Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-12
r. E. LEE.
An Interview With the Ex-Confe derate
Chieftain.

David McCrae is furnishing the
Glasgow (ScOtland) Herald with
series Of interesting sketches OF
American men and women. He de-
scribed his first interview with Gen
eral Lee as follows:
When sgot back to the hotel, /
| found that Lee, who was aware Of my
coming, had already with the court
esy SO conspicuous amongst a class
of Americans) sent his servant to in
quire if had arrived, and to say
| that he would like to see me at the
College.
On going there after breakfast, l
was taken up stairs and shown into
the room set aside for the use of the
College President.
A noble-lOoking man, dressed in
gray military coat, who had been
writing at a table near the window,
rose as l entered. He was tall, straight
and sOldier-like, with crisp hair turn
ing white; short trimmed beard,
pointed at the chin, and dark impe-
rial looking eyes, very keen and
searching. 1t was Robert +. Lee, the
old Confederate commander.
AS the first words of greeting passed
between US, there was a hidden sad
ness in his look which impressed me
painfully. He was suffering from i'll
health at the time; but it was not a
look of physical pain. Perhaps it was
only my own 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 l was seated he began to in
quire where l 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 l might have
taken-the one from StauntOn. "But
they say whichever road you take
you wish by that you had taken the
other" He had been twice by the
Goshen road on horseback. The
scenery was very grand.
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
ITish-peOple who have come from
Scotland by way of ireland. They are
a fine race. They have the courage
and determination of the Scotch, with
the Irish dash and intrepidity. They
make fine soldiers"
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 ac-
cuTate statistics, told him it was un-
derstood he was preparing a history
of the war himself.
" have had that in view" he said
" bat the time is not come for an i'm
partial history. If the truth were
told just now it would not be cred
ited,"
When the books that had already
appeared were spoken of, and | men
toned one, the prOOf-sheets of which,
it was asserted, had been submitted to
General Grant and himself for revis-
ion, he said: g 1t Is a mistake. l have
never read a history of the war, nor
the biography of any man engaged in
it. My own life has been written, but
l have not looked into it, ffe added
after q pause, 81 do not wish toawaken
memories Of the past"
He spoke highly Of Sherman's I
abilitie5-said Sherman had always /
been good soldier.
He seemed much gratified when l |
told him of the estimation in which |
he and StOnewall Jackson had |
been held from the first by |
the British people, Irrespective
of Northern or South |
ern sympathies, He said, after a /
pause, " jackson lies in the Presby- |
terian burying ground at the other |
of Lexington"