Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-12-10

attend ourselves" And accordingly
his seat was never vacant unless he
was kept away by absence from home
or sick ness.
The General used to enjoy very
much n quiet joke at the expense Of
some over r-confident student. The
writer heard him one day Introduce a
new student to one of the professors
by saying, with II quiet smile:
This young gentleman Is going to
graduate i'm one session."
"No, General" replied the youth,
"you misunderstood me; I did not
say that l would graduate in one, but
in two sessions"
"Ah, lie has concluded to postpone
1t for session. Well, sir, wish you
the full realization of your hopes hut
must tell you that you will have no
time to play"
On the 9th of May, 1864, at most
critical juncture for the Confederate
arms, Gen. Lee met Gregg's Texas
brigade going into the battle of the
Wilderness. They greeted him with
most enthusiastic cheers as they hur-
ried on to the front, but were soon
Mortified to find that their beloved
ICommander-in-Ch was going will,
them into the thickest of the fight.
The men begun to shout, General
Lee to the rear General Lee to the
rearW n ragged veteran stepped
from the ranks ami seized his reins,
and at last the whole brigade halted
and exclaimed with one voice, awe
will not advance unless Gen. Lee
| hp ,ly l,,t ha
himself we will drive back the ene-
my" Thus appealed to, Gen. Lee
halted and gazed after these brave
Texans as they nobly redeemed their
promise, though at a fearful cost.
On the 10th of May, when the Con.
federate line was broken at Spottsyl.
vania Courthouse, Gen. Lee again
offered to lead the charge, this time
placing himself In front Of Gordon's
division of Virginians and Georgians
and just by the col0rs of the 40th
Virginia regiment. He uttered nc
word he was not the man for theat.
rical displays-but quietly took of
his hat, us the regiment was forming
with the evident purpose of leading
the charge. a murmur ran down
the line, and just then the gallant
Gordon spurred his horse to his side
seized the rein of his horse, and ex.
claimed, with deep anxiety, "Gen
Lee, this is no place for you do &c
to the rear! These are Virginian.
and Georgians, sir-men who have
never failed. And they will not now
Will you, men? Is it necessary fol
Gen. Lee to lead this charge?" Lou(
cries of "No! no! Gen. Lee to the
rear Gen. Lee to the rear! We al.
ways try to do what Gen. Gordon
tells us. And we will drive them
back If Gen. Lee will only 20 to the
rear" burst from the ranks. Tn,
Generals horse was led to the rear
" Forward! charge and remembel
your promise to Gen. Lee" rung ou
in GOrdon's well-known voice, ant
those gallant fellows swept every
thing before them and re-establishet
the Confederate line. A similar in
cident occurred on the 18th of May
in front of the "bloody angle" wheI
Gen. Lee was only prevented from
leading Harris Mississippi brigad
into the thickest of that terrible figh
by the positive refusal of the men t,
go forward unless their beloved chief
tain would go to the rear. Shortl,
after this he received an affecting let
ter from Mr.. Davis, begging him il
the name of the Confederate arm,
and people not to expose his valuabl,
life 50 freely.