Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/302

 290 Southern Historical Society Papers.

shot and shell, and thus that magnificent field marshal, John B. Gordon, led the counter-charge, which restored the fortunes of a lost field. The next day, May 6th, Early, with Gordon leading again, assaulted Grant's left flank, and put the boot on the other leg, for the result was the capture of 600 prisoners, including Generals Seymour and Hayes.

Early was with Lee in both of his northern invasions, and is the only other Confederate general who, himself, led two invasions.

He won the only battle ever won by Confederate arms beyond the borders of the Confederacy, as witness the defeat of Wallace, on the Monocacy, July gth, 1864.

His. three victories in 1864 were the last in which the Army of Northern Virginia drove its foe from the battle-field, as witness Hun- ter's flight from Lynchburg, June iQth; Wallace's, from Monocacy, July gth, and Crook's, from Kernstown, August 236.

He led the expedition which, though the smallest in numbers, came nearest of all to capturing Washington.

He made the greatest march of the civil war or of modern war.

He was not finally overcome until the army of his adversary num- bered on its rolls more men than the Army of Northern Virginia, under Lee, inclusive of Early* s own troops and those of Beauregard at Petersburg; not until those in his immediate front were more than three-fold his own in numbers; not until the cavalry of his enemy were more numerous than his own infantry, and reported more men present than his entire command; not until he had killed, wounded and captured more men than he ever mustered upon a field of battle.

FOUR YEARS OF CONFLICT.

He who fought this good fight was amongst the last of the states- men to cling to peace and union, and he was among the first when his State was invaded, to enter the ranks of war, offering his ser- vices the very day the convention adjourned, and making no con- dition of rank as to their acceptance; and, the sword once drawn, none wielded a trustier blade, or returned it more slowly or reluc- tantly to the scabbard.

Amidst the thunders of Manassas in the victorious dawn of the young nation struggling to be free, he won his first renown; and from that day to the sunset guns of the Lost Cause he illustrated its genius, its self-sacrifice, and its prowess with deeds that will live