USA > Virginia > Albemarle County > Albemarle County > Memorial history of the John Bowie Strange Camp, United Confederate Veterans, including some account of others who served in the Confederate Armies from Albemarle County > Part 17
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The explanation of Lee's splendid act of renunciation is easy for those who remember his noble inheritance of chivalric ideals and lofty traditions. For six generations the Lees had been Virginians and, whether in weal or woe, faithful to the cause of the Old Dominion. At the time of the Revolutionary War there were two Lee brothers who had returned to the old country and made for themselves homes in England; even they took the side of the revolting colonies and came back to Vir- ginia to share her fortunes. All the Lees felt with Harry Lee that Virginia was their country and that the noble part was to keep faith with their mother-state. Robert E. Lee was an of- ficer in the United States Army and devoted to his calling; but he was likewise a Virginian, faithful and a loving son to a noble mother. His citizenship was in her, and from her he could not be divided. As Virginia went, so Lee went. He hated slavery, he condemned secession; he knew the strength of the North and the weakness of the South; but the path of duty lay plain before him, and when Virginia called the roll of her sons, Lee answered, Present.
We owe to Mrs. Lee the only direct testimony we possess as to that night upon the heights of Arlington when Lee at last
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resolved to resign his commission in the army of the United States. What follows is recorded as coming from her lips :
"After his last interview with General Scott he returned to Ar- lington deeply affected by the circumstances which surrounded him, and anxious to decide what was his present duty. The night his letter of resignation was written he asked to be left alone for a time, and while he paced the chamber above, and was heard fre- quently to fall on his knees in prayer for divine guidance, she watched and waited and prayed below. At last he came down- calm, collected, almost cheerful-and said, 'Well Mary, the ques- tion is settled. Here is my letter of resignation, and a letter I have written General Scott.'"
What heart can gaze unmoved upon this scene of sacrifice and duty, of fidelity and devotion? Lee was too good a sol- dier, too wise a man, too true an American not to know what war between the states would mean. Upon the altar of his country, Virginia, he laid that night his martial fame, his worldly fortunes, and his patriot pride. But let us not forget that fragile Mary Custis shared too in the offering. She gave the home of her childhood and her love, with all that to a woman makes life precious and earth dear. She resigned wealth and comfort and wordly ease and all the sweet tran- quilities of the social order in which she was born. She left behind her the sacred ashes of her parents, the noble memo- rials of Washington's affection for his adopted son, and every sweet memento of her childhood and girlhood and womanhood and wifehood. Which was the greater hero-Lee or his gen- tle wife? Let Him, who reads the hearts of men, give the an- swer.
In recent years two New Englanders of distinction and cul- ture have given to the public painstaking studies of Lee's char- acter and career. It has been said that at least one of them be- gan these studies with a hostile mind and was won over from enmity to admiration by the beauty and nobility of the soul he studied. Let us hear in brief the verdict they render on Lee's decision at this crisis of his fate.
"As to Robert E. Lee, I can only repeat what I have already said. If in all respects similarly circumstanced, I hope I should
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have been filial enough and unselfish enough to have done as Lee did. Such an utterance on my part may be traitorous; but I here render that homage."
This from a Union soldier, Charles Francis Adams, who for four years fought against the Army of Northern Virginia. The other, from Gamaliel Bradford, Jr., is no less explicit :
"I do not hesitate to say that in the certainly most improbable, but perhaps not wholly impossible contingency of a future sectional separation in the country, however much I might disapprove of such separation and its causes, I should myself be first, last, and always, a son and a subject of New England and of Massachusetts."
Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, standing in his place in the Senate of the United States, said that he did not propose to speak of Lee, but was content to "hand him over to the avenging pen of history." We may see in these two cases how in the Massachusetts of today the avenging pen of history is dealing with the great Confederate Captain.
