The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03
Army of Northern virginia,


April 10, 1865.
General Order No. O.
After four years Of arduous service
marked by Unsurpassed courage and
fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia
has been compelled to yield 10 over
whelming numbers and resources.
II need not tell the survivors of so
many fought battles, who have re-
NAMED steadtast to the last. that have
consented to this result from no distrust
of them; but. feeling that valor and de-
voton could accomplish nothing that
could compensate for the loss that would
have attended the continuation OF tho
contest have determined to avoid the
useless sacrifice of those whose past SER
vices have endeared them to their coun-
trymen.
by the terms of the agreement, off
GERS and men can return to their homes
and remain there until exchanged
You will take with you the satisfac-
ton that proceeds from the conscious
ness of duty faithfully performed, and
earnestly pray that a mercifu God will
extend to you his blessing and protec-
ton.
With an unceasing admiration of your
constancy and devotion TO your country
and a grateful remembrance of your
kind and generous consideration of my
self, bid You an affectionate farewell.
(Signed) r. T. LEE,
General"
Nearly forty-two years haye passed
since that memorable order was issued
and though time, with It's healing hand
has smoothed many of the sorrows of
that eventfu day and from the ashes
of despair our beautiful land has emerged
n young giant. girded with the strength
which the teachings and example of our
beloved commander did so much to ac-
complish. yet even at this date | cannot
contemplate that order. the issuance of
which caused the nations of the earth
10 halt and TO stand at attention with
bated breath; which disbanded an army
worn TO a5Lrazzle by contact with its
foe and which weiit down in defeat with
u record which has challenged the ad-
rniration of the civilized world and. won
the respect of a gallant foe: an army
which gave to fame the names OF Stone
wall Jackson. A. p. Hill, John 3. Cor
don. Turner Ashby, Jeb. Stuart. Wade
Hampton, Longstreet, Willie Pegram,
John Pelham, and thousands Of others,
and whose flag when folded and arms
stacked, sealed the fate of the Confed-
eracy, without standing appalled, at the
nomentous import of that order. II said
to the survivors of the Army of Northern
Virginia, after four long years Of unsur-
passed courage and fortitude, go back
to your homes and take up the burden
OF rehablitating your unhappy land!
My fellow-solders, can YOU forget the
sweet homes of '6l. when. like the
Roman natrons. the mothers of the men
of the South buckled on the sword Of
their beloved ones. and sent them to the
front to defend their native land-and
the homes to which they returnedafter
the 10th of April. 1865? The trail of the
Federal army through Georgia and South
Carolina was marked by smoulderlng
fires. which wrecked and wantonly de-
stroyed those happy homes. The fair
Valley OF Virginia had been so devastated
that 1t was the boast OF Federal gem
cral that "a crow would have To carry
his rations in flying over it, The
Peninsula from Fortress Monroe to Rich
mond and Petersburg was Wilderness;
dear old fredericksburg was in ashes;
and from the Alleglianes to the Chesa-
penke there scarcely remained one living
x thing TO tell the story of the once beau
t!ful homes in Virginia. The SCARED
breast of that dear old mother, Virginia,
which had been barred to the storms OF
battle for four long years. and whose
soil had been drenched with the blood
OF contending armies, shorn Of everything
save honor, and with the bones of her
to AppomattpN, but proud III her ruin
and rags. This great old Commonwealth
with her sister States of tho dead Con-
sederacy, said TO her sons returning from
She field OF battle ennobIed by that order
X their great commander These desc
ssted horaes aee yours to begin life anew
IN"
And, knowing all this. what think you
Gf the anguish Of that great soldier when,
be penned that ORDER Methnks II finds
It's parallel alone IN thar tragedy OF
Gcthsemane, which gave to mankind the
Christian religion.
The Ilast, with its hallowed memories,
was all that remained The future
stfe,ched out q barren waste MS hound-
less as time and as relentless IS fate;
and yet, when confronted by these con-
dittons, he accepted them as he always
did counting no cost to himself. but ever