New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03
GENERAL RossER AS RECONSTRUCTED.
The Confederate Commander Welcomed by
Grand Army of the Republic Eneampment.

AT the encampment OF the Grand Army Of this
Republic IN Massachusetts recently. Major General
Thomas I. Rosser. Of the Confederate Army. was
introduced by Governor Bates as follows: Il want
TO introduce to YOU one OF the who fought
you and who is your friend This IS a re-
united country. and It Is with pleasure that
present TO the veterans OF the Union Army Major
General ROsser.
General Rosser acknowledged the compliment
most gracefully and then said: II feel that
ought 10 throw up hands and surrender.
don't pride myself that 1 am a Nirginian: but 90
thank God that am an American The man VINO
would saw that he wished the South had won -
either a fool or hypocrite. ] thank God that the
South did not win" In conclusion General Rosse-
said that he the only rebel who called on Cen
eral Grant when he dying. but he considered
1t a great privilege and honor 10 have seen him
before he died.
General Rosser next to Stuart and Forrest,
the greatest name among the Confederates as
cavalry officer. He In the graduating class as
West Point when Virginia seeded from the Union
and he then resigned and entered the Confederate
Army as a FIRST lieutenant. In October, 1906. then
only twenty-five years old. he was promoted to be
a brigadier general. and to him was given command
OF the Virginia cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley.
In the winter OF 1S6S-'6t the TWO opposing armies
OF Virginia were modified the upper branches
OF the RappahannOck. not far from Culpeper and
Brandy Station sixty miles from the Potomac As
General Meade had 10 bring all his supplies IN
wagons from Alexandria. the possible plumber that
between the Union Army and the Potomac was
strong bait for the almost Impoverished COnIeuet-
al There were, consequently. TWO OF
three OF such expeditions during the winter, or
which the most successful in the way of plundec
was that of General Rosser In his description os
the raid General ROsser does not avoid telling OF
the severe attacks and repulses made by the Union
pickets and small detachments OF the Union sol
diers but he says: II succeeded in capturing ths
Yankee train OF ninety-fOur wagons. 4o0 mules.
-four bacon. salt mOlasses. sugar coffee. beans,
rice oyercoats and blankets. and four suffer >
wagons loaded with all manner OF eataoleS, drink
ables and wearables of the choicest sort Inc
homely fare for my men for the next rev uay
was oysters sardines. canned frUlt' oranaleu
peaches crackers" etc. ~ NJ
Rut onIv a short time afterward General W. W.
AVeriIi the Union cavalry leader, appeared one
mornins early before the Confederate camps ara
Tbreate6ed 10 annihilate the rebels. Rosser SAYS
OF tbis with the Christian fortitude that charac-
FERRIES tr,le martyrs awaited our fate: YANKEE
generals rode along in front of our lines hourSned
their flags and retired. Yankee reconnoltrsrs rI6s
mn on hiSh hills recOnnOitred and rode down again.
Yankas skiru1ishers expended much strategy In Sc
curing safe positions and desperately held thsIl
Tboss valiant defenders were drawn uD IN ror-
rnidahle lines determined to do or fy.' We finally
saw onr CHANCE. moved off and reached camp on
january s 1854 with twelve thousand cattle anu
all the other supplies that We had captured IN Ou
raj