The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-01-24
IN MEMORY OF LEE


We have attended a great many
Confederate celebrations and have
read any humber of speeches in eulo-
gy Of the great chieftain of the Con-
federate armies, but the reminis-
cences delivered at the Sistrunk home
Monday afternoon were the most
touching and appropriate that We have
ever heard, Snd we believe that we
can say, without exaggeration, that
that was the verdict OF all who were
fortunate enough to have been pres
ent.
Without intending any invidious
distinctions, or distinctions of any
kind, where all did so well, we be-
lieve that all will agree that Colonel
Martin excelIed himself. Being an of
ficer of rank, it was his good fortune
to have met General Lee on several
occasions, and at times that tested
the qualities that have added so Won
derfully to his fame, and they all
shOne with increased Iuster under
Colonel Martins plain, extemporane-
Gus and eloquent recital. One could
feel that he was in the very presence
of General Lee Colonel Martin was
warmly and heartily congratulated on
his very beautiful effort and the
charming manner in which it was de-
livered.
Colonel H. w. Henry of Lake Weir
made a singularly beautiful off-hand
talk, which was richly enjoyed. He
paid eloquent tribute to the great
commander, but spoke principally of
the exploits of some of the privates
of the army that came under his per-
sonal observation. He said that if an
impression had obtained that it was
a "slave-Owners' war" that that inn
preston was wide of the facts. He
said that he commanded a company,
none of whom, almost to a man, own
ed slave, and the world never saw
better men nor Drawer fighters. Colo
mel Henry was completely at himself
and his effort did him infinite credit
Major Lancaster, being an extreme
ly modest man, for the first time, so
far as we can recall, gave an account
of the part he bore at the explosion
at Petersburg. 1t was thrillingly in
teresting. The major has much to
be proud of, and the Daughters and
others present fairy showered him
with bouquets, so to speak.
General Henry w. Long was not
present, but sent a beautiful letter
which was read impressively by Mrs
Sistrunk. He paid beautiful tribute
70 the Daughters. and singled out the
honorary president of Dickson CHAP
ter for meritorious mention.
Comrade Alfred Aver told most eff
fectively of his meeting with General
Lee several years after the war: how,
when he told him that he was one of
his boys the general clasped him with
both of his hands, and said that he
wished that he could shake the hand
of every soldier who fought underl
him. Instead of honoring General
Lee by speaking to him the beloved
commander made him feel that the
honor was all his own.
Comrade Harris said that one Of his
chief regrets was that he was not al
soldier of the Virginia army, but Flor
ida had to be protected from the enc
my, and it fell to his lot to have been
a soldier of the Florida army, and he
had no cause to be ashamed of the
part it played in that titanic strug-
gle. That he could not recall a sim
gle skirmish or battle that occurred
on the soil of Florida in which thel
Confederates were not victorious.
That General Dickson, for whom
Dickson Chapter was proudly named,
won as much, perhaps more, fameI
than any soldier of the war holding
no higher rank, and was entitled to
all the fame he had won.
Mr.. Harris asked Mr.. Will Gary to |