The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-28
mortal
BY WILLIAM RUFFIN cox
nriSndler-GencrhI, G.. :. a. u

nrisndler-Gcncrhl, q. s. a.
fThe following Is the Grafton de-
iivered on Memorial Day at Oakwood
Cemetery, May 10. 1919
II nils inc with a noble pride to
appcar before you on This occasion
under the auspices OF the patriotic
Oakwood Memorial Association, and
to co-opcrate with you In doing honor
TO those, who for four. long weary
Ecars. upheld tho fortunes of tho
young confedcracy upon the points
OF their glittering bayonets until the
world WAS filed with their fame. It
also gives me pleasure to know that
these beautiful memorial services
4 were originated hy the ministerinS
woinanhood of this our Southland. and
that to-day similar celebrations are
being observed throughout the south.
Not only here. but in many portions
OF the North. where our friends have
gone to seek their fortunes. like OBJ
servanccs arc taking place, and in
some localities the Blue and the Gray
arc united In paying honor 10 those
who fell In the Mar Between the
states. for between the brave soldiers
or the North and tic South there was
never any personal antagonism during
hills long and bloody struggle.
You Will bear in mind that the shield
which was erected at tho cross roads
was on ono side painted white and on
Inc other Side Black, Those who APP
preached Il from the dark side declared
1t was black, while those bcholdinE
st from the other side declared IL
Was white. so in tho late war. 1t
depended from which Side the dues-
zion was viewed az 20 where the duty
LAY. The North thought they were
right; tho South believed that they
wore right Both were equally brave,
equally determined TO uphold the
cause they csponscd, with their lives
II need I've. To-day tho cause OF cs
transemen, being removed, all and
each one recognize tic fact tha, we
ara all Americana. and equally proud
Of our great country: and when she
needs our services. II matters not from
what section the call may come. the
response Will he. oar country; may
she always be in the right; hut our
country. right or wrong"
The war over. nations not familiar
with tho facts sincerely believed the
ostrangcmeMis Etill existed. Spain SO
thought when wcidesired hcr to tighten
The expressions she was then inflict-
Ing upon Cuba. and was encouraged
10 resist our demand under the mis-
taken belief that should war cnsuc she
would ha~eithc sympathy OF The south.
Z On the contrary. II was an old. griz-
lied Confederate general on the
heights ~ FL Caney who moved the
American army 10 hold their lines
nn,il the troops OF Spain were over
come. f NJ
. II il gratifying for us 10 know
that tho highest position IN This
government not excepting the pres
idency itself. IS nllcd by a once
private Confederate soldier-the po-
sition regulated and established
BIZ the great Chief Justice Mar
shall and adorned by another South
erner, Chief Justice fancy The world
has never known hraver, more intel
ligent nor more superb soldiers than
those of the North and South during
the War Between the States, and If
superiority must he clnimed. the fa q
that with 100000 men the South sue
A cessfully struggled against 100000
\ foes, and resisted their invasions for
four years. the laurel must he award
ed 10 her soldiers. At last, not 10 SUI
reriority OF arms. hut from hunger ana
overwhelming numbers, at AppomattoX
I hey yielded up their arms. their hearts
I, even then resolutc and determined 10
continue the struggle. hui their eyes
bede we'd with tears that fortune had
asserted them. Where else can we find
soldiers who have displayed such de-
+ votion TO duty? II arose from conf
ience IN that leader who often led
i y.
Here am reminded of hit of
humor, perpetrated ny Mr.. Lincoln
4 when an anxious father who had two
sons in the Northern army Inquired
Of him how many troops Mr.. David
had fIe promptly responded Three
million men"
His questioncr in Amusement asked,
..How do YOU know tina fact, Mr. Presi-
dent ?" why" exclaimed Lincoln. Nc
Clellan around Richmond declared he
was overwhelmed by superior num-
hers. Grant, at Shiloh declared he was
greatly ouinumhercd. Pope said the
Confederates had Ave to one. know
] have million soldiers in the field
and IL our armies have heen so great
Nv outnumbered, why. of course. the
Confedcrates must have three Million
, II is not surprising that the North
ern commanders. in view Of the achieve
ments Of tho Confederates upon tho
battlefeld especially during the ear
4ly part of the war, should have been SO
forcibly impressed with the apparent
~ Overwhelming numbers Of their ad-
versaries. Like the blast OF the bugle
of Roderick Dhu, even the presence of
Stonewall Jackson was worth ten
thousand men,
In the Valley Of Virginia this I'M
comna ra BILE soldier met the three con-
centratlng corps OF the enemy. First he
struck Shields. and after n severe en-
gagement retired. They said he was
lost. Turning back. he met Banks,
whom he defeated. Then he was lost
again Turning back, he defeated Free
inont's corps, and was lost again; but
while they went towards Washington,
he came toward Richmond with his 49,
900 heroes, accompanied by n wagon
train twenty miles long. filled With
commissary stores and hospital sup
plles much needed for the Confederate
army. & g
j Wo could we'll afford that he In nd Z
clifton, he so alarmed the political pow.
ere at Washington as 10 cause theF re-