Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-11

and intellectual manhood being about fortyhve years OF
ave He is six feet in height weighs about one nun
dTed and ninety pounds is erect we-formed ana OF n,
osinp appearance; has cekS bright, benignant black
ewes dark gray hair, and heavy gray beard. lie is
ycc-lipry pan in his dress and looks at his cos
tune in vain for those insignia of rank for when most
officers show such weakness. He wears an unassumhg
black felt hat with strip OF gold lace around
IT, and plain Brgadiers coat with three stars on the
collar hut without the usual braidng the sleeves
He travels and sleeps in ambulance when the army IL
in motion and occupies tent when it Is stationary anu
not the largest and best house in the neghborhood az
the custom Of some officers In few words ne cres
INIT tte for appearances though of the handsomes
men in the Conederacy, and content to take the same
fare his soldiers receive
In character and personal department, he IS all ous
the most ardent patriot desire. Grave aud dlgnned
he Is vet modest aud painfully disrustfu OF his own ab
ties The descendant Of gallant officer of the elder
revolution the husband of the granddaughter by adop
toni of Gen Washington, the inheritor OF large es
tate and the trusted leader Of great and victorious
army he is nevertheless accessible to the humbest aud
must ragged soldier in the ranks TO his Officers
lust and kind the citizen and witha and ABOVE an
meek and humble christian.
During the time the army was in Maryland an officer
of high position in the country suggested number OF
reasons 10 General Lee in support OF grave measure
then under discussion. Among Others he remarked 10
him that he was trusted by his government, hsd the
hearts of his soldiers aud possessed the entire confidence
People relied implicitly upon his patriotism and genus
Tears rushed 10 his eyes and he exclaimed-"Do net
saw ths,-do not say that. am sensible Of my veuk-
CSC aud such responsibility your remark implies
would crush me to the earth" He said in the same con-
yersaton that there nothing he mueh desired az
peace and independence. All he had, and all he hoped
or-ull that ambition could suggest or glofy giye-he
could fe<y surrender them all to stop the Bow OF blood
and secure freedom to the country He did not doubt
that these blessings would come in due season; but he
vsnted them now, and would readily sacrifice every
thought of personal aggandzement to save the life oil
even one soldier.
Gen Lee though not possessing the first order oil in
ellect is endowed with Judgment and equa2imity,
unsrrius sagacity great secontro and extraordinary
power. of combination. Like Washington, he is wise
man and good man, and possesses in an eminent de-
gree those qualities which indispensable in the great
der and champion upon whom the country rests its
homes of present success aud future independence In
simple intellect there other officers in the service who
are his EQUALS and perhaps his superos, and AS mere
fighter there are some who NAV excel him But in the
qualities of commander, entrusted with the duty OF
planning and executing campaign upon broad scale,
aud with the direction and government Of large army,
whether scattered vide extent OF territory or
msssed together as at Richmond he surpasses them all
and ia the peer of any living cheftain in the New World
or the Old The country should feel grateful that Heaven
has raised up one in MIDST 80 worthy OF our conn
dence and so capable TO lead. The grand az wash.
ington so 10 speak let hope that the mantle of the
ascending hero has fallen upon the shoulders OF the wise
aud modest chief who nov commands the army of
Northern Virginia