The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-17
GEN. LEE AND sTosEwALL JACKSON.

Mr.. WILLIAM SwNToN, well known as writer OF
great descriptive power, and as the author OF two
or three most valuable and interesting books, has
commenced tour through the South as the cor
respondent of She New York Times. The following
We take from the first OF his letters:
AN INTERVIEW AND CONVERSATION WITH GEN. LEE.
Having made somewhat close study of the
campaigns of Gen. Lee, and having, besides, fol-
lowed with interest his operations on the actual
field Of battle, had long been desirous OF learn
ing, by personal sight and converse, what manner
of man he is. The proffer Of an introduction by
personal friend enabled me to crafty this wish;
and after breakfast we repaired to the residence OF
the chieftain Of the Army OF Northern Virginia.
It stands on College Hill, and is 3 mod
est brick dwelling with white wooden pillars IN
front, placed amid pretty garden, shaded BY
so-ae line trees and large solitary weeping wll-
low. The house is surrounded by 9 nigh fern
hedge that lends it somewhat the air OF arlstocrauc
seclIsion. Although it was no later than nine in
The morning, Gen. Lee had already gone to his Of
fee in the college. which is but stones throw
removed. Here was q table piled up with papers
and college catalogues and textbooks; but no rem-
niscence Of war was visible, no sword, or spur or
insignia. Whatever met the eye was entirely aca-
demic, not ip the least military. And seated at
the table was handsome looking gentleman,
dressed in uniform suit OF pepper.and-salt color
q very portly, we'll lpreserved gentleman, OF some
u
nobly- modelled nose, compact head, gray hair and
beard OF the same color, closely cropped-who rose
to shake hands in 9 courtly, gracious manner. II
was tho man who welded the thunders OF Chancel-
lorsville and the Ghicahominy-is was Presi-
dent Lee. !s. .T
with the putting off the harness of war, Lee has
laid aside all concern with the war and its
thoughts, "reminiscences and passions, and Is de.
voting himself exclusively to the interests OF
Washington College: To this fact was due thai,
49, NV frot ipfa Ea
only able to see him for few minutes; for he was
on the point Of leaving to meet sn appointment
with the Common Council OF. the towns body be-
fore which he had to lay question Of great pith
way,to che college building. It Is such abstruse
and difficult problems that now engage his atten-
jtim;sand i'll learn; alright, he frds itharder
to hold his own Id those controversies than
he did in the deadly imminent point pf
make an appointment with me for another hour
and on meeting him on his return had with him
long, full and frank conye ersatlon. II 1t would pc
Of any interest to your readers to learn what are
bis news touching such Questions IN sae yga
from him, it would yet be impossible for NE 70
make these public seeing it was the express re-
quest Of Gen. Lee that should refrain from doing
so. He has mortal dread of appearing IN 1.-THE
resented, this is not wonderful. I may say
that with. his friends he never reours to the
subject Of the war nor did he to me express
any opinion ON political matters. understand,
however, from those who are M intimate
" in favor Of the people Of his State, and Of the
South coming right up, frankly accepting the
situation, and earnestly pursuing the work of re.
