The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1867-12-06
.HUMORS OF THE WAR.
A collection of anecdotes made during the
years lS62-3-4-5, by G. W. Bag
BY, then Associate Editor
of the Richmond
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ANECDOTES of--tEE-HIs CHARACTER.
The record Of the gfeat EVER ATTRACTS
the attention of mankind. History
proves, however, that greatness is too
often allied with qualities which can
not fail to excite pity, horror or dis
gust. Among the great of modern
times, upon whom the eyes of Christen-
dom have been turned, there has been
none up to the present day, save Wash
ington, whose record is sustained and
whose escutcheon is without blot.
1t is therefore with justifiable pride
that the people of the South may point
to Gen. Lee as an example, so rarely
found, of goodness and greatness COM
bined. Among our enemies, wicked
as they are, rioris has been found to
breathe word against the honor, pur-
ity and patriotism of Robert E. Lee
Save him, there is no man of promi-
nence in the South whom they have
not slandered and belied. His simple
word would outweigh In the land of
our enemies the sworn attestation
of their higest dignitaries. In Eu-
rope his word is the synonyme of truth,
and the respect shown his name in 9TH
er lands is second only to that enter
tanned for him in his own.
The temple of his renown has not
sprung up in night. 1t took four
years to build it. It stands to-day
without riyal-its foundation laid IN
the hearts of the people and its super
structure formed of noble and heroic
deeds. Too earnest for words, this
man, Robert Lee, does his work silent
ly-all unconscious that on him are fix
ed the admiring glances of the world.
If he is great in victory, he is SUBJ
lime in defeat. His calm soul frets not
ut the decrees of Fate. He does what
man can do, and leaves the rest to God.
He has no time to talk. Mark Antho-
ny, defeated at Actium, slew himself
and died in the arms of harlot. Lee,
repulsed at Getty sburg, said, SIT is my
fault" and turned to his appointed
work. No wonder men love him, and
can find no one with whom to liken
him. Who thinks of calling Lee Bay
ard, Caesar, or a Napoleon? When
Jackson fell, we lost the Moses of the
South--should Lee be taken from us,
we should be withont-Lec. He is in
deed the main prop of our cause. With
him between them and the vandal
hordes, men sleep in peace at night and
dream of victory.
Though the cause should perish, Lee
will live. Time can do him no wrong.
Should it be the decree of Providence
that our people be exterminated and
the land made desolatc, the name and
fame of Robert Lee, like the pyramids
in the Egyptian desert, will stand
monument OF former power and glory,
exciting alike the wonder and admira-
tion of mankind.-Kacon Tel. and Con-
yfederacy.
A correspondent of trs London Times
says a child would instinctively rush
to Gen. Lee in crowd as friend and
protector. so fascinating is the beauty
of his countenance and adds that Gen.
Lee breads a ne vspaper panegyric
worse than he does wound. He says
Lee is hero, but jackson is sal 1T.
HOW He SAVED RICHMOND.
Hermes, the correspondent of the
Charleston Mercury, writes as follows :
A curious bit of unrecorded history,
said to be strictly true, is this AFTER
Johnston had been wounded, Lee call
ed council of war. The President en-
tered just as General Lee was exclaim-
ing g:-'Good gracious! gentlemen, do
you Intend to fall back to the Gulf of
Mexico?" Seeing the President, he
explained that all the officers were op-
posed to his plan of crossing the Chick
ahominy, and giving battle. If the Pre-
sident would sustain him, he would
take the responsibility of ordering the
battle. The President did sustain him,
and SO Lee ''saved Richmond"
HIS HEADQUARTERS.
In visiting the headquarters of the
Confederate Generals, but particularly