The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-10-19

ssition during that war, and is uIIver-l I
SsalIy conceded that he contribnteds
amore than any one man to its speedy
aand successful termination. He wass
afrequently promoted and brevetted fo's
distinguished and meritorious conducts
ssand came ont of the war with mostk
brilliant reputation. The high opinionE
gconceived of him by his. commander /
hi chief, General Winfield Scott, isl
sknown to all. The deep regret Gener-
Val Scott felt when Colonel Lee resignedl
shis commission in the army to offerS
Ahis services to his native State, hasE
Hbecome matter of history.
{ The commencement of the recent
Swar found General Lee Lieutenant-I
SColonel of Cavalry in the United
Estates army. AS soon as Virginia hadE
Tpassed an ordinance of Secession, Gen-I
sseral Lee, who had been reared amongl
ssthe Statesmen of the old Dominion!
gand was firm believer in the doctrineI
ssof State Sovereignty, resigned his office|
@and offered his sword to his native|
Estate. He was made Major
s3of the State forces, and after the Vir-
Tginia army was Incorporated with the,
aConfederate army, he was commission
SSed an officer in the army Of the Confed-
Seracy of which he became in time;
Commander in chief.
q We will not take up the time ofouiI
areaders with recapitulation of thei
Seyents of war which has so recently
Aclosed, and whose disastrous results|
hare still so widely felt. 1t is a his
Itorical fact that, from the day General
sssLee took command of the army aroundI
ssRichmond, he was the head and 'front.'
Sof the war for the Independence of thel
EsSouthern States. General Jackson 81
brilliant exploits filled the people With
ssadmiration, but it was universally adj
emitted that the conduct of the war;
sswas wholly in the hands of Robert E.
s Lee, and that he alone was responsible
ssfor the issue. From the day that
HMcClellan turned his back on the ethyl
S5of Richmond, until the day when Leel
the shattered remains of
2his noble army ut Appomattox he|
gnever lost the confidence of the people, i
&whether in victory or defeat, in pros
Sperity or adversely. He was still the|
embodiment of greatness to them,
swhether he was pursuing the fiyingI
Sfoe at Fredericksburg, or retreating|
8before overwhelming numbers at Pc
And he never rose to sol
asublime a height of greatness, as when
Che sheathed password and betook him 1
&self to those peaceful pursuits, in the
Emidst Of which, while yielding ready
Mobedience to the laws of the country,
@his pure spirit winged its way from
kthe scene of his triumphs and his glory
sto the God who gave it.
4 Opinions may differ as to the char
ssacter of Lee, ana many will be the e.t-
forts to portray it correctly. For our
Gown part we think it is capable of be-
cling easily understood. When we say,
Gas we have intimated above, that itwasl
y modelled upon that OF Washington, j
1--WE have told the whole story. There
Hwas the same subordination of everyI
spassion to strong will, and this sub J,
Coordination was in Lee an easier task !!
8because he had not those violent pas
:ssions which are additionally imputed!
Sto Washington. There was in both al
ssunity and Wilderness of character. al
VI freedom from salient or eccentric
9points, which are so often the accom-
apartments of greatness. Both were|
zborn to govern and control mankind.
SWashington was said to have lacked
#genius. The conduct of some of Lees
Ncampaigns at times led people to mag
Zine that he was amenable to the same
Echarge. But his genius was cramped
.sby his want of resources. If the power
;Sof the Confederacy had warranted an
Eaggressive campaign, General Lee
Ewould have shown dash enough to have
Esatisfied its most enthusiastic admirers.
RIt could not possibly be wanting in the
1 son Of Lighthouse Harry"
n There was in General Lee certain
Nsimplicity and benignity of disposition,
(which had much to do with the love he
ssnspired in the hearts of all who were
Thrown in contact with him. His af-
Election to his family, and his attach
ssment to his friends are as well known
Vas his ACHIEVEMENTS in the field. His
duties, no matter how simple or unim-
Eportant they may have been, were an
Eways performed promptly and method
ideally. His labors in his Office as Pres.
ssdent of the college and as a Yestry-
Eman in the village church, carried be,
syond prudence on the day he was
Rstruck with his fatal disease, are known
to have been the immediate cause of
Il the attack.
y General Lees wife is a daughter of
ssthe late George Washington Parke
ECustis, of Arlington, the grandson OF
y =