where our old comrade, the gallant and accomplished
Colonel T. G. Jones, and his committee had made every arrangement for our reception and elegant entertainment at the
Exchange Hotel, and all necessary arrangements for the lecture.
A drive around the city (visiting the residence of
President Davis, the beautiful
State Capitol, and other points of interest)—an elegant dinner and delightful social intercourse with a number of gentlemen, made the day pass away very pleasantly.
That night (the 22d of February) a fine audience assembled at
McDonald's new and beautiful opera house (courteously tendered by the proprietor without charge), and
General Lee was heard with deeply interested enthusiasm, by as highly intelligent and appreciative an auditory as often greets a speaker.
It was especially fitting that
Alabama's soldier-Governor, the gallant
General O'Neal, should preside on the occasion, and introduced
General Lee, for he had commanded the advance brigade of
Rodes's division, which so gloriously opened the battle by crushing
Howard's corps.
General Lee put into his address a graceful tribute to
General O'Neal, which was received with loud applause.
At the conclusion of the lecture,
General Lee received from some
Virginia ladies a beautiful basket of flowers, the basket being made from willows gathered at
Chancellorsville,
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and was warmly greeted by a daughter of
Mr. Chancellor, who was in the basement of the
Chancellor house up to the time when it took fire.
Leaving this beautiful and hospitable city, where it would have been delightful to have remained many days, we went on the next day by the Louisville and Nashville railroad to
