The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-26

tine tRrepreouaofe c0nnaet eHe oto00lly
rafused - separate heeseK rom the
union hsr SENS had consecraGe1 with
their blood-how men like General Lao
and Juhal Barly opposed succession
with almOst ~ much vshemAnoe
ttheuGk Of course. not for the same
reseonl, ~ the Republteans u the
North-how her good offtces were used
once and again to try to avert what
even then the most clear sighted Of her
lees struggle. THEN came Fort
Sampter and Lincolns call for troops.
II was ~ II dam had burst high up
on the hills.
virginia Ayvse.
Immediately A. one man Virginia rose
In defense al ita own rights and those
of her sister states The very men who
had been hottest for the union were hot
on nre for the defense OF their own
hearths and humsa.
Major Robert Stiles. in his fascfnat-
ing hook "Teur Years Under Marse
Robert" tells the story Of a student at
the University of virginia--A member
Of . prominent Richmond family which
10 typical Of the spirit of the whole
Virginia people In these stirring times
He was 4 student at the University OF
Virginia In the spring OF 81. and per-
haps the most extreme and uncompro-
young men gathered there. Indeed,
30 exaggerated were his anti-seces-
sion views and 80 bold and aggressive
was he In Advocacy of them. that he
became very unpopular. and hts friends
feared serious trouble and even bodily
collision. Tho morning President Lin
coins proclamation appeared he had
before breakfast. and while there hap
pened to glance at paper. He re-
turned at once to the university. but
not to breakfast; spoke not a word to
any human being packed hts trunk
with his belongings. left a note for the
chairman OF the faculty explaining his
conduct boarded the first train for
Richmond and Joined q military COM
pany. before going to his fathers
house or taking 50 much as q morsel of
food"
The spirit Of that youth. repeat,
was the spirit of virsinia's sons. not
only then. but throughout all the
weary struggle. They were lighting
for principle in the white light Of
which all lesser Royalties were swal-
lowed up as candles pale before the
great army of the liberators They
remembered their breed-the breed Of
Runnymere and Bannockburn-t e
breed OF Pym ana Hampden. OF wal
lace and Bruce-the breed Of Frobisher
and Drake and the intrepid seamen Of
the little cockle-sheIls that swept from
tho sens the huge Amanda Of Spain
crusade for honor. for freedom. for
things dearer than life itself.
TN our halls b hung
Armour Of the invincfble knights Of
old;
We must be free. or die. whes sneak the
tongue
That Shakespeare spake: the faith and
morals hold
Which Milton held"
Nor, in view of this high spiritual
principle that lay back of VirginIa's
secession. need we wonder at the
cosage and military record of the
army of Northern Virginia all the way
from Bull Run to Appomattox. 1t
could not have been otherwise. when
men are fighting for a principle. they
are far more dangerous than ten times
their number fighting for anything
less than principle-"Their strength is
as the strength Of ten. because their
hearts are pure"' 1t is George Bern
ard Shaw who says, Men never really
overcome fear until they imagine they
are fighting to further a universal pur-
pose-hghting for an idea as they call
H.. Why was the crusader drawer than
tho pirate? Because he fought not for
himself. but for the cross What force
was In It that met him with a valor as
reckless ms his own! The force OF men
who fought not for themselves, but
for Islam. They took Spain for us as
though we were fighting for our very
hearths and homes: but when we, too,
fought for that mighty idea a Catholic
church. we swept them back to Africa"
So was II with the Confederate states.
They were nghting for an idea They
were marching to the beat Of an I'M
seen drummer They were charging to
the bugle note Of the eternfties. And
because Of that they have left behind
them as a precious legacy to their sons
and daughters a record of courage, OF
steadfastness. of invincible hope. Of
military genius. of fighting power. of
sacrifice and devotion to a lost cause,
which will shine forever among the
beacon lights Of history.
Some of you remember Jacksons
stand in the railroad 'cut" at Second
Manassas, when ne had hanked the
braggart Pope and got between
him and Washington.
Only $4,000 men against the whole Of
Pope's army advancing on them with
bands playing. flags dying and the
artillery. following the second line
slowly firing as they approached"
Word comes from Longstreet that he
will be up In two hours. Jackson rides
down the limo saying:
1.-TWO hours mon. only two hours--in
two hours you win have help. You
must stand It two hours"
Stuck to the Gums.
Then came the charge which was so
gallanuy repulsed and again Jackson
rode down the lines: Half An hour
men, only half an hour: can you stand
| It half An hour And as he saw the
enemy reforming for another charge
he quickened his horses gait and
cried: They are coming once more
men: you must stand It once more;
you must stand It half an hour" do
not wonder. my friends. at the vic
tory Of that hour when just as the
crest OF the second wave was break
ing on the men In tho "cut" Hood
Texas brigade swept In on Jackson's
right and second Manassas was won
do not wonder At It. say. whom
remember the spirit Of that leader and
the answering spirit OF those men, 1t
II not the military achievement that
grips me-great AZ that wae--nor the
daring Of that hank march miles away
from support. II IL the rockline stead
fnesa OF tho men who would not bulge
an inch though all hen were hurting