Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/197

 Monument to Defenders of Vicksburg.

with fearless courage, braved the dangers and sufferings of our im- mortal siege, shared their crumb of bread with the starving soldiers, with imploring looks and cheerful words strengthened their enfeebled arms and nerved them to deeds of heroism unparalleled in history; and who, now at last, after years of perseverance and toil, have suc- ceeded in erecting this beautiful monument to the memory of our comrades who laid down their lives in defense of their honor and of their liberty !

To the God of the fearless and free I dedicate this monument. May its marble statue of a private soldier speak, to endless genera- tions, of the patriotism of Vicksburg women, and the heroism of the men who died for us that we might be free! Amen.

GENERAL S. D. LEE'S ADDRESS. A Splendid Tribute Paid to the Defenders of Vicksburg.

An involuntary burst of applause followed Father Picherit's im- passioned deliverance and had scarcely subsided when General S. D. Lee, the hero of Chickasaw Bayou, was presented to the audience, amid cheers which made the hills ring again. His address, which was frequently interrupted by cheering, occupied about half an hour, and was as follows :

My Friends : It is with pride and pleasure we meet to-day in your city !

Already there are two Vicksburgs the busy commercial center of the present and the " heroic city " of the past.

Charleston ! Vicksburg ! Richmond ! These three are the immor- tal cities of the South. The deeds of daring, of heroism and disas- ter, that were such every day occurrences in the "sixties," are crystalized into history, and even we, the survivors, can see the halo of glory that environs them.

There is many a veteran here to-day that wore a gray jacket and carried a musket in the trenches, and can point out just where this comrade fell or where that assault was made. I was here myself, and can recall with the feeling of an eye witness all that occurred in those days. It seems almost a dream, in this calm sunlight, that once these hills were covered with trenches and campfires; that the air resounded with the call of the bugle and the roll of the drum ;