The banner of the South and planters' journal. (Augusta, Ga.) 1870-18??, October 29, 1870, Page 6, Image 6

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6 (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.