The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-01-08

writer letter frenc distressed damse1
in st. Louis, who said that her lover had
been soldier 'either in Mr.. Lees or
Mr.. Johnston's army" that she had not
heard from him since the close of the
war, and that his family reported him
dead, but she believed that this was only
trick on their part to prevent him from
marrying her. She wrote to beg that
sMr. Lee" would write her if lie knew
anything of him, and if he did not, that
he would write for her to "Mr. John
ston." to see if he could give her any
information. Gen. Lee made the most
ton, saying that he ''would be very glad
to relieve the poor woman if he could"
and, after all his inquiries proved futile,
lie wrote her IL kind letter of sympathy.
Last spring, when the papers reported
that he was going to Europe for his
health, he received IL letter from young
miss in which she said that her futhcr
had promised her trip to Europe when
ever she could fluid 'nice person" to
escort her; that she would be willing to
go with him, and desired to know when
he would start. Taking it for granted
that the General would esteem it spe-
cial privilege to escort her, she mapped
out the trip, told him how long she
wished to stay at different places of in
tcrest, and dictated the details rs fully
as if to her brother or obedient lover.
The General pleasantly said: ''He sup
posed he could get from Mrs. Lee GER
tificate that he was nice person." but
he was careful to answer the young lady
ian entire stranger to him she was) that
he did not expect to go to Europe, ard
that if he did he would advise her to &C.
cure younger and more active escort.
About this time he also received let
ter from IN Indiana bachelor, in which
he said that he saw many farms udver-
tised in the South, which evidently be-
longed to widows; that he had several
thousand dollars in money, and that if
the General would bring about q mar
riage between him and one of those
widows it would be mutually advantage
Gus. Even this impertinent letter this
great man was careful to answer. sending
u number of land advertisements, but
pleasantly saying to his clerk: II will
write nothing about the widows, rs I am
not yet prepared to go into the matri-
monial brokerage business"
A newspaper correspondent once came
to interview" him, and when he iuti-
Gated bis purpose the General said: eff
you come to see me as one gentleman
calls on another, shall be glad to enter
tain you, sir; but if you come to. report
for the newspapers any private CONVEX.
sation, 1 have nothing further to say."
The fellow still persisted, until the old
hero arose and, with quiet dignity and
grace, opened the door and bowed him
out of tho room.
The writer was present npon one occa-
sion when an agent for the sale of GER
tain catch-penny book about tho war
called to see him, and the following col
loqny ensued:
Agent sent you the other day. Ge.
neral, copy of this book which I am
engaged in selling
General Lee-Yes, sir, I received it
and am obliged for your kindness.
Agent called this morning to get
you to give mo Recommendation OF the
great deal to me.
General Lec-You must excuse me,
sir. I cannot recommend book which
have not read, anu never expect to
read. see, however, that they have
my name wronR-Robert Edmund in
stead of Robert Edward.
General Early stated the other day
that General Lee told him last year that
he had never endorsed any of the So
called Southern histories OF tho war,
which claimed his endorsement; but
had, on the contrary, most distinctly re-
fused to do SO. He was exceedingly
careful of his recommendations, and
used to say: Before sign recon-
mendation, must not only be person
ally acquainted with the man, but must
know that he is competent to do the
particular thing that he wishes me to
recommend him for"
In his official reports he weighed well
every word, and never over-stuted or un-
der-stated what he believed to be the
exact truth. He delayed writing the
history Of his campaign, because large
number of his reports aud the reports of
his subordinetes were in the custody Of
the War Department at Washington.
Hc was refused access to them, and he
was unwilling to rely on his memory or
that of his officers to reproduce them.
He astonished the writer one day,
short time before his death, by asking
him about certain great movement,
and quietly saying, in reply to our state.
ment, Yes! think you are perfectly
right. That WAS nv imnroSsinp. lint ~