Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/110

 98 Southern Historical Society Papers.

organization seeks to perpetuate the incidents and memories of a fateful period in her history. Outside of the charities which you have built up and sustain, your labors seek to consecrate her soil, and place in enduring form the memory of her heroes. They teach the youth of a nation that a nation's worth is to be measured by the sacrifices it has made. That when it shall cease to love virtue, shall cease to cherish, to emulate, to perpetuate the glorious deeds, the glorious names of its men, it shall cease, and justly cease, to be numbered with the nations of the earth.

On the 3Oth of May next, you will unite in dedicating a monu- ment to the soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy. You complete the record of a glorious epoch in the history of your country; you crown the structure of imperishable fame with the cap-stone it has looked for; you hand to posterity a memorial in enduring bronze, of that gallant host, in remembrance of whose deeds of chivalry, of steadfast endurance, of immortal sacrifice, all hearts must throb with keenest emotion, all heads be bared in deepest reverence.

[From the Richmond, Va., Star, April 20, 1894.]

THE SHARPSHOOTERS OF MAHONE'S BRIGADE.

Some Account of this Gallant Organization.

A Paper Read by Captain John E. Laughton, Jr., Before Pickett Camp, Confederate Veterans, Richmond, Va.

There are few men better known in Richmond than Captain John E. Laughton, Jr. He served throughout the war and was a member of the sharpshooters of Mahone's Brigade. Captain Laughton is an enthusiastic member of Pickett Camp, and takes an interest in everything that tends to interest or ease the old soldier.

At the meeting held last Monday night, April i4th, he read the following highly interesting reminiscences of his service:

Commander and Comrades of George E. Pickett Camp :

Probably the most effective troops in the late civil war, for the number of men engaged, were the sharpshooters. The value of this branch of the service became so apparent that companies and bat- talions were organized in most of the brigades of infantry, and pos-