Newspaper Page Text
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(Continued from page six.)
was nothing but kindness extended to those
prisoners after they were captured.
In 1861, when General Longstreet re
signed his commission in the United
States Army, some people spoke of trea
son. What could General Lee have
done other than what he did ? What
other course was open to him but the
one be took? We all know that the
command of the United States Army was
offered to him before he resigned. Was
it wealth ? Was any man so blind as
not to see that the powerful Republic
to be found north of the Potomac could
confer greater wealth than the States
South ? And his own estates were within
scope of the guns of the Federal army.
He wrs early otfered the command of the
United States Army, and it was late when
he took command of the armies of the
South. General James Cooper and Al
bert Sidney Johnston were both in com
mand before him. But he weut South
and left wealth and promotion behind
him.
Why did he go? It was because he
was a Virginian. And if he had resigned
the command of armies as large as those
Prussia now has in the field, and had
taken nothing but a small body of futile,
Virginia troops he would have been
justified. And why do I say so! What
was that State of Virginia, and how did
that State of Virginia come into the
Union? The name of Lee is associated
with everything that is high and honor
able in that State. The Constitution
emanated from Virginia beyond all other
Itates, and Madison is called to this hour
the father of the Constitution. That
Constitution was debated in Virginia by
the greatest men of the country. Wash
ington was there, and Patrick Henry,.
West, Jefferson, and all the Lees. And
what did they put to the bottom of it?
That if the United States should ever
abuse the power granted it should be in
the power of A irginiato withdraw. Was
it possible to connect the word traitor
with the name of Ilcbert E. Lee? Had
he raised sword againt Virginia it would
have savored of treason. He never fa
vored the secession of the Southern
States. He probably, with Jackson and
others, hesitated long before he yielded,
but when the necessity came he gave up
every feeling and did everything which
duty seemed to demand. General Lee
was nearly a year without an important
command, and it was whispered that he
was a failure. He took the command
late in 1862. Ido not propose to follow
him through his battles, and their history
has not been written.
With General Lee there was nothing
unexpected, nothing unforseen. He had
given counsel to meet every exigency
and when that failed he still performed
his duty, and until driven to the last ex
tremity never surrendered his sword.
And what was he since the war? lie
came to Richmond, and I saw him. Rich
mond was in ruins; he was held a prison
er, and for some time he was not per
mitted to leave the city. Then he was
carried to Congress before committees,
and to the courts, as a witness in the fa
mous tieason cases. As soon as he
could he went to the school. lie was
not seen seeking support nor adulation,
but he sought only retirement, that he
might perform his duty, and make an
honorable living. He had the offer of
Houses and lands, but to all he said no.
All eyes were concentrated upon him.
What does he do? What does he say?
were heard in every direction. But he
was constant in the performance of his
duty; every man looking to him in hope
and confidence. He devoted himself to
the building up of the church, the es
tablishmcnt of religious institutions, and
to the strengthening and fortifying of the
characters of those under his control.
V» hat was Virginia once? What has
been Virginia in the past five years? Is
there one of the name of Lee, or cue of his
compeers whose heart thrilled at the
name? It has been a leaden despotism.
But without ostentation, and without
complaint, he has been inspiring the
people to maintain themselves under the
calamities which surround them. The
burden was too great, the pressure too
strong, and the great leader was obliged
to strike his tents. He has left his ex
amp!e to others, ;nd gone to claim that
crown which «s always given to great ac
tions.
Col. Henry Pay ton closed his remarks
as follows:
But, Mr. Chairnr.n, that voice is
hushed in death. Nothing remains to
us but the echoes of its warnings and
the wisdom of its teachings. Let us
BANNER OF THE SOUTH AND PLANTERS’ JOURNAL.
cherish them as a legacy of priceless
value. Let us keep before our minds
and the minds of our children the
lesson of that great life, for, like the
fabled Pharos of the East, it will be a
light and a guide forever. Let us feel
that whilst the tomb has received all that
is mortal of this Christian soldier, that
his spirit still lives, and that no charnel
house can confine in its gloomy chamb
ers the glory of a name like his.
