Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-09
:REBEL" DEPICTS LAST EAL 7ERzNG HOURS or con
-fIUMOR AND PATHOS
BLE.NDIN WORDPIC
Southern Chieftain Bowed Under Weight Of Act That
Let Curtain Fall OH Bloody Drama of
War Between States.

: Ifumor and pa thpS arc blcnueu IN
y the word picture OF the last faiter-
= ing hours of the Confcderacy as given
: by Judge David Crockett Richard :
y son. OF Richmond. His description ut
= the surrender at AppomattoN. in an
: address before Il. l.. Ice Camp. No.
y J. L. G. V, is one OF the most graphic
: and gripping accounts handed dow.
, Of that epoch making event. which
: occurred hfty-seven years ago today.
Judge Richardson paints a pathetic
figure OF the great Southern chieftaia
; in Ge;hssmanc. bowed under the
weight OF his act which would let
. the curtain fall on the bloody dram,
I of the War Between the States. TIL an
few moments later Judge Richard :
! son shows the greatness OF heart IF
his valiant leader. who, leaving the
! scene of the surrender stops on the
road 10 speak to ragged boy soldier
! and offer him aid in his distress.
Z How he watched General Lee. while
he was waiting for THE appointment
! 10 meet the victorious Grant to sign
the capitulation. is told by Judge
|, Richardson. He also relates the man
ner In which the army received the
news of tho surrender and the tesl-
J ing of grief that IL brought TO those
who had fought and suffered so long
After glowing tribute to a brave
foe he gives an insight into the If.
behind tho lines during the winter
lNii, which should be interesting Ia
younger generation which had
parallel experiences in N. world
war. Ills address. In part. follows:
Text of Address.
Comrades and Friends:
are some sim living who
: saw that splendid comet. which. in
the fall Of 1855, appeared every nisnt
for many weeks In our Northern
sky. blazing. beautiful and sublime,
.spectacle of natural glory which
arrested attention and filled the be-
holder with wonder aud awe ANON,
thC~aacients il was said that comets
We're the harhingcrs Of war. and
Gan.hever forget the impression which
t4as mysterious Visitant made upor
myuChiidish mind. In this case. tho
prediction OF ancient seers was full
filled.
After its disappearance. not many
moons had waNed and waned before
ths~deep. hoarsc mutterings OF the
STORM were heard. The sky was black
Ened and the sun wax yelled from
sight by the dark clouds OF enmity,
IND the winds of hatred howled in
their wrath. The lightntngs OF de-
stpuction flashed from booming can
non and the thunders Of war rocked
THO earth. The hail OF death de-
seconded. and the fearful wall of
stricken ones was heard" Devasta-
tloa and destruction marked the track
nf.- the storm, and desolation and
despair oroodcd over the scene
But, out OF this night of gloom.
storm Graded nation was born,
ana the star OF the Southern Con
iederacy arose. For four yca-s 8,
nela It's course, the brightest star ir
theS galaxy OF nations, hcau,ifu,
Grand and glorious. inspiring III,
hearts of patriots, and exciting ,b,
wonder or mankind. until 1t had run
rs swift course and disappeared
from sight In a halo of glory.
Only Republic 10 Exist.
Ihat confederation of cocnunl
States was such II government as o,y
foTsfathers desired TO es,ablish-,h,
only republic that will permanently
eSist on this Contitent. 1t was a
soVernment of home rule by the pco-
pie; where the rights OF the States
wore preserved, where powers not
hoieSated To tho general government,
were reserved 10 the States, and I'm
Ehlch tyranny would always be
checked BY the mandate of the MOO.
pie: Thus far shalt thou go and no
further" ~
.,1n the four years OF Its existence
the Southern Confederacy CAV. M
MoEid many names which are i'm.
perishahlc on the scroll az fame. AMI
sf"ha army aroSe- 1t was no hire.
tths band, hu; 2 pa.riot%c host. who
on NE march. IN the camp. or in tn.
shoch or battle, gave TO the worlt
me su"ilmest spectacle of cuduran,t
ShN. lofn'nde. devotion 10 duty ans
hefoism, which eNtoried the admira
ton. OF their enemies ana made th,
Gray jacket" symbol of honor an,
glory forever
u Is my purpose 10 relate as brief
a. ! may personal reminiscent.
Or tth" last days Of the Army ~
Northern Virginia.
Ear!y in the sumner Of 1864 IN.
command TO which | was attuchc,
,"oh position on the line strc,chtn,
Between the Jane. and .hpnorna,,n,
Rivers, about ono mil, fro,, 49,
Hewlett House. Here w., bun, s,rnn.
..ortii'cations and for several month
fnJo!ed q season OF comparative. r.
pose.
Heard in Ever, Battle.
:-lhe guns OF Parker Battery ma,
neeh heard IN every bat.te in wbi,l
me Arm! Of Northern Virginia ha
hefn engaged from Second Manassa
70 ihat time, and, in addition. h..
~ - i<ii4 u eel 10 lslGTZ-45 am
Tepncssec. aud on Missionary MAJ.
lookout Mountain. ana a; KnoYyilI
iIao rcared defiance to the epem,
Ihs- Boy Company" was now com
posed OF veteran soldiers. and /:
their winter quarters on the Hovl.t
.ihf. had richly earned It brief r,sptt
irom the io!iSomc march
RS true that wc were SIN In ac
tive. service on tho out post. defend
insyan important portion Of tho lin.
mt the little fighting We had To q
only served 10 relieve tho t.diur ,
camp life and Keep our hand in.
Here. IN conjunction win the Inc
Of The Fifteenth and Seventeen;
Virginia reg ments. we built q hon,
pTqof church ana ii thcatcr, and spe,
tae time pleasantly and prontabiy.
A. private soldier knows but Iltt.
Ok the mighty events in which he