Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-21

WILMINGTON, n. G..
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 81, 1878.
GENERAL LEE CONFUSED.
An old lady who knew General r. e
Lee almost from childhood declared
that when he was q young man he en-
loved fun and INDUCED in harmless
frolics rs much as anybody. Later IL
life, and after his sons became stout
lads. it is said that he was fond O.
sleeping with them, in order that he
might in the morning engage in 6
regular old-fashioned romp and pillow
fight with the boys. During the war,
though habitually grave, rs befitted a
commanding officer, he relished an
occasional joke very highly. When
some of his staff lnistook jug of but
termilk that had been sent him for
.good old apple-iack, ono made wry
f.ces in gulplng it down, he did not
attempt to conceal his merrlment. So,
loo. when inqriring into the nature of
this new game, 'chuck-a-buch, L
think they call it, which had been in
troduced into his army, there was a
slv twinkle in his eye that showed how
shrewdlv he guessed it's real purport
as a gambling game. So, again, it is
reported that he appreciated fully the
"sell'' which a wag on his staff palmed
off upon reporter, who promptly in
serted it in the papers. The reporter
wanted to know General Lees hour
for dining.
"Six o'clock-exactly at six, was the
reply:
II infer. then, that it is rather for
NAL meal?"
Decidedly formal-in fact, 1 may
say it is rigidly military dinner"
Military how military"
"Well, you see General Lee sits at
the head of the table, and Colonel
Chiffon at the foot, and everything is
done in red tape style"
Red tape at table. | don't under
stand you. Please explain
Certainly, General Lee never
carves and never helps-all that is left
to Colonel Chilton-but General Lee
asks the guests what they will have :;
they tell him, then he issues his orders,
and Colonel Chiffon executes them
That's all.
$50 on, go on. opening his note
book; give me an example-tell me
exactly how it is done
Suppose, then, that we have beef
We generally have beef" Grace is
said by the chaplain, then General Lee
raps on the table with the handle of
his knife and says: attention..
Everybody is silent Every eye is
turned toward General Lee. He looks
at one of us-me, for example-and L
rise and make a military salute. Cap
tain c., what will you be help
editor" says General Lee. / say Beef
make another salute, and sit down.
General Lee, fixing his eye on Colonel
Chiffon, says. Beef for Captain c.
Ny plate is passed, helped, and then
Colonel Chiffon, handing it to the serv-
ant says:
Beef for Captain c..
By order of General Lee
r. H. Chiffon, A. A. G.
And this absurd story went the
rounds of the Southern papers.
After the war, Gen. Lee rarely smil-
ed. and one may say never laughed
outright. Yet he was neither sad or
unsociable. But there was that about
him which made it well nigh impossi-
BILE to believe that he could ever have
given completely away to feelings of
mirth and INDUCED in a real fit of ca
chinration. Such, however, was the
fact, and it occurred at Il time when,
of all others, one would have least ex-
pected tin the retreat to Appomat-
tox-and General Henry A. Wise was
the occasion of it.
On the second or third day of the re-
treat, General Wise, who had long de-
sired an interview with General Lee,
discovered him at distance, and i'm
mediately fastened toward him While
he was yet great way Off, Gen. Lee,
who happened at the time to be alone,
turned and began to stare in a way that
was most unusual with him. AS Wise
drew nearer the stare became intense
and mixed with wonderment. A few
steps more, and still Gen. Lee gazed
and gazed wonderingly, as if he had
never seen Wise in his life. Amazed
and puzzled at General Lees unmis-
taxable ignorance Of his identity, Wise
advanced quite close to him and said
rather stihy, "Good morning, General
Lee" 1t was very early and very
cool, too, Il sharp spring morning.
As he said this, General Lees in
tense gaze relaxed, and a smile APP
peared in its place, the smile deepened,
hroadened, and, spreading from fea-
tire to feature, ended at last i'll Il fit OF
the most Immoderate and uncOntrOla-
BILE laughter.
Astounded beyond words, and indig-
nant beyond measures at such re-
ception, it was some time before Gen
eral Wise could demand an explana-
ton. During all this time General
Lee laughed as mature man rarely
ever laughs.
The explanation, given through tears
of laughter not vet dried, was simple
enough. General Lee had mistaken
the General for Camanche INDIAN
He had lost his hat or cap, dirty
blanket was thrown over his shoulders
TO protect him from the keen morning
air, and his face, washed in a mud
puddle and hastily wiped, retained a
ring of red mud around the borders,
which made the resemblance 70 an
Indian as exact as well cOult. ,'c-all
the more SO III consequence of WISE
strong features.
Barely sufficient mt the time $50 III
censed was Wise), the explanation
eventually proved ample, for Genera
Wise NOW laughs at this incident as
heartily as any one, and often relates
ls himself, while it may well be doubted
whether ever again in life General Lee
found either the occasion or the dis
position to relax his wonted gravity
From O,nr Monthly Gossip, IN TIL
March Number Of Lippincoff'& -bngn
line.
The Meanest Yet.
Some gentlemen were talking abou