Speculations as to what would have happened if Lee had de- serted Virginia for the Union side are perfectly futile. For Lee the act would have been impossible; but in another case we know what did happen. George Henry Thomas was also a Virginian from Southampton County. He was educated at West Point, was assigned to the Artillery, saw service in the Seminole and Mexican wars, and in 1860 was in Texas under Lee's command. Of the twelve officers in the same regiment who attained high rank in the Civil War, six were Southern- ers. All six intended to resign and offer their. services to their native states. Five did so; but Thomas, after applying for an appointment to the Governor of Virginia, changed his mind. In the favourite phrase of the other side, he was "true to the Union," and in May, 1861, he was promoted Colonel and given Lee's old regiment. Thenceforward he served brilliantly and effectively on the Union side, but with meagre recognition. His name was put into the congratulatory order published after Mill Springs, the very first Union victory (19th January, 1862), but was stricken out. "He is a Virginian," said Lin- coln, "let him wait." He was slated to succeed Buell after Perryville, but at the last moment the order was changed and
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still he waited. Murfreesboro came, Chickamauga came, Mis- sionary Ridge came, and still Thomas waited. Even while he held the Confederates at bay before Nashville in December, 1864, he was threatened with removal. Then like a thunder- bolt came his crushing defeat of Hood, the most brilliant vic- tory won by any Union general during the entire war. Con- gress, for very shame, acted at last, and, when the war was practically over, made Thomas a major-general. Two years later he was offered the brevet of lieutenant-general and re- fused it. He had taken his thirty pieces of silver; he could do no more!
The story is told in Eastern Virginia, that after the war, Thomas came back to Southampton County, where his two maiden sisters still lived in their old home. The Union officer went to a little country inn near by, and sent thence a note to the Thomas ladies, saying that their kinsman, Major-General .G. H. Thomas, U. S. A., would be glad to call upon them. The two ladies returned a reply, written with perfect simplic- ity and courtesy, that they had suffered many losses and many sorrows, and in consequence, lived in quiet and retirement ; that they had no living relatives of their own name, so that General Thomas must be in error in describing himself as a kinsman; that they once had a dear brother named George, but to their deep grief he died in 1861; that they begged there- fore to be excused from receiving General Thomas. Such are things which happened to a great soldier; one of the greatest in the Civil War, because he was a Virginian, who was "true to the Union."
How, finally, shall we assess Lee's action in the hour of his trial? That he denied the right of secession and believed that mutual forbearance and wise tolerance of acknowledged evils would have averted war between North and South, is most true; so felt and believed tens of thousands of other Virgin- ians, who, in their humbler places, gave up life and fortune without a murmur in obedience to the summons of their na- tive state. That he believed slavery to be a moral wrong and a social evil, a burden to the white race and a degradation to the black, is also most true; the greatest statesmen of Virginia
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had felt as he felt; had spoken as he spoke; and even in 1861 there were thousands of other Virginians, who, like Lee, would have willingly liberated every slave in the South, if thus peace and harmony could have been restored to a distracted country. That he cherished for the army of the United States a devoted love and an exalted esteem; that he felt in his call- ing as soldier a noble pride; that all of hope and ambition and aspiration in his lofty soul yearned toward the flag of the Union and the profession of arms, is beyond cavil and beyond doubt. The anguished night on the heights of Arlington, when he penned his letter of resignation, was the Gethsemane of his life, and listening angels heard from his lips the fervent prayer, "Father, let this cup pass from me!" But it is no less certain and no less true that he never doubted his duty; that he never for one single hour faltered or feared to tread its ar- duous and thorny path. Virginia was Lee's country, and her he was resolute to obey, however lamentable the fate to which it might subject him.
ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES, MAY 30, 1916. FROM THE Daily Progress.
The annual memorial exercises were held at five o'clock yes- terday afternoon at the University Cemetery, and a large as- semblage was present to do honor to the heroic Confederate dead who lie buried there.
The exceptionally interesting program was impressively car- ried out, Major Channing M. Bolton, Commander of the John Bowie Strange Camp, presiding.
The invocation was offered by Dr. Petrie, Chaplain of the Camp, and the address of the occasion was made by Dr. H. B. Lee, who pleased his hearers greatly by his beautiful tributes to the Confederate dead, to the Confederate women, and to the faithful slaves.
