USA > Virginia > City of Fredericksburg > City of Fredericksburg > The history of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia > Part 24
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You are now on a spot which is consecrated in the hearts of the soldiers from the North and the South. Within the sound of my voice Meagher's Irish Brigade immortalized itself by a charge into the jaws of death, a charge in which the Irishman expressed his loyalty to the land of his adoption, and gave evidence of that inborn bravery which has made his name illustrious all over the world.
Within this county-at Chancellorsville-the soldiers of the South conquered in a battle where death pulsated the very air, which was won by unparalleled bravery and matchless strategy, though it cost the life of the southland's idolized Stonewall Jack- son, the very genius of the war. Here the two master military
St. Mary's Catholic Church. (See page 214)
Shiloh Baptist Church, Old Site (colored.) (See page 215)
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leaders met for the first time at the Wilderness, where was com- menced the march by parallel columns, which culminated in the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, by our grand old com- mander, Lee, to the great and magnanimous Grant.
On these fields Americanism, in its highest and holiest sense, was illustrated and illuminated. Here a colossal column of men marched to death, testifying thereby the very highest expression of patriotism-love of country. For greater love hath no man that this, that he lay down his life for his friends. It is to this spot you have come-a place which is, and should be, the mecca of. all lovers of patriotism, self-sacrifice and lofty devotion to duty. And these have not been lost, and will not be, for as the blood of the martyrs was the seed and the seal of the church, so the blood and the bravery of the soldiers of the North and the South have already cemented this Republic in a closer union.
There has been a good deal said here, sir, to-day about peace. He who fought ceased warfare when the war ended. 'Tis true it was waged with great energy by warriors. After Lee told his boys to go home, and Grant said, "Let us have peace," these warriors, after the war, were like that chaplain in Early's army, who was seen going to the rear, while the battle was raging in front. Early met him and asked him where he was going. "To the rear-to the hospital department," said he. "Why not stay in the front?" said old Jubal, "for I have heard you urging my men for the last six months to prepare to go to heaven, and now you have an oppor- tunity to go to heaven yourself, and you are dodging to the rear." These men who want war and talk war now had the opportunity to take part, but most of them did not feel so inclined when the battle raged fast and furious.
I suppose, sir, however, I was called to talk to-night because I am rather an unique and curious living specimen of a soldier, for I was a private, and there are few now living. It is said just before the surrender a poor old soldier laid down to sleep, and he slept a la Rip Van Winkle, for twenty years. Awaking up he rubbed his eyes; looking around, he called a man walking on the road-side to him. "Where," said the soldier, "is old Marse Bob 18
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Lee and his army ?" "General Lee," replied the man ; why, he has been dead many years; he surrendered his army and then died." "Ah!" said the private; "ah, then where are all the generals?" "They," replied the man, "have been sent to Congress." "And what has become of the colonels?" "Why, they have been elected to the Legislature." "What about the majors, captains and lieu- tenants?" "They have been made sheriffs and clerks and treas- urers." "Where, then, tell me, where in the world have the pri- vates gone?" "The privates !" answered the man; "why, they are all dead." And the old soldier rolled his eyes back and fell asleep again. If he were to awake again to-day his eyes would be glad- dened and his heart made happy by monuments erected in Vir- ginia's capital city, and elsewhere, to emphasize the love and rever- ence with which the memory of the brave private soldiers are held by a grateful people.
Sir, far be it from me to hold in slight estimation or little esteem, the illustrious commanders. I am proud of the grand and glorious leadership of my great captains, Lee and Jackson, and I willingly pay a tribute to the greatness of Grant and to the memory of Hancock, "the superb," and the splendid Meade. I would not, if I could, attempt to dim the lustre of their names or throw any shadow over the brightness of their deeds.
