The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-06-15
An Eloquent Tribute to General
Lee.

An Eloquent Tribute to General
Lee.
By Gen. VIM. Preston, Of Kentucky, on
the occasion Of the Memorial Services
held in Louisville at the time of the death
Of the great Confederate chieftain.
az. CHqirrca. LaIies and Gentle
| l9eu y feel that j. would be very difi-
cult for ne to add any euIogy to those
which are contained in the resolutions Of
the committee, or more merited tribute
of praise than those which have already
fallen from the lips of the gentlemen who
have preceded me. Yet, on an occasion
like this am willing to come forward
and add a word to testify my apprecia-
ton of the great virtues a-d admirable
character of one that commands not only
our admiration, but that of the entire
country Not alone of the entire coun-
try, but his character has excited more
admiration IN Europe than among our
selves. In coming ages his name will be
mar ked with lustre, and will be one of
the richest treasures of the future.
SPEAK of one just gone d1wn to death !;
ripe in all the noble attributes of man
h oOd, and illustrious by deeds the most
remarkable in character that have occur
red in the history of America since its
discovery 1t is now some two and TWEEN
ty years since | first made the acquaint-
ance of General Lee. He was then in
the prime of manhood In Mexico, aud
first saw him as the Chief Engineer of
General Scott in the Valley of Mexico
| see around me two old comrades who
tten saw General Lee BE was man
of remark able personal beauty and great
grace OF body. Il had a finished form
delicate hands, graceful in person, while
here and there a gray hair s5reaked with
silver the dark locks with which nature
had clothed his noble brow There were
discerning minds that appreciated his ge-
MUS, and saw in him the coming Captain
of a merica. His commander and his
com rades appreciated his ability. To &
club which was then organized he be-
longed, together with Gen. McClellGn,
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, Gen. Beau
regard, and a host of others. They re
cognized IN Lee a master-spirit
He was never Violent he never wran-
gled. He was ayerse to Quarrelling, and
not q single difficulty marked his career i;
but all acknowledged his iGstness and
wonderful eyenness Of mind. Rare in
| telligence, combined with these qualities,
served to make him q ft representative
of his great prototype, Gen. Washington
He had been accomplished by every finish
! that a military education could bestow.
/ remember when General Lee was ap-
| pointed Lieutenant-COlonel, at the same
time that Sidney Johnston was appoint
| ed Colonel, and General Scott tho ught
! that Lee should have been Colonel.
/ Foll v-SE ~
subject long before the late struggle be-
! tween the North and South took place,
and he then said that Lee was the great
est living soldier in America. He didn't
| object to the other commission, but he
| thought Lee shonld have been first pro-
NOTED. Finally he said to me with en-
! phasis, which yOu will pardon me for re-
| latlng, Il tell you that, if | were on my
| death bed to morrow, and the President
| of the United States should tell me that
| a great battls was to be fought for the
| liberty or slavery of the country, and
asked my judgment as to the ability Of a
! commander, | would say with my dying
| breath, let it be Robert Z. Lee" AMI
! great So dier that he was, princeIy Gen
! eral that he was, be has Eulilled his mis-
! sion, and borne it so that no inviiious
| tongue can level the shafts of calumny at
| the great character which he has laf5 be
! hind him.
But, ladies and gentlemen, it WASH in
! this that the matchless attributes Of his
| character were found. You have assem-
| bled here, not so much to do honor to
| General Lee, but to testify your apprecia-
! tiOn of the worth of the principles oy-
| erning his character; and if the mind 5
| OF this assembIage were explored, you
! would tnat there was a gentleness and a
| grace in his character which had won
! your iOYe and brought forth testimonials
Of universal admin alton. Take but a
| single Instance. A t the battle of Gettys-
| burg, alter the attack on the cemetery,
when bis troops were repulsed and beat
en-, the men threw up their muskets and
/ said, General, we have failed, and it is
| our fault NO, my men, said he, know
| ing the style of fighting of Gen eral Stone
wall Jackson, You have done we'll; tbs
my fault; am to blame, and no one but
me What man Is there that would not
| have gone to renewed death for such a
leader So, when we examine his whole
| character, it IS in his private life that
! you ind his true greatness the Christian
simplicity of his character and his great
veueratiOn for truth and nobility, the
gIdhu eleIh6AtS o! his greatness. " nat
man could have laid down his sword
at the feet of q victorious General with
| greater dignity than did he at Appourat-
tox Court House He laid down his
sword with grace and dignity, and Sc
| cured for his soldiers the best terms that
fortune would permit In that he shows
marked greatness seldom shown by great
! captains.
After the battle of Sedan the wild cries
/ of the citizens of Paris went ont for the
blood of the Emp 2eror; but at Appomat-
| tOx, yeneration and love only met the
| eyes Of the troops who looked upon their
| commander. | will not trespass upon
/ your time much further When l last
! saw him the raven hair had turned white.
| Ia small village church his revereut
| head was bowed in prayer. The hum
| blest step was that of BobeFs Z, Lee as
he entered the portals OF the temple erect
| ed to God In broken responses he an
| swered to the services Of the church.
Noble, sincere, and humble in his reli-
gion, he showed forth his true character
| in LAYING aside his sword to educate the
youth of his coaHtrY. Never did he ap-
| near u,Ora noble than at that time. lie