Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-05-09

General Lee has a son, Robert E. Lee, Jr. q
private in the Rockbridge, Va, artillery. OF
course the boy, though only seventeen, has had
numerous offsrs of posts Of aid to commanding
Ulcers, but has declined them all, and is con-
tent to take his turn at cooking and washing
with the rest. The company was with Jackson
during his Valley csmpaign. A correspondent
of the Lynebburg Hginiaa relates an interview
between the father and the son on the battle
field of Sharpsburg All the guns of the bat
terry had been disabled. The letter ssys:
We were engaged in gettinO our remaining
gun in fighting trim when Gen. Lss rode up.
Aids and couriers went aud came in quick sue
cession from different parts Of the field to Gem
municste or recsive dispatches from him. Shells
burstsd in the air or ploughed up the dust
around him, or passed over head, singing their
omiuous death messages. Il was the most
critical period of the contest. Defeat, if not
aunihilation, was disastrous and disgrscsful
retreat across the Potomac But amid all ths
excitement and dangers and weighty RESPONSE
bilities of the hour, he was, IS he always is on
the battle field, cool and self possessad-his face
fairly radiant with intelligence and the work
ings of his master mind and the emotions Of
the patriot soldier. Twas as bright and cheer
ing as the sun when ne breaks through the
black clouds of the thunder storm. It inspired
US all with fresh courage and confidence.
In his kind, gsntlemsnly manner he inquired
as to orr losses, and was just saying that he
wanted us to 60 back on the left sgsin, when
Bob. hearing his voice, csme f0rwsrd-his
clothes drenched with Precipitation, and his per-
son blackened with smoke and dust-and, sslut-
ing him with an affectionate familiarity, the fol-
lowing eollOguy eDsued "Why, good morning,
general" How are you, my son 7" eve
sre badly used up, sir have only one piece fit
for action" An aid came up at full speed to
say that "Gen - Il could not he1r The name)
says send him al the reinforeements you can
spare-that the enemy is bringing ND heavy eel
umns of fresh troops against him" "And so
you are going to send as TO that hot place on
gne left agsin." yes, my son General jack
son will need every gun on the left. We must
from the same General dashed 8p to say that
'fhe General says be will inevitsbly be driven
from bis position unless reinforced" I heard
General Lee say: Tell the General I have no
reinforcements 10 send to hold his ground if it
is POSSIBLE" Turning to Bob, he continued,
YES, my son, we must drive those people back
Tell your Captain I wsnt him to take his gun
over to the left again" He then rode on, and
we pitched into the fight again"
Abiding to his refusal of commissions, the
correspondent says:
Time and again be has been solicited aud
urged to accept commissions, with easy end
ho8orabfs position, on staff; but he has inva-
riably declined, assigning as g reason thst he did
not think his father approved Of inexperienced
boys holding positions over men that he reck-
oned he would put him in the way Of getting q
commission when he considered him deserving
Of it. Added to his many otter virtues, ike his
father, he is a consistent humble Christian.