of Marengo, the French lost in killed and wounded, 4,700,
the Austrians, 6,475. In the Battle of Hohenlinden, the French loss in
killed and wounded was 2,200, the Austrian loss was 5,000; at Austerlitz
the French loss was 9,000; at Waterloo, Wellington lost 9,061 in killed
and wounded, Blucher lost 5,613, making the total loss of the Allies,
14,674.

I mention these facts because such sanguinary conflicts as those of our
Civil War could only have occurred when the soldiers of both contending
armies were men of superb determination and courage. Such unquestioned
prowess as this should be gratifying to all Americans, showing to the
world as they did that the intrepid fortitude and courage of Americans
have excelled that of any other people upon the earth. And as the world
will extol the exhibition of these qualities by the soldiers that fought
under Grant, the historian will find words inadequate to express his
admiration of the superb heroism of the soldiers led by the intrepid
Lee. Meeting a thoroughly organized, and trebly equipped and appointed
army, they successfully grappled in deadly conflict with these
tremendous odds, while civilization viewed with amazement this climax of
unparalleled and unequal chivalry, surpassing in grandeur of action
anything heretofore portrayed either in story or in song. Whence came
these qualities? They were the product of Southern chivalry, which two
centuries had finally perfected. A chivalry which esteemed stainless
honor as a priceless gem, and a knighthood which sought combat for
honor's sake, generously yielding to an antagonist all possible
advantage; the chivalry which taught Southern youth to esteem life as
nothing when honor was at stake, a chivalry which taught that the
highest, noblest, and most exalted privilege of man was the defence of
woman, family, and country. It was this Southern chivalry that formed
such men as Lee and Stonewall Jackson; they were the central leading
figures, but they were only prototypes of the soldiers whom they led.

It is this character of men who meet in banquet to-night to honor the
name they revere and the noble life they seek to emulate. I say, God
bless you all, the whole world breathes blessings upon you. Among the
foremost in these sentiments are the brave soldiers against whom you
were once arrayed in battle, and they, together with seventy million
Americans know that in future perils to our country, you and your
children will be foremos