Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-14
LEES LECTURE
And Description OF the Battle Of
Chancell0rSViIle.

Before large and cultivated audi
ence General Fitzhugh Lee delivered
his highly entertaining lecture on the
Battle of Charlottesville, Virginia,
al. Leubrie's Theater last night, Occu
plying an hour and a half in doing so
and commanding the closest attention
of every listener in his graphic de-
seription of one Of the grandest mill.
tary achievements of modern times,
By way Of prelude, DR.. J. William
Jones, the Secretary of the Southern
Historical Association, related the
objects Of the society aud gave a brief
sketch Of its history. This gentle-
man, after an introduction by Presi.
dent D P. MADDEN, told how
the society was first organized
at New Orleans under the
Presidency of the Rev. B. NJ. Palmer,
aud how, several years after, in 1873,
it was decided to remove the central
Office to Richmond, Va, because it
was believed that the objects could be
better carried out there. The aim Of
the association is to collect and collate
information of the four years struggle
between the North and South, from
those who participated therein, and to
print we'll digested and truthful 40
counts from time to time, of actions
and operations of Southern warriors.
DR.. Jones stated that the incentive to
this was a realization of the fact that
histories of the late war between the
States were being chiefly written by
those who fought FOR, or sympa.
thized with the Northern
side, aud the Southern
version had no competent or correct
historians to picture the stirring
events in which they had figured so
,Onspicuously. He related. as Incl
dent to the subject and the work it
hal already accomplished, that Ger
nan scholar and soldier, who for sew
sral years has been busily engaged in
writing history Of the war between
The States in the German language,
had recently suppressed the first vol-
lme of his work which had been pub
ished and partially distributed, owing
10 the many inaccuracies it contained,
md which inaccuracies were made
apparent to the distinguished author
through papers supplied by the
southern Historical Society. DR..
Jones' remarks were well received,
md after he took his seat amid
.he applause Of his audience,
General Lee was introduced to his
audience by General g. W. Gordon,
who mentioned the fact that the
orator was a descendent of Lighthouse
Harry Lee of Revolutionary fame, a
son of Sydney Smith Lee, of the
American Navy, and a nephew Of the
great Robert E. Lee. He also alluded
10 the prominent place occupied by
General Fitzhugh Les as calvary
under Robert u. Lee,
and a leading actor in the stormy
events he was about to describe.
All eyes were turned toward the
distinguished orator as he rose from
his seat and stepped toward the center
Of the stage after the introduction.
The General is rather short of stature,
about 5 feet 8 inches high perhaps,
compactly built. and very soldierly
in bearing. He weights about 1850
pounds and Is as fine a
looking specimen Of manhood as any
could wish to see. He dresses in very
peat and becoming manner, wears a
long beard on the chin and lower part
Of his face, has a rather aorid com,
plexiOn. does not look a day over forty
aud is what the ladies term really
handsome. 1t was within a few min.
utes of 8 o'clock when General Lee
began his lecture and ne spoke straight
through to the end, closing within a
few minutes Of half past ten.
General Lee related the story Of the
Charlottesville combat in a distinct
and eloquent manner, every word being
plainly uttered in resonant tones
which could be heard in all parts Of
the theater. He gave q brief, rapid land
graphic description of the operations
Of the Northern and Southern
forces from Sharpsburg in the
autumn Of 81 to the preparations for
the struggle in the early days Of May,
between Lee and Jackson with $1,000
men Of all arms on one side and
Hooker with 10000 soldiers on the
other. He read the order of President
Abraham Lincoln placing Hooker in
command Of the Federal forces, in
which he wrote to Hooker as if he
we're writing to a school boy, and in
which be advised Hooker to beware Of
rashness. The reading of the Lincoln.
Hooker letter by General Lee was as
mastery an effort qs Rdwin RoOth's