I was an humble private soldier in the Confederate army, and I am proud here to proclaim that I was a follower of the peerless and illustrious Lee, but I stand here to pay my loving tribute to the private soldier of both armies. His splendid achievements, grand heroism, unfaltering loyalty and unflinching bravery, have no parallel in all time. He knew that if in the forefront of the fight he were shot down that then his name would not be written on the scroll of fame, his uncoffined body would find sepulture in a name- less grave, and that he would have for an epitaph, "unknown !" Only a private shot; and thus the story of his daring and dying would be told.
But, knowing all this, he failed not nor faltered. He was in- spired by the very holiest and highest, because of an absolutely unselfish sense of duty. He was moved by a purpose to serve his
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country and its cause. He marched, battled and bivouacked because his determination to do, dare and die, if needs be, for the flag under which he served. Whether under the sultry sun of summer or amidst the sleet and snow of winter, he stood, unmoved from his unalterable resolve. No grander, no more beautiful, no more splendid expression of the very highest type of manhood could be found than was found in the life of the private soldier of both or either army; and when the war ended, with them verily it ended, and they all joined hands in a fraternity of comradeship which was well exhibited by that private soldier of your army who ministered to my necessities and cheered me in my sadness as I sat under the very shadow of defeat and amidst the gloom of surrender at Appo- mattox.
And members of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, to which that private belonged, and to which we of the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered, I meet and greet you on your first reunion south of the river whose name you bear. We of the South will ever cherish, ever pay the homage of our hearts' best devotion to the memory of our great cause and its champions, we will ever keep them hallowed and sacred, but with us the war is over. We pay allegiance and bear full fealty to this great Republic of ours, and the men and the sons of the men who followed Lee and Jack- son stand ready with you to defend, always and everywhere, the honor, the integrity and the interest of this fair land of ours against all foes, whether from within or without its borders.
We worship at the same shrine of liberty. There is only one flag now. It is our flag and yours. Under its shadow we stand with the men of your army. And now, to-night, at this reunion, in this presence, let me urge, as the shibboleth, the motto of both armies, to be our inspiration in peace, our rallying cry, if needs be, in war, this : "Whom God hath joined together let no party, no people and no power put asunder."
Judge Goolrick was heartily applauded during the delivery of his address, and at its close the cheering was loud and prolonged.
There was no business session of the society the next day and very many of the Union veterans visited the various battlefields.
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The most of the society and visitors went to Richmond on an excursion tendered the society by Lee Camp, where they were met and entertained by the Confederate veterans of that hospitable city.
Addresses were made on that occasion by Judge D. C. Richardson, Mayor Richard M. Taylor, Gov. Chas. T. O'Ferrall and Attorney- General A. J. Montague, of Richmond, and Gen. Horatio C. King, of New York, and Gen. Geo. D. Ruggles, of Washington.
On the return of the excursionists from Richmond a reception and lunch were tendered them at the Opera House, where they were met by a large number of the ladies and gentlemen of the town, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Gen. King, secretary of the society, in a brief address, acknowledged the cordial welcome and unbounded hospitality they had met with in our town and the homes of our citizens, extended the hearty thanks of the society to the officials and citizens and stated that the reception was even warmer and more cordial than they had ever before met with.
RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS ADOPTED.
At the business meeting of the society on the first evening the following preamble and resolution, after very complimentary re- marks of the town and people, by many of the visitors, were en- thusiastically adopted :
The reunion of the Society of the Army of the Potomac at Fred- ericksburg is of peculiar significance, and the generous sentiment which prompted the invitation, meets with a hearty response from every patriotic soldier of that great army. Every animosity en- gendered by the conflict is here buried with the more than one hundred and twenty thousand gallant men who shed their blood and sacrificed their lives in their heroic devotion to conviction and to duty. The work done here is an imperishable record of the unsur- passed courage and bravery of the American soldier: therefore be it ---
Resolved, That we tender to the civic authorities and citizens of Fredericksburg, and especially to the efficient local executive com- mittee and Mr. St. Geo. R. Fitzhugh, our most hearty thanks for a welcome that sustains, in the highest, the fame of Virginia hospi-
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tality. The generous and unstinted courtesies of all will render this reunion forever memorable, and the most pleasurable emotion will always arise whenever the name of Fredericksburg is men- tioned.
