The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-08-24
"REMINISCENCES OF GEN. LEE.

hlsHto lHr lUllUWiip "reminiscences UI the
great chieltain, Robert L. Lee:
About the Goth of April, 1861. when
Fort Sumter had just fallen, the Virginia
convention had passed the ordinance Of
secession, and The whole country was
ablaze with excitement. happened al a
little village on the Virginia Central Rail
road, where a large crowd had collected to
get the news from the passing train. On
the arrival of the tain i. was whispered
around that .Cpl. Robert 4. Lee" was
aboard on his way 10 tender bis services to
the authorities OF bis native State. There
was an immediate call for him which was
persisien;ly repeated until al last modest.
splendid looking man. about five feet eight
inches high. medium size. slightly grey
hair and meustache aud apparently about
forty years old. made his appearance al the
window Of the baggage car. where he had
taken refuge from rudeegazes, bowed his
acknowledgements amidst the shouts Of
tic crowd, and hastily retired. i knew but
little OF .Cul. Lee" before, but i single
glance su ficed to show tha, he was no or
dlpary man. did not see him again for
over twelve months. The regiment 70
which belonged was attached 10 Gen.
Joseph L. yohnslon's " Army Of the She
nandoah !" until after The evacuation Of Ma
nassas in the Spring &C &c when il went
10 follow !. Stonewall Jackson IN his me
ihotable ..salley campaign and marched
with him TO those glorious victories which
raised the siege Of Richmond. While the
battle of Gaines's Mill was at lis height a
siaG officer dashed up 10 a group where
was standing not far 10 the rear Of our
lines OF BEETLE and Inquired for Gen. lee.
Some one pointed 10 tree not FAR uf IN.
der which recllned an apparently old man.
with white hair and whiskers. whom Ihad
taken for some old citizen, dressed as he
was in a simple grey suit with no mark Of
Office and unattended al the time by even
a single aid. But when The message was
delivered he quickly mounted his horse,
and, a. with erect carriage and flashing
eve. he galloped towards The front.
thought that he was the noblest looking
man had ever seen. Over twelve months
Of hard service and pressing cares had
wrought great change in his personal ap-
pearance. whitening his hair and giving
him q weather. beaten LOOKOUT they had
not iesscned the elasticity nf his move.
ments, or the mobility Of soul which shine.
out in his features. To see Gen. Lee qui.
ely sitting in church stranger would
take him Tor some "fsiher in Israel. buI
90 see him uu horsebgek reviewing vi.
troops or directing q battle no one would
tail 10 pronounce him " every inch sol.
dier "--the fl leader Of The noble army up
on whose banners victory has 50 Otter
rerchet.
Hut one must know him in order fully
IN appreciate his character. Ia the dis
charge OF his duties he is prompt and de-
,ided, and all who have business with hin
must learn TO be " short and TO the point
'lcalled upon him Oh one occasion IN be-
half of friend and beginning 70 make a
perhaps, tedious statement. the Genera
quietly reminded me Of "thr points I,
be decided, and questioned me closely up
IN those. Upon another occasion ven
20 see him AZ member Of chaplsins
committee, and as The chairman was goin:
into on introduction TO the subject III,
General politely interrupted him BY III,
question, !" What are the points - and OF
being told he took them up one at tim,
snd briefly but clearly gave his views ol
each. Yet while thus insisting upon brew
~ he extends 20 all who visit him courtes,
and kindness which certain subalterns
wot OF would do well to initiate. A plat
old farmer told me the other day that b,
had less embarrassment in an interyiev
with Gen. Lee than with certain Captains
and Majors he had dealings with. lie ha
a line memory aud rarely forgets face.
name. OF the smallest detail Of business
so,a after he took command Of the Virgin