Editorial paragraphs.
The Virginia division of the army of Northern Virginia Association were very much disappointed that General A. M. Scales, of North Carolina, was prevented by severe affliction from delivering before them at their reunion on the 2d of November, his address on “The battle of Fredericksburg.” General W. H. F. Lee (the President of the Association) but voiced the general sentiment when he paid a graceful tribute to his gallant comrade (General Scales) and to “his noble old State, whose brave sons had drenched with their blood every battle field in Virginia,” and expressed the hope that he would be invited again next year to deliver the address. General Early also bore strong testimony to the ability and gallantry of General Scales, who was “true during the war and has not deserted since the war.” He also paid a fitting tribute to Captain John Hampden Chamberlayne, who had died since the last reunion, and on motion of Judge George L. Christian the Association passed an appropriate tribute to the memory of this gallant soldier and distinguished citizen. In response to calls General Fitz Lee, Colonel R. E. Withers, and General Wm. Smith made stirring speeches. The officers of last year were unanimously re-elected.
[526] General Fitzhugh Lee expects to leave Richmond on Monday, November the 13th, to meet engagements to repeat, for the benefit of the Society, his superb lecture on “Chancellorsville” at Darlington, November 14th, Charleston, November, 16th, Atlanta, November 18th, Savannah, November 22d, Augusta, November 24th, and Rome, November 28th. Returning home from this latter point for a few days, General Lee will then repeat his lecture in Montgomery, Mobile, New Orleans, Galveston, and other points in Texas. We doubt not that our friends everywhere will appreciate this “labor of love,” and give our gallant friend, “General Fitz,” a royal greeting wherever he may go, while we can assure those who may be so fortunate as to hear him, that they have in store a rich treat. The Secretary will accompany General Lee on his tour, and will be only too happy to give any desired information concerning the Society, to enroll members, or to receive contributions to our permanent endowment fund.
A lecture by Rev. Father Hugh L. Magevney, on “the worth of battle field memorials,” will be delivered in Baltimore, on the evening of the 21st of November, for the benefit of our Society. The Committee of the “Society of the Army and Navy of the Confederate States in Maryland,” (under whose auspices the lecture will be delivered, and whose zeal and wise management assure, in advance, a splendid success) say of the distinguished lecturer:
In looking over the wide field of Confederate soldiers and orators, illustrious alike for their achievements in the field and in the forum, it has selected the Rev. Hugh L. Magevney, one of the chaplains of the Society, as the orator most accomplished and most fit to present the cause to the public. Born in Tennessee, for four years he carried sabre under the flag of Forrest. In all the hard fought fields of the West he did his duty and no man could do more. When Peace had folded her halcyon wings over the strong sea of civil strife Private Magevney became Father Magevney and has ever since striven for the victory of Truth and Holiness, in the constant and never ceasing struggle of human error and human sin. Father Magevney is an orator in many respects unequalled, in the pulpit, on the hustings, or on the platform. In addition to a commanding presence he is gifted with a sonorus voice of unsurpassed power and melody, an imagination of high poetic cast and an earnestness proved by his devotion as soldier under the flag of his native land and of the Cross. His heart was wrapped up in the Southern struggle and as he said recently, he had laid more loves to rest under the willow than would ever bloom again under the laurel.We return to the committee our warm thanks for their intelligent zeal, and for an invitation to be present and only regret that engagements elsewhere will compel us to deny ourselves that pleasure. The committee consists of the following gentlemen: General Bradley T. Johnson, Chairman; General I. R. Trimble; Winfield Peters, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer; R. M. Blundon, Secretary; J. Lyle Clarke, Wm. P. Zollinger, R. W. Gwathmey, Dr. Wm. H. Cole, M. O. Shriver
General Geo. D. Johnston has been doing most successful work in Jackson [527] Miss., Vicksburg, etc. With General Johnston's push, tact, and zeal, aided by the efficient help of such kind friends as General N. H. Harris, Geo. M. Kline, Esq., &c. there is no wonder that he has had splendid success.
Our next number (December) will be issued early in the month, and will close Volume Ten, which will then be ready for binding. We propose preparing for it a General Index of our ten volumes, which will be very valuable, not only for its convenience in reference, but also as showing at a glance the extent and real importance of what we have already published.
