Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-07-06
Commander of Second Virginia
Regiment in Stirring Address
Calls Attention to Seriousness
of Situation That Faces The
United States.

Colonel Leedy delivered his nd
dress on the west lawn of the Court
House.
The speakers faced an audience of
not less than 5000 people-as many
as could get within hearing distance.
The speeches were delivered from the
portico of the county Jail, the people
seated on the grass and improvis-
ed seats. The Second Regiment Band
opened the exercises with lively in
piring music. Seated OH the plat
form were, Judge S. c. Graham,
chairman, Colonel Robert f. Leedy,
Commander of the Second Virginia
Major Jos. +. Bullitt, Commander of
the Third Battalion of the Second
Regiment, Major Jas p. Whitman,
Commander of the Browne Harman
Camp, of the Confederate Veterans of
the County, and other prominent citi-
zens.
Judge Graham's Speech of intro
ductiOn.
Judge S. C. Graham made an ap
propriate, brief speech, among other
things he said, "The day that we
Celebrate is immortal, the day on
which, Id years ago our fathers
promulgated the Declaration of In
dependence. From that day thrones
began to crumble and have been
crumbling ever since, Democracy be-
gan to spread, and has been spread
ing ever since, and | trust will con-
tinue to spread until the Stars and
Stripes-the emblem of free peo-
plc,. will wave over the city of Ber-
lin." He made eloquent reference TO
the help given us in winning our In
dependence, by France, "and that we
now have an opportunity to repay the
debt and that we are going to do it,"
iic paid glowing and eloquent tri-
butte to the "women who have been
foremost in all wars, the women VINO
wear the Red Cross, God bless
them.'"
Col. Leedy's Address.
Col. Leedy, commanding figure of
soldierly bearing, arose amid the ap-
plause of the large audience, and
spoke for not over 35 minutes, hold
ing his audience spell bound from
the start.
The reporter was so charmed by
the eloquence of the speaker that he
forgot to "report." No newspaper
account could give just conception of
this burning, fiery speech. After pay
ing n glorious tribute to Tazewell's
beautiful hills and valleys. He paid
glorious tribute to the women of
the Red Cross, large numbers of
whom were seated before him, i'm
white uniform, the Red Cross emblem
of the order, conspicuous all through
the audience.
He said: "These boys" referring
to the two companies reclining on
the grass in front of him and includ-
ing others who have already and who
will later join the colors from Tazc-
well, "these boys" he said, "within
months time may be far from you,
but not far enough to be beyond the
reach and influence of your noble
work" at is too late now," contlnu-
ed the speaker, "to discuss the causes
of the war, OF whether or not we
will get into it. We are already
into it, and within six months, if
Germany conquers, we could be at
tackled on three sides Of the country.
Should France and England be crush
ed, Germany, with her navy and the
navies Of France and England, all
combined, could sweep over and crush
us likewise" 81 may be speaking
to you as n dying man." he went on,
"and give you this warning Our
small, unprepared army, would be
fit only for German murder. am
Sd years old, and if this is to be the
result, I want my life to end in this
my 54th year. I'd rather die and lie
in France in forgotten grave, and
my 18-year old boy by my side and
all my boys in the Regiment, than to
see the Star and Stripes trail in the
dust. With my own 18-year old boy,
and with my comrade, Major Bullitt,
and his stripping Of a boy by his side
in the ranks, claim the right to
advise and warn you. If you young
men Of Tazewell hold back now and
shirk, then 1 shall confess that do
not know Virginians." This eloquent
impassioned paragraph of the speech
was loudly applauded. Some, people
in the audience had use for handker-
chiefs, but not to wave.
"REvERTING TO TYPE"
Colonel Leedy made new point