Rev. Thomas U. Dudley said :
He would relate an incident as illus
trative: It was in the beginning of that
long cold winter of 186*2, when the
battle round Piichmond had been fought,
and Manassas and Sharpsburg, that the
army, weary of the hard campaign, was
camped on those bleak hills about Win
chester. An order came for a grand
review-—one of those sad displays we
can so well remember—so sad, and yet
necessary to the discipline and efficiency
of the army: There were no bright
trappings nor glittter of gold, the only
glitter was the fire of determination in
brave men’s hearts. But all would ap
pear in their best. There was a Chap
lain who, in obedience, as be believed,
to this order, put on the pure white robe
of his office and went to the review.
Doubtless he heard the derisive laugh,
the sneering remarks of those about
him; but when the command he march
ed with passed the great chief the officers
tell us that, lifting his ha*, hi said: “I
salute the Church of God ” The eye
that was busy inspecting the accoutre
ments, the arms, the troops in which he
trusted to do the work he had to do, could
see tl e Chaplain’s robe. The commander
who sat in the immovable majesty we
can remember so well, bended his un
covered head to salute the Church of the
God he served, again. It was when the
boom of the occasional gun could be
heard in Richmond. Seven Pines had
been fought and won. The Seven Day’s
fight had not yet begun. In a chamber
in the beleaguered city an aged minister
of God lay dying. Could our eyes
have penetrated the recesses of that
chamber in the close of one afternoon,
we should have seen the hero whom we
moru, booted and spurred, fresh from
his victorious legions, kneeling by the
bedside of the dying Bishop to receive
his blesssing, that he might certify him
by this sign of the favor and goodness of
the God he served. We should have
heard the word of blessing, “Robert,
Robert”—far he had held him in his
arms in infancy—“stand up for our
country and God will bless you.” Was
he Christian? Thus, soldiers, he salut
ed, with lifted hand and bended knee,
and humble heart, the Church of God.
Remember it, not only patriot, soldier,
Christian. Therefore we are comforted,
because the light that streams from one
open tomb, makes bright ail the dark
ness of the place whither he is gone.
Because he was a Christian hero, we may
believe, on the assurance of the word of
God, that the church of God has risen
up to salute him in the paradise where
he is eutered. The sad expression, we
can remember so we 1, is gone from his
face now, for the burden of the Lost
Cause no more oppresses his heart: be
cause he has been a soldier in the cause
that can never be lost. It no more
grieves him that the conquored banner is
folded aud weary, for he has fought
bravely and well under the banner that
floats triumphant from the battlements
of heaven, and shall fljat forever,
And we close these extracts with the
following from an enemy of the South—
the New York Tribune:
The best loved leader of the South,
Lee was not absolutely without honor
and even affection in the North; while
hot tears flow for him there, a sympathy,
not unallied to pity, will bo felt for him
here.
Time has sufficed to give both North
and South a better idea of the personal
character of this man. It was difficult
for us in the heat of the war fever to un
derstand how it was possible that a man
could be a traitor to his country and yet
strictly honest toward his fellow-men. It
is still something of mystery, bit none
will refuse to admit that socially Gen.
Lee was above reproach.
# # # qp
#
Now that he is gone, let us endeavor
to forget his folly and his great crime,
remembering only that he was not wholly
bad. False political principles rather
thau false morals perverted his mind and
wrought his ruin, as they wrought that
of his party. To forget is the greatest
charity we could now extend him. Yet
in the history of his country he must
live, not indeed as the ablest of her
sons who sought her overthrow, but as
in many respects the least odious and the
most prominent; as a General great
only in defensive-passive operations, but
there unequaled throughout the war on
either side; as a soldier stainless on every
point save that on which a Soldier’s
honor should be the brightest, the cause
for which he drew his sword. It is a
great and pathectic figure that he makes
in our annals. But the country pardon
ed him; he bore himself manfully and
modestly after his overthrow; and he will
be carried to his grave amid the passio
nate sorrow of the gallant people that
made him their leader, and the respect
ful silence of the people that conquered
him.
Thus have we gathered together tributes
of respect to his memory as Soldier, as
as Citizen, and as a Christian. To pos
terity we commit his memory, assured
it will live evergreen there, with the
oames of Washington and Jackson and
the hosts of great and good whose acts
adorn the pages of history and shine as
beacons lights from the towers of the
Temple of Fame.
Written for the Banner of the South and Planters’
Journal.
A SCOUT’S REPORT
GENERAL WADE HAMPTON.
