Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-11-30
Matetial tot gistarg.
From the London FortnIghtly Review.
TEE CONFEDERACY.

TIE CONEEl1EhACY.
The Dying Hossrs and StruggIes-Me
Nobility of Lee-!Me Hopslessness of
the Struggle-A Thrilling Account By
an Impartial Observer.
1t is said by Coleride that no man thrown
to the surface of human affairs even sue.
oeeded in,simultaueously gaining distinction
and affection, unless he possessed something
of an epicene nature, that is to say, mix
ture of masculine and feminine qualities.
Without claiming for General Lee in the
highest sense of the title 'sgreat," it is i'm
possible to deny that his memory will be
oherised by those who, in the crisis of his
three years trial, stood and suffered by his
side, as an exceptionally dear and precious
possession Few soldiers, if asked whether
they would rather have served under Lee
on the one hand, OF under Cromwell Fed.
rick the Great, Marlborough or Napoleon
on the other, would hesitate to prefer the
four famous generals to the discom6tted
Confederate. Yet it is doubtful whether
any of the four, after they passed away, and
bad ceased to communicate the electric
shock of their presence and contact-of eye,
voice, character and infuence-.to others,
possessed such hold on the affections and
esteem as were inspired BY Robert e. Lee.
The exceeding loveableness of Lee be-
came more patent as your consciousness that
as politician he lacked Vigor and self'asser-
tiop became more irresistable. This love-
ableness was based upon never-tiring un-'
sel6shness, contagious endurance of hard.
ship and danger, shrinking modesty, an
abounding tenderness. The child and the
youpggirl, who had never seen him before,
ran to him instinctly as to friend. His
look spoke of honesty, directness, kindli'
ness, courage. His smile was irresistably
winning. But the stuff which made Crom'
well, Napoleon, William the Silent, greater
as politicians than as soldiers was lacking
in Lee. All there was oftrue and brave in
the people whom he so nearly made ma
ton called on him by signs that be who
ran might read, to put Congress aside, to
control the press, to be Dictator indeed
and yet he would not Nevertheless, in
the belief that there is no more powerful
stimulant to a noble ambition than the
study of suoK character as Lees, l desire
to throw my stone upon the cairn by gath.
ering together few notes, for general ac-
ouracy of which I can entirely vouch, ex.
hibitipg the main features of the eventful
six days which intervened between the
evacuation of the Confederate lines around
Petersburg and Richmond on the night of
April I'd, and the Surrender of Lees army
on the morning Of April 9th.
In order rightly to understand these six
days, it should be promised that the Fed
eral cavalry, massed under Gen. Sheridan,
numbering about $1,000 sabres, splendidly
equipped, and converted by their able COM
mauder into body Of military horsemen
upon whom an Austrian or French sabreur
might have looked without disdaiu, moved
southwards down the valley of Virginia be.
tween the lst and 10th of last March, and
encountered scratch Confederate army of
about 5000 men, under General Early, at
Waynesboro. General Early distrustful
of his men, who were equally distrustful of
him, planted them with their backs to
deep river in order to make retreat inpos-
sible. The result is easily foreseen. Gen.
Sheridan bagged two thirds Of his euemy's
force and most of his euemy's artillery
Bwseping rapidly onward towards the James
River between Richmond and Lynchburg,
Sheridan found himself confronted by a
swollen and impossible stream: He fell
back, rounded the left wing of Lees army,
crossed the Pamuukey River at the White
House, (whcre he recruited bis strength BY
picking up l, 200 fresh horses which await
ed him there, and up to the 18th of March
ioined Gen. Grant in the lines before Pc
tsrsburg. To Sheridan's untiriug and sa-
gacious activity in the subsequent opera
lions, more than to the.ageucy of any other
man, is due the completeness of the FEEDER
al triunph-the seemingly inexplicable
collapse of the Confederacy.
1t was not long before Gen. Grants acces-
sion of strength was felt by Lee.
Upon the eyeniDgof Saturday, April l,
Gen. Lopgssreet, who had defended Rich
mond by commanding the Confederate
forces to the north of James River received
information from Lee that Grant had detacb'
ed Sheridau's cavalry and two corps OF In
fantry (about 25, 900 men in alp to act a
eainst the Southside Railroad. Before COM
municatipg with Longstreet, Lee had dis