“Burlington, Vermont, August 10, 1904.

“To the G. A. R. assembled at Boston:

“Comrades,​—​Our Commander-in-Chief having already sent his subscription to the Memorial Volume to General Longstreet, written by his widow, I wish to join a list of subscribers to be forwarded from this encampment to Mrs. Longstreet, which we will request General Black to transmit with assurances of our regard and admiration for her great husband, whom we learned to fear on so many brilliant fields, and in a later day to admire for his noble qualities as citizen of the reunited nation.”

This tribute came to me accompanied by a delightfully long list of subscribers to this little volume. I would be pleased to print the list, but want of space forbids.

THE SONS FOLLOW THE FATHERS

The twenty-third Annual Encampment of the Commandery-in-Chief of the Sons of Veterans, U. S. A., was in session at Boston, August 17 to 19, 1904.

At their closing session, E. R. Campbell, of Washington, D. C., Past Commander-in-Chief, acting under unanimous consent, brought the above tribute from the Veterans to the attention of the Sons of Veterans.

In a graceful speech he referred to this beautiful testimonial from the Grand Army of the Republic to the memory of a gallant opponent; asserted that the sons should follow in the footsteps of the fathers in all things attesting the spirit of a reunited nation; that it was the pleasure of the sons on their own account and in the light of history to testify to their enthusiastic appreciation of the valorous deeds of General Longstreet on the battle-field, and his equally commendable services to his country when the war was over; and asked that the matter be referred for further official action and endorsement to the incoming commander-in-chief, General William G. Dustin, of Dwight, Illinois.

The sentiment was applauded, the action asked was granted, and the tokens of individual approval and appreciation are continuing to gladden my heart as I write these closing words of grateful thanks to the fathers, the sons, and all who have so generously united in appreciation of the name and fame of General Longstreet.

FOOTNOTES

[A] Hood says, “As soon as I arrived upon the Emmitsburg road I placed one or two batteries in position and opened fire. A reply from the enemy’s guns soon developed his lines. His left rested on or near Round Top, with line bending back and again forward, forming, as it were, a concave line, as approached by the Emmitsburg road. A considerable body of troops was posted in front of their main line, between the Emmitsburg road and Round Top Mountain. This force was in line of battle upon an eminence near a peach-orchard.

“I found that in making the attack according to orders,​—​viz., up the Emmitsburg road,​—​I should have first to encounter and drive off this advanced line of battle; secondly, at the base and along the slope of the mountain, to confront immense boulders of stone, so massed together as to form narrow openings, which would break our ranks and cause the men to scatter whilst climbing up the rocky precipice. I found, moreover, that my division would be exposed to a heavy fire from the main line of the enemy in position on the crest of the high range, of which Round Top was the extreme left, and, by reason of the concavity of the enemy’s main line, that we would be subject to a destructive fire in flank and rear, as well as in the front; and deemed it almost an impossibility to clamber along the boulders up this steep and rugged mountain, and, under this number of cross fires, put the enemy to flight. I knew that if the feat was accomplished, it must be at a most fearful sacrifice of as brave and gallant soldiers as ever engaged in battle.