The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-08

he Hdu SO nJJle TO 90, ana so much time
to do it in. This was always a great
puzzle to me. The battle was raging
several miles of, and it seemed to me that
he would be needed at every moment on
the field, and here he was sauntering
along on the road, where, if the life OF
the army depended on it, he could not be
found in half days search. There is
only one explanation of it; he had such
confidence in Jackson and LOngstreet
that he did not feel that they had any
need for him. 1t was somewhat as 1t
was once on the Rapidan. A courier
came to Lees tent in hot haste with
dispatch from Jackson, to the effect that
the enemy was crossing in front Of him
in great numbers, and asking for orders.
Lee laughed, and told the courier to tell
Gen. Jackson that he knew what to do
with the enemy as well as he did, and
sent him back.
Lee was a member of the Episcopal
church, and was infexibly attached to
episcOpacy but in his private religious
character resembled a Presbyterian,
Very much has been said of the Plety OF
Stonewall jackson, but Jackson Plety
was not whit more deep and IefVehI
than Lees. Lee was praying man,
and in private a very pure, moral, ana
consistent man, without a single vice,
great or small, so far as has been dis
covered. He was also person OF
beautiful Christian temper and DISPOSE
ton. And this was illustrated in his
feelings and language toward the north
ern people. And all the fury Of passion
which the war engendered there were
two men at the south who could not be
driven or betrayed into 50 much as an
incorporate or disrespectful expression
toward the enemy. These were Jackson
and Lee. One Of my brothers witnessed
an interview between Lee and his
youngest son on the field Of battle that
illustrated this. Lee, during the terri
bic battle at the Wilderness, rode up to
the Richmond battery, in which his son
was private, to inquire if he was well
and unframed, and my brother, who
was in an adjoining battery, happened
to hear this conversation. Lees last
words as he road off to the thickest of
the fray again, were, Z" Well, my son,
goodbye, we must drive these people
back; we must drive these people back"
If it were only proper to repeat the
language in which almost every other
people" it would be seen what remark
able balance, dignity, selt-control de
cency, and moderation at all times held
sway in Lees mind.
Lee was remarkably self-denying and
frugal man. During the war he was
the recipient of an endless variety Of
sumptuous food and the choicest Of
viands, of none of which he would par
take, but sent them forthwith to the
hospital for the sick, and contented HIM
self with the Coarsest fare. On one oc-
casion he had several officers come to
dine with him in camp. He called his
cook and instructed him to prepare the
necessary meal, but the cook told him
that he had nothing to cook. ooh :"
said the general, anything will do.
Give us that bacon we had yesterday
with the greens" Marse Robert"
said the darkcy, Il done took that meat
back; borrowed dat meat to season dat
cabbage, and | done took it back" l
never heard what the generals party
dined on that day, but | am sure that
they did not fare sumptuosly.
The southern soldiers, unless they felt
unusually solemn, never spoke Of
their leader as General Lee. In their
usual state Of mind they called him
AIarse Robert, or Marse Bob, in token OF
willingneSs to serve bin with slave
Ike subsection; or, it may be, Mr..
Lee" Il sort of backhand compliment to
his military character. On one OCCASION
when Lee was inspecting the Notifications
around Petersburg, he mounted the
earth-workS and exposed himself in per
fcct}y reckless manner to the sharp-shOot-
ers OF the enemy. A common soldier,
who was standing a short distance off, be-
holding with alarm the danger in which
his beloved leader stood, turned to his
companion and Indignantly exclaimed ::
e Look at that darncd old fool; he'll get
himself killed the first thing you know +;
and then what's to become of u.s."
cannot forbcar another reference to
Lees personal appearance. For some I'M
known reason, he appeared to me a finer
| looking man toward the close of the war
than at the opening of it at least, to be
better proportional. He certainly be
came more grave and dignified. And |
think | may safely say that no man ever
lived who had a nobler head and face
than Robert +. Lee. His likCncsses are
tolerablv accurate, but all have a dead
look and a melancholy aspect which were
entirely foreign to him. He com
bined in his physiognomy all the pride Of
an emperor, all the authority Of IN auto
crat, all the love Of a father, all the gen
tlcness of a woman. If any one wishes
to see his expression, especially when he
smiled, or laughed, let them look at our
worthy landlord, and esteemed fellow
citizen, Mr.. +. K. Beach.
From having lived & long time at the
south, and then a long time AT the north,
| have concluded that the northern peo-
pie have no military leader for whom
| they entertained the sentiments Of love
and Unshakable confidence that the south
ern people entertained for Lee. The
northern people felt as if no one man was
| indispensable to them; they put down
one and put up another with perfect free
| dom. The southern people felt that there
was not a man on earth who could fill
Lees place and they never dreamt Of a
change. The northern people admire
and feel grateful to Grant, Sherman and
sheridan, but the southern people worship
Lee and Jackson as dcmigods, and feel for
their very aches an affection as tender as
that of Il mother for her babe.
"IsABEL MARI STEPHENS" yelled
the mother Of milliner apprentice from
this city, who went Sunday to visit her
parents in the country, "what on airth
do you mean coming out in broad day
light with your gown all kajummuXcd
up in a heap hehind We, and all bound
up in that way in front of yc? And
hain't We got no stockings all of one color
that We hat to wear them zebra-colored