As a fitting sequel of this distinguished gathering and the grand reception on the part of the town and citizens, a letter, written by Gen. Horatio C. King, twenty-five years secretary of the society, en route to his home, in Brooklyn, N. Y., is inserted :
Captain S. J. Quinn, Secretary Army of the Potomac Committee:
MY DEAR CAPTAIN-The generous efforts of your citizens to kill us with kindness were well nigh successful, but happily we survive to tell the tale of the most unique and unsurpassed reunion in the history of the Society of the Army of the Potomac.
Our first meeting on the soil of the South cannot fail to have a most happy effect upon the comparatively few-mainly born since the great conflict-who do not realize that the war ended in 1865.
The sentiments expressed by your orators, Mr. Fitzhugh, your honored Governor Tyler and Judge Goolrick, and by Mayor Taylor, ex-Governor O'Ferrall and Attorney-General Montague, in Rich- mond, should be printed in letters of gold and circulated all over the nation. Purer or more exalted patriotism has never been ex- pressed.
To the thanks already extended I desire to add my personal obli- gations for the untiring energy, zeal and efficiency of your local committee, which have made my duties comparatively light and most enjoyable; and I desire to make my acknowledgments es- pecially to you and Brother Corbin for the promptness of your correspondence and unremitting attention.
I am afraid I but feebly conveyed to the audience last evening the warm appreciation of the superabundant and delightful lunch so gracefully provided by your people and so charmingly distri- buted by your ladies.
Indeed, I cannot find words to express our gratitude for a recep- tion so complete as not to have elicited a single complaint or criti- cism. We can never forget it or the good people who carried the reunion to unqualified success.
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ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.
Visiting Fredericksburg in May, to attend the meeting of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, and take part in laying the corner-stone of the Butterfield monument, where he received the most marked demonstrations of the love and loyalty of his people, without regard to party politics, President Mckinley returned to our beautiful capital with a grateful heart and a determination to show himself President of the entire country, dispensing justice to all alike. He was proud of his country and rejoiced in its unpar- alleled prosperity. In September, 1901, he visited the exposition at Buffalo, N. Y., where, while holding a reception on the 6th of Sep- tember, he was assassinated in the midst of the thousands who surrounded him. The sad news was flashed by wire throughout our land and the civilized world, and was received everywhere with unaffected sorrow.
Our City Council was assembled upon the sorrowful intelligence, and the following preamble and resolutions were adopted, and telegraphed Mrs. McKinley, which were the first adopted and received by her from any quarter :
"Whereas, we have heard, with great sorrow and indignation, of an attempt to assassinate his excellency, Wm. McKinley, President of the United States, at Buffalo, N. Y., this afternoon ; and, where- as, we rejoice to learn by the latest telegram that his physicians express the firm belief he will survive the wounds inflicted, there- fore ---
Resolved, by the Mayor and Common Council of the city of Fred- ericksburg, Virginia, that we condemn, in the strongest language we can command, this dastardly and wicked act, and call upon the authorities to punish the would-be assassin to the full extent of the law.
2nd, That we tender our profoundest sympathy to Mrs. McKin- ley in her great affliction and earnestly pray that a kind and all- wise Heavenly Father may restore her devoted husband and our much loved Chief Magistrate to perfect health, to her and this united and happy country.
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3rd, That our worthy Mayor be requested to communicate by wire this action of the Council to Mrs. McKinley."
Notwithstanding the best medical skill was employed to remain with the stricken President day and night, who endeavored to locate and extract the pistol ball, and the prayers of the nation, he calmly passed away on the 14th of September, eight days after the assassin's deadly work. The monster murderer was an anar- chist from Ohio, who was condemned before the courts for his wicked act and paid the extreme penalty of the law.
As the news of the President's death was sent to the world with electric speed, and announced in Fredericksburg, the City Council was immediately assembled again and the following action taken :
"The Mayor and Common Council of the city of Fredericksburg desire to unite with all the world in paying tribute to the memory of President Mckinley, as a patriot American, a pure citizen, a fearless Executive and a Christian gentleman.
