Mexico weekly ledger., 1911-08-24
TRIBUTE TO RICHARD
HENRY EDMONDS BY HIS
FRIEND GEORGE ROBERTSON

Hon, Geo, Robertson has written a
very pretty tribute to his friend, the
late Richard Henry Edmonds, Mr..
Robertson who is now spending sey-
eral weeks in Colorado was close
friend of the deceased. The tribute
follows
Richard Henry Edmonds was one
of the most congenial men and most
beloved by his friends and acquaint-
ances that l ever knew He was Of
old Virginia Colonial stock, a
descendant of a Revolutionary soldier
and his every day life showed him to
be man bred and born a gentleman.
He was upright in his dealings,
courteous to his fellows, never Civ
ing offense in word or deed, enjoyed
the respect of all who knew him and
was loved by those of his friends who
knew him best. His death will make
many a sad heart, and he will be
missed, but remembered by all.
At the age of fifteen years. with
FIVE brothers, he Joined the Confed-
crate Army; was in the first I'M
portant battle of the war-Bull Run
July 81, 1861. He was at Antietam,
Gettysburg, The Wilderness, and in
fact missed few engagements of his
army. Was not quite twenty years Of
age when he surrendered. April 8,
1866, at Appomattox The last part of
the war he served as a scout under
General Mosby and underwent all of
the hardships, and had all the ex-
periences of one in that position, Less
than year ago he had letter from
General Mosby renewing old
acquaintance and referring to Henry's
important, brave and gallant services
under him
At the age, like many of the South
eners, during the Civil war when he
would have been in school, he was un-
dergoing the discipline of the army,
gaining its experiences, undergoing
| its hardships, which failed in few
cases to make men of them.
| never meet an old soldier Of either
side but l have for him the highest
Feeling of admiration and reverence,
for to have gone through four years
of that Civil war was to prove that
one was made of superior stuff,
Without detracting from other
armies, North or South, it Is now con-
oeded by military critics that Lees
Iarmy the army of Northern Virginia,
| was the greatest and grandest army
that was ever organizad in the history
of the world Our friend Edmonds en-
Iioyed the distinction Of being brave
soldier of the greatest soldier tina
lever fought in history; and 1t was al
honor to know him and enjoy hi
friendship. / am speaking now O
armies, not Of causes nor results, hu
history must accord to the South thu
credit of fighting for her traditions
her teachings for generations, her be
liefs, and that she fought for he
honest convictions The circum
stances were such that Lees arm
was the greatest factor of the South
ern forces, and for that reason his
tory necessarily gives it the place o
prominence in that war.
The old soldiers still left among u
of any army, North and South, dc
serve and have from the later genera
tlons not only their respect, but un
yersal admiration and reverence, TO
their lives have proven to us tina
greatness of America, Americans an
d American institutions.
: After the Civil war business an
enterprises of all kinds in Virginl
we're completely prostrated and man
of that Virginia soldiery came ives
moving into Missouri, because the