November 6th Rear Ranks Entry

From the Rear Ranks:  

Greetings Members!

I hope everyone is well!  This month we are fortunate to have long-time member and contributor to the Round Table, Roger Arthur presenting.  He will be speaking on "1863 - A New Birth of Freedom."  As always we look forward to Roger's presentations and this one is appropriate given the approach of the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. 

In modern times Abraham Lincoln's speech was the focus of the dedication ceremonies at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, however at the time Edward Everett was seen as the "headliner" at those ceremonies.  I have included an excerpt of the New York Time review of Everett's oration.

I look forward to seeing you all this week!  And please get your dues in if you have not done so already!

Respectively,

Chip Crowe
President,
Brandywine Valley Civil War Round Table

New York Times,
November 20, 1863

Orations of Everett and Beecher.

 

We devote a broadside of this morning's TIMES to the publication of two orations which we are sure will command the attention of the day. And not of this day only. Elaborate and finished discourses from two such men as EDWARD EVERETT and HENRY WARD BEECHER, upon topics of such great National interest as those they discuss, will not lightly be passed over, much less ignored altogether, by any intelligent citizen. Mr. EVERETT's theme is the "Battle of Gettysburgh," and the occasion is the dedication of that historic field as a National Cemetery. Mr. BEECHER's discourse was upon his recent tour in Great Britain -- his experiences there, and his views as regards British feeling and policy toward this country. These orations from two masters of oratory, delivered on the same day, but upon such different topics -- one historical and domestic, the other practical and foreign -- admit of little comparison.

 

     Mr. EVERETT's oration is, of course, classical and ornate in its diction, felicitous in illustration, well-wrought and strong in its logic, correct and explicit in its statement; in a word, it is eloquent, in the best sense of that much-abused term. His exordium is of great beauty; and his peroration is splendid. If we might offer a single point of criticism on the oration, it would be upon that part of it, constituting one-half of its body, which gives a narrative of the marches, manoeuvres, skirmishes and strategy of Gens. HOOKER and LEE, Gens. PLEASONTON and STUART, from the time at which the two armies left the opposite banks of the Rappahannock until they confronted each other on this side of the Potomac, and also the detailed account of the preliminaries of the battle, and of the action itself. Mr. EVERETT enters into a very minute statement of these things; and the elaborateness of the details, the large number of names, places and circumstances he has occasion to recall, will tend to confuse and repel those who are less familiar with the events than himself, and crowd out those "glittering generalities" which he or any other great orator might be expected mainly to deal in on such an occasion. It may be said that these things were dwelt upon, as the oration is intended and expected to be enduring and historical; but so also will be the reports of Gens. MEADE and LEE, from which the facts are largely drawn. After he gets through with this, however, Mr. EVERETT does justice to his subject and himself. Mr. BEECHER's very eloquent and effective oration will command no less attention than the oration of Mr. EVERETT. Great and national as has been his reputation as a speaker previously, that reputation has been largely magnified by his efforts on the other side of the sea. The English critics, who make such severe demands upon a public speaker, were taken captive by the American preacher; and the echoes of his resounding eloquence found a no less appreciative and delighted auditory in his own country. His speech last night was equal to his best efforts in England; indeed in logical connection, force and brilliancy, it was superior to any of his heretofore published speeches. His analysis of British sentiment and character did as perfect justice to the British people as his defence of America did justice thereto in England. The speech, however, will be universally read throughout the land, and every one can give vent and form to his own admiration.

 

Note:  The Times thus published and praised Everett's now forgotten oration a full day before re-printing the elegiac little speech that Lincoln had delivered afterward.