The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-05-25

piiFetC d SOtulcf VI Coutdsc, vi
character and Of determination, but
he was soldier OF intelligence.
Hear the toxsn of war sound its
first appeal to arms and see the
schools. the colleges and the univer-
sites of the South depleted Of its
student bodies and its faculties as
well! See the book closed in the
school room; see the brief interrupt
ed in the court room; see the sermon
unfinished il the church; and to-
gether the teacher. the lawyer, and
the preacher shoulder their muskets
and take their places side by side.
privates in the ranks Of the most in
telligent army OF superior fighters
the world has ever seen. Ia an in
tervai OF the Suspension Of hostii;ics
at the battle OF Cold Harbor q pri-
vate soldier lies full face on the
ground poring over an Arabic gram
mar; it is Crawford II. Toy, destined
20 become the famous professor OF
oriental languages at Harvard Uni
yersity. In one OF the battles in The
Valley of Virginia 4 volunteer aside
Of General Jno. 3. Gordon is severe
" wounded; it is Basil L. Gil2or-
sleeve who has LEFT his professor S
chair to serve in the fed, still living,
wearing his laurel OF distinction as
The greatest Grecian in the English
speaking world. Here is a group Of
privates in winter quarters at Fair
fax and among the subjects discuss
ed are Battel and Fillmore on inter
national law, Humb0lt's worts and
travels; the African explorations of
Barr, the influence Of climate on the
human features, the culture of cot
ton. and the laws relating to proper
ty. Here the privates in an artillery
company are solenly officiating at
;he burial OF a slain conrade and
The exercises include an English
speech, a Latin Grafton end a Greek
ode.
Approaching the causes thai d
to the conflict. apprecia:ing tire
principles for which he fought, ap
preciatinG the commands which he
was called upon to obey, the prive 6
in the ranks Of the Confederate array
was not a dumb beast insensibly
iriven into the fray, but Southern
gentleman that he was, he compris-
ed the most intelligent army that
mas ever marched under flag or ban
ner in all the history Of the world.
And they tell me that Hannibars troops were no
Drawer in fighting for Carthage than you,
That the Trojans, whose armies were masscs of
courage were no more courageous and true:
And they say that Napoieon's hosts fought no
harder when France and her lilies were
crushed
Than you foueht for your own Southern lilies
yvtc-e .,etrla c's,praa- b'aa,i s@a--s -. t- =
that we're hushed.
They tell re you fought like the leecns OF Cesar
with more tiisn u !:cnI2 to defend,
That you battied Ike CronweiFs Old irons ,dee,
with more than The crown Of England ;ho
end.
, And again it is not necessary that
wye should take the evidence Of cur
own people as TO the qualities OF the
| Confederate soldier. but go with me
into the ranks Of those Of the North
ard hear James G. Blaine, failing to
| see that there were two sides to this
cause, say OF him, Never perhaps,
was an army organized with fighting
qualities superior to those OF the
army put into the field by the Con
| feGer2cg." Hear Roosevelt, The
world has never seen better soldiers
than those who followed Lee Hear
General Hooker, who, by the way,
| had abundant opportunities TO test
the qua'itjeso of tie Confederate sold
;er, saY OF aim, For stealinas5 and
efficiency he was unsurpassed IN an
cient or modern times We have
not been able to rival IT, says Gen
ers,l Charles A. Waittier, OF Mas
sachusetts. The army Of Morthe.n Il
Virginia will deservediy rank Is The
best army that has existed on tha
continent, suffering p}ivations uG-
known to its opponents The Nor'h
sent no such army to The field.
kn! If today it were permitted me
&c take the evidence Of the Confsd.
crate veterans, the evidence Of those
before me, | believe that liia testi.
mony would be: That period Of my
life is the one with which am most
nearly satisfied the l.erio3 Of per
sstent, steady effort 10 do my dl.y.
an effort parseverad in the midst OF
privation, hardship and peril. il
ever was unseifi,h. it was then. il
ever was capable OF self deni-l, i
was then. II cvec | was able t
trample self-indulgence underf Dot
it was then. If ever | was strong t
make sacrifices, even unto death, i
wss then; if ever / were called upor
to say on the peril Of my soul whei
it lived its highest life, when | wa
least faitIlless 10 true manhood
when | was most loyal 10 the hes
part OF mans nature, | would ans
wer: In those days when folloWet
battle-torn flag through its shift
: ing fortunes of victory and defeat.
But it is not only in war that tn
Confederate soldier has shown h
courage and his worth, his dettrml
nation and bravery. When the con
sci0us air is hustcd with the solemn
tidincs from AppomattoX see him q
ragged. half starved. heavy hearte'
and enfeehled by want and wounds
! having fought to exhaustion, h
wrings the hands of his comrades Il
silence, turns his back upon the new
ly made graves Of those who Tough
by his side, and lifting his tear
stained and palled face, pulls his ol'
gray cap over his brow, binds his oil
, Saved Her Glgn Life.