Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-13
GEN. LEE.
His Reception I'm Alexandria. Eas--An
Interview Correspondents RebuiEesi.

1 p - - 49, u /.
A correspondent of the New York
Herald who tried to ,.'interview" Gen.
Lee in Baltimore, repeated the attempt
in Alexandra with the same i'll success,
but ne incidentally gives some interest
ing statements concerning the Generals
reception in that city, from which we take
the following. The correspondent says
Gen. Lee, after landing from the Poto>
mac river boat, walked unostentatiously
up King street towards the dwelling of
Mrs. A. NJ. Fitzhugh, who is connection
Of the Generals by the wife of his
brother, Smith Lee. On his way to Mrs.
Fitzhugh's he was recognized by num-
Der Of the citizens, all Of whom bowed
with the profoundest respect, and some
of whom dotted their hats. So large
a number of friends called upon
the General that it was arranged for
hHn to have reception at the Mans
sion House, where for three hours a
constant stream of visitors poured into the
reception room, and General Lee had
during the evening the most incontesti
bic proof Of the exalted esteem in which
hers held by the community Of Alexan>
dria. The reception was as great an
ovation of respect as any individual has
received from the citizens Of Alexandria
since the days of Washington. The
greater portion of his visitors were, of
course, ladies'. Great. indeed, was the
pressure against the crinoline to obtain
squeeze of the gallant Generals hand
and smile of greeting from his hands
some dark eyes. Several Of the more
enthusiastic ladies-it is needless to- say
they were all in their teens-found
themselves craving for his notice, uqsat-
isfied by shake and smile, ands re-
quested to be kissed in so bewitching a
panner that the General was fain to. re-
FALL his military discipline, and excIaim,
N'TO hear is to obey!" The General |
afterwards, returned to Mrs. Fitzhugh's
house, where he was followed by the |
Herald correspondent, who thus des~ |
cribes what took place. The writer
says:
The bell was answered by very |
diminutiye specimen of the national
ward" and to the question as Gen. Lee
in?" replied, "Sir, walk in" When
asked to carry a card to the General, the
little ebony pointed to the door of the
parlor, saying, THAR is Gen. I.ee.'
Being thus unceremoniously ushered into
the parlor, | was confronted by gentle |
man Of medium height, with white hair
and close cut white beard and mustaehe,
lustrous brown eyes, which betOkened a
much younger and more vigorous frame |
than might have been supposed, judging |
from the whiteness of the hair and beard, |
an erect figure, rather inclined to the
fullness of middle age, and dressed en-
firely in sober black-in short, Gen.
Lee himself. Being obliged to introduce
myself | did so, at the same time ex-
planning briefly the object Of my visit.
The General received me courteOusly |
and gracefully, but requested most
particularly to be excused from an inter
view the object of which was to form
letter for publication. 81 have no desire"
said he, "to appear prominently before
the public Your movements, General
will be sure to prove interesting to tn e
public. You see The ne wspapers have
devoted considerable attention to yeu,
and whatever you may say will not fail
to receive careful reading"
81 observe that the newspapers man
age to learn pretty much all there is to
be known concerning my movements"
replied the General, but there is really |
nothing that can say to interest the
public, and hope, therefore, you will ex
cure ne. | shall be glad to see you as
friend, but request the visit may not be
made in your professional capacity"
"Do you intend to remain long in the
city, General" asked.
81 shall be here until Friday morn>
ing" replied the General, when | shall
leave for Lexington. During my stay |
expect to visit number of old friends
and to receive the calls Of those who may
wish to honor me-"
AS the General remsined standing
during this short cOlloquy, while several
friends were waiting to resume the con-,
Versation where your correspondent in-
terrupted it, and as the General mans
Tested so much reticence TO cOnVersiDg |
with the public, deemed it about time
to retire, which did with the assurance
of the General that he was glad to have
llCL mt. |
From friend of Gen. Lee ascer~
tanned that the visit paid by the General
to the President during his sCjOurn in
Washington was as short as the inter-
view between them was pithy. This
friend claimed to have received the ac-
count from Gen. Lee himself 1t appears
that Lee, according to his own represen-
tatiOns, believed that as the President
had invited him to visit him he could do
nothing less than call upon him and
thank him for the invitation, and this is
all he did.
Gen. Lee drove in the carriage of
Bishop Johns on wednesday afternoon to
Seminary Hill, to visit Cassius f. Lee, |
Gen. Cooper, formerly Secretary of War
of the Confederacy, and Rev. DIR. Packer.
He spent the night with Mr.. Lee, and
the next day dined at the house of Mr..
u L /, G..