The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-02-01

no time during tue war did the boys ig
"gray" more gallantly acquis -themseves
and with more Of fdashiug alacrity than
on that memorable mornipg-driyine
the enemy before them at all points
and actually capturing their artillery
at the very last moment. Just before
General Custar, of the Federal army.
passed myself, near one ofour batteries.
under conduct of staff officer Of Gen
eral Lee, with a. flag of truce, guns
captured from the enemy were borne
by me to the rear in triumph. Imme,
diately, however, the order came, to
"cease fring.". Honorable terms we're
conceded, and General Lee resolved to
close the contest on the principles
announced in his iuimitabie farewell
address.
Monday, April 10Th, was devoted to
settlement of details, and on Tuesday
11th; the handful remaining of that
gallant, victorious army, about 1000
infantry and scarcely 10000 efaltarms,
wasted by want under the enemy's de-
vastatiug system, and by the dropping of
of men, hopeless, in night marches,
sullenly yielded to, perhaps, twenty
times their number, equipped with all
the appliances of modern welfare-a
spectacle of heroic constancy to princl-
pie that conveys lesson Christendom
will not soon forget.
Sadly friend bade with friend fare
we'll ; great tears coursing down cheeks
furrowed and bronzed. And when there
my hand grasped in adieu that Of my
illustrious friend, grief choked utterance
on my part, his own calm, deep eyes
we're full to overaowing, and his wonted
melodious tones refused expression -
Thus We parted, each to such home as
he had, and the great Southern Captain,
if not 'the foremost man of all this
world" assuredly among the foremost
Of the species, went we'll nigh unattended
to the residence Of his family in Rich
mond.
The above interesting account of
affairs from the breaking of the Con-
federate lines around Petersburg, until
the fatal morning at Appomattox, when
the Southern Cross sunk forever, we
have given in full, because it is matter
appertaining to history, and treats Of
important incidents and events which
have never before been furnished to the
world. OF the second part Of the lecture
we give tolerably full synopsis
FROM THE SURRENDER TILL HIS ARR
VAL IN LEXINGTON.
The lecturer described the return of
the great commander to his home in
Richmond. OF the terrible changes
which he found there upon his arrival.
OF the smoking ruins on every street; j.;
of the presence of the enemy's soldicry
and of the bitter humiliation Of the
once proud capital of a proudcr State
Gen. Lee soon found that Richmond
then was no home for him, and accepted
the hospitality of noble Virginia
matron, WHO invited him aud bis family
to live with her in her residence, situa
ted on the waters Of the upper James
river. The lecturer then gave a brief
aud. interesting description of the little
town of Lexington, situated in the
celebrated country known as the Valley
Of Virginia. He spoke Of its beautiful
situation in. the centre Of plains, as
level as a carpet, as green as an emerald,
and as fertile as the valley OF the Egyp-
tian Nile, walled in on ore side tgJ the
picturesque peaks Of the Alleghanies,
on the other by the azure crests of the
Blue Ridge. He told of its first in
habitauts--the sturdy, industrious, faith
full, liberty loving Scotch Irish-and
the stout blows for independence which
they struck in the war of the revolution.
Of the seats of learning there-Wash-
ington College and the Virginia Mill
tary Iustitute-and the patriotism of
the students and professors in each,
who rushed to arms at the first tap of
the drum, and molstened the sacred soil
Of Virginia with the blood Of; gray
barred men and striplings Of sixteen and
seventeen. He.said that soon after the
war ended Washiugton College was
reorganized, and Q message sent to
General. Lee on the:upper James asking
him to accept the Presidency of the in
stitutiop. With accustomed prudence,
Lee asked for time to consider the pro-
position before returning an answer
One evening, several days afterwards, a
solitary traveller, mounted on an iron.
gray ,steed, rode across the mountains,
and drew the bride rein Just before
night at the door Of 40 inn in little
village just beyond the mountains. A
few minutes afterwards an ex-Coufed-
crate soldierrscognusd "Marse Robert
and the news spread that Lee had ar
rived. The population of the, gillags
turned out en- nsGsss, surrounded the
inn, and begged the privilege ofto0ch-
ing the old here's palm. The next
morning he mounted his horse, fode
quietly into Lexington, and up to the door
O Of The college. and dismountiug an
aounced thatshe had come to accept the
position which he had been rendered
As soon ash Was kpeyn that Lee was
at the heaa of the college large number
/ Of students esnss tSEi z from States
isouttf Of ethe.P Potonas, and in q shpr
til time there we're .in,s atteuaanes. Hos'
fthas thrser hundred shsdR Gfty youpt
| men, the d6Asr1of the SUuthernf 'souh
try,. whoihad come there to be moulded