Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/203

 General Joseph Eggleston Johnston. 203

embellished his character as a soldier. His patriotism and devotion to duty always, from first to last, there is no room at all to question. The impulses of his heart were noble. His private life was pure. His illustrious example both in military and civil life is a standing rebuke to the sycophancy of the courtier and the duplicity of the demagogue. His loss is a national calamity. The entire nation mourns his loss. The luster of his great name is the common heri- tage of the American people. In the grave the jealousies of rivals, the intrigues of faction, the asperities of sectional animosities do not disturb his repose. After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. While he sleeps his fame arises with awakening light. He trod a thorny path- way in life ; but

" He is freedom's now and fame's One of the few, the immortal names, That were not born to die."

After the choir had sung "Asleep in Jesus," Colonel Patterson introduced General George W. Gordon.

ADDRESS OF GENERAL GORDON.

Said General Gordon :

It was my honor to have served in the army commanded by Gen- eral Johnston during his memorable campaign in North Georgia in 1864, and to have had his personal acquaintance during that time, as also to have met him frequently since the war. And while it is with a melancholy pleasure that I would now speak briefly concerning him, I am deeply sensible of my inability to do justice to the career of that distinguished citizen and eminent soldier, even under the most favorable conditions of time and opportunity, but more especi- ally so in the limited time required by these ceremonies. I will, therefore, not attempt more than to offer a few observations touching his military and civic career, and will confine my remarks relating to his military operations to the time during which he commanded the Army of Tennessee.

The campaign already referred to, was inaugurated in May, 1864, by General Sherman advancing upon General Johnston at Dalton, Georgia, with (in my judgment) the most magnificiently appointed, the bravest and the best army that was marshaled by the Federal government during the war. It was, in round numbers, one hundred