The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-20
EUL0GY ON GENERAL LEE


M ~~>>~~~>~~~>~~o~-~s--~~
A Fulsome Panasyric by General Early ON
tho Military Career Of His Former Chief
How McClelIan's Army Would Have Boon
Annihilated II Lees Orders Had Been Car
rIed Out-The True secret OF the Defeat Of
GettysburG-How Lee was Outnumbcrcd-A
Parallel Between Lee and Jsckson-Hauni.
bal Nearest to Lee.
ey1N 81 LEXINGTON, Va, Jan. TO- 1872.
Despite q storm Of rain and sleet the spacious
chapel Of washington and Lee University was
crowded this morning by most attentive audience
to hear the address Of General Juba A. Early on the
military career OF General r. L. Lee. After brief
and handsome Introduction General Early said that
he would deal only in facts and figures, which alone
could convince the Judgment.
He alluded to the memorable scene when General
Lee received his commission rom the Virginia Con-
ventton: to hts self-aunegation incessant labor,
and amexted that, without detracrDg from the
merits u Others without General Lees services In
the reorganization OF the Virginia forces at frst
the Battle OF Manassas could not lave been fought.
General Lee wts first in command In West Virginia
and then on the sea coast defences. After the battle
OF Seven Pines he came to the command of the
Army OF Northern Virginia and conceived that
splendid campaign OF which great mind was alone
capable. In the seven days battles around Rich
artillery, and this was the largest army ne ever
commanded.
In swinging around to attack McClellan's rear
and nank he left but 26 900 men between the enemy
and Richmond. This was the perfection OF wise
doing ana had General Lees orders been carried
out BY his subordlnates Mcclellan army could have
been annthilated. General Pope came next.
Jackson's movement TO the rear OF Pope with 10000
men was one Of the most brilliant strateeetical
movements on record: u, GeneTai Lee now undertook
Of crossing the Potomac az Sharpsbure. Jackson
had but ooo men, and General Lees force
rms was OF the most remarkable battles OF the
war. The ofiiclal reports show that during the
confronted Mcclellan with only 1900 infantry, and
his whole force OF all arms from first to last was less
men and 400 guns. Mcclellan did not claim
Q victory until the 10th. after. he found
cree n0a s s and en more u
plause.) With anything ike equal means Lee would,
il September. 1892 have dictated terms Of peace in
washington city. At the battle OF Fredericksburg
Of the furious artillery fre. jackson ordered the
sS sne oros Hee success
was Q trium pm. Jackson iell and Gen.
s sIa ss AZ on The a st day ws
gained decided victory on the second and third
days we failed 70 dslodge the enemy Our ammu.
DAY, and determined 10 fall pack
THE MA0NANMrTY OF GENERAL LEE
kept back the true secret OF iii success at Gettys-
burg. The attack was to have been made at day
four O'Clock P. II. BY that time Meade,s whole army
was up In the morning an attack by our right
as success The ATTACK ON our is was
sn I s P as 4 whSs a. s
true then one at least Of Lees ieutenants did not
60 into the fight with that confidence and good faith
necessary TO success General Lee 10 this Dattl
had less than sixty thousand men OF all arms The
defensive line Of the Rapidan was then chosen IS the
gunboats. In May, 1864, Grant came with 100000
men. Then came the long death grapple Al
our ~ soo were i0r time broken.
Grant finally landed on the south side OF the James
| River, where he could have gone at nrst without
men than the entire number in Lees armv All
things considered this campaign Of Lees Is the
| most remarkable OF ancient or modern times.
| THE DISPARITY OF NUMBERS
| sounds like romance. General Lee wrote 10 me- IN
an &c ne act ba Lee was
anxious to take tie offensive. He SAID 70 me, II
Grant goes to James River 1t would become .
For 1ne long months constan. attention and nger.
starvation were doing their WORK s w1en s ea%e
equals Sp00%f''0. any 'S al sd e. oS g
General Lee had not been conquered in battle, but
surrendered because ne nag no 9 a mm
Win wn u 70 sys p. ses military When
returned from Canada submitted my estimates
the II All amount and sometimes exceeded them. They
are those have given today. VI tne generals OF
Inc forSes OF tome and Carthage were equal
and The alter o maritime power: 80 too with
treat from MOSCOW and shameless flight
from Waterloo are blots upon his career. whoever
draws parallel between Lee and Jackson. to de-
| nreciate either, knows nothing OF either OF those
Two conqenia christian heroes. Let US rejoice that
| we can look to their graves ana look the world
| souareIy in the face. Lee is like tail column,
towering above al others, needing no borrowed
iustre aud ne Is all alone There u some tendency
| man who does not cherish the memory OF our dead
heroes was born 10 DO q slave. n II II.
General Early appealed TO the ladies' to the yOuuQ