The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-30
Powers--Excerts


We set to- day native stone,
That memory may his deeds redeem,
When. like our sires, our sons are
gone
Come, for here the genius of lofti-
est poesy In the artists dream, and
through the sculptor's touch, has re-
stored his form and features-a Valen-
tine has lifted the marble veil and dis
closed him to us as We would love
10 lock upon him-lying. the flower Ct
knighthood. in Joyous Gard, His
sword beside him IL sheathed forever.
But honors seal Is on his brow, and
valor's star Is on his breast. and the
peace that passeth all understanding
descends upon him, Here. not IN the
hours of his grandest triumph of earth.
as when mid the battle roar shouting
battaltons followed his trenchant
sword and bleeding veterans forgot
their wounds to leap between him and
his enemies-but here In victory, su-
preme over earth itself. and over death.
its conqueror. he rests. his warfare
done.
And as ve seem to gaze once more
on him We loved and hailed as chief,
In his sweet dreamless sleep, the
tranquil face is clothed with heaven
light. and the mute lips seem elo-
quept with the messge that in life
he spoke.
! There is a true glory and a true
honor; the glory OF duty done. the
honor Of the integrity OF principle"
Battle of Gettysburg.
! on the campaign and battle OF
Gettysburg. before the Virginia divi-
sion of the Army OF Northern Viz
ginia, Oct. rs, 1875
/ Not with the ringing bugle nor
the throbbing drum in our van. For
with the battle-fag floating proudly
| DER our tattered uniforms and bright
! muskets, come we again to the his
toric which was once the busy arsenal
| and the glowing heart of the Confed-
crate revolution,
Stately palaces now line the ave-
/ nues so lately filled with charred and
smoking ruins. The fields around us
smile in cultivated beauty where late
| ly trod the iron hoofs of war fetiock
! deep-in blood The lordly river. no
/ longer grim with batteries on it4
! banks. and iron-clad upon its sur
| face, nor checked with obstructione
| in its channel, rolls its majestic tide In
unbroken currents TO the sea. And
save here and there. where some rude
earthwork, overgrown with grass and
weeds. scars the landscape, fair
nature tells no tale of the devastation
of civil strife.
1 But long after the elements OF
changing seasons. and the slow pro
cess of time, have oblfterated from
! the physical world every scar and
stain of conflict, the scenes arount
US. animate with their heroic actors
shall be portrayed to our generations
with all the vivfdness of artist.
brush and poets song; and faithful
chroniclers shall recount to eager ears
the story. which has made the name
Of Richmond not less memorable thar
the name Of ancient Troy. and hal
tmmorsalixed those more than Tro1ar
heroes. the devoted citizen soidiery OF
the Army of Northern Virginia
Surviving comrades OF that valiant
| host. j hail with comrades warm.
| est greeting. In vtrginia's name
welcome you back to yirGinia's CAPT.
tai city. amongst those generous PEG.
/ pie who nerved your arms by theil
| cheerful courage. who bent over your
! wounds with ministering care. who
consoled adversely by fidelity and
| plucked from defeat It's stings.
/ Here Tonight we come as men soi
peace--faithfully rendering unto Gaze
| sar the things that are his--but hap.
Ply to touch elbows once more In the
| battle Of life and proud to revive
the cherished memories OF the brave
days of yore. and to renew the sol.
emn and high resolve that their
bright examples and great actions
shall net perish from the records OF
time.
Happier, indeed. would / have
been II. on this occasion. the tAst
OF reproducing some page of our IA.
nous history had been conided ts
other and ADLER hands than mine
for In this distinguished presence.
! with my superiors in rank. ability and
military services around me. the SOL
dier's sense of subordination creepl
over me. and I would fain fall back
| into the ranks Of those who are seer
but not heard.
But since II Is I who am appoint
/ ed to play the role of the old soldier
Who shoulders his crutch
And shows how fields were won'
| Always . Soldier.
II bow obedientiy to orders. trust.
| ing that tho splendor Of my themes
| may Obscure the denciencies Of yon,
orator. and that your generosity -
characteristic Ok thu soldier ~ Hi
| ccslragN snay sheatha ~ crit1e'I
k040c4 n ~ oen1
~ - TX l7A 81