Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/380

364 pie of the South, and also of the North, that there can no longer be any doubt of the unity of the people of the United States. It is certainly a most remarkable event in history, that the people of this country should be so reunited after the terrible civil war through which this country passed thirty-five years ago, and that, too, while so many of the participants of that mighty and heroic struggle are still living. From this time henceforth, no unpleasant accusations should be made in references to that great struggle. When the President of the United States, representing a great party known as the war party in the civil war, and speaking publicly in a Southern city could express the sentiment that the North should assist the South in caring for the graves of the Confederate soldiers, and the expression of that sentiment, touching every Southern heart, drew forth patriotic response which showed the Southern love for a common country, surely we are again a reunited people, and Southern loyalty can no longer be questioned.

It is also a source of great pride to the people of the South, that, although her volunteer soldiers did not have an opportunity to display their gallantry on the field of battle, yet among the heroes of the short war with Spain none are more conspicuous than Southern men who had an opportunity to manifest their soldierly qualities. The President of the United States, in making his appointments in the volunteer army organization for the war, gave some appointments to Southern men who had been ex-Confederate soldiers. This action on his part gave much satisfaction to the people of the South, and it is with pride that they can point to these soldiers and sailors as having well performed the duties devolving upon them wherever opportunity permitted.

Gen. Joseph Wheeler, who had been a lieutenant-general in the Confederate army, was appointed a major-general in the volunteer army of the United States. His enthusiasm, his patriotism, his good generalship, his