The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-02-09
IDAHO WORLD.
~ FROM the Cincinnati Commercial.
THE GREAT CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN.

THE GREAT CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN.
Personal "REMINISCENCES AND ANECDOTES
OF GENERAL ROBERT e. LEE, BY AN EX
CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN. ~ Ia
After the battle of Malvern Hill had
ceased, and Mcclellan had left it fol
Harrison's Landing, one of the Confed
crate division commanders, who had
not been fortunate in his management
af the attack, and was not aware thai
Mcclellan had gone, galloped up to
General Lee, and exclaimed with con.
siderable yehemence: eff you will per-
init me, sir. I viii charge that hill with
my whole force and carry it at the point
of the bayonet." "No doubt you could
now yt,ssuaccceed, succeed" was thequiet reply, @but
| have one serious objection to your at
tackingtit at this time."l 'tMay / ask
what that objection is 2" was the eager
question Of the ardent soldier, who saw
honor and glory before him in the pres
ent opportunity. ri am afraid, sir" re-
joined the Commander-in-Chief, with a
mischievous twinkle of the eye which
all around enjoyed greatly, "that you
would hurt my little friend, Capt. -.
The enemy left about an hour ago, and
the Captain is over there with recon
noitering party"
While in winter quarters at Peters
burg, q party of officers were one night
busily engaged in discussing, at the
same time, mathematical problem and
the contents Of stone jug, which was
garnished by two tin cups. In the
midst of this, General Lee came in to
make some inquiry. He got the infor-
nation he wanted, gave a solution of
the problem, and went out; the officers
expressing to each other the hope that
the General had not noticed the Jug
and cups, The next day one of the Of
ticers, in the presence Of the others,
was relating to General Lee strange
dream he had the night before. The
General listened with apparent interest
to the narrative and quietly rejoined:
THAT is not at all remarkable. When
young gentlemen discuss at midnight
mathematical problems, the unknown
quantities of which are stone Jug and
two tin cups, they may expect to have
strange dreams"
One day, at Petersburg, Gen. Lee,
who never suffered day to pass with
out visiting some part of his lines, rode
by the quarters of one of his Major
Generals and requested him to ride
with him to inspect the lines. AS they
were going he asked General - if a
certain work, he had ordered pushed
was completed. He replied, with some
that it was, and Gen. Lee
then proposed they should go and see
It. Arriving at the spot, it was found
that little or no progress had been made
On the work since they were there
week before, and General was pro-
use in his apologies, saying that he
had not seen the work since they were
here before, but that he had ordered it
% be completed at once, and that Mai.
- had informed him that it had al
'eady been completed. General Lee
'aid nothing then, except to remark in
qpiet way; 1--WE must give our at-
ention to these lines.7 But riding on
little further he began TO compliment
General = on the splendid charger ;
re rode. 'Yess sir" was the response :
he is a splendid animal, and l prize =
nm the more highly because he belongs .
o my wife, and is her favorite riding
orse.S "A magnificent horse, replied !
zen. Lee, "but l should not think him :
afe for Mrs. - to ride. He is en- =
rely too spirited for a lady. and | .
would urge you by all means to take +
ONE Of the metal out Of him before y
'ou suffer Mrs. to ride him again. 7
Ind by the way, General, | would sup. +
est to you that these rough paths by :
hese trenches would) be yery admira. y
lie ground over which to. tame him. y
ne face OF the gallant soldier, turned =
rimson; me felt most keenIy the re- re- =
IKE, and never afterward reported the :,
ondition of his lines upon information !
,ceived from Major or any one p
Sc. His spirited charger felt the eff. =
ct OF this hint from headquarters. " :,
One OF the professors in the college ~ -
as one day making an earnest speech :;
meeting of the faculty on the best 81
cans of seeurino. q fu1I o+ton5oroo ri D