CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: HONOR OF GREATER VALUE THAN RICHES

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
29 March 2002 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson - Page 298-299

HONOR OF GREATER VALUE THAN RICHES

This, from Gen. W. L. Cabell, is the lofty high bred sentiment of the 
South, and as a representative man of the old South, and a Texan, 
with a full endorsement. This is clipped from the Confederate Veteran 
of July, 1907:

My old Comrades: Being unable from ill health, to attend the great 
Reunion at Richmond, of the brave men who followed the flag of the 
Confederacy, until it was furled and laid away, and knowing that I was 
growing old and feeble, and that I had been honored continuously as 
the commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department for seventeen years, 
I deemed it; but right and proper that I should return the commission 
you gave me in 1890, in order that you might elect a younger and more 
vigorous man to command the Trans-Mississippi Department. But my 
comrades from all the great States and Territories of the South and 
West, the greatest country that the sun shines upon, by a unanimous 
vote have reelected me.  No greater honor, my old comrades, could he 
conferred upon me. It fills me with love and affection for the old 
heroes who followed the honored flag of the Confederacy until it was 
furled and forever laid away. I thank you, my old comrades, from an 
honest heart for this great honor, of which I feel prouder than if I 
had been elected President of the United States. I promise you it shall 
he the effort of my life to keep the camp fires burning during my life, 
and that I shall continue to do all I can to perpetuate our noble 
association and to urge the gallant old heroes, "the unpaid soldiers 
of immortal principle," to keep in touch with each other the few short 
years left to us here. 

Recollect, my old comrades, that the great column of gray, every member 
of which received his baptism of blood and fire over forty years ago, 
the echoes of whose guns were heard all over the civilized world, 
arousing the people to throw off the yoke of tyranny, and to contend 
for a republican form of government, is fast growing smaller, and that 
but a few years can intervene until taps will be sounded and all will 
have crossed over the river to the great beyond to hold our great 
reunion on that eternal shore.  Let us then ask a kind Providence to 
spread his sheltering wings over us, so that we may meet in reunion 
these remaining years.

Thanking you again, my old comrades, from every part of our great 
Southland, for the great honor you have conferred upon me, I pray a 
kind and merciful God to continue his blessings upon our noble 
association and to bless you all dear to you with good health and all 
the pleasures and comforts incident to a long and happy life.  May God 
bless you all for many years to come, will he the daily prayer of
your old Commander.	W. L. CABELL.