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Editorial paragraph.
the Combining in this issue of three numbers under one cover, as we have had occasion to do frequently before, has enabled us to print several long articles, and at the same time to give variety and interest which we are sure our readers will appreciate.
Indeed, we think that they will find it, on the whole, one of the most interesting and valuable issues we have ever sent out.
We very much regret, however, that in consequence of a great press of work on our worthy printers, the number has been delayed three or four weeks beyond the time at which we had expected to mail it.
death of
Mrs. Mary Blackburn Morris.—Just as we are going to press, a telegram from
Louisville announces the death of one who will live in the hearts of the thousands who ‘wore the gray,’ and whose memory will be cherished by lovers of heroic devotion to duty, wherever the story of her life is known.
Mrs. Mary Blackburn Morris, wife of the late
Judge Buckner Morris, of
Chicago, sister of
Ex-Gov. Luke P. Blackburn and
Senator J. C. S. Blackburn, of
Kentucky, died in
Louisville on the 20th of Oct., in the 66th year of her age.
Her services among Confederate prisoners at
Camp Douglas,
Rock Island, and other prisons and her active sympathy for our cause and its adherents (briefly alluded to in the narrative of
Mr. Damon, published in this No., and deserving a fitting record), caused the arrest and imprisonment of
Mrs. Morris and her husband, wrecked their splendid fortune, and implanted the seeds of disease, from which both of them eventually died.
We remember how warmly this noble woman was greeted at the Reunion of
Morgan's men at
Lexington in July, 1883, and shall never forget her benignant countenance and cordial grasp as she expressed the warmest interest in the work of our Society, and promised to contribute something for our
Papers on her war experiences.
She deserves and will, no doubt, have a fitting monument of marble or granite; but she has erected a monument more lasting than these in the hearts of all who love the land and cause to which she devoted her life.
membership fees, and subscriptions, now due at this office amount, in the aggregate, to the sum of $4,155, and it may be well understood that we need the money to meet our current expenses.
We are now sending out to our members polite reminders of their indebtedness, and we beg that they will
respond at once to our call; $3 or $6 is a very small matter to the individual, but the aggregate amount is a very important matter to us. We are pledged not to go in debt, and we beg our friends to enable us to keep our pledge by a prompt remittance of their dues.
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the annual Reunion of the
Virginia division of the army of Northern Virginia Association will take place on the evening of the 23d of October.
General Bradley T. Johnson will speak on the
Sharpsburg Campaign; a number of
Maryland Confederates will make an excursion to
Richmond on the occasion, and it is hoped that it will prove one of the most delightful reunions we have ever had.
the annual meeting of the Southern Historical Society, which usually occurs during the last week in October, the time of the
Virginia Agricultural Fair, has been postponed this year to suit the convenience of
General M. C. Butler, of
South Carolina, who has kindly consented to address the Society, and whose pressing engagements will not permit him to be here at that time.
In making the change, the Executive Committee have also been influenced by certain grave objections to holding our annual meeting at a time when the people are so occupied with other matters of pressing interest, that it is impossible for many of our best members to attend.
The exact day of the meeting will be duly announced, and special efforts will be made to render it the most interesting and important which we have ever held.
the unveiling of the monument to
Col. Robert D. Smith and his brave comrades of the Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, Twenty-Ninth, and Forty-Fourth Mississippi regiments, who fell at Munfordsville, the 14th of September, 1862, occurred on the historic ground on the 17th of September last (anniversary of the final surrrender of the
Federal fort), and was an occasion of great interest.
We deeply regretted our inability to be present.
The monument, a beautiful and appropriate one, was erected by the liberality of
Mr. James Smith, of
Glasgow,
Scotland (a brother of
Col. Robert D. Smith), whose presence with a party of friends, from
Glasgow, consisting of
Alex. Watt,
Robert Brown Smith,
Miss Maria Smith, and
Dr. R. G. Miller, added greatly to the interest of the occasion.
We hope to print in our next the admirable address of
Major E. T. Sykes, of
Columbus, Miss., and the feeling and appropriate remarks of
Mr. Smith.
We were glad to note that the Army of Tennessee Association, in New Orleans, passed appropriate resolutions, commending
Mr. Smith's noble act—that he was given a ‘Reception’ at the Bethel, at which our eloquent friend,
Rev. Dr. R. T. Markham, made an appropriate address-and that the Legislature of
Mississippi passed suitable resolutions concerning his generous and patriotic action.
Mr. Smith and his party passed through
Richmond, and did the
Secretary the honor of calling at his residence, but we deeply regret that we were out of the city for the day, and that as he only spent several hours here, we were deprived of the pleasure of paying our respects to a gentleman who, in addition to many other friendly acts to the
Confederate cause, showed his intelligent appreciation of the work of the Southern Historical Society by contributing last year two hundred dollars ($200) to our funds.