The following is the Report of a scout
ing Expedition, written by a private in
one of the best Regiments given to the
Confederate service—“ The Cobb Le
gion.” The skill and courage displayed
in this expedition marked it one of the
most remarkable that occurred during
the war. Wade Hampton.
Evans’ Ferry, 1
Cate Fear River, N. 0., J-
April 15th, 1865. j
General : —On Sunday, the 9th inst.,
I left Clinton on the Magnolia Road with
a view to capturing that place and inter
! cepting a train, should one pass during
that night, but having only thirty men
in the saddle, and finding the troops
there very vigilant, I flanked the place,
erossiug the railroad one mile and a half
! to the south, and at daylight, on the morn
ing of the 10th I headed for Keenansviile;
j arriving there about O.t o’clock I halted
| my men south of the town and proceeded
myself with a small detachment to recon
noitre the position, and finding no troops
in town I sent two men through to tlie
opposite side as videts, but they had not
proceeded far before a squadron of Kil
patrick’s men, some sixty strong, charged
and repulsed them, halting on the square,
my 7 position being about one hundred
yards south and in front <>f Major Keen
jan's residence. I immediately sent a
courier back with orders to bring up the
j column at a gallop; meanwhile seven
j men were firing upon me, and the officer
; in charge arranging to flank and capture
jmy little party, having only two men
then with me, but my men came up with
•that promptness, vim and gallantry
which characterized the old Brigade on
all occasions of battle, and the enemy
were utterly* route 1 and pressed for six
mites when the last horse was captured;
we killed seven men, and wounded some
eighteen, and captured three unhurt, cap
turing three buggies loaded with negroes
and “sweet nuts,” four good mules and
twenty-seven horses aud equipments
! complete, some twenty-eight pistols, rifles,
sabres, Ac. Several horses were killed,
[others severely wounded, while a number
|of the men escaped with their horses
| through the woods and pineliclds. We
[sustained no damage, and after swearing
j my prisoners never to fight again I de
j tailed two men to take them and my cap
! tured property to Clinton, from whence
the prisoners were to go to Wilmington.
Only 7 one other skirmish took place dur
ing the day, in which two were killed
| aud several wounded.
Early on the morning of the 11th I
took up line of march to Mount Olive
Depot where I struck a mounted force
moving northward as I supposed, and ae
| cordingly I moved up the railroad on its
; east, and on the route to Dudley’s Depot
I I had several rencounters, killing five men
! and capturing several.
i On arriving at Dudley's I captured
| the guard and burned the Depot contain
; ing a quantity of supplies and forty-one
: baits or cotton, and then moved out on
! the road leading from Mt. Olive to Golds
boro with the hope of intercepting a
column or wagon train, but all had taken
the direction of Bentonville. Accordingly
I marched in that direction for some
miles, camping some 10 miles southwest
of Goldsboro, and at 3 o’clock on the
morning of the 12th I moved toward
Bentonville aud before sun-up found my
self among the enemy and in a series of
little charges, all occurring within an
hour. Fourteen of the enemy were killed
and a number wounded and captured, in
all, some thirty. These I swore not to
fight again and started them to the rear.
Moving up some two miles rapidly 7 I
came upon Kilpatrick’s beef cattle, hav
ing aver rich wagon with it, containing
silver p!ate t china ware, provisions, Ac.
I at once disposed my men and captured
everything except the Sergeant, he es
caped to the column ahead and there
being a regiment of infantry behind as
rear guard, a hasty retreat was necessary;
accordingly" I moved westward by Mr.
