The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-11-16

arICy Of 10000 as good holdicrs a
the world ever saw, who took the
field, fully equipped and provisioned
For these fac,S he had Gen. Lees
report to the Convention then In ses.
sion. Without disparaging that great
mau-Gen. Jackscn-it was just to
say that much IF tho repctation OF
that brilliant chief sprapg from the
campaign Of 1862, the whole plan OF
which, even every battle of which was
to his (tho Governors, knowledge
marked out by Gen. Leo before the
campaign was undertaken. With
Gen. Lee to plan and Cen. Jack-
son to execute, the two combined had
no equals in the orld.
In 1862 RichmoLd was bcsieged.
The Federal guuboats were threatens
lug to move up the river, aud the
.rtny of General Mcclellan was camp
u in sight Of the capital General
Ice devised the plan Of relieving the
city. l had visited the General at
ais room at night Oh business, and
after it had transpired was about to
,euve, when Lc desired me to remain.
His ahiutant then left, and the Gene
raj detailed to me his entire plan for
the relief of tie city. I said, General
If it fail what then7 Will you aban.
don Virginia7 He immediately rose
from his seat Git was the ouly time |
ever saw him the least excited), aud
clenohing his fist, and with much ami
mation, ckciaimed "Never! never
[ will fall back to the mountains Of
Virginia, and if my soldiers will stand
by me will tight these people Che
always spoke Of the Yankees 'as these
pcopleO for years to come"
General Lee saw further into the
difficulties ard probable duration of
the war than almost any of our pub.
lic men. With all my respect, said
Mr.. NJ, for Mr.. D Wis, he had no idea
that the war would last beyond one
great Battle. Station aud all Of
the authorities at Washington had
said there would be no war, aud these
assurances we're conh1ed fu by many !;
but General Lee had comprehcndcd
tho magnitude of tho whole andertak-
ing:
Tho other fact which tho Governor
wished to relate as exhibiting the
comprehensivehess and power OF Gen.
Lees hind was his proposition to
to emancipato the cntire slayo popula-
tion, and to enlist 100000 of then,
at ohce ihtY the army. 1t was made
ut tiihe when the cause was d%iud-
ling-the hope Of success was almos t
gone. Gen. lee was called on to as
sure Congress Of the situation. He
PROMPTLY declared that he was not
fighting for slavery; but for indepon.
denoo that ho would SGT the slaves
free, and enlisting 100000 Of thom,
call the world to witness that wo
wore Fighting for independence, and
not for the institution of slavery.
There are dozens Of living men Who
can attest the fact that Gen. Lee did
eloqueutly (for he had words and man:
ners eloquent, truly eluqucnt) advo-
cate this plan. The Congress, howev.
err, lad not the power to act OH tit
having been reserved to tho States,
and they could not be consulted in
time-anG our great leader had to
turn away, relinquishing his plans, to
face at enemy IN overpo%ering num-
beFs in The aSfenca Of a cause lost,
already as good as lost, as events
soon disclosed. Had his plan bcen
resofted to tho result might have
been different. This great man will
ever be endearcd to our memories.
Tia more than love I bear him; I
vonerate him. He was worthy of all
praise. Every fibre of his heart was
pure as chiselled marble. When his
history is written he will be pro-
iouuced the greatest Of military COM
mande:s tho world ever know, unless
Hannibal be the exception. His ca nj. .
paign from the WILDERNESS, facing an
enemy numbering four to one, was
the most remarkable military aohieve-
uent ever known. General Grants
documents show that his army suffer-
ed in this oampaign tho actual 10 IS Of
100000 men, when General Loo hha
only 10000 puskets undSt hihi; all
told. 1t was Iiee's gonils that did it:
His purity of charAS,ef aid GREATNESS
Of soul had no cqual But Washington,
whose cavalry comlnahdeE was Light
horse Harry Lee. General Lees ia.
ther: My odunttymSn; it Is meet
that we should honor the name OF
Central Robert u. Lee that we
should clittiyh for him All unfadiDg
reverence ;that &6 should do homage
to the man whose name 10 enoitcled
with Halo Of glory--whoss example
Is now the praise Of All admiring world
Whose great powers have been exer.
ted for the good of us all.
AT q station on the overland route
the keeper got. rather short Of provis.
ions--in fact, had nothing left but a
bottle Of mustard and some bacon;
40 the stage stopped there Quo day to
change horses, the passengers seated