Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-09-22
General Lee.

In long editorial article calling for a
subscription of 10000 to Washington
College by the friends and admirers OF
General Lee in England, the London
Standard of Angus, 18th, speaks of him
as follows:
There Is no living sshero-there are
few, If any, among those whose names
shine with the puresl lustre in history
whose character has commanded so high
a tribute of affection and admiration from
their friends, of respect and honor from
their foes, as lhat"oi General Lee. No life
more perfectly heroic, no reputation more
unlarnished even by the minor bIemishcs
which are not uncommonIy found IN uni
on with the highest herolsm. has ever
been connected with a great national
struggle. No shade vanity or egoIIsm,
nothing of the self-will or pelulance so
often characteristic of conscious genius,
no iinge of affectation, no taiut even OF
The pride almost inseperable from OrdIna-
ry greatness Of mind, which can endure
verythiug but humiliation. and regards
submission as disgrace, alloy the simple
granduer of the Virginian soldiers ma
lure. piely without the slighiestshad-
ow Of Pharisasm, a sense OF duty 10
which the sacrifice Of every personal feel
ing and interest appears matter OF course,
having marked his whole course and
guided his every public act, whether as
soldier or as a citizen. A family con-
nection and the neares, living representa-
tive of the great champion Of American
Independence, General Lee hiss been the
Washington of the Confederate war like
Washington, man "whom envy dare
not hate but without even the one dark
stain Of doubt. which the death of MAJOR
Andre has left on the memory OF bis pro-
lotype. No more "selfless man and
stainless gentleman" ever lived no SOL
der ever SET more admirable example OF
the soldierly virtues Of honor, chlvalTIc
generosity, and manly simplicity no
grea. man ever retired into obsCurty, al
ter witnessing alike the ruin Of his cause
and the destruction Of his private fortune,
with more of CT ristian patience and un-
shaken (orlltude.
Of his military achievements, we need
not speak. 1t is enough 10 say that
nearly all his victories were won against
enormous odds, and that his four years
defence of Virginia has few parallels in
history as an example Of great results ac-
compIlshed with small means and at fear
lul disadvantage. What is now more in
,eresting 10 remember is the personal
character Of he man, as displayed in the
various exlgencleS of that trying struggle;
the simple honesty and kindly feeling
which prompted him to console his sol
diers as they recoied from the carnon-
crowned heights OF Getty ysbury, with the
assurance. at is all my fault" the un-
affected sclfdepreciaiIon which Pronounc,
ed, when StonewalI Jackson fell. 81
would wish, for the sake Of our cause,
that had been disabled rather than you )"
The Christian chiyalry, which no outrage
could provoke TO retaliation, which al
Ter Virginia had been rendered desert,
withheld the Army that invaded PennsyI-
vania from iuhjclng ihe most trivial in.
jury on person or property which,
when his own estates had been plunder-
ed, ravaged and conf, f,cated, ;. took care TO
protect the houses and property Of bis
enemies the horror of useless blood
shed which wlthslood the cry for reirlbu-
tion excited by the murder Of Southern
prisoners in cold blood, and supported
he resolve of the President that unless
the actual mnrdfrers were taken, no blood
should be shed but on the field of baule );
the touching unselfshness of his last
words TO his disbandiDg army on the sor.
rowful 9th of April, II have done my
best for you" But it was when al was
over, when the chief Of a great and long
victorons army was private man and a !
paroled prisoner-lhat the peculiar great
ness OF Gen. Lees nature shines out with !
Brightness"
ParsOn BPOwnl0W.
pbtIojalpkia roDvant;oo