Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/262

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252
Southern Historical Society Papers.
Editorial Paragraphs.
Editorial Paragraphs.


The Annual Reunion of the Virginia Division of the Army of Northern Virginia, which came off in Richmond on the evening of 1st November, was, in every sense, a grand occasion. The hall of the House of Delegates was packed to its utmost capacity by an audience which testified by most enthusiastic applause their high appreciation of the noble address of Captain James Gordon McCabe, on "The Siege of Petersburg." As we expect to publish the address in full in our next number, we make no further comment than to say that it was a splendid oration, clothing valuable historic truth in a garb which charmed all who heard it, and holding the audience spell-bound for over two hours.

The banquet at the Saint Claire Hotel, which followed the address, was a superb affair. The rations issued were such as even Federal commissaries never dreamed of issuing, and such as our boys failed to find in the camp chest of either Banks, Pope, or Milroy; the room and tables were beautifully decorated; "the boys" had a delightful time as they revived the memories of the brave old days when they "wore the gray;" and speeches, brimful of humor, pathos and eloquence, were made, in response to appropriate toasts, by General T. M. Logan, Major John W. Daniel, Judge F. R. Farrar, Captain John Lamb, Captain J. Hampden Chamberlayne, Corporal Carlton McCarthy, Rev. (Captain) A. W. Weddell, Captain Gordon McCabe, General Fitz. Lee, Colonel C. S. Venable, General B. T. Johnson, Dr. J. S. D. Cullen, Dr. R. T. Coleman, and others. The banquet was protracted into the "wee sma' hours" of the next morning, and all voted it a most enjoyable occasion which passed off without the slightest approach to anything like dissipation or disorder. The Association unanimously re-elected the following officers: General W. H. F. Lee, President; Treasurer, Major Robert Stiles; Secretaries, Sergeant Geo. L. Christian and Sergeant Leroy S. Edwards; Vice-Presidents—First, General R. Ransom; Second, General H. Heth; Third, General A. L. Long; Fourth, General Wm. Terry; Fifth, Captain D. B. McCorkle. Executive Committee—General B. T. Johnson, Major W. K. Martin, Colonel Thomas H. Carter, Major T. A. Brander, Corporal Carlton McCarthy.

In the absence of the President, the Second Vice-President, General H. Heth, presided over the meeting and at the banquet.


We have received from Major I. Scheibert, of the Royal Prussian Engineers, a very kind letter, in which he expresses in high terms his appreciation of the value of our papers, and the "great interest in the historical world" which they create.

We have not yet received his book on the Civil War in America, which he speaks of having sent, but hope that it will soon reach us.