The Ocala evening star., 1915-01-19

who could not see that there was any
hope for her if she seeded from the
Union. Col. Algerman Gray, a loyal
Virginian, said in the Virginia Con-
vention that ''if war came it would
be the most mournful Iliad in the
history of the world" He was barred
by age and infrmity from fighting,
but he gave his money while he had
it. When it was gone he took the
shoes off his feet and gave them to
soldier and walked from his law Of
flee to his home barefooted. But
whatever their opinion as to the ad
visibility or the outcome of war,
when Lincoln's call for troops came
and the choice lay between secession
and invading their sister states, they
were a unit. When the 'tlong rooll"
sounded, there fell into line an army
whose record is the. most remarkable
known to history. The world has
stood amazed, wonder stricken, at the
sight of an army fighting for so long
against such an overwhelming super
iority of numbers. The only answer
/ has been that never was an army
composed of men fighting from a
stronger sense of justice of their
cause. The Southern soldiers felt
that if they had to fight they must
/ win if there were justice in heaven
or earth. 1t was not an army of hire
Ings fighting for pay. The privates,
hundreds of them, were from the
same social class as the officers; they
enlisted not for glory or honor but
] TO serve their country as they were
needed. There were crack regiments
from the cities, membership in which
was almost an inheritance-theR Rich
mond Blues, the Chatham Artillery,
] the Norfolk Dandies, so-called be-
cause of the matchless perfection of
their equipment. They were almost
annihilated in one battle after a glori-
Gus charge. They had their proto-
type in the Light Brigade at Balak-
lava, another regiment, officered at
least, by candles"
In the army of the South were
companies and regiments from the
outlying country districts-raw re-
l cruits-u -undrilled, uncouth, but as sin
cere in their convictions and as brave
and unflinching in action as the best,
and with no thought of turning back
while there was foe to be met. That
/ they were not insensible to the suffer
ing was illustrated in story told fire.
quently by ex-governor .Kemper, of
Virginia. It was when the army of
the South was suffering for food
clothes, shelter and warmth. The
night was dark, cold, rainy: the men
!. hungry, cold, wet and wretched. Ly-
ing next the governor in a trench was
man, who he was or whence he
came is not known, but he turned ov-
her and drawled out: "Well, if ever
love another country, d*** me-" We
notice he did not mention quitting the
. fight.
There were men in that army who
had wife and children, heavy cares
! and responsibilities at home, but who
made what provision they could anc
left them, at the call of country, tc
the God of the helpless. There were
students from the colleges and uni
versities, some of which were closed
because teachers and students were
at the front of the army. There were
men too old and boys too young. There
were men in the ranks, men who hae
the qualities of leadership by inheri
tance and who saw not only the glori
Gus cause for which they fought, bu1
a field wider than they had known
that of military glory-the excitemen
; of war was like wine in their veins
J Of fear they knew nothing. They
went into conflict eagerly, as though
] to royal tourney; they found it
! stern reality. The courage of tn,
Southerner is undoubted; his foe
have had proof of it; his friend
would never question it; the who'll
Y world admits it. Never has ther
been such an army as that which a
the close of the struggle flung itsel
: before Richmond. Travel worn, il
s hungry, nay starved, ragged and bat
tie SCARED, the individual courage o
: the men made it invincible until
!. was almost annihi1ated When tn
). call To arms sounded and the e5q-nn