The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-03-16
Pen and Ink Sketches,
LEE AND JACKSON.
LEES pIETY AND PRUDENCE

The General leaves upon one, 10 re.
markable degree, the impression OF a
lofty Christian character, aud yet there
It q total absence ofanythiug about him
like osteutatious piety. 1t is rather the
atmosphere that surrouuds him. 1 can
remember at the table the so.emuity
with Notwithstanding before his family
The asked Gods blessing on the foud
Also, when he spoke Of jackson, how
strong an emphasis he placed upon his
piety and when he mentioned a gentle.
man whom he wished me to see in
Richmond, remember his saying that
he had rarely met with nobler or more
Christian mau. 1t was only word,
aud yet it showed by what standard he
gauged mans worth.
l knew from report that Lee was
reticent on political subj jects, aud wisely
80, his position in the country since the
war demanding the utmost produce. 1
therefore made no attempts to "draw
him out" as the saying is at the same
time Ispoke freely on all subjects that
came naturally in tho way. Political
topics were, therefore, referred to at
times but Lee was on his guard, aud
could not but notice the admirable deli
cacy aud tact with which, as often as
the conversation threatened to become
political, he contrived to turn it into an.
other channel.
For instance, when I happened to
speak of the colorcd people during our
first interview, Lee, just as if he were
going to enter on the subject, said they
were aockiug in great numbers into the
towns. would see many Of them in
Lexington 1t went about as he hoped
| would, there being several points in
the town and its neighborhood that
would interest strangcr-some of which
he went on quite naturally to speak Of
til! the colored people were as iar away
from the line of conversation as if
they had never been mentioned.
Iu the evening, the negroes happen.
ed to be referred to again. Lee, as
ifintercsted to know how far my expe-
rience corroborated his observation,
said, did you see many of them to
day 2"
told him that on the contrary, I had
seen very few.
"The rain must have kept them with
in doors" said Lee, "aud fear it would
prevent you seeing our little town to
advantage. But you must wait till it
clears up, and visit the Natural Bridge
Of Virginia. Yon could ride there aud
back in one day with a good horse;"
and he proceeded In his gentlcmanly way
to describe visit he had himself paid
to the brdge-the negro silently van.
ishing from the conversation as before.
Suu.e Of the Professors were there
that night, and convor ,atiou went on
briskly; but [ noticed that. whenever
they introduced political topics, Lee be-
came silent aud allowed the conversa-
tion to 90 on without him
One Of his sons told me that his
fathers answer to direct inquiries on
Vexed questions was that ho was soldier
not politician.
LEES CHARACTER ILLUSTRATED.
Travelling through the South, ] found
no name moro revcred than that of
General Lee His fne qualities as q
soldier, which placed bin at the head
OF the Southern Army, had been asso-
clated with q noble modesty and a
Christian department, which had made
him as much beloved as he was ad.
mired. Almost everybody met in the
South had some little incidents to tell
illustrative of his character. Richmond
and Petersburg especially were full of
memories of him. The family with
which stayed at Petersburg had twice,
during the terrible siege OF that city,
sent up present Of fruit and vegetables
to Lees head quarters, hoping to add a
relish to the scanty fare which he shared
with his officers. They showed me q
warm note of thanks which he had re-
turned but, they said, it turned out
that, instead of tasting the things him.
sell, he had distributed them amongst
his wounded and dying men.
AT Petersburg, gentleman told me
that, during the war he was one day
travelling by rail to Richmond in car
riage (the Americans call it a scar
full Of soldiers. 1t must be remembered
that these American railway cars are
like long narrow rooms with passage
down the middle, and no separation of
classes. A poor fellow, with his arm in
sling, got up and tried to pull on his
overcoat. He had to use his teeth
along with his sound hand, but once and
again the coat fell back. His effort at
tracted the attention Of an officer at the
other end Of the car, who rose, went
forward, and tenderly assisted him,
drawing the coat very gently over his
wounded arm, and buttouing it up very
comfortably for him before he went back
to his seat. That officer was Genera.
Lee The gentleman who described
the circumstances said-"It was a pic
ture of his whole character. The man
used to call him uncle Robert They
loved him as if he had been a father"
Illustrative Of tho feelings with which
Lees presence inspired the troops in
battle, he mentioned the following Incl
dent AT Fredericksburg, position of
s'ai Importance having fallen in the
hands of the onemy, Lee gave orders
that it should he ;r.nod;otolu .n.oLo,