It is with pride and pleasure that we recall his recent visit to our city and his expressions of gratification at being with us, and this tribute to his memory is to testify and further emphasize our sincere sorrow at his death. It is therefore-
Resolved, That the public buildings of this city be draped in mourning for thirty days; that during the hour of the funeral service that the bells of the city be tolled, and that a committee of three members of the Council be appointed by the Mayor to confer with the ministers of our churches in order to arrange a memorial meeting of our citizens, and that these resolutions be spread upon the records of this council.
Resolved, That a copy of thesc resolutions, with our expressions of sympathy in this hour of her great bereavement, be forwarded to Mrs. McKinley, widow of our distinguished President, signed by the Mayor, and attested by the clerk, under the seal of this city.
This action of the Council was one of the few that Mrs. McKinley personally responded to. To it she promptly replied, evincing her grateful appreciation, with the tenderest expressions, for the sym- pathy tendered to her in her great sorrow. The memorial services were held in St. George's church, the day of the funeral, conducted by the city pastors, Dr. T. S. Dunaway, delivering the address.
CHAPTER XIX.
Dr. Walker's Exploration-Bacon's Rebellion, so-called-The Fredericksburg Declaration-The Great Orator-Resolutions of Separation from Great Britain-Virginia Bill of Rights, &c.
It has been said, probably by the facetious or perhaps by the en- vious-for such are to be found in all communities-that Vir- ginians are noted for their bragging-that find them where you may, at home surrounded by friends and companions, or abroad among strangers and aliens-bragging is their distinguishing char- acteristic. It is not probably known whether this charge has ever been investigated and passed upon by any competent authority, but if it has been, and the charge was pronounced true-or if the truth of the charge were admitted by the parties themselves, they can plead justification, and should be readily excused upon the ground that they really have something to boast of in the patrio- tism, endurance, sacrifices and achievements of a glorious ancestry. If the people of other parts of the country have whereof to boast, Virginians have more, and those in that part of Virginia in which Fredericksburg is located may well take the lead.
In this and the two succeeding chapters we propose to show what has been accomplished for this great country by the sons of Vir- ginia, who have lived in Fredericksburg and within a radius of sixty or seventy-five miles of Fredericksburg, and show that in the extension of the borders of our infantile country, in protecting the settlers from the ravages of the brutal savages, in agitating, foster- ing and demanding the rights of the people, in opposing and resist- ing the unjust laws and oppressions, usurpations and unreasonable exactions of sordid and wicked rulers, in the separation, by solemn resolutions and declarations of this country from Great Britain, in uniting and defending the colonies and in achieving the inde- pendence of the country, in forming and administering the govern- ment, in numbering it with the family of the nations of the earth, and placing it upon the high road to prosperity and national great- ness, Virginians were ever in the van, and others followed their
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1
1
The present Postoffice Building at Fredericksburg. (See page 165)
PAUL
1774
Tombstone marking grave of William Paul, brother of Commodore John Paul Jones, in St. George's burial ground. (See page 237)
١
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leadership and reaped the rich fruits of their splendid achievements and their glorious victories. And this we do, not in any spirit of vanity, but that there may be grouped together and brought to public attention, in permanent form, historical facts, if known to the public, long forgotten and unappreciated, that Fredericks- burg may be placed, where it rightly belongs, as the most historical spot in the most historical State in this great nation, that will soon, if it does not now, dominate the nations of the earth and fully jus- tify her sons in recounting their deeds, if it shall be termed brag- ging.
DR. WALKER'S EXPLORATION.
It was Dr. Thomas Walker, of Albemarle county, a Virginian, who, with five companions, in 1750, explored the wild country, which now forms the States of Tennessee and Kentucky, and named that chain of mountains and the beautiful river that flows through the valley, Cumberland, in honor of the Duke of Cumber- land, and then crossed over the country to the head waters of the Kentucky river and gave it its name, which furnished a name for that great and prosperous State.
