Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-05-07

great battle As he rode proudly among the SI ne
the leess form aenaed and hated son who had a
like the youthful Solrab when laurels of victory IN
sight The father gazed long the PROSTATE form lying sur
rounded by fallen enemy and ne recognized then the aD
tv which had refused there fell from his lips
the words Taller he seems in death
The same trait which characterized this Oriental king mas
been illustrated in worlds highest civilization and even IN
Christianity itself The Greeks stood by and smiled at the tate
OF Socrates that OF Cicero and there was eXu
ant 10Y among British the burning the Maid OF Orleans
Yet other generations made each the brightest OF It's
age
Our own country has followed in the paths Of its predecessors
Washington was once hated he nsuted he was conspred
against he called monarcst and enemy OF American LID
r he was pronounced incompetent do that which he alone
was able to do but the sun his death had scarcely
again appeared horizon until the American people rec
ognzed his greatness voice cried out He has
been our leader war he has been counsellor IN peace and
he shall be father in history
The name of Lincoln was once in contempt His
cabinet tried to drive him from the path which he thought right
Those who naturally should have been his friends often reved
him Yet hardly of that fatal shot ceased to
echo until they realized they had lost their leader and poet
painter and sage soon made his name immortal.
There is another American history which was not al
vs honoed but today name the of Robert T. Lee
s reered wherever known leader OF the
Revolutionary armies because he great president OF
the but because he had character buded upon
honor love patriotism the foundation upon which every
character truly great must rest
This great man born Virginia plantation, and IRON
childhood was schooled the principles OF patrlots-a
patriotism made him love home love mother made MN
love love home made him love the State and ma
ton as we love friends made him love honesty and God as be-
comes Christian people Ohme he stood at his mother
knee he listened to stories patriotism from that greatest OF
teachers stories his ancestors had fought with William
the Conqueror Hastings of how Robert Bruce progenoT
of the Lees the freedom Of Scotland and made possible
the romances and the songs OF Burns He was tod now
his people oppressed by the tyranny of Cromwell had lied to
He
colonies should be and independent States and how his
father helped to make good that declaration
When lee grew to manhood still cherished those stories OF
his childish davs As he the pages of his
cestors history he he sprung from family who
had shown in world struggles all Of the virtues and few
of the faults Of those chosen be leaders because httes
Seeking with youthful enthusiasm profession that might be
worthy the name his ancestors his republic he at last de
cded to be soldier He graduated from West Point with
HIGHEST honors and entered upon the great field of labor which
ended only with But his youthful hopes soon to be
bged civil strife destined to redden Our waters ana
darken our land.
Surely no other patriot confronted with such prob
lem Think of him who Superintendent at West Point had
like true teacher the affection every industrious student
Think of him who must the sword he had used so
bravey of his country and whichever cause he eS
poused must turn it against his friends
AS the irrepessible conflict approached and he realized
that he could no longer serve united nation he felt in
dance with the principles he had learned childhood lay down
that sword that he might stain his hands with the blood OF
his countrymen Upon forming this noble resolution he went
TO Washington and against the solicitations OF his beloved
commander General Scott the face of promises of power,
AGAINST interest he his sword with the hope Of
never raising again But he have this choice
He must follow the fortunes North those of the South
He chose the latter there his home and the home
Of his kindred there lived brave friends who had already
oned the Southern army there his beloved Virginia
What was Virginia to General the first abode OF
English freedom world. It the seat OF the
first legislative resistance the mother country 1t was the
home of Bacon and companions who fought and died for
and by TIE people hundred years before
the Revolution the birthplace Of Washington the I'M
mortal leader Of the Revolutionary armies the birthplace OF the
architects of the Declaration Independence Of the Federal Con
suton and religious liberty the stronghold Of fthe State
sovereignty sanctioned by the great Of Jefferson and
Madison land rich every gift OF earth and sky richer
still in the gift Surely aer land has ever inspired
a poets lays given homes to a brave people
When we these principles Of his devotion we un
deand part why he followed his native State With this
passionate affection home and devotion to Virginia with sol
ders who loved to Uncle Robert because OF his kind
ness we are not surprised that he defeated Mcclellan south OF
Richmond Pope Bull Run Burnside Fredericksburg Hook
er at Charlottesville and the Wilderness Cold Habor
and Petersburg forcing him change the fighting line which ne
had determined change Yet with all these successes Lee
saw that without volunteers and without supplies unless some
kind Providence ntervened his little army must be annih
lated The end Appomaox and the Confederacy had
failed but Lee had not failed.
Although espoused that lost where IS the gen
era gained greater military reputation since history
began?
And where is the man civil military life whose