The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-01-27

sacrifice were the fountain from which
sprung the affection and admiration
for the North Carolina troops in the
heart of that greatest leadereof sol
diers, thai highest type of Christian
manhood, that purest and truest and
best of men, Robert e. Lee. At no
time was this affection and admira-
ton more plainly and more beautf-
fully shown than in the hour of an
gush at Appomattoxs when he waited,
heart-broken, for a courier carrying
some message concerning the surren-
der which all now knew to be newt
able, his military a caught h firm
and steady tramp of a brigade march
ing into action in as good order and
with as dauntless courage as though
they were on the Y of a sweeping
victory instead of Inevitable defeat
which every man foresaw, General
Lee raised his head and asked sharp
~, what brigade is that2" "Coxss
North CaroIfnians,'' replied an officer.
The greatSman's eyes filed with tears,
and, as the men swung past him, he
lifted his nat and said, God bless
old North Carolinal"
Some times in passing along the
street I meet a man who, upon his
breast, close to his heart, wears a
plain, modest and u~nassuming bronze
cross. His coat is often worm, rusty
and old, his face scanned and furrow-
ed by the cares Of three years
and more; perhaps beside it hangs an
empty sleeve, but, my friends, when
I meet the man who e this sim
pie insignia my first impulse is TO
remove my hat and stand uncovered
in his presence, for he may be one
who was first at Bethel, or one who
vase foremost at Gettysburg, or, YET,
last at Appomattox. He nay not have.
been born a soldier, but his
country's summons came it may have
called him from the plough, the forge,
the bench, the store, college or pulpit
He fought not for the greed Of gold
or glory Of renown. He loved n
peace and quiet of his home; yet he,
with his comrades in grey, waged n
war the worlds history re-
and when finally overpowered
by the overwhelming numbers and
the unlimited resources of his adver-
sary he. the Confederate soldier, re-
from the war with a record
and to hearts as loving as
ever welcomed heroes home.
That dashing, daring and dauntless
cavalry leader, Joe Wheeler, in speak
ing of the Confederate soldier, asks
and answers a question in the follow
ing language:
aWhence came these qualities?
were the product of Southern
chivalry which two centuries had
finally perfected. A chivalry which
stainless honor as a price
less gem, and a knighthood which
combat for honor's sake
The chivalry which taught Southern
to esteem life as smoothing when
honor was at stake; a chivalry which
the highest, noblest and o
exalted privilege of man was the de-
Tense of woman family and
1t was this Southern chivalry that
such men as Lee and Jack
son; they were the leading figures, but
were only the prototypes of the
soldiers whom they led"
There, is no wonder then, my
friends. that a nation composed of
defended by such men, although
as such for only four years,
live In the hearts of Dixie land
long, long after all the boys who wore
grey shall have answered the last
tattoo; and which, al time rolls on
the trUths-of history shall be
told without faint of prejudice or Sec
tional bias, shall shine forth among
the brightest stars in the armament
of American honor.
It is q pleasing fact that these an
nual reunions can be held that the
events of the days that tried mems
can be handed down by word
Of mouth to the younger generations.
North Carolina has much in her his
tory to which she can point the In
ger Of pride, but nothing in her rec
ord is more glorious than the part
soldiers played in h great con-
aict between h states. 1t should be
4 source of great qualification to you
Did soldiers to know that the state for
you fought has erected at its
a beautiful monument COM
memorating your valor upon the
field of battle, and that monuments
ire almost annually being erected all
the state to the honor of the
Confederate dead. Nor are these tes-
imonials of a states appreciation
to perpetuating the heroism
the men, but have been extended
immortalizing in stone and bronze
he splendid work and sacrifice and
)aCIlOI1Sm 04L1OlISO by Tie WQInSd /
Who watched over the homes and sent
supplies t the front. It was a splen-
lid thought that suggested the erec-
ion of a monument to the women of
he Confederacy, and the carrying
of this suggestion by North Caro-
ina was an action well worthy of
"the land where maidens are
fairest,
Where friends are the truest, and
cold hearts are rarest,
The near land. the dear land, what
ever her fate,
The best land, the best land, the old
North State"
During the last year the state of
zirginia has placed In the rotunda of
he national capitol a heroic statue
f Robert e. Lee. and the whole ma
ion and the world at large applaud
d her action. The name of the man