The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-21
Especial TO The Messenger.)

Especial to The Messenger.)
Raleigh, n. C., October 1S.-At
the Raney Library Building this
evening the fifth annual meeting of the
State Literary and Historical Associa-
ton of North Carolina was held, DR.. c.
AIphonso smith, of the State University
presiding. The subject Of his address
was THE Average American" The
next event, and the feature OF the
evening of course was North Carolina
and the civil War" being a reply to the
charges brought by Judge George H.
Christian of the United Confederate
Veterans Of Virginia, Judge Walter
Clark submitting the report. Professor
D. H. Hill, of Raleigh, spoke on North
Carolina books of this year; John
Charles Mcneil, of Charlotte ON State
Literature. md President Venable of
the State University on it's Relation
to North Carolina History.
Among those on the stage besides
the officers were General w. R. Cox
and Major Joseph Morehead. All the
addresses were of a high order. that
of President Smith remarkably 50.
Mr.. McNeil'S ape was unique, bold,
witty and made a decided hit. j. Y.
JOyner, in behalf of the special COM
mittee offered a resolution which was
adopted raising a committee Of three
to memorabilia the legislature to pro-
vide a fire proof building to contain
the state library and hall of history.
A resolution offered by Edward P.
Moses was adopted to provide for the
promotion of study Of local history
through county organizations. A res
olution offered by E. c. Brooks was
adopted, urging the legislature to con-
tinue the appropriation for free libra
RE sfOr rural public schools.
The committee on selection of new
officers composed of H. CT. Conner, II.
A. London and Joseph MOrehead re-
ported as follows: President, Robert
w. Winston, of Durham; Vice Presi-
dents A. C.. Avery. William r. Cox,
Mrs. Lindsay Patterson. The report
was unanimously adopted.
Secretary Poe reported that the as
ISOLATION had three hundred members.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
Upon the monument which mis- state
a erected at the west front of the
Capitol in Raleigh in perpetual MEM
DRY of the fidelity to duty of the sons
she sent to the front in 1S61-5. is in
scrfbed the legend
FIRST AT BETHEL.
LAST AT APPOMATTOX."
Upon the cover OF the five volumes
of North Carolina Re2imental Histo-
ries 1S61-'65' which, compiled by yete-
rams who were actual participants in
the events The narrated, have been
published and issued by authority of
the state. there is stamped the above
words with the insertion between the
first and last lines of the following:
'IFARTHBST To THE FRONT AT
GETTYSBURG AND CHiCKA-
MAUGA"
These claims were not made as a
matter of boast. They were merely a
statement of historical facts, amply
supported by the testimony Of -eye-wir-
nesses and documentary evidence con-
tanned in the volumes in question.
There was no intention to assert that
the soldiers from North Carolina were
drawer than those from our sister
Southern States, but merely that the
fortune of war having furnished then
the occasion they were equal to the
opportunity-only this, and nothing
more.
They saw their duty. a dead sure
thing
And went for it. then and thar"
We also deemed that it was shown be-
yOnd question that North Carolina fur
nished to the C~onfederacy more troops
than any other state. 1t can not De
controverted that, owing TO the fore
sight, practical ability and patriotism
of our great War Governor, Zebulon b
Vance. the troops from this state were
the best cIother and shod, and the best
cared for in the ~Confederacy.
The above propositions, save the las
having been controverted by Judge
christian of Virginia in a pamphlet Is
sued by authority of h United Con-
federate Veterans o fthat state, the un
dersigned Committee were appointed by
the North Carolina Historical and Lit
erary Society to make reply, The com
mittee met 18th May, 1904, being the
10th anniversary of a day which is for
ever memorable in North Carolina from
the valor of her sons at the deadly
Horse Shoe at Spottsylvania. With g
view Of placing our reply upon h tes-
timony OF eye-witnesses the work was
sub-divided AMI allotted as follows:
First at Bethel" Major E. J.. Hale
'fFarthest to the front at Gettysburg.
Judge w. A. Montgomery and Captain
w. r. Bond.
'Farthest to the front at Chickamau
ga" Judge a. c. Avery.
Last at Appomattox,' ena Henry
A. London.
Number of Troops furnished b!
North Carolina and the number OF Kill
ed and wounded" Captain s. A Ashe.
These articles were ready by % o
August, 1904, another glorious anniver
sary to North Carolina Veterans, recall
ing the successful charge OF Cooke
lanes and MacRae's brigades a
Heams station Is August, 1854, which
might Well be styled a "North Carolin;
Victory" After being carefully review