Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-28
An Interview with Gen. II. e. Lee.

An Interview with Gen. IL. Il. Lee.
David McCrae is furnishing the G,as-
gov (Scotland) Herald with series of
interesting sketches of American men
and women He described his first
interview with General Lee as follows
When got back to my hotel, found
that Lee, who was aware of my coming
had already with the courtesy so CON
spicuous among a class of Americans)
sent his servant to inquire if ] had ar
rived; and to say that he would like to
see me at the college.
On going there after breakfast, / was
taken up stairs and shown into the room
set aside for the use of the College Presi-
dent.
"A noble looking man, dressed in
gray military coat, who had been writing
at table near the window, rose as |
entered He was tall, straight and sol
dier-like, with crisp hair turning white;
short trimmed beard, pointed at the
chin, and dark imperial looking eyes,
very keen and searching. 1t was Robert
L. Lee, the old Confederate commander
"As the first words of greeting passed
between us, there was hidden sadness
in his look which impressed me pain
fully. He was suffering from i'll health
at the time; but it was not a look of
physical pain. Perhaps it was only my
feeling, but it seemed as if the shadow of
the past was over him, as if you could
read behind the vigilance of his dark
eyes the fate of the South, and of the
myriad who lay sleeping on the battle
fields.
When was seated he began to in
quire where | had been in the South,
and about my journey up-smiling at
the somewhat doleful account | had to
give him of my experience in the stage
from Goshen. He said there was
another road might have taken-the
one from Stanton. But they say which
ever road you take, youewish you had ta-
ken the other He had been twice by
the Goshen road ON horseback. The
scenery was very grand
p" He began to speak about Scotland,
and said: You will meet with many of
your countrymen here. The Valley of
Virginia is peopled with Scotch-Irish--
people who have come from Scotia and
by way of Ireland. They are fine race
They have the courage and determine
ton of the Scotch, with the Irish dash
and intrepidity. They make fine SOL
diers
" He said it was an old wish of his to
visit this country; but it would never be
realized now Stonewall Jackson had
been in Scotland before the war. He
had heard him speak of it.
When some reference was made to
the odds against which the South had
fought, and the want there was of accu-
rate statistics, | told him it was under
stood he was preparinga a history of the
war himself
He said: | have had that in view,
but the time is not come for an impartial !
history. If the truth were told just now
it would not be credited
when the books that had already ap- |
peared we're spoken of, and mentioned |
one, the proof-sheet of which, it was as
serted, had been submitted TO General I
Grant and himself for revision, he said. /
1t is a mistake. | have never read
history of the war, nor the biography of
any man engaged in it. My own life has
been written, but have not looked into
it. He added dfter pause, i do not
wish to awaken memories of the past
He spoke highly of Shermans abili-
ties-said Sherman had always been a
good soldier
"He seemed much gratifed when /
told him of the estimation in which he
and Stonewall jackson had been held
from the first by the British people, ire
spective altogether of Northern and
Southern sympathies He said after a
pause. Jackson lies in the Presbyterian
burying ground at the other extremity of
Lexington. II