The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-01-22
Memory of Americas
NobIest Citizen Honored.
CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY


=
Under the historic roof of the State
Capitol the Confederate veterans OF
Wake county, the Observation-Disclosures
Chapter of the United Daughters OF
tire GDnfedcracy, the General Assem-
EIV Of North Carolina ana the patrl-
cite citizens of Raleigh yesterday celc-
brtited the centennial anniversary of
tue birthday of the south illustrlous
Leo. the great and brilliant soldier,
wise ana discerning statesman, and
oiameiess Christian gentleman. The
memorial exercises We're OBJ
rage1 in the hal of the House
u Representatives, which was crowd
ea ag.tE beautiful women ana patriotic
t.4. and the battIe-Scarred heroe3
y.4e fought beneath the stars ana bars
Of The southern flag.
The causes which produced the
memorable conflict were COMMITTED to
history; there was no mock sentiment
atty. the hearts of the audience were
Tired by the spirit that glorifcd Lee,
aud the able and eloquent addresses Of
the distinguished orators aroused
great enthusiasm. The man whom the
celebration honored seemed to live
again. rcinc;trnatod in the wonderful
~ord-picturc& of him presented in the
lively speeches. and the grand old sol
diers thus recognizing Their immor-
tai general, We're moVcd to manly
tears.
The exercises began at noon. The
L. or. Branch ann of Confederate
Veterans, and the Wake County Voter
ans Association, in command of Ma
jor a. e. S~tronach. entered the hall
keeping step to the stirring martial
strains that issued from the instru-
fnents of the famous Confederate Vet
Grams Drum Corps, of this city. IN
the eyes of the veterans famed the
Wild light of war, kindlcd by the
countless memories that are writ in
letters Of blood. Thunders of applause
welcomed them to the hall, and out of
respect for their glorious history the
audience arose and remained stand
ing until the men in grey had taken
their seats.
Tho Invocation, full of uplift ana in
spir&tion, ami tender in its tribute
10 General Lee, was offered by the
venerable Rev. NJ. Vi. Marshall, d. D.,
rector Of Christ Church.
At the conclusion of the touching
prayer a sWeet-Voiced quartette. COM
posed Of Mrs. j. ]. Thomas and Mrs.
Charles McKimmon, and DR.. Hubert
A ROyster and Representative Lester
Davis, sang that moving hymn: How
Firm a Foundation"
After the song Col. John G. Hins-
dale read General Lees farewell adj
dress To his army prefacing the read
lng with these words:
o April 9th, 1865. nearly forty
two years ago, at AppomattoX Court
House. the Army of Northern Viz
gina. consisting of 9 coo veterans,
heroes every one Of them, surrendered
to tie overwhelming forces Of Con
eI2I Ulysses :. Grant. On that event.
ful GaH. this little army furled g n
aaaner which it had valiantlH and
Faithfully followed for four years,
ana upon whose tatterel folds were
cInbiaZoned in letters of blood. the
rGG2eS Cf Bull Run. Richmond Man
assays, Harper'S Ferry. S~harpsburg,
fredericksburg. characteristics, Get
tNsburg. Wilderness, Spottsylvania
Court House. cold Harbor, the Crater
Petersburg. \ large portion of the
h"rees who composed this army. We're
from North Carolina. They had been
Grat "a Bethel. they went sfurtnest at
Gettysburg, and some of them under
the gallant Cox, have the eternal
honor of having made the last charge
81 A~DDGmattOX.
AS Henry +. Shepherd has said in
h!s lie of Lee. Nine thousand men
yielded the palm to one hundred and
fifty thousand who had never known
want. to whom gaunt hunger was a
myth. whose material comfort rose to
afiIuence for the of the
world lay at their disposal. Surely if
Glory lights with its luster the story
OF APPROXIMATION. its halo rests not
upon the heads of those who remained
masters of the field.
This army was led by the most
stainless Of aU< living commanders,
and except il -ortune the greatest
by 4 man. of whom President Roose-
Welt has written. Lee was without
exception the very greatest of all
great captains that the English
speaking people have brought forth
and that although the last and
chief of all of his antagonists may
claim 10 stand as the full equal OF
marlborough and Wellington A
distinguished southern Journalist has
said: TIE very absence of dramatic
accessalv in the surrender invests it
with a strange and teader interest.
The simple scene in which General
Lee and his army separated Is touch
ing from its very simplicity. There
was no har&ngue or ceremony when
in the evening of this memorable day.
and the men surrounded General
Lees headquarters. and without dis
tinctiou pressed unOn the llluStriouS
and beloved commander, and sought
10 shake his hand and hear the voice
that had SO often conducted them IN
battic. 1T was said that General Lee
wept on this occasion. He did not;
there we're deeper signs of suffering
the misty look of hushed tears in
q strong mans face as he turned to
the throng that pressed upon him,
and said SLOWLY and painfully: M
We nave fought through the war to-
eetaer. ] have lone my best for you.
NV heart is too full tc say more"
"The formal leave Of his army was
accomplished the next uaN III the du-
dress which [ am about to read.
81 this farewell address. Mr..
Shepherd has written: The farewell
uf Loo 10 his army should be pTeserV-
cd il every Southern home, treasured
b every Southern heart and dill
gently learned in every Southern
school II is 2 characteristic docu-
Inent. containing about 1875 words,
end j. marked by the manliness, sim
plicft5. and trust in divine guidance
Wlioh are reflected in the Personal
Letters rs we'll as the official orders
. mode of pure English, free from
ostantation. clear, vigorous, and ca
paile only Of a single meaning
= have the honor to be commits
siGned Ey the Daughters of the Con-
fed ar5ey. TO read 10 you this pathetic