The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-11-11
Robert E. Lee.
An English Opinion of the Great American
Soldier.
LONDON. October 8.
A JUsrsTRIBUTE.

Lee was received Ill EUROPE Will ull~ y
versal regret. We are all happy to- a
lay in the contradiction, and the Gen e1
eral can have the pleasure of reading 1e
the many glowing tributes to his men, IN
DRY, which have appeared, such as this. IL
The Standard published the following p
article Immediately upon the announce N
ment: IL
The announcement that General r. :,
E. Lee has been struck down by paral- q
ysis and is not expected to recover will =,
be received, even at this crisis, with ),
universal interest, and will everywhere =
excite a sympathy and regret which :
testify to the deep impression made on =
the world at large by his character and s
achievements. Few are the Generals =
who have earned, since history began, !,
greater military reputation; still few
er are the men of similar eminence, civ
il or military, whose personal qualities
would bear comparison with his. The
Interest enemies of his country hardly
dared to whisper word against the
character of her most distinguished
General, while neutrals regarded him
with an admiration for his deeds and a
respect for his lofty and unselfish ma
tire which almost grew into venera-
ton. and his own countrymen learned
ia look up to him with as much conf
dence and esteem as they ever felt for
Washington, and with an aHec.'on
which the cold demeanor and austere
temper of Washington could never IN
spire. The death of such man, even
: at moment so exciting as the present,
when all thoughts are absorbed by
1 nearer and present conflict, would be
r felt as misfortune by all who still re-
: tain any recollection of the interest
d with which they watched the Virginia
! campaigns. and by thousands VINO nave
r. almost forgotten the names OF Freder-
d icsburg and Charlottesville, the Will
! derpess and Spottsylvania. By the
s. South it would be recognized as a ma
% tional calamity-as the loss OF man
3 not only inexpressibly dear TO an un-
m fortunate people by his ipdmate asso-
es citation with theiR fallen hopes and Their
h, proudest recollecticHs, but still able to
re render services such as 10 other mar
is could perform, and to give counse
to whose value is enhanced tenfold by thu
source from which it comes. We hope
he even vet, that life so honorable ant
is so useful, so pure and noble in itself
er 80 valuable to a country that has mucl
as need of men like him, may be spare'
in and prolonged for further enjoyment Q
raj domestic peace and comfort, for fur
to Their service to his country; we canno
'e- bear to think that a career so singular
ese ly admirable and SO singularly unfortu
nd nate, should close so soon and so sadl.
5he By the tens of thousands who will fe'
Oh as we do when they read the news thf
,ed now lies before us may be measure
the the immersion made upon the world
els the life and the deeds Of the great chi
of the Army of Virginia.
ast Whatever differences of opinion ms
the EXIST as to the merits of the Genera
wv AGAINST whom he had to contend, al
Jay especially of the antagonist by who
W he was at last overcome, no one pr
nto tending to understand in the least I
a M"t Their the general principles OF militia
IT, az science or the particular condltlons
la t'a the American war, doubts that 0ehel
nen Lee gave better proofs OF military &c
OH JUS and soldiership than any OF MS
n ne ponents. He was outnumbered III
5..y first to last; and all his victories w
lun' gained against greatly superior tore
'oV and with troops deficient In every
Wis cessary of war except courage anu
ow cipline. Never perhaps was so mt
was achieved against odds SO terrible. ]
we're Southern sOldiers-''that incOmpara
'Orth S Sti' ;nfontrvn tn which a ]
~" Northern writer renders que trlou'e
respect-were no doubt as spieh
troops as General could desire;
AS the different fortune OF the war IN
Lde- East and in the West proves that
,gars VIRGINIA army owed something OF
the avcelIence to it's chief. Always Z
'lates numbered, always opposed to
abundantly supplied with food, tra
tor port, ammunition, clothing, all
Ourth was wanting to his own men, he
outh, ALWAYS able to make courage and
RS OF supply the deficiency of strength
low, of supplies; and from the day whel
won't assumed command after the battl
little Seven Pines, where General jos
haln't Johnston was disabled, to the NOR
oh of the final surrender at Appoma
just Court House, he was almost invari
been victorious in the field. At Gettys
/, ana only he was defeated in a pitched;
there tie on the offensive at the Chickat
OUT inv, at Centreville, and at Chancei
NV vile, on the defensive at Ante
boys Fredericksburg, the Wilderness. 81
ie re- sylyania, he was still successful.
g the no success could avail him anyt
ave to from the moment that General 6
upper, brought to bear upon the Virgin
HIM INV the inexhaustible population Q
ave to North, and, employing Sherman 7
stltnte them off from the rest of the Conf
SIR acy, set himself to work to wear
i've out by the simple process OF excl
man. ing two lives for one. From that
~, he ment the fate of Richmond and Q
,u give South was sealed. When Genera
to eat commenced the campaign of the
was derness he had, we believe, abou
mt was 600 men-his adversary had thrlc
as the number at hand, and still larger
that ! in reserve. When the army OF '
entitie ia marched out Of Richmond il
yht and numbered some &c, 900 men; aftel
:. ne treat of six days, i'll the face ofan
oment, whelming enemy, with a crushin
mated tillery--a retreat impeded by col
with an fighting, and harassed by cou
turned hordes of cavalry-9,OO were
up by the capitulation of Apron
Court House. Brilliant as were
use, no raj Lees earlier triumphs, we
3 mar I, is that he gave higher proofs Of &c,
FRS RS: t nus his last campaign, and that hard
elr nrst of his victories were 50 hOnora
the sec .,r II l,;c or,ov DC that six