The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-02-04
Lieutenant Generals of the Confeder.
ate Army Who Still Survive-The
Number Rapidly Growing Smaller.
Atlanta Constitution.

AIIdICd CONSTITUTION.
The passing away of Gen Long
street, followed so abruptly by the
death of Gen. Gordon, has aroused
considerable discussion as to the
number of remaining officers of high
rank who served in the troublous
days of the COS.
Though the number Of those who
illustrated Southern valor on san
culinary fields during this greatest of
modern dramas is gradually and ire
coverably dwindling and the ranks
of the heroic survivors grow pathetic
ally thinner as the grizzled veterans
drop out, leaving gaps that can
never be closed in obedience to any
earthly command, there still remain
many who LUMINOSITY exemplified
the patriotism OF those regrettable
times that witnessed such sweeping
carnage and fell destruction.
Of the lieutenant generals of the
Confederacy four remain-Stephen d.
Lee, of Mississippi, who is now over
70 years OF age; Simon BOlivpr Buck
ner, of Kentucky, now in his SOth
year; A. p. Stuart, of Chattanooga,
who is 80; and Joe Wheeler, who is
81. There are a number of living
major generals, ranging between the
venerable ages OF General HOke, who
is Sc, to General French, who is now
in his S0th year. The list compiled
in 1900 showed the following to be
then living who had held the rank of
major general in the war: William B.
Bates, Tennessee; NC. Butler, South
Carolina; John H. Forney, Alabama;
S. G. French, Florida; Thomas J
Churchill, Arkansas: Robert F. Hoke,
North Carolina; +. NJ. Law, Florida;
&. W. GUSTS Lee, Virginia; l.. l..
Lomax, Washington, d. G.; Fitzhugh
Lee, Virginia.; Matt. w. Ransom,
North Carolina, and f. II. ROsser,
Virginia. Since then this list has
been reduced.
The appointments of both General
Wheeler and General Gordon to the
position of lieutenant general were
made during the last few weeks of the
war, General Gordon being the last
Confederate officer to receive this dis
tinctiOn. The formal confirmation
of these appointments by the COnfed-
crate Senate was never accomplished.
Both men, however, have since the
war been universally accorded the
dignity of the rank to which they
had been raised and their occupancy
of this position has always been as
secure and generally recognized as
though they had received the newt
able Endorsement oft he Senate. bound
in red tape and adorned with i'm
pressive sealing wax.
So far as can be aScertained, there
are eighty-three Confederate brig
adiers still able to answer the roll
call at reunions, Generals Nancy,
jackson and Speed having surrend-
cred to the grim reaper during the
past four years. Lieutenant General
Wade Hampton, Ofknightly memory.
Is also among the distinguished
heroes OF the Lost Cause who have
recently gone to bivouac on the other
side.
Though forty years of change and
progress roll between this happy day
and the grim surrender at Appomat-
tox, and though the South has ac-
cepted long since that historic YER
diet, she yet cherishes in fondest
memory the brave deeds of her sons
who then defended her integrity and
many of whom have since shed daz-
cling luster upon the arms of the Re
public. Though the peace has come
for which Lee prayed and Grant so
earnestly desired, the South can and
does, with perfect loyalty and noble
patriotism, do honor to the soldiers
of America who then argued with
grape shot and canister the proper
Interpretation of a national instru.
ment.
All honor to the surviving Confed
crate soldiers. The nation has nc
more devoted and self-sacrificing de.
tenders than they.