finish up the parts of his statue that would not be in sight, he said: "These I am finishing for the gods to look at." In the life and character of GENERAL THOMAS, there were no secret places of which his friends will ever be ashamed. But his career is ended. Struck dead at his post of duty, a bereaved nation bore his honored dust across the continent and laid it to rest on the banks of the Hudson, amidst the tears and grief of millions. The nation stood at his grave as a mourner. No one knew until he was dead, how strong was his hold on the hearts of the American people. Every citizen felt that a pillar of State had fallen; that a great, and true, and pure man had passed from earth. There are no fitting words in which I may speak of the loss which every member of this Society has sustained in his death. The GENERAL of the army has beautifully said, in his order announcing the death of THOMAS: "Though he leaves no child to bear his name, the Old Army of the Cumberland, numbered by tens of thousands, called him Father, and will weep for him in tears of manly grief." To us, his comrades, he has left the rich legacy of his friendship. To his country and to mankind, he has left his character and his fame as a priceless and everlasting possession. "O iron nerve to true occasion true! O fallen at length that tower of strength Which stood four-square to all the winds that blew !" But while the races of mankind endure, Let his great example stand Colossal seen of every land, And keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure, Till in all lands and thro' all human story, The path of Duty be the way to Glory." APPENDIX TO GEN. GARFIELD'S ORATION. A. The Army Register shows the following as the Roster of the Second U. S. Cavalry in 1860, with the date of the resignation of those who went into the rebel service. Colonel ALBERT S. JOHNSTON,* resigned May 3, 1861. Lieutenant Colonel ROBERT E. LEE,* resigned April 25, 1861. Major GEORGE H. THOMAS. Captain EARL VAN DORN,* resigned January 31, 1861. Captain EDMUND K. SMITH,* resigned April 6, 1861. Captain INNIS N. PALMER. Captain GEORGE Stoneman. Captain WILLIAM R. BRADFUTE, resigned March 21, 1861. Captain ALBERT G. BRACKETT.* Captain CHARLES J. WHITING. Captain NATHAN G. EVANS, resigned February 27, 1861. Captain RICHARD W. JOHNSON. First Lieutenant JOSEPH H. MCARTHUR. First Lieutenant CHAS. W. FIELD,* resigned May 30, 1861. First Lieutenant KENNER GARRARD. First Lieutenant WALTER H. JENIFER,* resigned April 30, 1861. *Became Generals in the Rebel Army. First Lieutenant WILLIAM B. ROYALL. First Lieutenant JOHN T. SHOAFF, resigned February 22, 1861. First Lieutenant WILLIAM W. LOWE. First Lieutenant JOHN B. HOOD,* resigned April 16, 1861. Second Lieutenant JOSEPH F. MINTER, resigned March 31, 1861. Second Lieutenant A. PARKER PORTER. Second Lieutenant WESLEY OWENS. Second Lieutenant JAS. P. MAJOR,* resigned March 21, 1861. * Became Generals in the Rebel Army. B. November 19, 1870. DEAR GENERAL: I give you the following from memory, having never made any written note of it before. It must have been about, if not upon, the 19th April, 1861, that COLONEL R. E. LEE, First U. S. Cavalry, then staying at Arlington, came to GENERAL SCOTT's office, opposite the War Department, in Washington, in obedience to a message from the General that he desired to see him. I was the only person present during the interview. GENERAL SCOTT spoke for about fifteen minutes, the substance of his remarks being that it was time Lee should clearly define his position upon the question which was causing many Southern officers to resign from the United States Army; that he had probably already made up his mind, but that he should weigh well the consequence; that the cause of the Southern people against the North could not possibly terminate in favor of the former, and should it fail the result must be disastrous to those officers who left the army to join the South. LEE listened in silence, and at last replied briefly: "General, I must go with my native State in what she decides to be best. My children all own property in Virginia; all that we have is there. I can not raise my hand against my children." The interview then terminated, and LEE sent in his resignation the next day, April 20, 1861. Yours truly, GENERAL GARFIELD, M. C. E. D. TOWNSEND. DEAR GENERAL: C. WASHINGTON, D. C., November 21, 1870. I send you the following information, drawn from the records in the Adjutant General's office. R. E. LEE recorded his name in the Adjutant General's office, March 5, 1861, as Brevet Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Second Cavalry. Address, Arlington; with the remark, under orders. from Department of Texas." R. E. LEE was confirmed by the Senate as Colonel First Cavalry, March 23, 1861. Date of Commission, March 25, 1861, to rank from March 10, 1861. Commission forwarded to him at Arlington, Va., March 28, 1861, and its receipt acknowledged and accepted by him March 30, 1861. April 20, 1861, by letter from Arlington, R. E. LEE tenders his resignation as Colonel First Cavalry. Received by GENERAL SCOTT the same day, and sent to the Adjutant General. Submitted to GENERAL CAMERON, Secretary of War, April 24, 1861, and accepted by him the next day, April 27, 1861. He was informed at Richmond of the acceptance, by the President, of his resignation, to take effect April 25, 1861. In the letter of tender of resignation, no reason given. FITZHUGH LEE records his name at the Adjutant General's office as Second Lieutenant First Cavalry, May 1, 1861, with the remark, "on seven days' leave from West Point," at Washington, May 16, 1861, tenders his resignation. Address Richmond. Resignation submitted to GENERAL CAMERON, Secretary of War, May 21, 1861, and accepted by him. I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, L. THOMAS, Brigadier General U. S. Army. GENERAL J. A. GARFIELD, Washington, D. C. |