The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-01-25
LOCATION OF CONFEDERATE MONUMENT
Pillar Will be Raised Main Street Opposite Court House
Square---large Gathering to Witness Ceremony.
w. DePass, ESQ.,, Orator of the Day.
Mr.. B. F. Arthur Marks Site

coasts, SO that every part Of the South
was exposed to INVASION Ii was man
iiestly impossible for the Confederate
government to attempt. with any hone
oi success, to oppose this vast force
at aI every, point that might be assailed.
ne undisputed control of the water.
ana the extensive coasts and great n,y'
igablc rivers of the South enabled th.
rederal government to threaten 50
many points at once that to oDpose
inc enemy everywhere would require
ruinouS dispersion of the Confederate
forces "'e
kentucky and greater part of Ten
nessee were quickly over-run. Missis-
ssippi was practically lost New Orleans
lell INTO the hands of the enemy. Gen
eral Johnson was obliged to retreat
rom Northern Virginia, but by con
centration OF our forces upon some
Vulnerable part OF the Federal frontier
we kept the enemy from assailing 9th
the PySGq city oI ,%Sahtles: msahs: The position of
mount importance tancc''afH}; af}aihYl and the para
Lincoln and his advisers to its safetvv.
AFFORDED such an opportunity to the
Confederate commander. The safety
OF the Federal capital was regarded
as the prime consideration and abso-
Iutely essential to a successful prose-
doubted il Washington was ever in
actual danger, but the cncmy's fear
ana SenSltlvenesS on this point was
Such as to compel them to concen-
tratc their forces in defense OF this
city, causing them to abandon some
parts ot our country which we were
not strong enough to protect.
VIII be found marked feature OF the
operations OF the army oi Northern
virginia, the command OF General Lee.
It VIII be remembered that he resort
ed to this plan and compelled the armv
3i Mcclellan to withdraw from the
James, alter 1T had been dislodged
from ITS position on the Chickahominv.
Accordingly our forces were thorough
~ concentrated, which resulted in the
formation OF the powerful army of
Northern Virginia. This concentration
on our part, and the danger with |
~hich Washington was supposed to be |
msnaSed. brought about the results an
ti,'P"''u Wy b.",-"i - Al Si~nans |
army was brought to reinforce Pope. |
Troops were taken from Carolina and |
West Virginia to aid in defending the |
Federal capital, and it became evident
that the Confederate army could not
render more efficient service and al |
iord more complete protection to the |
country than by arouSing the appre-
tensions OF the authorities at Wash |
ington for the safety oi that city.
1t is clear therefore that in that |
case the whole southern border ni the |
United States, including the city OF
Washington, would have been relieved
OF serious apprehension and the
troops occupied i'll providing against
an expected invasion ON our part
would have been dispoSablc ior aggres-
SiVe movements against us.
Attcr our troops in the West had
iallcn back SO far from the Northern
border as to intcrpoSc between them
and the States beyond Ohio an exten-
sIve district OF country, practically in
possession OF the enemy, the COnicder-
ate government had a much greater
force at its command Tor use in the
hcld than would have been the case
had 1t been required to guard its long
Southern border.
Time will not permit me to point
out all the advantages resulting from
the tenure OF Northern Virginia by the
Conicdcracy, but | have said enough
to indicate TO my thoughtful and re-
!tecting audience that the great strug-
gle OF nearly iour years. which was al
most necessarily wagcd Tor the pos
session Oi this region. involved conSe-
qucnceS to the Conicdcracy OF far
greater Importance than the mere loss
OF territory. - -! the recruits and sup
plies IT derived rom Northern Virgin
Ia. But Wm.c the presence OF our army
III Northern Virginia was OF advantage
III many ways, some Oi which | have
suggested. 1t was apparent that to en-
able that army to accomplish its OBJ
iect it needed all the strength the Con
icdcracy could give it,
1t was near the Northern border. in
the presence continually oi the most
powerful oi all the Union armies, and
constantly exposed to the attack Oi
superior numbers. 1t is unnecessary
Tor me to point ont to those who took
part i'll the defense OF Richmond the
manifold and fatal disadvantages they
struggled SO bravcly to overcome I,
have said enough To show the difficult
ties that beSet that defense, and yet
all these difficulties were added to
the duties, cares and laborS oi the ar
my OF Northern Virginia The most
marked influence, however, which the
situation OF Richmond and the nccesSi-
ty OF providing for its defense, ex-
crtcd upon the conduct oi the war in
Virginia, is seen in its connection with
the expedition OF the army beyond the
Potomac. To explain: The great adj
vantage the enemy would have in be-
seiging Richmond were so apparent
that it was a saying of General Lees
that Richmond was never so safe as
when its defenders were absent His
meaning was that the safety of Rich
mond was dependent upon our ability
to employ the enemy at distance and
prevent its near approach to the city.
Such was the policy adopted by him
and which secured the comparative