Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-22
INTERVIEW WITH GEN. LEE.

N Us
Of more than ordinary merit, in a letter
to the New York Times, thus refers to q
yisithe made to Gen. r. &. Lee at Lex
| ington:. tsYcn ass ggsit ee.os
Having MAIDEN somewhat close study
Of the campaigns of Gen. Lee,- and hav-
ing, besides, followed with interest, his
operations on the actual field of battle, j
had long been desirous of learning by
personal sight and converse what man.
ner of man heis The proTsr OF. an in
PRODUCTION by personal friend enabled
me to crafty this wish; and after break
fast, we repaired to the residence of the
chieitain of the army of Northern Vir-
ginia. 1t stands on College Hill, and is
a modest brick dwelling with white wood
en- pillars in front, placed amid a pretty
garden shaded by fine trees and large
solitary weeping willow. The house is
surrounded by a high fern hedge that
lends it som ewbat the air Of aristocratic
.seclnsion. Although itwas no later than
nine in the morning, Gen. Lee had al
ready gone TO his Office in the college,
which is but stones throw removed.
Here was a table piled up with papers
and college catalogues and textbooks ;
but no reminiscepce of war was visible /;
no sword or spur orinsignia. Whatever
met the eye was entirely academic, not
il. the least military. And seated at the
table was handsome looking gentleman
dressed in uniform suit of PEPPER and
salt color--a very portly, well preserved
gentleman of some four and fifty, with a
fine bronzed complexion, nobly mod I
eled nose, compact head, gray hair, and
beard Of the same color, closely cropped
who rose to shake hands ina scourtly,
gracious manner. 1t was the man who
welded the thunders of Charlottesville
and Chickaheminy-it was President
Lee. tsn
With the putting off the harness ofwar,
Lee has laid aside gil concern With the
war, aud its thoughts, "Reminiscences and
passions, and is deyoting himself exclu-
sively to the interests of Washington
College. To this fact was due that, on
the occasion OF this, my first interview, |
was only able to see him for a few min
ules; for he was on the point ofleaying TO
meet an appointment with the common
council of the town--a body before
which he had to lay q question of great
pith and moment, to-wit; The grading
of new pathway 10 the college building,
1t is such abstruse and difficult problems
that now engage his attention; and If
learn Alright, he finds il harder to bold
his own in those controversies than he
did in the deadly imminent point OF
battle. lie was good enough, however,
to make an appointment with me for
another hour; and on meeting him on
his return / had with him long, full
and frank conversation. If it would be
Of any interest to your readers to learn
what are his views touching such ques-
tions in the Virginia campaigns as | had
occasion to ask enlightenmentfrom him,
it would yet beimpossible. for me TO make
these public, seeing it was the express
request Of General Lee that should re,
train from Doing so. He had mortal
dread Of appearing in the papers, aud,
considering how he kas been mlsrepre-
sented, this is not wonderful, / may
say that with his friends he never recurs
to the subject OF the war; nor did he TO
me express any opinion on political
matters, | understand, however, from
those who are in intimate daily converse
with him, that he is strongly in favor Of
the people Of his State, and of the South
coming right up, frankly accepting
the siiuatiOn aud earnestly pursuing
the work of reconstruction. Person
ally, be is at present in the flush
Of health. he frequently rides outi and
the clearest .imsge have been able TO
form Of him in the war like mood, came
to him this afternoon, when, with high I
top boots and leathern gauntlets, be
rode out on the same gray horse that |
used 10 bear him in the stress Of battle. I
he is greatly beloved by the people for
his modesty, gentlehess aud goodness,
and is a prodigious fayorite with chill \
dren. "If you should see him as be |
moves about among rs, said one Of the I
people Of the town 70 me, the unaf- |
fecied Kindness and simplicity Of bis /
life, you might fancy what be would be |
in greatness He has added great !
prosperity 10 the town, and Washington I
College, under his presidency, has been /
lifted from the grade Of broken dOgn ]
academy to the position Of 9 respeeiable I
and highly hourishiug institution Of
learning.
Thai Gen Lee vill figure in history, 4
VIXEN Il comes 10 be written with full
light and without passion and prejudice, I
.s very able CON nan3er. a skillal, y
meihodical soldier. WIN made several
admirable defensive campaigns, fought
Two or three brilliant aggressive actions,