Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/93

 Annual Reunion of the Association of A, N, V, 85

that which unites us as members of this organization — a tie engen- dered by obligations unselfish, valorous and exalted, cemented by acts and memories redolent of patriotism, endurance and lofty emprise, and dissoluble only by death.

In rendering back this office into your hands, I cordially thank you, my comrades, for your unvarying exhibitions of friendship, and your manifold tokens of generous consideration. I thank you for this signal honor so long conferred, and for each one of you, and for him upon whom your choice of succession may fall, I earnestly bespeak every success and happiness.

Annual Reunion of the Association of the Army of Northern Virginia* With Address of General E. M. Law on "The Confederate Revolution,"

The annual reunion of the Association of the Army of Northern Virginia was held in the hall of the House of Delegates on the night of May 28th, 1890. A large audience filled the hall and galleries.

Among those present were: Ex-Senator Robert E. Withers, Colo- nel R. T. W. Duke, Colonel Robert Stribling, General Eppa Hunton, Rev. Frank Stringfellow (Lee's scout). Generals A. R. Lawton and P. B. M. Young, of Georgia ; General C. W. Field, Colonel L. Q. Washington, Colonel William H. Palmer, Colonel David Zable, of the old Fourteenth Louisiana regiment and president of the Louisi- ana division of the Army of Northern Virginia ; Professor J. W. Mallett, of the University, and General William B. Taliaferro.

General Fitz. Lee came in during the delivery of the address and was received with applause.

At 8:25 o'clock General William H. Payne, president of the Asso- ciation, called it to order and asked Rev. J. William Jones, D. D., chaplain of the Association, to lead in prayer.

General Payne now arose and said : " Comrades of the Army of Northern Virginia, we welcome you on this most interesting occa- sion which has brought so many of us here. The people of the South, notably the women, have made unto themselves a graven image, and at its unveiling to-morrow it is exceedingly appropriate that the remnant of the army which he led should be present. It had been hoped that this event would have occurred while a Lee ruled the destinies of the Commonwealth, but the fates were against us. But this is a most auspicious time, for if we are to believe our