Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-09-08
Fauquier County,
April q, 1865.
Soldiers;

ADiI II, lOBD.
Soldiers:
have summoned you together for
the last time. The visions we cherish
ed OF a free and independent country
is now the spoil OF the conqueror. /
disband your organization in prefer
ence to surrendering it to our enemies.
| am no longer your commander. After
an association OF more than two event
full years, part from you with just
pride in the fame Of your achievements
and grateful recollection of your
generous kindness to myself And
now, at this moment OF bidding you a
final adieu, accept the assurance of my
unchanging confidence and regard.
Farewell. JOHN s. MosBY.
About thirty years after the war the
first reunion Of the command was held
in Alexandria, and this was the only
reunion that the colonel has ever at
tended. He delivered the following
address on that occasion:
Comrades:
when on April 81, 1865, | told
you that | was no longer your com
mandor, and babe you what we then
considered a long, and, perhaps eternal
farewell, the most hopeful among us
could not reasonably have expected
ever to witness a scene like this
Nearly 80 years have passed away and
we meet once more on the banks Of the
Potomac, in sight OF the capital-not
in hostile array, but as citizens OF a
great and united country. Gunboats
no longer patrol the river; there are no
picket guards on its banks to challenge
our crossing.
Your presence here this evening re-
calls our last parting | see the line
drawn up to hear read the last order
| ever gave you. see the moistened
eye and quivering lips. | hear the
command to break ranks. | feel the
grasp OF the hand and see the tears on
the cheeks Of men who had dared death
so long that it had lost its terror. And
| know now, as | knew then, that
each heart suffered with mine the agony
OF the Titan in his resignation to fate:
The rock. the vplture and the chain
All that the proud can feel of pain.
| miss among you the faces OF some
who were present that day, but who
have since passed over the great river.
Memory brings back the image of
many Of that glorious band, who then
slept in the red burial OF war. Modern
skepticism has destroyed one Of the most
beautiful creations Of epic ages-the be-
lief that the spirits Of dead warriors
meet daily in the halls OF Valhalla,
and there around the festive board re-
count the deeds they did in the other
world. For this evening, at least, let
us adopt the ancient superstition, il
superstition it be- 1t may seem pre-
sumption i'm me, but a man who be-
longed to my command may be for
given for thinking that in that assembly
OF heroes, when the feast OF the wild
boar is spread, Smith and Turner,
Montioy and Glasscock, Fox and
Whitescarver, and their companions,
will not be unnoted in the mighty
throng.
A great poet Of antiquity said, as
descriptive of the Romans, that they
changed their sky but not their
hearts when they crossed over the
sea. While | lived in far Cathay
my heart untrameed, dwelt among the
people in whose defence / had shed
my blood and given the best years OF
my life. In the solitude OF exile it was
solace to hear that my name was
sometimes mentioned by them with
expressions of goodwill. Nothing that
concerns the honor and welfare of.Vir-
gnia can ever be Indifferent to me. l
wish that life's defending shadows
had fallen upon me in the midst OF
friends and the scenes ] love best. But
destiny-not my will-compels me to
abide far away on the shores Of that
sea where the god OF gIadness sheds
his parting smile" ] must soon say to
you again farewell, word that must
be aud hath been. | shall carry back
to my home by the Golden Gate
proud recoIlections Of this evening.
And / shall still feel, as / have always
felt that life cannot offer a more