Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/209

 General Joseph Egyleston Johnston. 209

eral Johnston that night. The speaker knew him and learned to love and honor his character. He knew him as the humble fol- lower of a great leader, and. to moderately speak of him, as a gallant soldier.

Other gentlemen who had spoken of him knew him as a great sol- dier. He saw him in other days when the roar of the last battle had died in defeat and when he had turned his steps to the pursuit of peaceful avocations. No man did more to destroy sectionalism than Joseph E. Johnston. He was called to represent his people in Con- gress. There it was that he knew him, and no man served the Gov- ernment better than did Johnston.

" I knew him in his home," said the speaker. " It was then that the beauties of his character were open to view. In the field he was the great leader ; at home he was the kind, gentle father and loving husband. When the history of this war has been written no page will be brighter than that which records the deeds of Joseph E. John- ston. I think the time will come when the passions of war are cooled and its true story is written, and the judgment will then be that Joseph E. Johnston was inferior to no man in the war."

Colonel Young's speech was an eloquent tribute to the life and character of General Johnston. He told in clear-cut, ringing words of the deeds which will make his name live in the annals of the world.

This address concluded the regular programme of orations.

Chairman Patterson then announced that during the day he had received dispatches from the following named persons expressing sympathy with the purpose and spirit of the meeting and regret at inability to attend, to-wit : General G. T. Beauregard, Governor Stone, of Mississippi ; Governor Eagan, of Arkansas ; Senator Wal- thall, of Mississippi ; Hon. Albert McNeill and Hon. James D. Por- ter, of Tennesse. The chairman also read a letter from Mrs. W. E. Moore, chairman of the Women's Confederate Monumental Asso- ciation at Helena, Ark., expressing regrets that the association could not be represented at the meeting to do honor to the memory of General Johnston.

The orchestra rendered with fine expression the music of the hymn St. Cecilia, and the assemblage dispersed after benediction by Rev. N. M. Long.