Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-12-24

about u young iuuy VINO nau marfieu
against the wishes of her parents |;
and as there were many nations EN-
gagged, and great city destroyed In
the struggle, we may fairly conclude
that she was u pioneer In that line of
disobedience. Since that time men
have become more practical, and
wars are waged as general thing for
land or ready money, bonds or other
securities, as the exigeRce Of the case
may require. Tamerlane and Baja-
yet seem to have fought TO see who
could whip, and curiosity ON the
same point may have contributed
largely to bring about the conflict
between France and Prussia.
The civil strife I'm this country pro-
baby had as much cause aud there
may have been as many good reasons
for 1t MS for other wars. Whether
the useless elimination and recrimi-
nation which preceded 1t were the
causes or only the premonitory symn-
toms Is more than / can pretend to
determine. IL came, aud around its
banners gathered as brave men as
ever followed the Roman eagle. You
joined hands with those among whom
you were born, and Gen. Lee did the
same thing
"In Dixie's land he took his stand,
And lived and died for Dixie"
i shall not notice his important
services In Mexico. | shall not fol-
low him In his campaign in West
Virginia, nor shall | linger on the
banks of the james or the Rapi,lan,
at Fredericksburg or the Wilderness.
1t Is possible that no man could have
accomplished more with the means
mt his command; IL Is probable that
he could not have had an ADLER lieu
tenant than Jackson and ii Is NOR
ally certain that he believed his cause
to be Just. But his battles and his
sieges, his victories and defeats, We're
witnessed 10y some of you, and they
are known AMI understood by you
all. Many men have been successful
in the conduct of military aifairS.-
The Warwicks, the Marlborouyhs,
and the Wellingtoils Of the Old World
all had more genius aud less oStenta-
ton than Gen. Lee? Was he not q
hero? Was he not u Christian >
Was he not a gentleman
On the field of AppomattoX he
drew up his forces for the last time.
they were not marshalled for the
fight. The drum did not caH to arms,
nor did the bugle sound the charge.
Silently, slowly, and calmly single
figure moves to the tent of General
Grant and surrenders himself II pris-
oner of war. Who will describe his
feelings as he looked upon tie battle
SCARED veterans whose fidelity, un-
shaken 10y disaster, was still true,
and who were now like children
weeping for his fall? Most gladly
would lie have grasped the hand of
each soldier at parting; but It would
have been the greatest trial of his
life. The future of all was shrOuded
in gloom, and the lip would have
faltered in uttering even the word
Good by" Ii their homes were in
ashes, his own door was closed upon
him forever. lie passed from their
view in silence, but his bOundless
love manifested itself In the gentle
tenderness of his farewell address," 4"
Brilliant as had been the military
career Of Gen. Lee, the closing scene
of his life added new luster to his
fame. Lexington Is situated in Il
valley of surprising l0veliness; the
mountains rise on either side like
huge walls inclOSing II beautiful gar
den. Here stood an institution of
learning which bore an illustrious
name, endeared To him by ancestral
association. But what was college
without an endowment, without a
faculty, without n student, and in II
country where the ravages of war
tnI ~ nf
tence? The trustees most wisely
rendered the position of President to
Gen Lee, and he accepted it. The
transition from the camp to the
school room had been of rare occur
renee, but Gen. Lee was equally emf
nent in either situation. 1t was his
ambition to elevate the standard of
scholarship, AMI to make Washing
ton College the scat of science and Of
art as well a. Of literature. He was
not dismayed by the difficulties and
embarrassmentSt that surrounded him.
His administrative ability, his zeal,
and his energy surmounted them all,
and the creation of his genius rose
majestic in its superStructure and
firm and solid in its foundations. -
There it stands, the pride of Virginia!
The son of light-Horse Harry
penniless as a bcggar, had completed
Il monument to Washington 1t is
not II shaft or an Obelisll, whose cold
exterior fOrbds the touch and repels
the glance of the Orholder; bat 1t is
q monument replete with life and
light and hope, radiant with intelli-
gencc, the home of the arts aud sci
ences, of music and of poetry, with
n chapel aud an altar dedicated To
religion and to God.
General Lee was taken suddenly
and violently III. The paroXysm,
however, abated In II measure, and IA
gleam of hope relieved the appre-
hensiOn of his family and friends
But the disease, instead of being sub
dued, was only gathering strength
for final blow. 1t soon became ap-
parent To all his hour was come. He
alone was unmoved by the informa-
ton. He was indifferent to the issue
of life or death. He had no expec-
tationS or desires upon the subject
Here was perfect resignation. He
had been a faithful soldier of the
Cross, and If the order had issued from
Headquarters he was ready to march
over the border.
The lamp of life burned low and
dim; the scenes of earth were clos
ing around him unconscious of the
present, the shadowy past rose before
his vision, and his very latest utter
ance expressed n wish To see friend,
"Send for A. u. Hill" Under the
same circumstances Jackson had said
"Scnd y. L. Hill to the front.n Ar
mics occupied the last thoughts oi
Napoleon, and so it may have been
with Lee and Jackson.
General Lee has gone to the grave.
lie was buried by his own direction,
without display. II there are those
among Us who derive comfort from
casting aSpersionS upon his character
they will do So; but the South and
the North and the East and the West
will remember Lee.