Newspapers / The Courier (Asheboro, N.C.) / Jan. 27, 1910, edition 1 / Page 2
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The Wars of Our Country. XLIII.-Civil War-Fall of Richmond. By Albert Paysoa Tcrhune OR nine months the mighty armies of Lee and Grant had Inlu facta one another across the trench es at Petersburg. Each was too strong for the other to attack with any success. Cut Sherman and Sheridan bad meantime so rid dled and under mined the Con federacy e I s e- FALL op Petersburg, where that, with the exception of Lee's army and a force of Johnston's In North Carolina, the south was prac tically crushed. Sherman even now was pressing Johnston to the latter's final defeat. Lee alone stood between Grant and liichmond, between the Confederacy and utter collapse. Grant calmly awaited his great opportunity. On March 24, 1SG5, he began a gen eral advance, first attacking the right wing of Lee's nruiy. Lee as a coun termove sought to check him by at tacking the Union center, but his at tempt failed. The Confederates were beaten back with a loss of 13,000 men. Grant had made Sheridan commander of all the Union cavalry and now sent him to ride around Lee's army and to get between it and liichmond. Lee almost cleared Petersburg of defend ers in order to checkmate this move. On April 1 Sheridan In carrying out Grant's order met and defeated the bulk of Lee's army at Five Forks, where the Confederates had been rush ed from Tetersburg to stop his flank movement. Sheridan In this battle took 5,000 prisoners. Reeling under this double blow. Lee's troops could offer no effective resist ance next day when Grant once more attacked Petersburg. The outer forti fications were captured, and the city itself was at the assailants' mercy. Lee, his lines smashed, bis men hun gry and footsore, his last hope of de fending Richmond lost, had but one chance. If he could march his army into North Carolina and there join Johnston he might, in the mountains, continue for awhile a sort of guerrilla warfare against bis victorious foes. So, sending word to President Davis to evacuate Richmond, Lee fled south ward. The once Invincible Army of Vir ginia was on the run demoralized, ruined. Whenever its wornout sol diers sought to halt for rest or for for age the thundering hoof beats of Sher idan's pursuing cavalry burst on their ears, and "ff they were driven again in hopeless, aimless flight. About 40. 000 Confederates began that awful re - treat, Sheridan, catching up with one corps of the flying southerners, cap tured 7,000 of them. The fugitives' numbers dwindled to 28.085. Of these all but about 8,000 had thrown away their guns In the weakness and con fusion of flight. They were still stag gering on In their pitiful effort to escape when Grant, overtaking the helpless remnant at Appomattox, took pity on their wretched condition and begged Lee to stop further bloodshed by surrendering. The two rival generals met on April 9 to discuss terms. Grant treated his fallen foe . with boundless kindness and generosity. He would not accept the sword Lee offer ed in token of submission. He pa roled the beaten army, allowing its men to keep their side arms, horses and personal possessions. Nor would he permit his own exultant troops to celebrate the victory lest the losers' feelings be hurt. Meantime, on Sunday, April 8, news had come from Lee that Richmond must be evacuated, as the Union troops were bearing down upon it. Wild con fusion reigned. Jefferson Davis and his cabinet fled for their lives. So did countless others. For the hire of a wagon to bear families from the city $100 in gold was offered. The military govern or of the place ordered the prin cipal warehouses set afire. The 7 dered all liquor destroyed. Then pandfemoniu m broke loose. Mobs made up of soldiers and civilians got bold of wine and THEY SAT DOWlf. spirits and. filled the streets all night In drunken orgy, plundering houses, pillaging broadcast and committing a .thousand lawless deeds. Therewith dawn, came the Union troops not to rob and slay, as the panic stricken townsfolk feared, but to restore order, put out the fires and save the 'hard won southern capital from mob rule and flames. - The Confederacy had lost its capi tal. Its president was a fugitive, and fire days later Lee's'army surrendered. Johnston surrendered to Sheridan sorn afterward. The great civil war was at an end. , ' But the enthusiastic national rejoic ings were nddenly changed to sorrow, patriotic ocorations to crape and cheers to weeping. ft ELOQUENT ADDRESS ON LEE'S BIRTHDAY. Mr, Kelly Makes Flue Speech. Mr. R. C. Kelly delivered tr fol lowing address on General lIobertE. Lee at the Lee Birthday" exercises by the Asheboro Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy : When the waters of the Red Sea rolled up like a scioll at the voice of 'Iiiui who ndeth upon the wings of the wind and the chesea people bad passed over dry shod, their first act was to bold a service uf thanks. giving and praise to their Almighty Deliverer. la after years one of the religious festivals of this people commemoiated, at stated intervals, their miraculous deliverance and the faith and fearlesseness of their leader in this crisis. Indeed, the