The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-11-18


the Confederacy, set himself to work to
wear them ont by the simple process of ex-
| changing two lives for ono. From that
moment tine fate of Richmond and of the
South was sealed. When General Lee COM
menced the campaign of the Wilderness he
had, we believe, about $4,000 men-his adj
versary had thrice that number at hand,
and still larger force in reserve. When
the army OF Virginia marched out of Ri h
mond 1T still numbered some 10000 MEN
after retreat of six days, in the face Of an
overwhelming enemy, with a crushing ar
tillery-a retreat impeded by constant
lighting, and harrassed by countless hordes
OF cavalry-S,O00 were given up by the cap
ltulation at Appomattox Court House.
Brilliant as were General Lees earlier tri-
umphs, we believe that he gave higher
proofs of genius in his last campaign, and
that hardly any of his victories were so
honorable to himself and his army as that
six days retreat.
There have, however, been other generals
OF genius as brilliant, of courage and en-
durance hardly less distinguished. How
many men have ever displayed the perfect
simplicity of nature, the utter absence of
vanity or affectation, which belongs to the
truest and purest greatness, in triumphs or
defeat as General Lee has done? When
Commander in Chief Of the Southern az
mics he moved from point to point, at duty
required, with less parade than an Europe
an general of division, wearing no sword,
attended by no other staff than the imme.
date occasion demanded, and chatting
with comrade or a visitor with q simple
courtesy which had in it no shade of con-
descenslon. Only on one occasion does
he seem to have been accoutred with the
slightest regard to military display, or per-
sonal dignity and that, Enthusiastically,
was the last occasion ON which he wore the
ConA>derate uniiorm-the occasion of his
interview with General Grant on the 9th OF
April, 1865. After the war he retired,
wlthouta word, into privacy and OBSCURE
ty. Ruined by the seizure snd destruction
OF his property, which Mcclellan protected,
and which his successors gave up to ravage
and plllage, the late Commander in Chief
OF the Southern armies accepted the presi-
dency OF Virginia college, and devoted
himself as simply and earnestly to it's du-
ties as II he had never filled higher sta
ton or performed more exciting functions
Wellaware ofthe jealous temper of the dom
inant party in the North, and anxious,
above all things, to avoid exasperating that
temper against his conquered countrymen,
he carefully abstained from participating
in public ceremony or taking any overtpart
in political questions.
His influence has been eXerted quietly
but steadily in one direction, with single
view to restore harmony and good will be-
tween the two sections, and to reconcile the
oppressed Southerners to the Union from
which he fought so CALAMITY to free them.
He has discountenanced all regrettul long
ings after the lost vision of Southern indie
pendence; all demonstrations in honor of
'the conquered banner !" and has encour-
aged the South to seek the restoration of
her material prosperity and the satisfaction
of her national feelings in frank accep-
lance Of the result of the war, and loyal
adhesion to the Federal bond. 1t was
characteristic and worthy of the man that
he was among the first to sue for a formal
pardon from President Johnson; not for
any advantage which he personally could
obtain thence, but to set the example of
submission to his comrades in arms, and re-
concile them to u submission without
which the conquerors refused them that
restitution to civil rights necessary to any
effort to retrieve their own or their country's
fortunes. Truer greatness, loftier nature
spirit more unseltlsh, character purer,
more chivalrous, the world has rarely, if
ever, known. Of stainless life and deep
religious feeling, yet free from all faint and
fanaticism, and as dear and congenial to
the Cavalier Stuart as to the Puritan Stone
wall Jackson; unambitious, but ready to
sacrifice all at the call of duty; devoted to
his cause, yet never moved by his feelings
beyond the line prescribed by hisjudgment;
never provoked by just resentment to pun
ish wanton cruelty by reprisals which
would have given character of needless
savagery to the war-both North and
South owed deep debt of gratitude to
him, and the time will come when both
will be equally proud of him. And well
they may, for his character and his life af-
ford Il complete answer to the reproaches
commonly cast on money grubbing, me,
chanical America. A country which has
givea birth to men like him, and those who
followed him may look the chivalrv OF
Europe in the face without shame for the
fatherlands of Sidney and of Bayard never
produced nobler soldier, gentleman, and
Christian than General Robert e. Lee.
rTE nraMorP Arrc pAPry