Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-01-20
Honor Crosses Awarded

''' ''"ih N'Ncf NuantS n
the Courthouse Yesterday after
noon VIII ii0gcr l.ng in the mem
'rN ~ every prg>"n who was nres
ent. especially during the reading
Of the brief military history Of eacl
recipient OF the Cross of Homer.
The address, t. the Veterans M.
delivered toy Hon. II. Cray VII.
iamS' OF Winchester. who i, J. COX.
ct upon here as the most polished
an" able orator among a., Younger
men OF the Valley. Mr.. Williams
was introduced by Hon. Thos d
'o'd. who recalled the fact tina, his
father, Mr.. john Williams was
ihe ableSt lawyer Of his time in
Tins section. and said that the love
and admiration which his aulitors
lrii for "Johnny" Williams auld
cause them 10 listen >i,h l.rner
interest to Wlat his ~on o.;ght SAY,
y Williams addr,., e,~ .o
able one, statistics from unbiased
sources being quoted 20 show that
The South was faced by odds est.
mated ut 10 to from ;br very be-
ginning of the war.
He told IF that long night Of
vigil and prayer when the grcal
heart of Robert Edward Lee. ON
bonded knees at historic Arlington.
asked for guidance a,t - his course
whether lac should accept the cim.
mond IN chief OF all the Union
forces which had been offered him.
or cast his lot with hi- native State
Virginia
From that time ON. through nh
the hard>hips and privations and
criticisms and abuse. the speaker
followed the unsuliicd sword Of
Lee; before Richmond: nj Gettys-
burg. when Longstrcct failed 10
come M, and, aftcrward. when
Lee, N his great love for humanity
hiS and inability 80 do harm 10 any
one, refused Steadfas,ly toplaccany
blame upon Longs'reet, but said
that If his men had been well-fed
and clothed he would have pushed
on into the cncmy'S country"
regardless of the disaster at Getty
burg: the thin gray line" before
Petersburg; the meeting of Zee
and Grant Al AppomattoX: the
pleas of his subordinateS not to
surrender on the field of battle: his
great thoughtfulncSs for his men,
when he said, II cannot further
sacrifice them in useless ASSAULT"
the last Rebel cheer" when he
had surrendered his army and
was bidding his men farewell: and
his last words To the men of the
Army Of Northern Virginia, 81
did the best | could:" his refusal
of princely salary as president
of an insurance company merely
for the use of his name. and his
reply that IF my name is SO val
liable, should be very careful
how il is used;" his acceptance of
the Presidency of Washington Col
lege at Lexington at $500 a wear;
and, lastly hiS attendance OF a
meeting Of the NeStry of the little
Episcopal Church in Lexington.
where he contracted heavy cold,
from which he died. and his diving
words, showing tina, the martial
spirit still lived and that the Lost
Cause had the last thoughts and
words from that superb intellect
and that woman'S mouth Of that
princely leader, that warrior who
was greater in his most over
whclming defeat than all of his
victorious adverSaries: Tell \. p.
Hill he must come up
1t WAS a beautiful address. but
no words in print can do justice to
the expression and rendition OF the
speaker.
Those who were present heard
an address which would move the
heart Of the most hardened. while
those who were not present missed
an occasion which comes seldom
in one life time.
After Mr.. Williams address, the
Crosses of Honor were presented
by Mr.. Gold, who referred to
several Of the recipients in afec-
tionate and kindly remembrance
of their record in the war.
Crosses were awarded as follows:
Harry Bell, Company ii, Second
Virginia Infantry.