Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-12-10
THE GREAT CONFEDERATE
CAPTAIN.
Personal Reminescences and Anec
dotes Of Gen. II. r.. Lee.
Written for the Cincinnati Commercial b,
an eX-COnIcdernte Capinin.

Written for the Cincinnati Commercial by
an eX-Conicderute Captain.
After the battle of Malvern Hill
had ceased and Mcclellan had left
the ground of his gallant defence for
Harrison's Landing, one of the Con-
tederate division commanders, who
had not been fortunate in his man
agement of the attack, and was not
aware that Mcclellan had gone, gal
loped up to Gen. Lee, and exclaimed
with considerable vehemence: "If
you will permit me, sir, will charge
that hill with my whole force and
carry it at the point Of the bayonet."
"No doubt you could now succeed" I"
was the quiet reply, "but have one
serious objection to your making the
attack at this time" "May | ask
what that objection Is ?" was the
eager question of the ardent soldier,
who saw honor and glory before him
in the present opportunity. ~ am
afraid, sir" rcjoined the Commanders
in-Chief, with a mischievous twinkle
of the eye which all around enjoyed
greatly, "that you would hurt my
little friend, Capt. -. The enemy
left about an hour ago, and the cap
| tain is over there with II reconnoiter-
ing party"
While in winter quarters at Peters
burg, a party of officers We're one
night busily engaged in discussing,
at the same time, mathematical
problem aud the contents of a stone
jug which was garnished by two tin
cups. In the midst of this Gen. Lee
came in to make some inquiry. He
got the information he wanted, gave
u solution of the problem, and went
out, the officers expressing to each
other the hope that the General had
not noticed the jug and cups. The
next day one of the officers, in the
/ presence of the Others, was relating
to Gen. Lee strange dream he had
the night before. The General list.
cned with apparent interest to the
narrative, and quietly: "That Is not
at all remarkable. When young
gentlemen discuss at midnight math
ematical problems, the unknown
quantities of which are n stone jug
and two tin cups, they may expect
Ia have strange dreams" One day
at Petersburg Gen. Lee, who never
suffered Il day To pass without visit
ing some part of his lines, rode by
the quarters of one of his Major Gen
erals and requested him to ride will
him To inspect the lines. As they
were going he asked Gen. -- if II GER
tain work, which he had ordered to
Toe pushed, was completed. He re
piled, with some hesitation, that il
was, aud Gen. Lee then proposed that
they should go and see it. Arriving
At the spot, il was found that it'll,
progress had been made on the work
since they were there n week before
and Gen. - was proiuse in his ap
pologies, saying that he had not seer
the work since they We're there before
; but that he had ordered it to be com
; plctcd at once, and that Maj. - ha'
informed him that il had already
been completed. Gen. Lee said moth
ing then, except to remark quietly
: ave must give our attention 10 The
lines" But riding on IA little furthe
he began to compliment Gen. - ol
the splendid charger he rode. "les
3 sir" said Gen. --, che is splendiC
animal, and prize him the NOR,
/. highly because he belongs to my VIII,
: and is her iavorite riding horse.n "a
magnificent horse,n rcioincd Genera
Lee, "hut l should not think hin
4; safe for Mrs. -- to ride. He is entire
/, lY too spirited for lady, and ! woul'
= urge you by all means To take SOM
5 of the mettlc out of him before yol
suffer Mrs. - To ride him again
= And by the way, General, ! woul'
suggest to you that these rough path
!, along these trenches would be YER,
i admirable ground over which to tam
. him. The face of the gallant sol
). dier turned crimson, he felt mos
: krcnly the rehuke, and never after
g ward reported the condition of hi
4 lines upon Information received fron
II Major - or any one else. His spirit
70 cd charger felt the effect OF this hin
from hcn quarters.
One 81 he professors In the colleg
was one lay making very earne,
speech AZ n meeting of the fAcult
on the heSt means of securing IA fu
n attendance OF the students at III
y chapel service. Ii 10 happened tha
. this excellent gentleman (as well a
e some other members Of the faculty
=, was not in the habit of attendin
"a chapel himself When he had til
4 ished his speech, President Lee quie
T. ~ said: "Onc of the best ways thi
y ] know of Ia induce the students I
.uittuI tl1nVl j. tn lla .llr, that "A