Raynor’s house six miles southeast of
Bentonville. Tin's gentleman and his
family having been very kind to myself
and men previously in passing, I gave
him 81,500, twenty head of cattle and
horses, also the wagon which had broken
down in his field, then changed my di
rection southwest; 1 disposed of all my
prisoners, mules, horses, Ac., with twelve
of my men in the front, with orders re
garding the direction in case of the ene
my making his appearance. Being in
momentary expectation of a cavalry
charge, I could scarcely hope to save
everything, and I was not doomed to dis
appointment; some two miles and a half
had been hurried over when suddenly
the clashing of pistols announced an at
tack upon my rear guard; at one3 I hur
ried a man forward with orders to run
the prisoners, Ac., rapidly toward Clin
ton by’ the first road leading in that di
rection and to halt, if not overtaken,
within a few miles of Clinton ; then
wheeling I disposed my men on either
side of the road, 1 ordered them to fire
with their Spencers and Carbines and
then draw pistols and follow me with a
big yell; meanwhile my rear guard dash
ed in, the enemy coming into a little field
in disorder; my men fired rapidly for a
minute, then drew pistols, and before they
could form we chaigedand repulsed them
handsomely, and following up my suc
cess, we drove them back to Mr. Ray-
ner’s house where we learned they were
over a hundred strong. Here I returned
on my road and finding my cattle scat
tered in every direction and my command
divided, I requested the citizens to take
charge of the cattle until called for, and
proceeded to overtake my advance; this
done I dispose of my prisoners, some
thirty-nii e in number, by paroling as
before and started them in charge of two
men to Clinton, together with forty-one
head of horses and mules and all the
surplus equipage which had accrued to
us in the several engagements of the morn
ing: and now, turning again toward Ben
tonville, just at night, 1 ran upon 60 or
70 straggling infantrv and for several
minutes we were in a wild tumult, every
man fighting on his own hook; here twen
t} 7 -one men were killed and a number
wounded and captured Then moving l
back down to Mr. Raynor’s house we en
camped for the night.
On the morning of the loth, at three
and a-half o’clock, we were again in the
saddle, and by seven and a-half o’clock
we were upon the rear of the Tenth
Corps wagon train, twenty-six men being*
my aggregate. I charged some forty in
fantry, killing twelve dead and wounding
a number, capturing and paroling thir
teen, and capturing two wagons and
eight horses. Here I skirmished with the
enemy’s rear all day until my men, who
carried off my capture returned; mean
while the enemy became alarmed suppos
ing General Wheeler to be in their rear
with a large force, and all the available
cavalry was concentrated to look after
him. This being no business of mine I
changed direction half left and marched
for Raleigh, camping for the night some
twelve miles from where I had been fight
ing and about the same distance from
Smithfield.
On the morning of the 14th I marched
at an early hour towaad Ilaleigh with
i twenty-five men in the saddle, one of my
| men having become exhausted from over
; work and exposure. About 10 o'clock I
, struck a small squad of marauders kill
ing two and wounding others, and about
; 11 o'clock we encountered another party
j killing a negro soldier, and at 114 o’clock
|we ran into the Twenty-third Corps’
I wagon train capturing some seventeen
* men and killing one in the first charge,
after which I had no trouble in capturing
some 115 wagons together with their
guards and changing their direction south
ward. I sent a detachment to hurry
forward and guard as well as possible
whilst I remained in the rear with the re
mainder, until I fimad myself pressed by
a large body of infantry, whereupon [
commenced cutting out mules and setting
fire to the wagons, thus destroying some
50 wagons and escaping with 16 and a
large number of prisoners aud mules*
but during the evening circumstances
compelled me to destroy three other
wagons, and the lack of force made escape
easy for prisoners as also inules; but I
got safely over the river at this ferry this
morning, after eighteen hours of travel,
and my men having been in their saddles
twenty-seven hours without refreshments,
with thirteen wagons heavily loaded with
bacon, hard bread, sugar, coffee, Ac., four
teen very fine quartermaster’s horses,
one hundred and ninety-four good mules,
ninety-three white prisoners and five ne
groes, till soldiers. River very high and
feary-boat guarded, so that I am safe
against attacic until my command recu
perates.
Respectfully and very truly,
Your obedient serv’t,
W. S. Ashby,
Lieut. Gen. Wade Haeiiton, in the sad
dle on the front.
CELEBRATED TROTTERS
The admirers of “style and speed” in the equine
race cannot fail of being gratified with the. admirable
portraits of nine celebrated trotting horses, given.
Those of our readers who have seen the animals
represented will recognize them at once, sospi cit
ed and life-like are the “counterfeit present
ments.” We subjoin a brief description, pedigree,
etc,, of each of the famous trotters so finely figured,
from the pen of one of the best posted horsemen in
the country :
DEXTER.
Os all the trotters ever bred and trained, Dexter is,
beyond all question, the best and the most famous-
He is a brown horse, with lour white legs and a blaze
in the face. He stands fifteen hands and one inch, ou
short legs. Ho has a fine, resolute head and piercing
eye, and combines great power and substance with
the clean cut, wiry organization of the thorough-bred.
