The National tribune., 1882-09-16

you'd better come up to the house and hear
her tell what them 10000 Yankees said when
they got here and found me gone"
LEE AS A HUMORIST.
Tow He Could Have Ended the War Of the Rebel
lion Within Three Months.

Hon Within Three M0HtIs.
[Rev. ]. Scott, in Phila. Times.
"GeneraI Lee as humorist," sounds queer,
and yet the great confederate captain was
not without the facility TO produce and ap-
preciate the choicest wit and humor. The
truth is, all great men, from Shakespeare
upward or downward, are many-sided. The
story of Lees life is in the main history of
"sieges, battles, and hairbreadth escapes
but there was many green and sheltered
nook where he enjoyed the amenities and
even the gayeties Of life.
Here is an incident illustrative of this
point. 1t was furnished by confederate
officer and will at least help to beguile the
tedium of a summer day: While on the
campaign of Maryland in the fall Of 1862 n
young officer of the Army Of Northern Nir-
ginia was placed in command Of the rear
guard Of LOngstreets division. There was
nothing that occurred during this march
into Maryland deserving of special mention.
A HUNGRY GUARD.
After the sanguinary battle of Sharpsburg
this identical officer was in the town of
Sharpsburg with more prisoners of war than
he felt it prudent to keep in that exposed
position. He ordered, therefore, ieuten-
ant of his command to transfer them to the
opposite bank of the Potomac and remain
there until he came himself On the after
noon of the last day that the confederate
army remained at Sharpsburg the lieuten-
ant returned and reported to his command
ing officer that the guard and prisoners
were in a well-nigh starving condition and
must have immediate relief. Our young
officer replied: wait and I will see if l
cannot procure Tations for them" He
mounted his horse and just as he was start
ing General Evans, of South Carolina, passed
by. He saluted him and said: General,
where could | get some rations?" telling
him that he wanted them for the provost
guard and prisoners. GO" answered
General Evans, " to General Longstreet, as
you are under his orders" He accordingly
went to General Longstreet's headquarters,
who directed him to General Lee.
A TALK WITH THE GENERAL.
After riding few minutes he found Gen.
Lee in the midst of pine thicket sitting
quietly on a rock on the left of his lines.
Near by General Chiffon, his chief Of staff,
was seated, engaged in writing
General Lee, I believer" said the officer.
"Yes," said the General; "what can I 40
for you?"
"Well, sir" in an embarrassed manner, "I 1
ar sent by General Longstreet for an order
for rations"
Whom do you want them for?"
"I am Provost Marshal of Gen. Longstreet
and very much need the rations for the
guard and prisoners of war-for," added he,
I" have had no rations for q week"
what" said the General, "no rations
for week? That, sir, is a remark able
statement I have had nothing to eat since
this morning and am very hungry now."
GENERAL LEES DEDUCTION.
"Did l understand you to say that you
had been without rations for your guard and
prisoners for a week."
ayes, sir" was the prompt response.
"That," said General Lee, is the most
extraordinary thing ever heard" and with
a significant side glance at his chief of staff,
he continued; "if you will go and impart
your plan of subsisting troops without IA
tions to Colonel Cole, commissary of the
army, you will greatly oblige me and serve
The confederacy. think, with such plan,
l could end the war in three months"
The young man blushed to his ear tips,
again bowed and withdrew, not feeling quite
as important as when he first accosted the
veteran cOmmander-in-chief.
MARIETTA, GA, 1882.