Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-12
Ex-Confederates Represented.


The next speaker was Capt. ]. T. Griffith
of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, who
served on the staff of Gen Joseph E.
Johnson, the great confederate command
er, in all his battles, from those on the
peninsula in front of Richmond to At
lanta Captain Griffith is a typical con-
federate veteran, over six feet high, as
straight as an arrow, and beard and hair
as white as the clearest marble.
4 am not speaker" he began, but
simply a plain old confederate veteran.
We of the south fought for what we con-
sidered to be right, and / have never been
ashamed of my service in the smoke clouds
of battle. As Thomas jefferson once said
it Il difference of opinion and not of
principle. | am glad to meet my comrades
OF the north and south and east and west
here tonight. This reunion tells in Ian
guage palmer than words that we are
one; that the Ratchet is buried. and then
raising his voice, Captain Griffith ex-
claimed fervently, while the hall thun-
dered with applause:
May the star-spangled banner wave for
ever and aye in this glorious land over the
blue and the gray
Capt Griffith tod of the battles in the
valley of Virginia which were fought by
that noble Christian hero, 'StonewalP
Jackson who before engaging in battle
always retired to some secluded spot and
invoked the blessings of uod on his arms"
tie" said Capt. Griffith. ''and he never lost
a fight, and his soldiers loved and trusted
him.
The speaker spoke glowingly of "the gall
liant Ashby, the brave Rosser, intrepid
Mosby. the noble, lamented and gallant
Gen. Gordon, Jeb Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee.
Il served with Gen. Joe Johnson" con-
tinued Capt. Griffith and 1t was sad day
and a great misfortune to the confederate
arms when Gen. Johnson was relieved Of
his command at Atlanta by Gen. Hood.
When the change was made the backbone
of the confederacy was broken
He spoke of the sad day which wit
messed the surrender of the noble and Illus
trious Gen r. E. Lee and the magnan-
imous action of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
when he relieved the southern soldiers and
acted SO nobly toward them" In conclu-
son Capt. Griffith said the south has risen
Phoenix-like from her ashes Of the war.
and was today prosperous.
United as are today. exclaimed the
venerable southern soldier I'VE are the
greatest, grandest nation on earth. With
our magnificent army and superb navy we
can defy the nations of the world!''
Final Rally Announced.
Rev. E. Henry Byrons called attention to
the final rally at o'clock this evening at
G. A. r. Hall, and said the speakers will
include Corporal James Tanner. Bishop
Samuel Fallows of Illinois, Maj. B. +.
Dixon, late c. S. A. of North Carolina: DR..
J. d. Hanrahan of Vermont and Brig. Gen.
V. Y. Cook of Arkansas. 1t was stated
that General Cook served the confederacy
under General Forrest, 1.-The intrepid south
western fighter andv that when the war
with Spain began he entered the service OF
the United States, under the old flag, as
colonel of the I'd Arkansas Infantry Vol
urteers. Admiral Dewey was to have ad-
dressed the meeting last night but he had
a pressing engagement with the Sons OF
the Revolution, 1t was explained.
At the close of the meeting last night
! Rev. Byrons and Commodore Allen entered