custom of commemorating a crisis in a nation's life and the virtues of the nation's heroes during tuch crisis is universal. A great national crisis is always a great producer, or rather revealer of great men, because at sncu a time men s souls are tried, all disguises are stripped away, and those who stand do so. by virtue of their inherent greatness of soul. We of the South find a peculiar pleasure, we feel a sense of solemn pride, in rehearsing the events of our great crisis, and in honoring the vir tues of the great leader who so mightily wrought for our salvation at that time. It is, therefore, emi nently fitting and proper that on this anniversary of the birth of Rob ert E. Lee, we should study his life and strive to form, as best we can, some just estimate of his greatness. The ablest military critics or the world haie pronounced Lee the gieatest captain the English speak ing people have produced, and vol umes have been written upon Lee's greatness as a soldier. It is, how ever, of his greatness as a man that I would speak to you, because great as he was a captain, h : seem3 even greater to me as a man. In a democratic age, such as this in which we live, we are prone to rely too much upon the average man, to lose sight of the unalterable dif. ferences in the clay of human crea tures. Robert E. Lee was no aver age man ; he cannot be classified ; hestands like Saul, "head and shoul ders above all the people." It shall be my purpose to show how incom parably greater Lee was as a man than any other man America has produced. Robert E. Lee was the eon of dis tinguished parents. His father was Richard Henry Lee, ''Light Corse Harry," of Revolutionary fame; his mother waB Anne Carter, of Shirley, a member of one of the most noted of Virginia families. It was the father of Lee who paid the splendid tribute to Washington, "First in war, first in peace and firBt in the hearts of his countrymen." Wash ington, it is well known, was the hero of Robert E. Lee's youth and the ideal of his mature minhood. Many have thought that Lee ac quired in no small measure that per fect poise, that equanimity which no adversity could depress and no misfortune disturb, from holding continually before him the charac ter, of Washington. It has been said that Lee was never angry in his life. It is highly improbable, howerer, that a man of Lee's strength did not at times feel what Shakespeare has called "a touch of noble anger,'' but so complete was his mastery of himself that he never lost that self control which was one of his most notable characteristics. "He who ruleth his own spirit is greater than he who taketh a city," says the sa cred writer. No one ever remained long in the presence of Lee without feeling that he was great in this highest form of greatness. At the age of eighteen Lee chose for himself a military career and en tered Weet Poiit at that age. "Even at West Point," says Uolcombe," the solid and lofty qualities of the young cadet were remarked on as bearing a strong resemblance to those of Washington." He graduated from West Point with distinction and saw his first active service in the Mexican War. He exhibited such rare quali ties of leadership during the campaign in Mexico as to cause his commander, General Scott, to de clare that "he is the greatest living soldier in America." So great a reputation had he won as a soldier that at the outbreak of hostilities be tween the North and South he was offered the position of commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States. Here was the time that tried Lee's soul. With which side should he cast hia lot ? It was not a question with him of how he might best sub serve his personal interests, but which way did duty call him ? The guiding principle of Lee's life was duty and he unfailingly obeyed the behests of what Word s worth has well called ''the stern daughter of the voice of God." "Duty," said Lee, "is the subhmest word in our lan ifuage." Lee was a man who loved the name of, honor more than he feared death ; a man who believed, with the greatest of poets, that "rightly to be great is not to st;r without great argument, but greatly to find quarrel in a straw when hon or's at the stake." Having once de cided which way duty called, no con. sideration of personal . convenience or private gain ever influenced, much less swerved him. All night, says his wife, he agonized ovar the ques tion of whether duty called him to the North or the South, often seek ing on his knees the guidance of the Supreme Power. He finally decided that it was bis duty to serve bis native State, "and save in her defence," he wrote his old commander,Gen. Sio't, "I will never again draw my sword. Nearly a month after Lee had re signed his position in the army of the Federal government, he wrote to his wife, says Tbomas Nelson rage, as follows concerning their son : "Tell Custis he must consilt his own judgment, reason and conscience as to the course he may take. I do not wish him to be guided by my wishes or example. If I have done wrong let him do better. The pres ent is-a momentous question, which every man must settle for himself and upon principle," Had Lee allowed himself to be in fluenced by selfish motives, he must