Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-10-25
THE MEMORY OF GENERAL LEE
IN BALTIMORE.


That was grand meeting they had in Balti-
more Saturday week to pay honor to the mem
ory of Gen. Lee. Distinguished soldiers, sail
ors, and civilians participated. Long lists of
presidents, vice presidents, &c, are in the pa
pers, and volumes of speeches Here is an ex-
tract from speech made by one Of Gen. Lees
former staff, Charles Marshall, ESQ.,, which it
is worth any mans while to read. He said:
We recall him as he appeared in the hour of
victory, grand, imposing, awe-inspiripg, vet
sef-forgetful and humble. We recall the great
scenes OF his triumph, when we hailed him VIC
tor on many bloody field, and when above the
p8ans OF victory we listened with reverence to
his voice as he ascribed All glory to the Lord
OF Hosts, from whom all glories are." Zap
plause.) We remember that grand magnanim-
ltty that never stopped to pluck those meaner
things that grow nearest the earth upon the
tree OF victory, but which, with eyes turned to
the stars and hands raised towards heaven,
gathered the golden fruits of mercy, pity and
holy charity, that rlpen on its topmost boughs
beneath the approving smile of the great God
Of battles. [Applause]
SELF-ABNEGATION OF LEE.
We remember the sublime self-abnegation of
Charlottesville, when, in the midst of his vic
torlous legions, who, with the light of battle
yet on their faces, hailed him conqueror, be
thought only Of his great lieutenant lying
wounded on the field, and transferred to him
all the honor of that iliustrious day.
will be pardoned, | am sure, for referring
to an incident which affords to my mind most
striking illustration of one of the grandest fea-
lures of bis character.
INCIDENTS OF BATTLE.
I'm fhn nY,1np of
Of you will remember, the final assault Was
made upon the Federal lines at Chancellors-
vile.
Gen. Lee accompanied the troops in person,
and as they emerged from the fierce combat
they had waged in ''the depths OF that tangled
wilderness, driving the superior forces of the
enemy before them across the open ground, he
rode into their midst. The scene is one that
can never le effaced from the minds of those
who witnessed it. The troops were pressing
forward with all the ardor and enthusiasm of
combat. The white smoke of musketry firing
ed the extended front of the line of battle,
while the artillery on the hills in the rear Of
the infantry shook the earth with its thunder,
aud filled the air with The wild shrieks of the
shells that plunged into the masses of the re-
treating foe. 10 add still greater horror and
sublimity to the scene, the Charlottesville
house and the woods surrounding it were wrap
ed In flames. In the midst Of this awful scene
Gen. Lee, mounted upon that horse which We
all remember SO well, rode to the front of his
advancing battalions. His presence was the
signal for one of those uncomfortable outbursts
of enthusiasm which none can appreciate who
have not witnessed them Applause
The fierce soldiers, with their faces blacken-
ed with the smoke of battle, the wounded
crawling with feeble limbs from the fury of the
devouring flames, all seemed possessed with a
common impulse. One long, unbroken cheer,
in which the feeble cry of those who lay help
less on the earth blended with the strong voices
of those who still fought, rose high above the
roar of battle, and hailed the presence of the
victorious Chief. He sat in the full realization
of all that soldiers dream of-triumph; and as
looked upon him in the complete fruition of
the success which his genius, courage, and con-
6dence in his army had won, thought that it
must have been from some such scene that men
in ancient days assembled to the dignity of the
gods. [Applause.l
LEES MAGNANIMITY.
His first care was for the wounded of both
armies, and he was among the foremost at the
burning mansion where some of them lay.
But at that moment, when the transports of
his victorious troops were drowning the roar Of
battle with acclamations, note was brought
to him from Gen. Jackson. 1t was brought
to Gen. Lee as he sat on his horse near the
Charlottesville house. and unable to open it
with his gauntleted hands, he passed it to me
with directions to read it to him. The uote
made no mention of the wound that General
Jackson had received, but congratulated Gen.
Lee upon the great victory.
l shall never forget the look of pain and an
guish that passed over his face as he listened.
With a voice broken with emotion he bade me
say to Gen. jackson that the victory was his,
and that the congratulations were due him.
[Appause and cheers know not how 9th
ers may regard this incident, but for myself as
gave expression to the thoughts of his exalt-
ed mind, forgot the genius that won the day
in my reverence for the generosity that refused
its glory.
LEE AT GETTYSBURG.
There is one other incident to which I beg
permission to refer, that may perfect the pic
ture On the Sd of July, 1868, the last as
sault of the Confederate troops upon the
heights of Gettysburg failed, and again Gen.
Lee was among his baffiel and shattered battal-
ions as they sullenly retired from their brave
attempt. The history of that battle is yet to
be written, and the responsibility for the result
yet to be fixed. But there, with the painful
consciousness that his plans had been frustra-
ted by others, and that defeat and humiliation
had overtaken his army, in the presence Of his
troops he openly assumed the entire responsi