The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-02-03

surrender. OF which merit Americana
are becoming more and more prone 70
assign an undue share 70 the suhord''
nate commander. ',-- % - d
His sketch OF General Lee cannot t.
condensed. Like Napoleon. his troops
soon learnt TO believe him equal to eS-
ery emergency which war could bring.
Like Hannibal be could speak lightly
aud calmly at the grayest moments. be-
ing then himself lesst grave. Like
Rsglau, he preserved a sweetness OF
tenn per that no persoo or circumstance
could ruffie. Like Cesar, he mixed
with tbe crowd OF eoldicry freely, and
never feared that his position would
be forgotten. Like .Blucber, his one
recognized fault was that which
the soldiery readily forgives,
q readiness to expose his lie beyond
the proper limits permitted by modern
war to the commander-in-chief What
wonder, then, il be commanded an army
in which each man would have died for
him an army from which bis parting
uruug tears more bitter than any the
fall OF their cause coald sxtort; an army
which followed him, after three years
OF glorious vicissitudes, into private life.
without one thought OF further reels.
tance against the fate TO vhicn their
adored cbiet yielded without a mur-
uurg' But with all this warm
eulogy he iupartialiy points out the
faults and fsilipgs OF Lee-how he
made no attempt to check indlscipllne:
never used his authority to purge hls
command OF inefficient officers; failed
to enforce on the government the vital
necessity OF bringing the furnishing OF
supplies more directly uuder bis own
control, 30 that his army starved 10
Richmond while large supplies were
available had proper energy been used
by the war department; and lsstiy.a
how be 60 marched his cavalry of
their legs, that in their last canpaign
their coniedcrates were let almost dcs-
titute OF that most necessary arm. But
these Shortcomings, although the ml'-
itary critic mus. notice them, are but
the inevitable specks on The bright sur
vice OF an illustrious military character
en- Lees personal character there
fingers no breath OF tsroish.
Inexpressibly pathetic 10 IFS simpllci-
ty is Col. Chesney's brief account Of the
bitter ending OF his long struggle and
matchless strategy. Gordon had sent
back word that the way Of escape was
completely barred, and now there con-
fronted him but the inevitable captuls-
ton. "For q moment those who look
ed on him saw him almost overcome;
and the first words OF complaint ever
heard from his lips during the war,
broke sharply forth, Il had rather die Q
thousand deaths Musipg sadly for q
few seconds, as bis mems iavorite
cry broke en- his ear, There's
Uncle Robertr in deep sad
tones he said 10 those near him. How
soon could end all this and be st the
rest 'Tis but to ride down the line,
and give the wo.d, and all would be
over. Then presently recovering his
natural voice, he answered one who
urged that the surrender might be mis-
understood That is not the question.
The question is whether it is right,
And fit is right take the responsible.
ty.' Then, af.er blief silence, he add
ed, with a sigh, 'Itis our duty to live.
What will become OF the wives apd
children OF tbs south il we are not here
to protect thtmT So saying. he sent
10 his flag OF truce without further hes
itation to Grant. The coming action
was stayed on the instant, and the
struggle OF the confederacy was virtu-
ally over"