The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-25

IiNlt. | WIS ufiF Ailnt ~ NAN'' H''
''Tacfics for Mounted Rifles" lie was
afterwards made Assistant AdIutant-
General for the Department Of New
Mexico. where he was when the war be
tween the States was declared. lie hest
tated and faltered not. but in response
20 the convictions OF right and dictates
of duty. resigned his Commission in the
lnited States army, and returned to his
old home. which he loved with the deyo-
tion of an Eastern idolator. He then
rendered his sword and his services to
the Confederate Government. He was
at once appointed an Assistant Adiutant-
General. with tine rank OF Colonel, and
assigned to the Trans Mississippi Depart
ment for gallant and conspicuous serv-
ices in the Elk-Horn campaign, he was
promoted to be Brigadier- General, and
as a Major-General by rapid promotion
he led charge against Rosecranz at,
Corinth. lie defeated Sherman, at Chick
asaw Bluff. served in all the operations
around Vicksburg. and was paroled
prisoner Of war mt Mobile. May IL, 1860.
OF which post he was then in command
While Gen. Maury was disciplinarian,
he was always a kind hearted gentlemen,
and that meant very much to his men
who loved him, and in consequence OF the
smallness Of his statue. aiiectionately
called him 'the little general Reared
in the arts Of war. Gen. Manry found
himself at the conclusion of hostilities
without vocation He never murmured
at the conditions which confronted him
He was undismayed under the shadow
of defeat and always and everywhere eX-
pressed his iealty and allegiance To this
fair Southland OF ours and to her cause,
though il was lost. He became, how
ever. as loyal. true and sincere, citizen,
as he had been brave, patriotic soldier
Twas while the burden was heavy to be
borne that the Louisiana Lottery Com
pany offered him the superintendency OF
it's scheme at a princely salary. This,
they offered to give him for the use OF
his name and rank as Confederate
officer General Maury spurned the
proposition, saying, that he preferred,
poor though he was, that his name a.
man and officer, should go down to his
family and people without spot and
without stain. In 1881 he was APP
pointed our Minister by President Cleve-
land to the United States OF Columbia.
After the expiration OF his time there, he
devoted his time largely to literary work
for the magazines and the papers and his
"RecolIections ola Virginian." While Wis
iting his son at Peoria, ILL.,, he was
stricken with the sickness from which on
Jan. l1th, 1896, he died. At his own
request, they bore him back to his old
home. where he now sleeps in our City
OF the Silent
He sleeps. the little general" sleeps,
With all the great before him;
Another son Virginia weeps,
Proud that twas she who bore him.
Away from home, far, far away,
He crossed life's utmost barrier;
Subdued. but still without dismay
He comes, our gentle warrior.
He fell not, twas his cause that fell
Upon the field OF glory;
He lived, that living he might tell
His country's gallant story.
With heroes he was wont to share
The trial and the peril
With them to do, with them TO dare,
With them shall be his burial.
He rests. the tired soldier rests.
Upon the field OF battle,
Recalling deeds OF dauntless breasts
And scenes of boyish prattle.
He sleeps. the little general" sleeps,
With all the great before him;
Virginia now her vigil keeps,
Proud that twas she who bore him.
know have too imperfectly sketched
you the story OF his life-of life in which
the basic principle and dominating In
spiration was a high and holy purpose
to do, faithfully and efficiently, his duty.
Thomas Nelson Page wrote OF him
He was clear in his perception OF right,
unwavering in his devotion to duty. kind
to all men, reyerential to women, intrepid
in time of danger, modest in success, and
cheerful in disaster" And we are proud
to have him known as the product OF our
civilization. There can be no better
character.
Do you wonder then that we, his CON-
rades in arms. were pleased and proud to
bear his name, and that we gladly and
gratefully accept this beautiful Confed-
crate banner so generously and lovingly |
committed TO our keeping by his daugh-
ter through the hands OF his little grand
daughter--a banner around which cling |
and cluster so many sad and hallowed
memories? Trust me when say that
banner shall be sacredly preserved.
In Fredericksburg's Halle Fame there
could be placed many tablets to the men,
ory of many great and good men
who were either born in it's pre-
cincts or have adopted this place |
as their homes. One could be erect
ed TO George Washington, who went |
from here as a surveyor to the then un-
known West, mission which really cul- |
minated at Fort DuQnesne; to Gen. Hugh
Mercer, who, fighting, fell at Princeton;
TO John Paul Jones, the first and most
brilliant Admiral of the American Navy
all these, and more, OF Revolutionary