'virtues and devoted patriotism will ever be cherished by their grateful countrymen.'

On 6th May, General Hooker published his General Order No. 49. Listen to portions of it: "The Major-General Commanding tenders to this army his congratulations on its achievements of the last seven days. In withdrawing from the south bank of the Rappahannock before delivering a general battle to our adversaries, the army has given renewed evidence of its confidence in itself and its fidelity to the principles it represents. Profoundly loyal and conscious of its strength, the Army of the Potomac will give or decline battle whenever its interests or honor may demand. .The events of the last week may swell with pride the heart of every officer and soldier of this army." And then in a letter to Lincoln, dated May 13th, 1863, Hooker says, near its close, "Is it asking too much to inquire your opinion of my Order No. 49? If so, do not answer me. Jackson is dead and Lee beats McClellan in his untruthful bulletins." I cannot find that Lincoln ever answered this question.

Aye, my comrades, the battle of Chancellorsville is over. "When written history shall truly record the struggle which ended thus, every leaf may be dripping with the tears of grief and woe, but not a page will be stained with the stigma of shame." It will show nowhere such an example of the steady handling of a small force against a great one, upon plans based upon a profound and accurate judgment of the facts. Risks were assumed apparently desperate, with cool self-reliance and confidence in the army, that never faltered under all dangers and discouragements until all had been accomplished which, under the circumstances, could reasonably be expected. The laurel at Chancellorsville is entwined with the cypress. Brigadier-General Paxton fell while leading his brigade with conspicuous courage in the assault of the 3d. Generals A. P. Hill, Nicholls, McGowan, Heth, Hoke and Pender were wounded, to which must be added many gallant officers and privates, while many more are now "but a handful of dust in the land of their choice. A name in song and story, and Fame to shout with her trumpet voice-Dead-dead on the field of glory."

Chancellorsville is inseparably connected in its glory and gloom with Stonewall Jackson. General Lee officially writes: "I do not propose to speak here of the character of this illustrious man, since removed from the scene of his eminent usefulness by the hand of an inscrutable but all-wise Providence. I nevertheless desire to pay the tribute of my admiration to the matchless energy and skill that marked this last act of his life, forming, as

it did, a worthy conclusion of that long series of splendid achievements which won for him the lasting gratitude and love of his country." In my reading of history, Jackson's purely military genius resembled more closely Cæsar's and Napoleon's. Like the latter, his success must be attributed to the rapid audacity of his movements, and to his masterly control of the confidence and will of his men. He had the daring, temper and fiery spirit of Cæsar in battle. Cæsar fell at the base of Pompey's statue, which had been restored by his magnanimity, pierced by twenty-three wounds at the hands of those he had done most for. Jackson fell at the hands of those who would have cheerfully joined their comrades upon many a valley, plain and mountain slope in the dismal, silent bivouacs, if his life could have been spared. Like the little child at the Chandler house where Jackson breathed his last, who "wished that God would let her die in his stead, for then only her mother would cry; but if Jackson died, all the people of the country would cry." Sixteen years have passed. God grant that the little speaker then, the woman now, if alive, who wanted to die for Jackson, is beloved and happy! The character of Jackson, while being likened to the unswerving justice of an Aristides, had yet the grand virtues of a Cato. Like the aurora borealis at an autumn's evening close, it will brightly shine in the sky of the future. For he was like Enoch, "a type of perfected humanity-a man raised to heaven by pleasing God, while angels fell to earth by transgression." Immortal Jackson! though like leaves of autumn thy dead have lain, the—

"Southern heart is their funeral urn,

The Southern slogan their requiem stern."

Sacred Chancellorsville! The sun had gone down behind the hills and the wind behind the clouds. It was

"A night of storms, but not like those

That sweep the mountain's breast;

Not like the hurricane that blows

To break the ocean's rest.

It lightened, 'twas the sheeted flash
From serried ranks that flew ;

It thundered, 'twas the cannon's crash,
That tore the forest through.

Oh! night of horrors, thou didst see
With all thy starry eyes,

The holocaust of victory,

A nation's sacrifice.

"Lo, prostrate on the field of strife,
The noble warrior fell,
Enriching with a martyr's life
The land he loved so well.

But round the martyred hero's form
A living rampart rose

To shield him from the hail and storm

Of his retreating foes.

And angels from the King of kings,
On holiest mission sped

To weave a canopy of wings

Around his sainted head."

Upon the occasion of Robert E. Lee's confirmation as a member of the church, Bishop Johns said to him: "If you will be as faithful a soldier of the cross as you have been of your country, when your warfare is over I shall covet your crown." Rest on Stonewall-faithful to cross and country, your warfare is over, your crown is won.

Let us weep in darkness, but not weep for him

"Not for him who ascended Fame's ladder so high,

From the round at the top, he stepped off to the sky."

Deep in the affections of the Army of Northern Virginia, Jackson is buried. The mountains of old Rockbridge are the sentinels upon the watchtower.

Then striking the harp of his country, his soldier angels being the choir, may this Society join me as I sing—

"Go sleep, with the sunshine of fame on thy slumbers,
'Till waked by some hand less unworthy than mine."

The following officers were unanimously elected:

President-General W. H. F. LEE.

Vice-Presidents-Generals Robert Ransom, Harry Heth, A. L. Long, William Terry, Captain D. B. McCorkle, General Bradley T. Johnson.

Treasurer-Major Robert Stiles.

Secretaries-Sergeants George L. Christian and Leroy S. Ed

wards.

Executive Committee-Colonel Thomas H. Carter, Majors T. A. Brander and Walter K. Martin, Private Carlton McCarthy, General T. M. Logan.

THE BANQUET

was spread in Levy's hall in elegant style. After the delicacies of the season had been heartily enjoyed, Judge George L. Christian announced the regular toasts, which were responded to as follows:

1. The Army of Northern Virginia-Colonel C. S. Venable. 2. The Infantry-Colonel John M. Patton.

3. The Artillery-D. Gardner Tyler.

4. The Cavalry-James N. Dunlop, of the Fourth Virginia cavalry.

5. The Women of the South-Judge Theo. S. Garnett. 6. The Dead-Rev. Dr. J. E. Edwards.

The speeches generally were good, but some of them were rare gems. Then followed a number of volunteer toasts and responses, and a good time generally. The whole occasion was a grand success.

ROSTER OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

A full and complete roster of the Army of Northern Virginia would involve an amount of work which the compiler has not had time to bestow, and occupy more pages than the design of this volume would allow. Instead, therefore, of attempting at this time a full roster from the beginning to the dissolution of our grand old army, I shall reserve that as a task upon which I shall patiently work until it is brought as near perfection as it is now possible to make it, and shall for the present content myself with the following carefully prepared roster of the army at several of the most important periods of its history:

SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES.

R. E. LEE, General Commanding.
June 26th to July 2d, 1862.

1.-LONGSTREET'S DIVISION-General JAMES LONGSTREET.

2.-HILL'S LIGHT DIVISION-General A. P. HILL.