The bestowal of crosses was next in order, Mrs. Goss, cus- todian of crosses, delivering them. The Mason Gordon Auxili- ary Chapter and the Boy Scouts added greatly to the interest
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of the occasion. The former sang sweetly "Maryland My Maryland," and "Tenting Tonight," Miss Laura Wood accom- panying them and Mrs. Hudson and Miss Constance Leach- man leading:
After the decoration of the graves the Monticello Guard fired salutes.
Dr. Petrie's Prayer.
The prayer, offered by Dr. Petrie, was as follows :
"O Thou who wast and art and art to come, author of all our gifts, Thou hast endowed us with memory, whose vivid pictures can never be effaced; whose recollections shall endure. The teeming interests of fifty years blot not out the thoughts of the now distant scenes of arduous struggles and fierce warfare.
So, thinking back, we recall the sorrows, when Thou wast our only Comforter. We remember the poverty, when Thou wast our supply. We forget not the want, when Thou only gavest to us; the trouble, when no voice to help but Thine was heard; the perils, amidst which only Thou wast our shelter; when no door of bounty was open to us but that of Thy abun- ance; when to our cry of distress, there came no answer from all the world but the answer of Thy abiding Word.
In the battle, on the march, in the camp, in the home, severed from all the world, we were not severed from Thee. But in light, in darkness; in want, in wealth; in quiet, in tumult; in pain, in pleasure; in storm, in calm, Thou wast ever near to hear our call, to strengthen our hand, and to encourage our heart.
Thy presence was our support in the years of our severe soli- tude.
When every gateway leading out into the great world of na- tions closed fast, and no message of love and no gift of kind- ness came to remind us of the human bond, Thy daily blessings were like angels, fresh from our Father's throne, bearing tid- ings of His love.
These visions of the past are still radiant. Nothing can dim their brightness; nothing impair their beauty.
We bring Thee memory's offering of praise and gratitude, as
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through the vista of fifty years we gaze with wonder at Thy unfailing love.
O Thou who art, Thou givest us today an appreciation of the mercies that bless us now. How wonderful have been Thy dealings with us; how marvelous the transformations of our beloved land! They have been more brilliant than the boldest prophet who dared to tell us; brighter than any wanderer on Bethel's height could ever dream ..
Because the hand of Thy beneficence has touched us, and the heart of Thy love has poured out its treasures to us, and the voice of Thy guidance has been heard, we are encompassed with blessings beyond all that we might have hoped. The scenes of strife that became Aceldamas have been transformed into gardens of beauty and delight. So we have lost the very traces of desolations. It is marvelous in our eyes. It is because Thou didst it.
While in the long ago we were the center of human conflict, and the nations of the world looked on from their peaceful lands, in Thy leading we to-day, well nigh alone of earth's great nations, dwelling in serenest peace, look with wonder on the world at strife. How calm and quiet is every day to us, in our well-favored land; how full of comfort and happiness, of all that is fitted to make life dear and desirable, while the thunders of war are heard elsewhere, and human carnage reaps its hor- rible harvest.
O Thou who .art, we offer praise to Thee for the favor be- stowed upon us now.
O Thou who art to come, Thou has endowed us with a forward look. Thou hast kindled in us the light of hope. Hope inspires in us great desire. We make our prayer to Thee. From now through all the coming years consecrate us to what is best. Give us high aims, noble purposes, firm resolves. Make us brave, keep us brave. Enable us to achieve greater things. Whatever is wrong in us set right. In life's great battle, make us victors. Prepare us for the wreath of triumph.
Bless the fair daughters who have convened us here. May their abounding love for this sacred cause be the measure of all blessings that shall enrich them.
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Bless the soldiers of today. May their readiness to serve and their brave hearts be the sweet guarantee of peace.
Bless the veterans. May Thy care of them in the past be the sure prophecy of Thy constant and continuous care.
Bless our Southland. Bless this nation. Bless the President of the United States. Preserve his life and health. Give him all needful wisdom to guide this nation through these trying times. In his guidance may this nation serve the cause of peace in all the world. May this nation, by neutrality well preserved, at the opportune moment, arbitrate and meditate to bring peace to those who are at war.
Bless Thy servant, who brings to us the message of the hour. May the lingering light of the heroic days and men commemo- rated by us brighten our paths and beautify our lives, Thou Jesus Christ, Amen.
