The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-28
erncrs contending for independence ani

/ soldiers of Irish origin III our armies
were equally bcwildcrcd to know how
Irishmcn who for centuries had gallantly
contendcd for tie freedom of the Cclts
could be 50 inconsistent and rccreant to
every principle of light rs 10 be engaged
in war for Government whose corn
crstone was slavery. Besides that,
though Irishmcn were revolutionsts at
home, they were conservatives in the
United States, and that there was m in
finite difference between war in the
interest of oppression and one in favor of
the oppressed.
Advcrting to the character of the Irish
as soldiers the General was very cnthu-
siastic, saying that they played promi-
nent part in all the wars of the world for
the last three ccnturies-now OH one
side, now OH the other "Thc Irish SOL
dier fights not so much for lucre as
through the reckless love of adventure,
and, moreover, with chivalrous devotion
to the cause he cspouscs for the time
being. Clcburne on our side, inherited
the intrcpidity Of his race. On field of
battle he shone like meteor on cloudy
sky! AS a dashing military man he
was all virtue; 4 single vice does not
stain him rs 4 warrior. His generosity
and bcncyoencc had no limits. The
care which he took of the fortunes Of his
officers and soldiers, from the greatest 10
the least, was incessant. His integrity
was proverbial, and his modesty was an
equally conspicuous trait in his charac-
ter.
"NIeaghcr ON your side, though not
Clcburnc's equal in military genius,
rivalled him in bravery and in the afiec-
tions OF his soldiers. The gallant stand
which his bold brigade made on the
heights of Fredericksburg is well known.
Never were men so brave. They emo
bled their race by their splendid gallan-
try on that desperate occasion. Though
totally routed they rcaped harvcsts Of
glory. Their brilliant though hopeless
assaults on our lines excited the hearty
applause Of my officers and soldiers, and
Gen. Hill exclaimed, There are those
green flags again"
HIS ESTIMATE OF WEBSTER, CLAY AND
CALHOUN.
Then as We talked of the causes Of the
war we driftcd to the old statesmen. Gen.
Lee referred dcspondingly to the nations
lack of statesmen. Speaking Of Webster
he said: 81 never saw more striking
object than Webster in the Senate. The
effect of his fine figure ana princely air,
when speaking, was like that of vivid
flash in the midst OF darkness. What
Paganini was in music that Webster
was in oratory; the one charmed Europe
with one string, the other electrified null
titudcs with his cloluencc. He once
complained to ME Of the wrongs done
him by the reporters, but in vain; the
world would read whatever bore his hon
orcd name, and the grub WORMS were ever
ready TO crafty the desire By fragments
or rather carcaturcs of his mighty clo-
quence. His speeches indicate the pow
crs of the great orator-thcy are lofty
but not impassioned, correct but not
fluent. Henry Clay was every inch pa
triot and an orator. l heard him on
British aggression. Never certainly had
ever bcheld so powerful an exhibition
of natural oratory. The grace of the
attitudes into which he threw his flexible
figure, the striking gestures Of his arms,
and, above all, the ire which shot from
his brilliant eyes, impaired an effect to
the notwithstanding accents of his
voice of which the most accomplished
actor might be proud. At one moment
leaning forward when stating circum-
stantialIy the grievances OF which the
nation complained, and then standing
bolt upright, with clcnched hands and n
countenance distorted with passion, he
poured out tide of invcctives. The
effect on his audience was clectric-one
and all, they stood regarding him with
sparkling eyes and trembling limbs, as
though they were listening to the inspired
voice of a prophet. Henry Clay was the
greatest actor off the stage. Calhoun
was the fayorite Of the South. Morally,
he is to be rated higher than either Web
ster or Clay. He was keen in the obscr-
vation of whatever was minute. He was
attracted by the lofty and ideal. SINH
larity, resemblance, pictures and analy-
sis caught his eye. They were seized
and secured and thrown down upon his
page in gorgeous groups and splendid
coloring. His logic was compressed and
concealed; the train Of reasoning he
seemed to be pursuing might be clear
and continuous to his own mind; all its
facts logically articulatcd from end to end;
but it was like Il stream Of water, working
its way under ground, that showed itself
now and then, or 10y succession of
openings and jets, the one apparently
deep the other light and sparkling. He
was distinguished for his power of con-
dcnsation. Metaphors, trores and fig
urcs of all kinds were never found in his
speeches. His eloquence and logic set
on fire. l heard him in one nI his alter
cations with Clay. Twas surprised that
Mr.. Calhoun's cloquence did not produce
the least reply. II fell like ,hundcrbolt
upon an iceberg, glanced along, Kissed
and was extinguished.
Jefferson Davis, Iancey, breckenridge
and Toombs, whose names hcmentioned,
as well rs a set of equally prominent
men in the North, Gen. Lee characterized
as politicians" and "they,' said he,
brought on the war" lie went on to
say l W;ls opposed 10 thc W:lt III lhe
outset. wept when heard ofthe bonn
bardmcnt of Fort Sumter! | sought re-
tircmcnt so that might not hear or see
any of the political leaders. the great end
and aim Of whose craftsmanship was to
precipitate the havoc that subsequently
swept their fields and cities. But when
Virginia, my native State, seeded, there
was only one course for me 10 pursue,
namely, to follow her fortunes
sToSEwALL JACKSON.
Referring to the great loss sustained
by the Confcderacy in the death of
s;ioucwall Jackson, Gen. Lee remarked:
I'm surprise marches and in the art of
creating the resources Of war, Jackson
far surpassed the level of his age, and
rose TO n comparison with Hannibal and
Napoleon, the two greatest commanders
of ancient and modern times. In every