The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-02-03
lFrom the New Orleens True Delta
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.


GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.
Robert i. Lee is probably one of the
handsomost and most aristocratic-looking
men of this age. In person he is tall,
and well-propoftioned. His
motions are marked with ease, grace and
decision his face beams with intelligence
and benignity, and there is something in
his eye which is most winning, at the
same time that it commands respect and
reverence. Guileless as child plain in
his dress; unostentatious in his manners,
there still needs no second glance to dis
cover in that man the wonderful energy
and capacity which upheld the tottering
fortunes of the Confederacy upon its At
lantean shoulders for three long wears,
against the efforts of the most powerful
nation of the world There is no char
acter in antiquity which can be instanced
as the prototype of this great and good
man. In the fertility of his resources, IN
his isolation from external supplies and
reinforcements, the unswerying fortitude
with which he stood calm and hopeful
against all odds, he may be likcned to the
Roman General Sertorius, cooped up with
a few hundred adherents, in the Businesses
of the Spanish sierras, and successfully
bidding defiance to the combined legions
of Rome, during long period of years.
In his pure, unselfish devotion, his pa
tience, his want of all ambition, except
the ambition to do his duty, in the mod
esty, prudence and sagacity which have
characterized bis career, he yields to none
or, if to any, to Washington alone.
1t seems strange that, although every
body's attention in America and Europe
too, was riyctted, during the past foul
years, upon the man and his actions, the
real martial character of Gen. Lee is bu
little understood or appreciated. Mos
men believed he was cautious and de
fensive commander, skillful in checking
OF foiling an invading army, and satisfied
with holding his own >position-in ont
word, that he was merely consummatc
engineer, without the vehement enterprise
of Napoleon or Frederick. There wa
never a greater mistake; no officer in tht
Confederate armies was more strongly i'm
bued with an aggressive and pugnaciou
nature. What restrained him from dis
playing this characteristic was the contro
exercised over military operations by th'
civil authorities in Richmond, togethe
with the defective means on transportation
for baggage, artillery and supplies. Be
meath his calm exterior there was fer,
spirit, which chafed at the inactivity t.
which he was compelled, or the advan
tages he had to forego-for his eagl
glance caught, as by inspiration, all tn
fortunes and fluctuations of a heavy fight
In battle, General Lee was as seren
and imperturbable as in church; wher
ever duty seemed to call him he2woulc
ride rapidly, but quietly, never stunning
or seeking observation General Long
street, just after the battle of Chicka
maugua, had quite a spicy conversation
with the President of the Confederacy
In regard to matters in con troyersy be
tween himself (LongstrcetS and Genera
Bragg. {; Mr.. Davis" said the Genera
with unusual warmth, e have had tn
honor on many occasions, while unde
heavy fire.. to be consulted by Genera
Lee, but [ never saw him finch On
one occasion, particularly, remember tn,
firing was so hot that the men in tn,
ranks cried out to US for Gods sake t,
Withdraw before we were killed; bu
General Lee placidly continued bis re
marks, and, when he was through, saluteC
and rode liesurely away, as if no she'll
or bullets were whizzing around"
During Lees famous march into Penn
sylvania, the army passed through larg
town in that State, the people of whicl
were peculiarly hostile and demonstrativ,
toward the Confederates, some of tn
women Haunting Union flags in the face
of the dusty and tattered veterans. A
General Lee rode slowly by, he was recog
nized, either from the reverence paid hin
by the men in the ranks, or by the distinc
tion of his air, and was turned upon witt
all the virulenee of female spite and ha
tired. "-Hoary traitor, wretched rebel,
were among the terms flung at him. TIL
chiyalrous old man checked his horse
raised his cap, and mildly saluted the wo
men, with pleasant smile upon his face
This simple act Of courtesy rebuked hi
assaiiants into silence, and as he rode on
one of the youngest and handsomest erie,
out in her vexation, "Oh, don't you wisl
he was on our sideY
These few hasty remarks may recal
many similar instances, relating to th
great Chieftain of the Confederate armies
to the minds of such of our readers a
Served in Virginia. We should be CRATE
ful to be furnished with any anecdotes Q
the kind, in order that we might contrib
ute our mite in perpetuating the memoir
of one of the purest, ablest and mobiles
characters in the history of all time
| Tho cooo4obIaS IN Ro.fo,, bo,-o :, J,.tl a.