Address by Rev. H. B. Lee, D. D.
Major Bolton introduced Dr. H. B. Lee, Rector of Christ Church. In an interesting and appropriate manner, Dr. Lee said :
"Veterans : O how I wish it were in my power to call you comrades! I feel, whenever I appear before you men who fought in the war, that I must apologize, because I am neither a veteran nor a son of a veteran. The only reason why I am not a veteran nor a son is, that I was too young and my father too old to enter the army.
In my boyhood days a popular question for discussion in our debating society was, "Do men make crises, or do crises make men?" Were I now called on to debate this question, I think I would do as some men did during the war between the Con- federate States of America and the United States, namely, take both sides; and that, not because I want to "tote water on both shoulders," but because, in a sense, both are true.
It is conceded that there are two sides to every question. Cer- tainly there are to this. Whether men make crises, or crises make men, one thing is certain, a crisis develops men.
I mean by this, that the crisis which confronted the South in
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1861, developed in our people a courage of conviction, a loyalty to the state, and powers of endurance, of which they themselves were ignorant. It brought out soldierly qualities in men which those most intimate with them never dreamed of their possess- ing. Let me illustrate :
First, I will take the case of a man from the ranks whom I knew. This boy's father and mother were plain, simple, hard- working people, who lived a quiet, peaceable life. He had been apprenticed to a carpenter, which business he despised because it required him to work, a thing he had never been known to do willingly, and from which he invariably escaped, if there was any way of escape; and being possessed of great resources in the matter of dodging, a capacity which stood him in good stead later, he generally managed to get away from work. This boy was named William Clemmens, familiarly known as "Billy." At the age of 15, or under, Billy went into the army as a sub- stitute. But in about six months he decided that he would add to the strength of the Confederate army by going in on his own hook, and so notified his principal, who was promptly conscripted. Billy was considered a great coward, as well as lazy. But his cowardice was not so great as his laziness, for he thought that in the army he would have no work to do. It was not long before Billy's heart became fired with as intense loyalty to the cause as that of any soldier in his regiment. In a little while he was as noted for his daring courage, as among his boy- hood companions, he had been conspicuous for cowardice. He became as active and energetic in all duties in camp and on the march, as he had been indolent.
It is really a pity that a full biography of this soldier boy could not be written. He was killed in the raid which General Rosser made on Beverly, West Virginia, in, I think, the winter of '64-'65.
Billy represents a class of soldiers which largely formed the ranks of the Confederate army. I beg you not to think that all, or even a goodly portion of them, were either lazy or cowardly. This would be slanderous. What I mean is, that the crisis of '61 developed splendid soldierly qualities which none ever dreamed our young men possessed.
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My purpose in calling attention to this fact is two-fold: first, to pay honor to our private soldiers, living and dead. My sec- ond object is to say that, should another crisis arise, I am satis- fied you will find abundant material ready to hand for any emergency.
While from my heart I pray Almighty God we may never have another call to arms, yet should foreign foe set foot on Amercan soil there will be millions like Billy. I am not arguing against what is known as "preparedness." Common sense teaches precaution. The spirit of '61 is still aglow in the hearts of the manhood and womanhood of our people.
We do not have to forget or to apologize for Manassas or Appomattox, nor need we forget the principles for which our soldiers fought to make us loyal, brave and true to the flag that now floats over an undivided country.
While loyal to the country as she now is, we will say, con- cerning our beloved Confederacy, "If I forget Thee, O Jeru- salem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not re- member thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." Without disloy- alty you may substitute "Confederacy" for "Jerusalem."
That crisis developed leaders which astounded the world; leaders whose fame will last as long as history is written and read. Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis were known as good men and true, as may be said of many oth- ers; but it required that terrific crisis to develop their marvel- ous and unrivaled gifts.
Our late revered and honored townsman, Colonel Charles Venable, of blessed memory, in writing of General Jackson, says: "He was noted for his great devotion to the duties of his calling (that of Professor in the V. M. I.) ; sternness in the enforcement of discipline; great purity of life and character ; professed religious fervor; strong will, and intensity of pur- pose. Yet who would have imagined that the quiet Professor would accomplish such wonderful results as he did between April, '61, when he took charge of the Confederate forces at Harpers Ferry, and two years later, when he fell mortally wounded at Chancellorsville.