BACON RESISTS OPPRESSION.
It was Nathaniel Bacon, of Henrico county, a Virginian, who first offered resistance to the colonial authorities in defence of the lives, liberties and property of the people and put forth a declaration of principles, which were the guiding star for those who came after him until independence was achieved, with all of its blessings and glorious fruits.
In his United States History Dr. Howison says : "In the great declaration adopted by them in 1776, just one hundred years after the movements under Bacon, we find embedded not less than five principles among the most weighty and potent that justified the overthrow of the English rule, all five of which were in active move- ment to produce the uprising of the Virginia people in 1676. These five principles were :
1. The right to civil and religious liberty-'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ;
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2. The right to throw off a government which had 'cut off their trade from all parts of the world';
3. Which had 'imposed taxes on them without their consent';
4. Which had 'taken away their charters, abolished their most valuable laws and altered fundamentally the powers of their govern- ment';
5. Which had 'excited domestic insurrections among them and had endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of their frontiers the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undis- tinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.'"
Mrs. An. Cotton, who wrote an account of this Bacon movement the year it occurred, and who did not fully endorse all that Bacon did, states that a large council was held on Bacon's premises in May, at which Bacon charged that the authorities were guilty of wrong in their eagerness to get rich; that some persons were rich who were guilty of unjust methods in obtaining their wealth; that the authorities were doing nothing to encourage the arts, sciences, schools of learning or manufactories ; that the Governor approves the lawlessness of the Indians against the settlers, and declines to interfere because it might diminish his revenue in trading with them ; that the Governor refuses to admit an Englishman's oath against an Indian, where he accepts the bare word of an Indian against an Englishman; that the Governor is monopolizing the beaver trade in violation of law; that the traders at the heads of the rivers, being the Governor's agents, buy and sell the blood of their brethren and countrymen by furnishing the Indians with powder, shot and firearms contrary to the laws of the colony; and that Col. Cowells asserted that the English were bound to protect the Indians, even if they had to shed their own blood.
At the conclusion of Bacon's address the Council agreed to three things: 1. To aid with their lives and estates General Bacon in the Indian war. 2. To oppose the Governor's designs, if he had any, against the prosecution of the war. 3. To protect the General, the army and all who agreed to the arrangement against any power that should be sent out of England, until it was granted that the
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country's complaint might be heard against the Governor before the King and Parliament.
The premature death of Bacon occurring, and no competent person to take the lead being found, the movement soon ceased, the troops disbanded and went home, and many of those who aided Bacon in protecting the lives and property of the settlers were put to death by Governor Berkley on the charge of treason. Thomas Matthews, said to be a son of Gov. Matthews, and who at that time represented Stafford county in the House of Burgesses, was ap- pointed by Bacon to the command of all the forces in this part of Virginia, but he probably had not the courage or means to carry out Bacon's plans.
Bacon died from a cold contracted in camp and was buried in Gloucester county, but for fear the authorities would exhume the body and subject it to indignities, the place of his burial was kept a secret. Bacon's effort for the people was just one hundred years before the great revolution, and when we are fully informed as to his cause of action we may debate in our minds as to whether Nathaniel Bacon was our first Thomas Jefferson or whether Thomas Jefferson was our second Nathaniel Bacon.
FIRST DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
It was in a public gathering in Fredericksburg on the 29th day of April, 1775, that resolutions were passed, approaching in spirit a declaration of independence, which was twenty-one days before the resolutions of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, were adopted. The resolutions, adopted in North Carolina, found their way into print and into the histories, while those passed in Fredericksburg did not; but they were the first adopted anywhere in the country, and more than six hundred men were ready to carry them into effect by marching to Williamsburg to redress wrongs which had been com- mitted by Gov. Dunmore in removing the gun powder from the pub- lic magazine. Some regard this act as the beginning of the great revolution in the colonies. It was to prepare the people for any breach of the law or outrage upon the people's rights, which had been threatened by the authorities at Williamsburg, and commenced in
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