Year: 1874

already claim for him that he achieved


great victory over Lee at ApDomat-


tOX. If he have 10 more substantial


claim TO military fame than this pre-


tension, slender indeed is the founda-


ton on which il rests. When Lee


left Petersburg in retreat, he had but


4, 900, as a distinguished member of


this body assures me he had it from his


own lips, in opposition to 220, 600 un-


der Grant; and which he surrendered.


according to SWinton, their own his


tOrian, lie delivered up 5000 men with


GUNS in their hands, whilst the re-


mainder, little more than 20, 600 were


wandering about. i'll pursuit of food,
almost clothes and the most necessary


things of life. When death threatens
us under the pomp and circumstance
of war, manhood arrests him and the
heart gives but little heed to its mea-
ces. But when he comes on the pale
horse. with famine and exhaustion on
either hand, II is not in human nature
to brave him. The boldest then quail,
especially when his gaunt attendants
threaten not only the man, but his
wife and children also. Poor indeed


must be the chronicle of heroic
achievement in the life of man who
is forced TO boast of such triumphs as
these in order to make any show at all,
But Conquerors of a much higher type
are not always to be trusted to recount
their own exploits. 1t may well be
doubted if even the great Julius did
entire justice tC the great Gaul whom
he subdued, and whom with want of
that magnahimity which more than
all other things honOrs the brave, he
led up in cruel triumph and put to
death in his capital. The refined and
subtle Greek must have tried mems
patience sOrely by boasts and narra-
tives when even Guvenal was forced
to make his indignant protest against
"QlGt Sq1It nlendGT GrOecuLus audit in
hiStoriG." But neither Greek nor Ro-
man ever made so monstrous a boast
as that OF Grants victory over Lee at
the surreLdef Of AppomatUox. Per
haps there are men here who will see
the day when Manassas and Cold Har-
Dor will be claimed as Federal victo-
ries, unless something is done to vim
dicate the truth of history. l myself
have heard the former called mere
panic 1t was indeed panic, but it
succeeded, and did not precede the
victory. Gentlemen, we must collecC
the materials for truthful history of
this mighty struggle In all its main
details. If it falls heavily upon any
one, let him bear the penalty before
the world. Here is a tribunal to
which none.can except. But a truth
ful history of these events ought to
be written. 1t is due to the heroic
dead, who sleep on so many battle
fields and died in the hope that their
deeds would be remembered by those
whom they perishcd to save. Let ii be
ours to see that such hope is not dis
appointed. 1t is due to the great men
who


so OFTEN LED Us TO VICTORY.


most of whom are dead and cannot
see themselves, that an appropriate
niche Of fame is secured to them. They
are entitled 10 the respect and aamira-
ton of the world and to the love of
Lkelr cOuntrymen. Let us make good
their claims. 1t is due TO the great
cause which was so near being won
and was lost by no want of valor or pa
triOtism in the defeated-a war for
which it is hard to find q parable in
history. Let us record its origin, its
its decline and fall, in spir-
it of truth which all must feel and ac-
Not to keep alive enmi-
ties and animOsities, not to stir up sec
tional disaffection, not to make two
people of those who ought TO be one
for the interest of the peace, happiness |
and progress of all and who will be one |
II the pledges are redeemed, as they |
VIII be, II met in the spirit in which |
.neV were offered Such n history ia