Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 11.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Editorial Paragraphs.

We have printed a limited supply of extra numbers, which we will mail at the regular price for numbers of our Papers—fifty cents for the (double) number—on receipt of the money; and we would advise our friends to send in their orders at once for as many copies as they may desire, as the number will soon be exhausted.

the Reunion of ‘Morgan's men’ at Lexington, Ky., on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of July, was a joyous and interesting occasion, which we regret that our limited space now will not enable us to describe in full.

About 1200 of the old command and, perhaps, 500 ‘comrades and invited guests’ of other Confederate commands were present, and it was indeed pleasant to mingle with these veterans as under the shade of the beautiful grove of ‘Woodland Park’ they recalled the stirring events of 1861-1865, as they rode with their gallant chief on so many daring raids—fought under him on so many glorious fields—suffered with him in the prison,—rejoiced at his daring escape—or wept over his sad death.

The first day Colonel Frank Waters made an address of welcome on behalf of the City of Lexington, and General William Preston, one for both the city and county. General Basil W. Duke, President of the Association, responded in behalf of Morgan's men.

There were also speeches by Governor McCreary, General A. S. Williams (senator from Kentucky), General S. B. Buckner, and Colonel D. Howard Smith.

We were not fortunate enough to arrive in time to hear these speeches, but learned that they were all admirable, and excited great enthusiasm. Miss Johnie H. Morgan (the only daughter of the gallant chief) and Miss Tommie Duke (daughter of General Basil Duke), were presented by Governor Blackburn and were received with great enthusiasm, as was also Mrs. Morris, who had been an ‘angel of mercy’ to our prisoners in Camp Douglas.

At night the committee were courteous enough to place on the programme and the crowd were kind enough to hear a ‘high private in the rear rank,’ from Virginia, tell of ‘The Boys in Gray,’ with whom he was associated, and to show by their hearty responses that the men who rode with Morgan were in warm sympathy with ‘Jackson's Foot Cavalry.’

Among the letters of regret at not being able to be present on the occasion was one from President Davis, in which he said: [431]

The second day the veterans gathered early on the grounds, and spent some time in organizing the several regiments of the old brigade, and listening to speeches from old comrades. After this they assembled at the stand, where, after prayer by Rev. (General) Gano, there followed an address by General Gano, recalling some deeply interesting incidents of camp and march and battle-field, which he has promised to write out for our Papers.

Major Henry T. Stanton read a very sweet poem on Lee, which we had hoped to publish in this issue, but it has been unfortunately ‘crowded out,’ as is also an admirable paper read by Major Thomas W Bullit, of Louisville, in which he related incidents confirming the tender of the supreme command of the United States Army to General Lee—the high estimate which General Scott had of ‘the best soldier he ever saw.’ and General Lee's freedom from nepotism. These, together with an admirable paper read by Mr. Henry L. Stone, and a deeply interesting and very valuable sketch of the Ohio raid, read by Captain Leland Hathaway, will appear in due season in our Papers. Colonel J. W. Bowles, of Louisville, made an admirable speech.

The proceedings of the morning were appropriately closed with a beautiful poem written especially for the occasion by our friend Mrs. Sally Neil Roach, of Louisville, and read by Major Davis.

In the afternoon, the veterans attended the funeral of one of their comrades who died the day before, (alas! death stills cuts them down, though shot and shell have ceased to do their work)—decorated the graves of Morgan, and other Confederates buried in the beautiful cemetery, and then assembled around a stand erected near the Confederate monument where Major Savfley, of Lincoln county, made to the vast crowd a thrillingly eloquent address on the life and character of Morgan. We hope soon to afford our readers an opportunity of judging of this for themselves.

Rev. Father Major (a ‘Morgan man’) also made a brief address As we walked through the cemetery we paused with uncovered head at the grave of John C. Breckinridge (probably the greatest man that Kentucky has ever produced); of General John H. Morgan, the chivalric knight; of General Roger Hanson, the soldier of two wars; and of a number of other heroes who ‘wore the gray;’ and then lingered for a season at the grave and monument of the great orator ‘Harry of the West,’ who was wont to plead so eloquently for the principles of constitutional freedom for which these men fought and died. [432]

That night there were magnificent fire-works at the Park. The last day was even ‘the best of the feast.’ Captain Lee Hathaway spoke in eloquent terms of the ‘Confederate Home’ which had been established at Georgetown, and for which Mrs. General Roger Hanson is laboring so successfully. Mrs. Hanson and Miss Morgan were received with cheers as they took their seats on the platform.

Hon. J. C. C. Black, of Augusta, Ga., who rode with Morgan, was now introduced and made one of the happiest speeches we ever heard, at the conclusion of which he very gracefully and appropriately presented to Miss Morgan, in behalf of the men who followed her father's feather, a beautiful watch, chain, and diamond ring. With deep emotion, but exquisite grace, she received the beautiful gift, and the veterans made the woods ring with ‘rebel yells.’ Colonel W. P. C. Breckinridge, ‘the silver-tongued orator,’ who led so gallantly a regiment, and then a brigade, in Morgan's command, was now enthusiastically called for, and in response spoke eloquently and well for an hour, recalling some deeply interesting and valuable events connected with the history of the command.

Then followed another pleasing episode in the presentation of a beautiful gold-headed cane to Captain Tiffany, a Federal officer, who was Postmaster at Camp Chase prison when many of Morgan's men were prisoners there, and who had always shown them every kindness in his power. Colonel Breckinridge made the presentation speech, Captain West responded for Captain Tiffany in eloquent terms, and the old gentleman himself melted down in attempting to say a few words. He found that these hard fighters knew how to appreciate kindness shown them in the hour of their need.

The exercises were appropriately closed with the benediction by Rev. Dr. J. L. Burrows, of Norfolk, Va.

The homes of the city were thrown wide open to the men whom Lexington always gladly greeted in the shifting scenes of the war, and far famed ‘Blue Grass hospitality’ was abundantly illustrated.

We found our home with our old friend Major H. B. McClellan, who used to ride so gallantly with Stuart and Hampton as Adjutant-General of the cavalry corps, Army of Northern Virginia, and has, with his accomplished wife, made the Sayre Female Institute so renowned for honest teaching and accomplished graduates.

Major McClellan has made considerable progress in his Biography of J. E. B. Stuart, and having had the privilege of reading some of the chapters, we do not hesitate to say that the work is admirably done, and will be a very valuable contribution to the history of the Army of Northern Virginia. It is to be hoped that when he has finished the biography of Stuart, he will complete the history of the Cavalry Corps. Then when some one shall write up the Artillery and Colonel Charles Marshall shall finish his Military Biography of Lee, the world will begin to know something of what our grand old army, ‘with its small numbers and scant resources,’ accomplished. [433]

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