Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-11-04

htpl W VIC puIsuii COuPiS VI HI0o'
Human nature could hold out no longer.
Worn ont with incesssnt fighting and
marching for nearly week, with little
rest, to carry the pursuit further was i'm
practicable. Tie troops bivouaced near
ily in their present position. About 2 O.
clock, P. NJ, returned to Winchester,
where the General had aken up his head
quarters, and wen, through the process Of
Formally, repo ting TO him for duty
through his Acting Adjutant General.
Upon entering the room, Lieut. Pendle-
ton introduced me. The room was small,
the few chairs were occupied by the diff
feren, s:af officers engaged in their va
rious office duties, save the one used By
the General himself. The remaining fur
nilure of the room consisted OF large
double bed variety Of small hand trunks
belonging to the staff. rickely old table,
&c. AS Pendleton mentioned my name
to him, he looked up, recognized me as
"moraing's" acquaintance, said few
kind words, and insisted upon having my
cap (which at first was not disposed
10 give him, but which, after while, |
consented TO DO. He pushed his own
chair upon me, and seated himself on the
bed. and, holding my cap, began light
conversation, asking many questions a.
bout matters and things with my former
command and Richmond, seemed much
pleased with the account rendered him
Of The fights at Williamsburg, West Point
and Drewry's Bluff. | found him, when
not pressingly engaged with his duties,
always fond Of asking questions, but wan
ted answers to the pont-an indefinite
answer always displeased him. In man
ners he was always TO every one painful
ly polite, though in his carriage rather
awkward. Bul these little things which
at first tended 10 be unpleasant soon left
when talking 10 him, and being interest
ed in what was said, his eye remained
upon you, and you saw nothing more,
save the thorough, honest, earnest man
and soldier An old gentleman who had
seen much of the world both here and a.
broad, and at one time also held some i'm
portant diplomatic position, both under
United States and Confederate authority,
once characterized him TO me as the most
earnest man he had ever known. Hav-
ing received military training, the hab-
its of obedience and punctuali'y had, by
a subsequent mode Of life, as an officer oil
the Virginia Military Institute, been con-
frmed. Possessing wonderful degree
of physical and mental endurance, few
could hope TO hold out with him. and on
the field his staff had no sinccure office.
have often seen him riding in galop, his
face turned towards the heavens, his right
Iband lifted ever with and near bis face,
praying, it was SAID, 10 the God Of battles
TO show US mercy and bless our arms
and seldom were his prayer (if such they
were) invoked in vain. Blending his mil
itary genius with his religious principles
Of honesty Of purpose, truihlnIness OF
thought and justice, he has left reputa-
tion behind him, which in modern times
few have equallod, none have excelled.
When remember the means at his CON-
mand, the expectations resting on and de-
manded from him, and the condition of his
troops, it is sometimes hard TO decide
which TO admire the mos:, unfaltering for
tiude, courage and daring of the man,
who, beset on all sides by powerful ene-
mics, the weakest of whom was stronger
than himself, and who could, with such
means, furnish such brilliant results, or
The gallan, body of men who, through
summers heat and winters cold, would
dare and do anything their General had
decided upon. The confidence of his
men in him was always unlimited, and no
matter how dark the prospect might look,
or how exhausted they might be from the
fa,igues of the day, whether of fighting
or marching, they were always ready 10
give him shout Of welcome and recog-
Dition. twas heart speaking TO heart,
soldier TO soldier. When the southern
character is taken into consideration IN Its
phase of individuality and recklessness,
especially in such times, and knowing
how our armies were gotten together, II
colud not have been matter Of small dli-
fculty TO have mastered their prejudices
and disciplined their wills to habits OF
implicit. obedience. Ye, he did, and he
led them in his simple and unosientatious
way, with that faith that a child beslows
upon beloved parent. Even now as
write. he appears 10 me, just as he did on
that Sunday afternoon at The Taylor
House, in Winchester-quiet and polite
| in his manners, sincere in his religious
convictions, earnest in his desire 10 pro-
mote the cause in which he was engaged,
exacsng in the obedience due him, and