Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/353

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kinson, who was in the "Army of the Potomac" duing Grant'* r.mipaign from the Rapidan to Petersburg, and describes, in a most entertaining and thrilling way, his experiences in that army. Without intending it at all, I believe, and only telling in his own style, the way in which that army was organized, controlled, and fought, his recitals are a panegyric on the Army of Northern Virginia and the glorious leaders of that army.

The London Index has this to say of our army and our people:

" Let it be remarked, that while other nations have written their own histories, the brief history of this army, so full of imperishable glory, has been written for them by their enemies, or at least by hike-warm neutrals. Above all, has the Confederate nation distin- guished itself from its adversaries by modesty and truth, those noblest ornaments of human nature. A heart-felt, unostentatious piety has been the source whence this army and people have drawn their inspiration of duty, of honor and of consolation."

The Marquis of Lothian, from whom I have already quoted, said:

" There are few stories that history or tradition has handed down of valor and generosity which may not find something of a counter- part in the annals of this war. Parents sending forth their children. one after another, to die in the service of their country, without a murmur; delicate ladies leaving home to wait upon their countrymen in hospitals; stripping their homes of everything that could by any possibility promote the comfort of the troops, and working their fingers to the bone to making clothing for them;" " indi-

viduals raising regiments at their own expense, and then serving in them as privates; school-boys and collegians forming themselves into companies, and volunteering for service; common soldiers in regiments giving up their pay in order to procure what was required for the sick and wounded." * * * "In their daring, as well as in their self-sacrifice, things are constantly done which in most coun- tries would be made the theme for endless vaunting, but with them are passed over as matter of course, and as almost too common to be specially noticed."

Many such just and generous opinions might be quoted from like sources; but again I must forbear. You will observe that, as I wa> content to rest the justice of our cause on what our enemies and foreigners had to say of it, so I have been content to rest the con-