inevitably have cast his lot with the North. He had been tendered the position of commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States. "I can contemplate no greater calamity tan a disruption of the Union, wrote Lee in January, 1861. lie believed that slavery was a political and moral wrong and had manumit ted all his slaves before the outbreak of hostilities. So far from Lee seeking for po sition in the armies of the Confed eracy, it is well known that he in tended entering the company com manded by his son as a private when the commandership of the armies of Virginia was tendered him. On the side of the North lay ease and com fort and high position, ' on the side of the South lay privation, loss of home, the sacrifice of every comfort, the enduraaceof indescribable hard ships. But to the side of thd South duty called him and he gave heed to her voice. Duty this time called him through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. The story of the great struggle is familiar to us all it is the proud history of our Southland. In all the history of the world there cannot be found a body of men who excelled in physical and moral courage, in sublime, Bel-sacrificing heroism, that tattered, foot-sore army who wore the gray, and to find their peers, one must go back to the mythical stories of Greece and Rome. Allow me here to make a com parison between the peerless leader of this army and one who has been immortalized in every land as "the noblest Roman of them all," Tie story of ReguluB, the Roman con sul has been regarded as a classical example of heroic self -sacrifice and patrotism. Kegulus, it is said, was was captured by the Carthagenians during the First Punic War, and upon his promising to return to Carthage in the event of his mission proving unsucsessful, was sent to Rome by the Carthagenians, they thinking that he would counsel peace for his own sake. Regulus, however, counseled war in the strongest terms, and disregarding the protests of family and friends, returned to Carthage to die accord ing to his woad. Now hear a story of heroism little known but equally as great. One of Lee's sons was captured during the war and was held as a hostage under sentence of death. General Lee wrote another son as follows: "I have seen in the papers the intention announced by the Federal government of balding him as a hostage for the two captains selected to be shot. If it is right to shoot these men this should make no difference in their execution." Field Marshall Viscount Wolsely says concerning the usit paid by him to Lee m the summer ot lebx: "Every incident in that visit is in delibly stamped on my memory. All he said to me then and during subsequent conversations is still fresh in my recollection. It is nat ural it should be so; tor bJ was the greatest mn I ever converse 1 with, and yet I have had the privilege of meeting Von JHolUe and frince Bismark. General Lee wtsone of the few men who ever seriously impress ed and awed me with their inherent greatness. Forty years have come and gone since our meeting and yet the majesty of bis manly bearing, the genial, winning grace, the sweet ness of his smile, and the impressive dignity of his old-fashioned style of dress come back to me among my most cherished recollections. His greatness made me humble and I never felt my own insignificance more keenly tban 1 did in bis pres ence. He was indeed, a beautiful character, and of him it might truthfullylbe written:' in righteous ness did be judge ana make war. But great as was Lee in victory, be seems even greater to me in de feat. That he should have come out of a war in which he had suffer ed and endured and lost no much without bitterness or rancor is a re markable example of the lofty spirit of the man. One of his biographers relates, that seeing him one day talkiDgat his gate with a itranger to whom, as he ended, he gave some money, he inquired who the stranger was. "One of our old soldiers", said the General. "To whose com mand did he belong?" '-OS he was on the side of those against us. But we are all one now and must make no difference in our treatment of them, said Lee. He is known to have rebuked a lady for speaking bit erly of the North in the presence of her children, saying to her: Do not teach your children to hate, teach them that they are Americans, l thought that we were better off as one nation than as two, and I think so now." He strove always and everywhere to teach the people of the South to forget all bitterness and hatred and work together for the upbuilding of their now united country. And this in spite of the fact that he was under indictment for treason by a graud jury compos ed partly of negroes especially select ed for the purpose of returning indictments against him and Mr. Davis, says Mr. Page in his admira ble life of Lee. He wrote to ex-Governor Lether, concerning the tenden cy of some of the Southern people to emigrate from the South, that: "The thought of 'abandoning the country and all that must be left in it is abhorrent to my feelings, aud I prefer to struggle for its restoration and share its fate rather than to give up all as lost, and Virginia has need for all of her sons." Where now did duty call the