The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-01-22
ROBERT e. LEE.
One Hundredth Anniversary Of The
Birth Day of the South's Chief
tain Observed in Newberry. u

the birthday Of General Robert f..
Lee was appropriately observed in
Newberry on Saturday, the exercises
being held i'll the opera house under
the auspices of Drayton Rutherford
chapter, Daughters Of the Confeder-
acy. The address was delivered by
Col. w. W. Lumpkin, Of Columbia,
who paid beautiful and loving trl-
butte to the south's chieftain, and to
the men who followed where he led.
After the address Confederate
Crosses Of Honor were conferred up
on the veterans, the crosses being
pinned on the old soldiers by the
Daughters Of the Confederacy.
The stage was tlraped in the col
ors Of the Contederacy, and conspicu-
ouS among the Confederate banners
displayed was the flag Of James ID.
Nance Camp, No. 33G. On the right
OF the stage was Il large portrait Of
General Lee. Music was furnished
by Il special choir.
Major James f. }. Caldwell presid-
rd. Prayer WAS Offered by DR.. }. A..
b. Scherrr. president Of Newberry
College, who thanked God for The
bravery OF Lee, for his heroic devo-
ton to duty, and for the spotless
purity Of his life.
In introducing the orator Of the
occasion, Major Caldwell took occa-
sion to correct Il story which he
said had been generally circulated and
given credence, concerning General
Lees action towards Gen. Grant at
Appomattox on April ., 1868. The
story was to the effect that general
! Lee had offered To surrender his
sword, but that General Grant had
declined to receive it. The whole
thing was n fabrication, said Major
Caldwell. General Lee had contradi-
rtrl the statement. Col. Marshall, a
staff officer who WAS with him on that
occasion, had contradicted it, and
General Grant, over his own sigma
turr, had rontradictpd il. General
Lee. when the matter was brought to
his attention, said that he had never
thought Of rendering his sword. The
only incident in connection with the
swords Of the opposing generals was
that General Grant had apologized TO
General Lee For not wearing his
sword, because he had left it al his
baggage wagon several miles away,
and he had not waited for it be-
cause he did not want to keep General
Lee waiting.
IN beginning his address, Col.
l.umpkin said that he was glad to
be here to pny tribute to the great
est general and noblest hero that ever
breathed. When he spoke Of Lee he
spoke OF The Confederate soldier, the
man who founded n nation and was
nntionless; the man of n cause, and
whose cause was buried; Of the
man who followed the proudcst
flag that ever floated over
iron lcyions, and whose flag was fur
led. Stripped Of nation, cnuse and
flag, he stood without one stain of
diShonnr. lie called upon the faith
himself, and asking aid Of none
but God, redeemed and glorificd his
country. lie took up the ashes, and
from them wrought pure gold. Like
Joshua Of old, there was no sunscr
f"r hin, until the south stood smiling
into the faces Of her sons. Take the
Faith your fathers had, SAID Col Lump
Kin, and make lhr south worthy thc
foundations your fathers laid.
General Icr, said Cot. l.umpkin
liesl heart that ever beat the years of
Il human life. The one fault he had
if il could he called II fault, was hi>
tendency to overlook any fault II
his sol,licrs. This was strongly evi
; 'lcncrd at Gcttysburg, where he took
upon himself the failure, and yet his
tory tells US that if one Of his com
mnndcrs had moved his men earlier
the result OF the battle would have
J. been different. That battle sounded
the death knell OF n nation, and ye
Lee assumed tho blame which wa,
not his.
t IL Ice had an ignoblo thought
E said COL IIumplsin, 1t died before !
E was spoken, To those who loved hin
he returned their love ten-fold, and t.
Y those who loved rim not, he extended
tho hand Of charity, He was tn