COM
mander of Cape Fear camp, General
William l.. DeRosset, General James L.
Nets, Captain w. r. kenaE. Colonel
o D. Taylor. and Messrs. Sol Bear
and John R.. Marshall. They wore their
confederate uniforms, and gave General
Gordon a hearty welcome They drove
him in a carriage to The orion where
he is a guest during his stay in our
city.
Last night at s O'Clock the committee
went to The Orion 20 escort General
NoLNoAA ~ LIN ~ 1NtSl OoPS
Fear camp, in uniform, under command
of Colonel Woodward, and the Whining
ton Light Infantry under command of
Captain A. P. Adrian also assembled at
the hotel and escorted the distinguished
visitor to the Academy of HUsic.
At the Academy of Music . good au-
dience was assembled to greet Genera
Gordon. The Hollowbush orchestra was
also there and from s o'clock Until Cen
eral Gordon's arrival they rendered a
fine musical programme. When Gen-
eral Gordon was on his way to the
Academy of Music. the naval reserves,
under command of Lieutenant N. N.
Davis. gave him a generals salute of q
guns. The howitZers We're stationed in
the yard of the old court hou5e and the
reports fairly shook tie city.
When General Gordon appeared on
the stage with his escort, the orchestra
struck up Dixie, n the great soldier
received an ovation that was extremely
hearty. The audience added It's cheers
and applause to the stirring music. and
lHc hearty WelCOIilc IIuSl nave DeSll
pleasing to the general.
The committee from Cape Fear camp
took seats On the stage with General
Gordon, and when the music died out,
General James I. Nets. introduced the
eloquent speaker. General Nets said:
81 fully appreciate the very great
honor of presenting, for he needs no in
PRODUCTION to a southern audience, one
ever drew blade or the world ever saw.
AS evidence Of that fact, from captain
of a company at the beginning of the
war between the states, he rose to the
command of the Second Corp of the
army of Northern Virginia at it's close
When General Grant ct Srcttsylvania
under General Hancock hurled 40,00t
trained troops against what is known
as the horseshoe, with only one thir
line of confederate veterans behind the
works, who were literally overwhelm.
| ed and captured, he with those dashing
Generals Rhodes and Ramseur (whC
were subsequently killed., leading theil
AAiCi, "a lHhO NiIC ACC1
| stopped the flow of the eneny and drove
them back over three ines of works
where they fought for twenty hours
with only the works between them AND
| the enemy. So great was tee fire that ar
oak tree the size of a mans body was
| cut down by minnie balls. Such was
the continuation of his g~e,lsntry. till a
Appomattox. our beloved Old Marse
| Robert deemed it best to end the strife
having only 5000 muskets to combat
with Grants 140.O 900 soldiers. IN that
memorable occasion, the day before oul
| sorrow stricken army passed through
that terrible ordeal Of stacking theil
arms in front of the enemy, our here
and commander had his corps assem-.
bled n it "a my % ) fortune to lis
ten to his address. frdught with good
| and patriotic advice, to that thin emac.
lated half starved. half naked band o
fire tried confederate soldiers, and nov
it is nv privilege to present to yol
that s~'dier, statesman, and orator
Genera- John B. Gordon"
Upon conclusion of General Nets re
marks. the audience burst into a?
plause, and as General Gcrdon aros'
there was a most enthusiastic demon
stration. While the applause shook tn
house and continued for sonie time Gen
eral Gordon stood bowling his acknowl
edgments of the hearty reception &C
corded him.
When the applause came to an en-
General Gordon began his address, witt
the ~salutation, Ladies. Cherished Com
rades, and Beloved Fellow Countr.
men," He then hanked the audienc
for its warm welcome and expressed hi
high appreciation Of the pa,t ial intro
uction of General Nets. He hen an
nounced that the subject of his lectur
would be the First Days OF the Con
: federacy." He said IT vas a singula