great Captain upon whom rested the admiring eyes of all the world? Ad miring friends in Europe offered him an asylum there where he might live in ease and comfort; he was offered the presidency of a life insurance company at a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year but declined on tue ground that it was work with which he was not familiar. When told that he would not be expected to do any work, that it was his name that the company wanted, he replied: "Do you not think that if my name is worth $50,000 a year, I ought to be very careful about taking care of it." He was earnestly urged to announce himself an a candidate for govenor of Virginia. What did he dor He accepted the presidency of a struggling college in Virginia at a salary of $1500 a year and on the 2nd. day of October, 1865, took the oath of office as president of Wash ington College. Like all strong men, Lee bad that in him which made him do his work well. It is said that he "audited every account, presided at every faculty meeting, studied and signed every report." He instituted the honor system and taught that char acter was the "basis and end of all education." To him students cane from all ever the South and no one 0? them ever remained long in his presence who was not inspired with higher ideals of bis duty to God and his country. He taught that they should put aside all rancor and bit terness, should meekly bow to pre sent conditions as having been brought about by the great Oppose- less Will. . In this great work he was engaged when his Great Commander called him into a larger field of labor. He bad performed duty s stern tasks and he had received her reward. For, as Tennyson has finely said, 'He who ever following her commands , With toil of heart and knees and hands Through tbe Ions corse to the far light Has won his way upward and prevailed, shall hcd, the toplmg crags of duty scaled, Himself close upon that shining tableland To which oar God Himself is moon and sun. "What doth the Lord require of theer asks the Prophet Micah.which question he answered by Baying: "Do justly, love mercy and walk bumbly with tby uod. In so tar as it was possible for a merely human being to fulJil this Divine requirement, it was fun lieu in the life of Robert K Lie. His aims were ever his coun try's, his God's and truth's. Like Sir Galahad, his "strength was as the strength of ten because his heart was pure. He was the high est expression of all that was high and noble in bouchern ciyiliz tioD. He is our hero, his glory is ours. Let us strive to emulate his great example for "be was a man', take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again." Tbe long. indoor life of winter makes the blood weak, the system easily catches cold and disease. Hollistnr's Rocky Mountain Tea is the greatest winter remedy; prevents colds and disease; keeps yon well all winter. 35 cents, Tea or Tablet. Railway Mail Clerks Wanted. The Government pays Railway Mall Clerks $800 to f l,20. and other em ployees up to 2,M( annually. , Uncle Sam will bold spring examinations throughout the country for Railway Mail Clerks, Custom House Clerks, Stenographers, Bookkeepers, Department Clerks and other Government Positions. Thousands of ap pointments will be made. Any man or wo man over 18, in City or Country ean get Instruction and free information by writing at once to the Bureau of Instruction, 3 M Hamlin Building, Rochester, N. Y. , Some Alcohol Questions Is alcohol a tonic? No! Does it make the blood pure? No! Does it strengthen the nerves? No! Is Avar's Sarsaparilla a tonic? Yes! Does it make the blood pure? Yes! Does it strengthen the nerves? Yes! Is it the only Sarsaparilla entirely free from alcohol? Yes! Ask your doctor about this non-aicononc meuiune. u nc oiov, your confidence will be complete. Dull boys! Dull girls 1 Dullmenl Dull women! Heavy-headed ! Downhearted ! All very often due to constipation! Yet the cure is so easv. Ayer s Pills. Ask your doctor. Free Premiums! The Southern Agriculturist offers more and better Premiums to club raisers than any Southern paper. This year we are giving away a lot of new and valuable presents some things a you never saw before. Anybody can get up a club for the South ean Agriculturist, because it is the best paper pub lished for southern farmers and and the price is reasonable. Write for free sample copy containing attractive premium offers. Southern Agriculturist KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. A strong bank that pays 4 per cent, interest on savings accounts is one of the greatest conven-, iences there is for those who have funds awaiting other investment, or who prefer an investment of this kindabsolutely safe, without trouble to you to collect either principal or interest any time you wish to change your investment. This rate of interest compounded will, in a few yeais, amount to almost as much as the 6 per cent, loan you are trying i make, and a great deal more than that you put away in the tin box. This is as safe as your best mortgage and a great deal safer than the tin box. Bring your deposit or mail it ; either will have our best attention. All business confidential. Wachovia Loan & Trust Co. High Point, N. C. CAPITAL . $600,000 00 Surplus and Profits 200.000.00 F. H. FRIES, President MORTGAGE SALE OF TOWN LOT. By v'.rtue of the powers contained in certain deeds of Mortg.ge executed on the 8uth day of August, 1908 bv F. A, Henley and wife Sarah Henley toy. B. Word, which tald mortgage is duly recorded tn the office of the register of deeds for Randolph Couuty, North Carolina' Book 126 page 183. due and payable on the 2Uth day of August 1909, and one on the name date executed to jMapd M. Simrron, due and payable on the 20th day of August, 1909, which in registered in the office of the register reeds of Randolph County aforesaid lu Book 125 page 185, and duly avsigne by Maud M . Simpson aud J. D. 8impou to the people's Building & Loan Asaoeiutiou ou November 19th, 100!), wnich said assignment is recorded in the office of the register of deeds aforesaid In Book 133 page 134. and default having been made in the payment of same, the undersigned will sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, at the Court Hou e door In Asheboro, N. C, at 12 o' clock m., on Saturday' the 12tn day ot February, 1910, the following realjestate in the town oi Asheboro, N. C, described as follows, viz.! Adjoining tbe lands of John T. Brlttatn, W. W. Joues aud others, beginning at a stone in Brlttain's line on the west tide of the Plank Koad and running west on said line 131-3 poles to a stone. Hall's corner, thence north 0 degrees east six poles to a stone In Hall's line, thence east 18 1-8 poles along W. W. Jones' line to a stone on the side of the Plank Road, thence southward along the Plank Road six poles to the beginning, containing one half acre more or less. It being the lot con veyed by J. D. Simpson and Maud M. Simpson to Sarah Henley. J. B. WARD, Mortgagee, Peoples Buildlhg & Loan Association, Assignee of Mortgagee. This the 12th dav of January, 1910. Notice! - " Having qualified as administrator on the estae of Sarah Bonkemcyer, deceased, before W C. Hammond, Clerk of the Superior Court of Randolph County. All persons having claims against said estate are notified to present them to the undersigned, dulv verified, on or before the 10th day of Jan. 1911 or this notlc will be pleaded In bar of their recovery, and all persons owing said estate will Come forward and make Immediate settlement. This 6th duy of Jan. 1910. W, H. Bonkemeyer, Adm. Sarah Boukemeyer, dec. Hammer ii Kelly altys. Administrators Not Having qualified as Administrator on the es tate of Lovey Manon, desea-ed, before Clerk of the Superior Court for Randolph County, this Is to notify all persons having claims agalDBt said estate to present same to ,the undersigned du.y verified, on or before the first day of February, 1911, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recoveiy. All persons indebted to said es tate will make Immediate payment. This the 3rd day of January 1910 M. D. Kivett, adm, Lovey Kivett, dec in in uLr . C. A yerCo., Lowell, Mass, W.GIDOL,Cksfifef SAVE WORK - WORRY -MONEY BY USING A Stover Gasoline Engine. . Made right, sold right. Send for illustrated catalogue of engines, wind mills and feed grinders. :: :: :: :: Stover Engine Works 25 River St. Freeport, HI. NOTICE, Having qualified as administrator on the estate Sophia Henson, deceased, before W. 0. Ham mond, Clerk of the Superior Court of Randolph County, all persons having claims against said estate are hereby notified to present them to the undersigned, duly verified, on or before the 18th day of January 1111 or this notice will be plead ed in bar of their recovery: and all persons owing said estate will come if oi ward and make immediate settlement. This 6th day or January 1910. J. D. Henson, adm. Sophia Henson, deo'd. Administrator's Notice. Having qualified as Administrator upon the estate of Isaac F. Stauton. deceased, before W. U. Hammond, Clerk of tbe Superior Court ot Randolph County, I hereby notify all persons holding claims against said estate to present them duly verified to the undersigned on or be fore the 6, day of Jan. 1911, or this notice will be J .leaded In bar of their recovery. All persons udebted to said estate will make immediate settlement. This 3rd day of Jan. 1910. . J. R. Coltrane, Administrator Isaac F. Stanton, dee'd. Hammer 4 Kelly, att'ys. Notice! Having qualified as admBnlstrator on the es tate of A. L. Wheeler deceased, before W. C. Hammond. Clerk of the Superior Court of Ran dolph County, 1 hereby notify all persons hav ing claims against said estate to present them to the uedtrsigued, duly verified, on or before the 88th dav of Dec. 1910, or this notice will be pleaded In bar of their recovery, and all persons owing said estate wilt come forward and make immediate settlement. , This 28th day of Dec, 1909. F. B. Wheeler, Admin. A. L. Wheeler, dec. Hammer & Kelly, a.tornevs. ' H.B. Hiatt, M. D. Physician and Surgeon, Office over Johnson's Store McDowell liuilding 'A.ihrbor-0, V C. , DENTIST,, Asheboro, N. .0. Office ' OVER THK BANK 09 stasias I am now In my office prepared to pactlot dentistry la Its various branches .V2 i r4:
The Courier (Asheboro, N.C.)
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Jan. 27, 1910, edition 1
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