His quarters and stifles are immense, his shoulders
very fine, and he is is urcommonly deep through the
heart. He was got by Hambletonian, out of a black
mare by American Star. Upon the turf he made the
lastest mile in harness, 2m. 17^8. —the fastest mic
uuder the saddle, 2m. 18s —the fastest miie to wagon,
2m. 24s.—and the fastest two mile to wagon, 4m.
50 gs. He is good in all ways of going—light weight,
heavy weight, good track, muddy track.
THE AUBURN HORSE.
This horse, whose death was so greatly lamented,
was a chestnut, with four white legs and a blaze in
the lace. He was sixteen hands high, with gro t
bone and muscular power, and a magnificent strine
and action. He was got by Champion, Jr., and was
bred at Lodi, New York. The late Hiram Woodruff
declared that the fastest rate he had ever riddeu'belund
a trotter was when he drove the Auburn Horse at ins
work on the Union Course.
POCAHONTAS.
Avery beautiful bay mare by Ethan Allen, out ot
the famous Pocahontas, a large, powerful and ver--*
high-bred pacer the best that ever lived. The old
mare was a chestnut, of white legs and a blaze, and a
patch of white along the belly, the had all the look
of a stallion. Nothing can surpass the beauty of thn
mare as she darts along like a swift, low-flying bird,
before a sleigh or a road wagon. She trotted a rmLo
trial in harness, driven by Ben Mace, in 2m. 18
Dan Mace now has her in hand, he having assn; of
Mr. Bonner that he can make her beat Bext r’s time
before the snow- flies.
LADY THORN.
A large and powerful bay mare, very high-bred, and
very game and resolute. She was got by Mambnao
Chief, a horse bought in this S*ate for the late Jame*
B. Clay of Kentucky, and was out of a marc by
Gauo, a son of American Eclipse. She was always a >t
ed for speed and bottom, but she often ran away, and
those who first han >led her in Kentucky were afraid
of her. By care, patience and perseverance L>r.
Herr of Lexington, Ky:. got her to be more calm and
quiet, and made her a fine trotter. She trotted a nul ! ■
wagon 2m. 245., and a mile in harness in 2m. 18 ;
She once beat Dexter, but it was in liis gn • n and sal. i
days. A lamentable accident recently disabled b t
temporarily only it is to b<: hoped.
MOUNTAIN BOY.
This horse is a grandson of Hambletonian. bavh.c
been got by the stallion Edward Everett, who w -
also the sire of the famous young horse Joe Elliot•.
and is now the property of Mr. Bonin.r. Mount,!.:
Boy is a bay horse, very strong and powerful !;ri
somewhat coarse, and with nothing like the high
quality and blood-like finish that distinguish Deri-:.
Peerless, Lady Thorn. Pocahontas, and some otb >i
our best and lastest trotters. Mountain - was \er
fast some, years ago, but he was never a sticker, and
latterly his feet have made him unsteady. But he
still a comparatively young horse, and he may yet
come again.
ETHAN ALLEN.
Foi; beauty and eajntal action, this famous M
horse was never surpassed. He is now twv nty-m “
years old, He was got by the Vermont Black Hawk
out of a gray mare said to have been of the Mes
senger blood. He was bred at Ticonih-roga, N o
York, by Joel Holcomb.
GEORGE PALMER.
This is a light, neat bay horse, pedigree r.uknoo ,
He is very f.st, and bids fair to make a stayer in U. •
best of company. He trotted in 2m., In ri-. and "i o
! perhaps improve.
CONFIDENCE.
A bay horse, formerly called Fred Pun , and ari
lasting trotter;
CASSIUS M. CLAY. Jb,
This fine old Kentucky stil’ion is by o-d Cas-.a-
M. Clay, dam by old Abdallah: H ■ is the sir--
Kentucky Clay, Whip Clay, Amcri -an Clay, Co'.s'T.p
and other noted trotters.
Windows, CrysU l lized. —Di>so 1v e I'd'"’”
salts in hot ale or solution of gum araV
wash it over tlie window, and let it dry.
If you wish to remove any, To lor: : a o< r
der or centre piece, do it with a wet ciotn.
Silvering Silk —When a piece el f-ill: u
dipped into a solution of nitrate ol vlo.h
| and then exposed wet to a current oi h.y
--j drogen gas, the nitrate is reduced, and ti c
silk is covered with a coating ol silver.