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Major Thomas J. Jackson was known, respected and ad- mired in his limited sphere of activities; but it took a crisis to bring out, and place before the world, "Stonewall" Jackson.
Robert Edward Lee, from boyhood to manhood, was the type of that refinement, culture and loyalty for which his state was noted. His Christian character, soldierly qualities and noble bearing, made him a man of mark in every company, and in all walks of life; but that fiery crisis of '61-'65 made him "()le Marse Robert," the Peerless. To my mind, it is useless to draw comparisons between General Lee and any soldier who ever commanded an army ; he stands alone.
Mr. Davis had many rivals, it may be peers, before '61, but in his sphere of useful activity during the war he, too, stands alone. In my mind, and in my heart, he is the embodiment of Chris- tian statesmanship, Christian culture, Christian patriotism and self-sacrifice. In his grave lies buried a nation's hope, a nation's glory, and a nation's love and devotion. There was but one Southern Confederacy, so there was but one Davis, one Lee, one Jackson ; but let another crisis arise and that crisis will de- velop men for any emergency. That crisis developed in the women of the South courage, endurance, and cheerful sacri- fice which rivaled, if it did not exceed, the bravery of our sol- dier boys. I would I had the power to speak in fitting terms of the Southern women, but I have not, and so will not attempt it. No monument which the skill and wealth of man could erect would do her justice. Indeed, she needs none. Her character is far more enduring than marble, granite or bronze; for time will wear these away, or cause them to crumble, but as long as men admire the true, the beautiful and good, they will look back to the women of the South of '61 to '65.
That crisis brought out in the Southern slaves traits of char- acter that call for recognition. Their loyalty to master and mis- tress ; their fidelity, watchfulness, and courage, were great and most surprising. The teachers of the negro race, if they would find the best possible examplars for their pupils, should them- selves study the character of the Southern slave of the war pe- riod and portray the same as clearly as possible.
In closing, I say, God bless you, veterans. May your declin-
HENRY W. BATTLE, D. D. CHAPLAIN-IN-CHIEF OF THE UNITED SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS Commander of the R. T. W. Duke Camp, S. C. V.
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-ing years be as peaceful and quiet as your early days were stormy and tempestuous; when in the vigor of your manhood you engaged in the defense of your homes and firesides. In thus raising Davis, Lee and Jackson to such an exalted position, I do not mean to derogate from the high character and splen- did courage of the army at large. Some are of the opinion that "the breed has run out." This is not true; for should such another crisis arise, Virginia has in these boys and youths the material which will make soldiers and statesmen equal to any emergency.
I thank you most cordially for giving me the honor and the privilege of addressing you to-day.
MEMORIAL DAY IS OBSERVED. UNIVERSITY CEM- ETERY, MAY 30th, 1917.
ABLE ADDRESS BY DR. HENRY W. BATTLE.
The Memorial Day exercises on Thursday, by the Confed- erate veterans and the ladies of Albemarle Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, were unusually beautiful and impressive. The simplicity and solemnity of the occasion deeply impressed all present. Nature with a lavish hand has embell- ished this sacred bivouac of the dead with much of beauty and charm.
The day was perfect. The scene, with its sylvan quietness, was solemnly impressive and indescribable. The fast receding sun, with its resplendent rays gilding the foliage with ever changing views and with kaleidoscopic loveliness, transformed it into one of inexpressible beauty, and covered all with a halo of surpassing splendor and grandeur.
With the Nation astir with preparation for war once again against a foreign foe, these heroic remnants of the proud bat- talions that marched under the Stars and Bars, assembled in their annual parade to pay their memorial tribute to the brave ones who fell on the stricken fields from '61 to '65.
As usual, the ladies of the Daughters of the Confederacy led in the simple exercises of honoring the noble dead who lie bur-
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ied in the different cemeteries in the city, and the morning was spent in the placing of new-cut flowers on the graves in Oak- wood Cemetery, where sleep, many who fell for the cause of the Confederacy.
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