construction" Personally. he is at present ~ the
ansh Of health. he frequently rides opt; and the
clearest image have been able to form OF him m
the warlike mood came to me this afternoon when,
with high-top boots and leathern gauntlets, he
rode out on the same grey horse that used to bear
him in the stress Of battle. he is greatly beloved
goodness, 20 Sand and is q prodigious avorite with cha
dren. ssH you ahould see him as he.moyes about
among ubs said one Of the people OF the town TO
mss sa1ds theE unaffected Kindness and simplicity
Of bis Hfe yeS might fancy what he would be I'm IN
town, and Washington College, under his tpresi-
:dency, has been lifted from the grade Of broken
down academy to the positon Of Q respectable and
highly fourishing Institution OF learning. 'ss
That General Lee will figure in history, when It
comes to be written with full light and without
passion or prejudice, "a very able commander,
skilHul methodical soldier, who made several
admirable defensive canrpaigns, fought two or |
three brilliant aggressive actions, progacted the
years bya careful husbandry Of bis resources, and
finally succumbed only to greatly superior num-
bers, may, conceive, be readily conceded. That
rhe wall figure, As the South now hgufes hum, In
the light Of frst.class oaptsin, may belfeye be
rather from an admirable balance OF intellectual
and moral qualities than from the possession
of any overmastering power. Some men
o I very few ARE adequate; they are su-
premei they embody revolutions, they 'alone are
lacked passion, he lacked abandon perhaps
here sneak cautiously-he lacked true convic-
ton. And yet ] think may say he lacked true
conviction. For it is well known that ne was an
have learned since came here, always at heart
an eman ,ipeGonist.i He was, therefore, not the
type of nor the leader for that fierce and Titan
spirit that sought In the ruin OF nation to erect
an empire on the foundation Of slavery. Such
spirit needed embodiment ip brain and hang hand
Nor, on, the other hand. was he great enough TO
stand forth as patriot; but he permitted himself
to be drawn into the vortex OF passion that
seetbed and bnbbled in his section, y beallured
spifation of gteatness. L think he is far nom
happy. And yet his fame as Q soldier, though not
fi1st-class, is very sound and complete, 80 that
now, away from the field OF war, and buried here
in quiet academic Life among these secluded bills
He is AN that Is left 70 oVIginia, ndgna mater
uiruYr,, out OF the wreck Of revolution. Is it,
then, wonderful that Yirginians almost adore
him2
stood this evening In the light of the descend
lag sun at the grave Of one of different type-at
the grave Of Jackson. SIN Lexington IN the valley
OF Virginia :" and herehe lies in the quiet
village oh1rchyard. a simple slab is at the head
with only the name, aGen. Ihos. J. Jackson :" and
st his feet stone with the initials ST. J.J." a
garland Of flowers lay on the grave and in my
heart could feel no other emotion than one Of
tender interest in such proofs Of affection.
sroxEwAIL JACKSON.
Jackson, for the ten years previous to the out
break Of the war, was Professor in the Military
Institute here-"Professor Of Natural Philosophy
and Artillery Tactics" have seen and talked with
many of his neighbors and familiars and have even
ored Sabbath School which he established here
and conducted with great success for many years:
AS teacher he was decidedly unpopular, and
it is said that he was very maladroit In his
experiments, whicn often resulted in ludi-
crous blunders, at which he would laugh as
heartily as the lads in his class. At one time he
determined to acquire the art Of public speaking,
and with this view he joined the Franklin so,
ciety, literary association, which has existed
for many years, and which still exists IN Lenng
ton. he used to take part in the debates, but
with the most distressing sta,nmerings, haltngs
and break-downs, and never attained any more
than mediocre faculty OF utterance. ,As ne
came more under the influence Of the religious
sentiment, after the death OF his first vile, he
ceased to attend the Franklin Society, and be-
coming more and more moody and eccentric, he
grew more and more unpopular. Indeed he was
looked upon as kind Of mild lunatc, and the
board had frequent meetings with the view Of
displacing him from his chair in the Academy. At
length the war broke out and the qualities that
had smouldered in mere fre-damp suddenly burst
into clear and steady fame. An the people here
speak Of the wonderful change that came over him
at the outbreak Of the war. Though he had been
all his life an ardent State Rights Democrat, yet
he bitterly opposed secession. Nevertheless when
the war came, he threw into it all the tremendous
energies Of his nature. Then his religious fervor
became guiding light and an impelling, pow;
er. he believed that he was literally led
by the hand Of God. .'Most men will think" :"
he said, referring to his overwhelming
planned it all from the first, but it was not
So So. simply took advantage Of circumstances as
they presented themselves to me in the Prov,
dence of God. feel that His hand led me"
Long before the war, and even in regard to minor
matters, he used to express the same views OF