The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-03-16

ueous effect The scattered troops be.
gan to rally with shouts, fugitives at
sight Of their chief became Inspired
with new courage, aud flowed back
into the ranks. Lee took of his hat,
and, pointing to the enowy, called on
his men to follow. The troops were
ready for another charge, but they re-
fused to move uuless Lee went back.
Regardless Of their en;veaties, the Gen.
eral had begun to move forward when
several of the men, acting on the uni
vorsal impulse, rushed round him, sei-
sed the reius Of his horse, and implored
him with passionate earnestness to go
back. "Go back General, for Gods sake.
Give US one chance more. Go back and
see us do it"
His horse was held. The ranks, with
o wild cheer, swept on, and 10 few
minutes the place was theirs.
met several of Lees officers in the
city, some of them pious mer, who
testified to the high Christian character
Of their chief. One of them showed
me, aud allowed me to copy, letter he
bad just received from Lee, to whom he
had written, on behalf Of the Sunday
school, for his signature on somo pho
tographs which it was proposed to dis
tribute among the children. The fol-
lowing was Lees reply:
"My Dear Major-I am very glad to
learn from your letter Of the 9th that
the Sunday School Of st. Paul's Church
is in so fourishing condition. My
interest in the citizens of Petersburg is
as great now as when was daily wit.
ness in the dangers they were subjected
from the seige of their beloved city );
aud my admiration of the fortitude aud
courage they displayed has not ia tho
least abated. The children Of the city
will always have my warmest affection
and l rejoice that they so early possess
a desire for that knowledge which leads
to Righteousness aud eternal life, aud in
comparison with which oil other learn.
ing is valueless.
eff it will crafty them, I will with
pleasure send the autographs you desire.
"Please present my regards to your
good pastor; aud with my best wishes
for your Own welfare,
OUT cUeu servant,
"R. Il. LEE"
The dangers aud suherings of the
citizens to which he refers in this note
had weighed heavily upon his heart.
One of these dangers was the number
of shells that we're continually dropping
into the city, and exploding with terri
fio noise in the streets, imperilliug inno.
cent lives.*
His chief Of artillery General Il. p.
Alexandcr,) told me that when the city
was being fired upon from any particular
point, Lee had often ordered him to
push forward guns to bear upon that
point, from his anxiety to draw its fire
away from the defenceless people.
for grea.er sccurty to 1.-Two in tho cellar or bnse-
ment. Ono lady gave me fragment of IL huge
she'll that came punging through bor house,
bursting in the yard behind. 1t had beer load.
ed with cracks. and left the yard Uttered wit
these useful little nails. II was Just in need Of
the'n," said tho lady, ''but didnt like the mode
Of transportation" The house occupied by
Chnrles Campbell, the historian of Virginia, wac
struck seventeen times. Ono shell burst in his
study, blowing out tho winows and bringing
down all the plaster. Fortunately for the pros
poets of another volume of Virginia history, Mr..
Campbell was down in tho basement.
LEES FAMILY AND ESTATES.
General Lee comes of an old and fa.
nous Virginia family. His ancestor in
Charles the First's time was Richard
Lee, a cavalier, who, on emigrating to
Virginia, became Secretary OF the colony
and on Cromwell's death got Charles III
proclaimed king Of England, Scotland,
France. Ireland, and Virginia" though
the restoration did not take place for
two years after. Coming down to later
times, we find amongst the champions
of American independence, Henry Lee,
who captured Jersey City fort from the
British, and received for this service a
gold medal from Congress. One of this
soldiers sons (by his second wife) was
Robert f. Lee, the great Confederate
commander.
Lee was born iu 1S07-is therefore
now 63 years old. At the military aca.
deny at West Point he graduated in
1929 at the head ofhis class. tlc was
distinguished for his studious habits and
gcntlemanly conduct, and as one who
used tobacco.
In 1882 Lee (thcn lieutenant) mar.
ried Miss. Custi, the granddaughter of
the wife Of George Washington. 1t was
in this way that he came to inherit the
House and Estate Of Arlington. He
distinguished himself under Gen. Scott
in the Mexican war. and afterwards in a
desperate battle with the Indians
In 1859 he returned to Washington,
and was called upon to take part in the
"John Brown war;" which was the pre-
lude to the war Of 1861.
1t was said at Washington, where Lee
was we'll known personally, that he had
been deeply attached to the Union, and
had from the first deprecated secess ion
in the strongest possible terms.
But brought up like most Of the
Southerners (the Virginians especially
to place tho State first aud the Union
after it, no sooner had Virginia taken
the fatal step, and called upon her sons