North Carolina and Virginia. 347
produced by the war, and in the difficulties and disadvantages the State and her people have labored under ever since.
(2) Virginia was the only State dismembered by the war. One- third of her territory (the richest in many respects) and. one-third of her people, were actually torn from her, by the mailed hand of war, not only without her consent, but contrary to an express provision of the Federal Constitution. The true history of this " political rape," as it was termed by General Wise, is one of the blackest political crimes in the annals of history.
FOURTH. The fourth claim or claims (and the last to which we can refer), preferred by North Carolina, is set forth in these very strik- ing terms, viz: That she was
"FIRST AT BETHEL; FARTHEST TO THE FRONT AT GETTYS- BURG AND CHICKAMAUGA; LAST AT APPOMATTOX."
This legend in this form is inscribed on the cover of each of the five volumes published by the State, entitled " North Carolina Reg- iments, 1861-65" to be thus perpetuated throughout all time.
Of course, such claims, thus asserted, and conveying to the world what these necessarily do, should be above and beyond all criticism or cavil. Let us see if these will stand this test ? Before instituting this inquiry, let us first ask, respectfully, why these claims are made at all ? The learned editor of the volume to which we have just re- ferred disclaims that they are intended as a boast; but, we again re- spectfully ask, Can they mean anything else than that North Caro- lina means by them to proclaim the fact, that the troops furnished by her were better, and therefore did better, at the important points named, than those from any other State ? It is worthy of note, too, that our frends are getting more aggressive in their claiming with the passing of time. The first form assumed by this legend, and inscribed on the Confederate monument at Raleigh, was only
"FIRST AT BETHEL; LAST AT APPOMATTOX."
We next hear of it, as inscribed on her memorial room in Rich- mond, as
"FIRST AT BETHEL; FARTHEST TO THE FRONT AT GETTYS- BURG; LAST AT APPOMATTOX."
And now, Chickamauga' s ' ' bloody front ' ' is also included. One of of her writers had already claimed that ' ' Chancellorsville ' ' was a
