Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-15
PAYS TRIBUTE TO YALOR
OF ARMY OF NORTHERN VA.
Among Armies Of World No
Faircr Host Ever Paid
Its Vows to Mars.
y PLAINS AND VALLEYS or Va.
seemed to Spring Into Existence In
-tnntlN. Full Grown mud rurpusc-
f"i. Glorious EnhodInrut, Whose
Deeds VIII Ever shine.
ny Mrs. Dunbar Rowland,
HIstorinn MISSISSIPPI DIVISION.

Historian Mississippi Division.
L. u. -.
Among the armies OF the world no
fa'r"r host ever paid It's VOWS 20
Mars than that which gathered in
1861 on the plains and in the val
isys 81 o.d viIstnis. An /. by some
power Of the gods. Il seemed to
spring into existence instantly-rull
grown and purpuscful--a glorious
embodiment whose deeds were 10
leave the pages OF history lllumincd
with heroic figures upon which tho
world must ever look with breath
less wonder.
From epauict;ed oincer to slim
Young private. It's s.rrlcd gray ranks
were clothed with the grace o,
knig hthood. 1t was composed OF
the fa!rest bloom ot Virginia and
the South's young manhood. and
ever bore Itself with a Cavalier
grace and pride.
Like some swirt-rushlnr stream
SecHin broader seas. ii had gath
cred from the tar-famcd Carolinaa
30 the gulf shores upon the soil OF
Virginia. in answer to couutry's call.
Tn" blood of the old Dominion
flowed pl"ntifully in tts veins. From
her iOtus had sprung much OF tho
sturdy y"omaury. and the heraldic
lines of the lower South. a rare and
ing, dauutless courage and devotion
TO duty were full worthy OF tho
mother state. As in tho days OF
Washington, She was gathering her
army once more about her and with
the battle song upon It's lips, from
city and hamlet, aud open country.
IN defense OF Its chartered liberties.
II pressed forward with glorious
regiments 20 the front.
Not tn. Grccian PhnlanN ~ Alex
andcr. ror the Tenth Legion OF Cae.
sar. nor the Imperial Guard OF Ma
rolcon nor the Six Hundred at Ba-
laklava, charged the foe with more
Intrepid spirit! Not Ncnophon's Ten
Thousand bore Itself with more he
role courage in retreat!
How the eye kindlcs and the heart
flames as We see 1t advancing at Ma
nassas, when we behold IT with the
hattle-lirht In It's eyes Mt Fred
crtcksburg and Charlottesville:
when we witness It's godlilte courage
at Gettysburg!
But the picture darkers, for a
thousand battlefeids have wrought
their havoc upon the gray host OF
the ccnfcderacy, until at last. after
weary years. we see lt-Caunt-
trenches at Petersburg. and little
later. on the weary seven days
march, that the Muse OF History
has, with hushed and mournful
voice, called The Retreat OF the
Army OF Northern Virginia.
How tn" cheek paies Mt the picture
NJ that shattered. but godlike rem
nant Of Lees gray soldlcry. wasted
by hunger. sickness and disease. dv-
ing along the roadside by hundreds
stumbling over the rough. rain
soaked roads and through the dark
ness Of night without sleep or food
for seven days. disDuting with thci,
life blood every mile and foot OF the
weary way. to finally surrender with
crushed ana broken columns to a
strong and victorious foe Around
them were strcwn the dead forms OF
their comrades. and on the Erows of
the living were the shadow of the
seal OF death. but still. with sohs
shading their Gaunt frames like
reeds. they begged to longer defend
their country.
oh. Army OF Northern Virginia!
Not Roland and his paladins were
more worthy OF the hattle-sons, nor
King Arthur and his knights OF the
Grail. nor Bruce aud his clansmcn
OF triumph, nor Washington and his
patriots of freedom. than thou, OF
victory!