Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-11-05
VIRGINIA FREE PRESS
General r. E. Lee.

Col. MARSHALL, a member OF Gen. Lee
staff during the late war, in an address IN Bal
tim5re among many other things said
We call him as he appeared in the hour of
victory, grand, imposing, awe-lnsplnng, yet
se!f-forgetful aud humble. We recall the
great scenes of his triumph, when we hail him
victor on many bloody field, and when above
the peans of victory we listened with rcver-
ence to bis voice as he ascribed ''all glory to
the lord of Hosts, from whom all glories are. "
rApplausel We remember that grand mag
nanimity that never stopped to pluck those
meauer things that grow nearest the earth up
on the tree of victory, but which, with eyes
turned 10 the stars and hands raised towards
Heaven. gathered the golden fruits Of mercy,
pity aud holy charity, that ripen on ITS top
most houghs beneath the approving smiles OF
the great God of battles. [APplause.l ]
We remember the sublime seIf-abnegation
Of Charlottesville when, in the midst Of his
victorious lecions, who, with the light of bat
tie vet on their faces, hailed him conqueror,
he Thought only of his great lieutenant lying
wounded on the field, and transferred TO him
ali the honor of that instrious day.
will be pardoned, am sure, for referring
to an incident which affords to my mind a
most striking illustration Of one Of the grand
est features of his character. Jy
On the morning Of May 3D., 1868, as many
of YOU will remember, the final assault was
made upon the Federal lines at Chancellors-
Vile
Uen. ice ao.,npo-'o,I The tiuoPo IN Pcrs"n,
and as they emerged from the fierce combat
they had waged in the depths Of that tangled
wilderness, driving the superior forces OF
the enemy before them across the open ground,
he rode into their midst. The scene is one
that can never bq etfaced from the minds of
those who Witnessed it. The troops were
pressing forward with all the ardor aud en-
ihusiasm of combat. The white smoke OF
mnsEe,rv fringed tie front of the line Of bat
tie. while the artillery on the hills in the rear
Of the infantry shook the earth with It's thun-
der and fllei the air with the wild shrieks of
the shells that plunged into the masses of the
retrea;ing foe. To add greater horror aud
sublimity 10 the scene, the Charlottesville
house aud woods surrounding it were wrapped
in flames In the midst of this awful scene
Gen Lee. mounted upon that horse which we
all remember SO well, rode to the front of his
advancing battalions. His presence was the
signal for one ui those uncomfortable outbursts
of enthusiasm which none can appreciate who
have not witnessed them. Applause.
The fierce soldiers, with their faces blacken-
ed with the smoke Of battle, the wounded,
crawling with feeble limbs from the fury of
the devouring flames, all seemed possessed with
common impulse One long, unbroken
cheer, in which the feeble cry Of those who lay
HELPLESS on the earth blended with the strong
voices of those who still fought rose high
above the roar Of battle, and hailed the pres
ence of the victorious chief He sat in the full
realization Of all that soldiers dream of-tri-
umph and as looked upon him in the COM
plete fruiton Of the success which his genius,
courage and confidence in his army had won,
| thought that it must have been from some
such scene that men in ancient days assembled
to the dignity Of the gods. [Applause.
His first care was for the wounded OF both
armies. and he was among the foremost at the
burning mansion where some of them lay
But at that moment, when the transports Of
his victorious troops were drowning the roar
Of battle with acclamations, a note was
brought to him from General jackson. 1t
was brought to General Lee az he sat on his
horse, near the Charlottesville house, and un-
able to open it with his gaunteted hands, he
passed it to me with directops TO read it to
him. The note made no mention OF the
wound that General jackson had received,
but congratulated General Lee upon the great
victory.
shall never forget the look Of pain and
anguish that passed over his face as he listen
ed. With a voice broken with emotion be
babe me say to Gen. jackson that the victory
was his, aud that the congratulations were due
to him. [Appause and chcers.l l know
not how Others may regard this incident, but
for myself, as gave expression TO the
thoughts of his exalted mind, | forgot the gen.
ius that won the day in my reverence. for the
generosity that refused its glory.