The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-03-24
An Interview with General Lee,

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"When | got back to the hotel l found
that Lee, who was aware of my coming,
had already with the courtesy so conspio-
uous amongst class of Americans) sent
his servant to inquire if | had arrived, and
to say that he would like to see me at the
college.
"On going there after breakfast was
taken up stairs and shown into the room
set aside for the use of the college presi-
dent
ga noblo-lO0king man, dressed in gray
military coat, who had been writing at a
table near the window, rose and l entered.
He was a tall, straight and soldier-like,
with crisp hair turning white short-trim-
ed beard, pointed at the chin, and dark
imperial looking eyes, very keen and search
ing. 1t was Robert L. Lee-the old Con-
federate commander.
GAS the first words of greeting passed
between us there was a hidden sadness in
his look which impressed me painfully.
He was suffering from ill-health at the
time bat it was not look of physical
pain. Perhaps it was only my own feel
ing, but it seemed as if the shadow of the
past was over him-as if you could read
behind the vigilence of his dark eyes the
fate of the South and of the myriad who
lay sleeping on the silent battle-felds.
"When | was seated he began to inquire
where | had been in the South, and about
my journey up-smiling at the somewhat
doleful account | had to give him Of my
experience in the stage from Goshen. He
said there was another road [ might have
taken-the one from Staunton "but they
say whichever road you take you wish by
that you had taken the other' He had
been twice by the Goshen road on horse
back. The scenery was very grand.
''Ho began to speak about Scotland, and
said 'You will meet with many of your
countrymen here, The Valley of Virgin
ia is peopled with Scotch -Irish-people
who have come from Scotland by way of
Irelond. They are fine race. They
have the courage and determination of the
Scotch; with the Irish dash and intrepid
ity. They make fine soldiers
''IIe said it was an old wish of his to
visit this country; but it would never be
realized now. Stonewall jackson had
been in Scotland before the war. He had
heard him speak Of it,
"When some references was made to
the odds against which the South had
fought, and the want there was of accurate
statistics, told him it was understood he
was preparing history of the war him
self. 49,.
"l have had that in view,' he said {;
'but the time has not come for an impair
tial history. If the truth we're told just
now, it would not be credited
'WAen the books that have already APP
peared Ssre spoken Of, and I mentioned
Zone, the Hoof,sheets of which, it was as
serted, hSd<Been submitted to GsreAl
s.6lffht and himself for revisiap,J he's said /
''Tt is a mistake. l have n6TSD bread hiss
tory Of .Ehe war, nor yhe biography of any
man engaged i9lG MRyn life has been
written, bNtFtiav notpfooked into it,
lie adsle lafter a pause. Il do not wish
/, TO a%ak& memories of the past
FHe spoke highly of Shorman's abili-
ties-said Sherman had always been a
good soldier.
Gle seemed much gratifed when I told
him of the estimation in which he and
Stouewall jackson had been held from the
first by the British people, irrespective al
together of Northern or Southern sympa-
thies. He said, after pause, jackson
lies in the Presbyterian burying-ground
at the other extremity of Lexington"
Combining Business and Pleasure.
A Florida correspondent Of the Rich
mond Dispatch gives some queer revela-
tions of Northern invalid life (and deatl }
down there. The following story will suf-
fee to who what practical 'cuss" that
chap was, to be sure!
There was one fellow who died in Pi.
latka short time before my visit, OF
whom [ heard from many sources.
When he found his end was near he sent
North for metallic coffin, and had ii
broughtto TO his bed room; tried it, and found
itwould fithim exactly. He was thereupor
very much satisfied and during the few re.
manning days Of his life always spoke Of
himself as dead. He requested his wife
to find ont whether she could send it OF
by express. She dutifully inquired, ant
found that they could not carry it. He
then told her to have box made, and
have it made large to put it in it; ant
as there was plenty Of room, to pack il
some sweet potatoes and oranges for thu
children; and "be very careful, my dear
not to let them turn it over, lest the or
anges should be mashed" So this care
full, economical father died, and his wifi
carried out his wishes, and very CAREFUL,
carried it home to Vermont and thC
children enjoyed the potatoes and oranges
and wished their dear father would go anc
die in FLORIDA every winter.
John Ii. Houston, brother of the lat
Gen. Sam Houston, ofTexas, died in Wash
ington recently, at the advanced age 0
eighty years. 1sUt a.e