"I am sitting on the stile, Mary, Where we sat, side by side, On that bright May morning long ago, When first you were my bride." He began it thus, and into his voice, filled with the sorrows of the "Mary's" who wept down in his Southland, he put the full strength of his expression. The hostile audience was silent as he finished. "And often in the far-off world, I'll sit and close my eyes, And my heart will travel back again To where my Mary lies. And I'll think I see the little stile Where we sat, side by side, Mid the young corn on that bright May morn When you were first my bride." The Irishmen who had fought against the cause which Lacy loved were quiet now, and when he said, "Wouldn't you want a bit of a stone for 'Mary' to remember you," they yelled and rushed to grasp his hand. From his "hostile" audience he collected $14,000.00 that night. In the whole tour he gathered a great sum for Confederate cemeteries. During his later years, with his wife, who represented the ladies of another era, as he did its men, he lived on Washington Avenue, in Fredericksburg. To few did he ever show the deeper side of his character, but those who knew him until he died in 1906, knew how much kindly manliness dwelt therein. MAJOR GENERAL DANIEL RUGGLES Although Major General Daniel Ruggles was born in Massachusetts, he married Miss Richardetta Mason Hooe, a great granddaughter of George Mason, and the greater part of his life was spent in Fredericksburg, of which he became a citizen and in which he died. During his life in Fredericksburg he concerned himself with the business of the town, and was known to almost all of its residents. He was graduated into the army from West Point in 1883 and lead a small band into the west and explored the Fox river the same year. [Sidenote: _General Ruggles' Career_] When the Seminole Indian war broke out Lieutenant Ruggles with fifty men penetrated the everglades and was commended for his services. In the Mexican war he stopped the Mexican advance at Palo Alto and was promoted to Captain on the field. Captain Ruggles and his men reached Chapaultepec, drove into the city, made a determined stand and were the first of the advancing American Army to raise the American flag over the fort. He was breveted Major by President Polk "for gallant and meritorious conduct at Chereubusco" and a little later was made Lieutenant Colonel "for gallant and conspicuous bravery at Chapaultepec." In 1861 he joined the Confederate Army. [Sidenote: _The Real "First Battle"_]