The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-12-01
A Splendid Tribute to Gen. Robert E. Lee
from the London Illustrated News.

The grandest soldier of recent times has been
borne to his rest. The late confederate Gener-
al, Robert E. Lee, whose name, less than ten
wears ago, was tower of defense to the State
In which he drew his breath, whose WORD
Frightened the eyes, filled the heart and neryeo
the arms, of every man who served under him
the dalntless, the disinterested, the devoted
chief of cause predestined to perish has
Quietly glided from the humble post of duty
which he had accepted after his final defeat
into the unseen and higher sphere to which
throughout the greater part of his life he had
looked forward with yearning aspirations and
assured faith.
General Lees career was just one of those
occurring only now and then in history, over
which, as one bends in studioHs contemplation,
some of the most perplexing questions present
themselves unbidden, and cry in vain Tor
really sufficing answer. How came tin con-
formity with what diyinely PrOvidential law
did it happen-that social regime to which ne
himself was but loosely, if at all, attached,
which even its most enthusiastic friends would
hesitate to recall from destruction, which
kindled and fed the vilest passions of humani.
ty, and which rankled as barbed and poisoned
arrow in the side of the great Republic of the
West, obtained from its military champion in
its last years struggle the calmest, purest, most
unselish, and most unahectedly devout man,
as well as the ablest commander whom the ge-
MUS of America could have chosen from among
her citizens7 What lessons does the sharp
contrast between system condemned by con-
science and the character of the hero who up.
held it to the last impress upon the human
heart? For we must not confound General
Lee with the peculiar institution" which his
success in the field would have preserved. 1t
was not with view to give permanence to sia-
very that he cast in his lot with his native
State; nevertheless, the whole of his profes-
sional service, in the Mexican war, as in the
civil war, CHANGED to be in support OF that hap
PLY extinguished cause.
We shall not attempt any solution of the
mystery. Indeed, we have presumed to call at
tention to it only because, in our opinion, JUS
tice to the memory of the great Confederate
captain requires that the motives which pre-
vailed with him to withdraw his allegiance
from the North and tender it to the South fur
nishes the true key to his character. There
was magnanimity even in the choice which con-
stituted him rebel. His political Judgment,
formed in early days, pronounced loyalty TO be
due to the State before it was due to the Union:
Nearly every motive but simple duty which
could have swayed such mind as Robert r..
Lees must have drawn him towards the North
or, rather, towards that Federal Republic
which the North represented. His father had
been q soldier in its service, and, through him,
he was connected with the immortal Washing
ton. Robert, too, had received his military
education from the Union, and had "eaten its
salt"
He had not to complain of neglect or of mis-
trust. His worth had been recognized-his
promotion promised to be rapid as we'll as sure
But, when the secession of Virginia had been
effected, and war was lowering along the Dor
der of the State, in his anxious effort to dis
cover his own path of duty, ne sternly sup
pressed every personal inclination, and calmly
surrendered his individual views and feelings
at the demand of public duty. Virginia, he
believed, was entitled 70 claim him as her own,
and Virginia's claim should be satisfied. She
might have acted unadvisedly. She might have
been foolish in throwing her weight into the
scale of very questionable cause. But her
decision having been made, it was not for him
to challenge it-uot for him even to choose.
With true soldierly obedience he held himself
ready to take his States commands, and, though
they might wiring his heart, to execute them.
We lust now observed that the key to this
great and good mans character might be found
at this turning point of his career. To do "the
right when his judgment, duly exercised, had
satisfied him as to what was the right-nor mat
ter with what prospects, no matter at what cost
to himself-to merge his will in the will that
had the clearest title to command-this was
the life-germ of General Lees character. He
had no low ambition. He cared not to please
men, nor was love of appreciation any weaka
ness of his. Still less did he seek or value
ease or self-indulgence in any of its forms.
He trampled upon his very pride when 1t stood
In the way of true service. Strength of will
in him-and in the face of adverse circumstan-
ces it was ndomitable-rested not 80 much on
physical constitution as upon moral considera-
tions.
But that strength was seldom evoked, save of
the bidding of calm and deliberate judgment,
and showed itself quite as conspicnously in his
kindliness as in his severity. He believed that
IT was right for him to share the hardships Of
his men, and he did so with cheerful and unos-
tentatious pertinacity throughout the war,
maintaining to the end Spartan simplicity.
The mans whole soul lived, not so much in his
profession as in the responsibilities which it
imposed on him. These he welded with oil q
lovers devotion and watched, and needed. and
obeyed them with martial steadiness and 30
briefly. His impulses were tender as o wo-
mans his infexibility in all things relating to
his sense of obligation was adamantine.
It is not surprising that General Lee, thus
selfconsecrated to public duty-thus sparing,
where duty would allow it, OF everybody but
himself-should have become the idol OF hls
army. His glance thrilled through them and
dispelied all hesitation and doubt from their
minds, like the bursting Of sunbeam through.
overhauging clouds, in the gentle splendor of
which nature suddenly breaks into laugh.
Ragged, shoeless, hsggard, balfstarving' they
command. "Uncle Robert" the appellation
of familiarity and fondness BY whieh his n4eH
spoke of him-was never suspected Of wasting
their lives by strategic blunders. He made
mistakes, of course, as, in SO gigantic stTug-
gle it was impossible to avoid making mistakes :
but he never laid the blame of them upon his
officers He was the organiser Of victory"
Bet even victory, in the case of the Confed-
aro+eu onfu gbereff the way 70 ultimate ex-