Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-22
GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE AT
KNOXVILLE.
His Appearance and Lecture ON
the Battle of ChRneelIOrs-
Vile.
Knoxville Tribune, 2l.

~'AA%N AAAbAhNt sAs
A very large audience of the lead
ing and most cultured citizens of
Knoxville assembled atStaub's Opera.
house last night to hear General
Fitzhugh Lee, OF Virginia, deliver
his famous lecture on "The Battle of
Chancellorsville." 3" The night was
very pleasant and the audience was in
the best Of humor. We doubt il any
lecturer ever had larger or more
appreciative audience in Knoxville.
A number Of our prominent citizens,
most OF them ex-Confederate soldiers,
occupied the stage.
As preliminary to the oration of
the evening General W. G. McAdoo
introduced to the audience Rev. DR..
j. William Jones, of Richmond, Sec
retary Of the Southern Historical
Society. DR.. Jones stated briefly
the objects Of the Southern Histori-
cal Society, and recounted the work
It had achieved since its organization.
The society was organized in New
Orleans in 1869. Inil873 the head
quarters Of the societies were removed
to Richmond, Va. In the interval
it did some very important works.
laying the foundation for career of
great usefulness. After the removal
to Richmond the Virginia Legislature
granted to the society room in the
State Capitol and permission to place
the valuable papers Of the society in
the vaults, where they would be as
safe as the archives OF the State. 1t
is now the aim of the society To erect
fire proef building Of it's own in
which the ltst accumulsting historical
record will ba perfectly safe
The society is engaged in carefully
collecting materials for full and per.
feet history of the Southern States
The history is to include the pioneer
and colonial periods, as we'll az the
war period and down to the present
time. At present the greatest efforts
OF the society are directed toward
cole sting the materials for the history
Of the Southern Confederacy. The
object is to obtain the iaots from
the real actors in and the eve wit
lessas OF the great civil war. The
motto efthe society is Let those who
made the history tell it as it was"
DR.. Jones referred to several his.
toricsl works already published In
which the Southern Historical Socie-
ty had rendered Invaluable assistance.
He mentioned a history of the Cons
tederacy which had been written by
the distinguished German Professor
Mangsl, which history was so salts
factory that it would probably be
translated into English. He said that
Professor Massie, of the University of
Tennessee, had promised a review of
the work to be puIished in the monthly
edition Of the Historical Society
papers.
At the conclusion of the remarks Of
DR.. Jones, General McAdeo intro
duced to the audience, tho orator of
the evening, General Fitzhugh Lee
a kinsmAn Of the great General
Robert h. Lee, and himself gallant |
cavalry officer in the Confederate |
army.
General Lee looks every inch the |
soldier and his commanding presence |
the audience and then cleo. |
triAed by the power of his eloquence
For two hours he held his hearers In
wrapt attention while he described J
the Battle of hanceIIorsyillo % tbe |
greatest conAiot Sf the civil war. He |
dWelt upon the contests which pre. !
oeded and followed this battle, intro. |
tueing in his masteply style the great |
generals on beth sides who were actors
70 TIE tFagieal scenes Of nearly twenty
Gears ago. General Robert K. Lee
'StonewsllD jackson and "Jeb" Stu.
lrt and other gallant Confederates.
and Fighting Joe Hooker and othnr
distinguished Federals, wore ali
brought yividly before the audience
md made to fight over
again the battles Of two do~
,ades ago. The description Of the
battle Of ncelloMville was very
inc. The eloquent silence iu which
,he orator made the audience feel the
ieath of the great "Stonewsll" Jack.
ION was very touching,
Il is useless to attempt review of
his woGdGriui lecture. A synopsis.
lAvever extended, could but do it the
injustice. Throughout the
'ntire Grafton there was here and there
.ouches Of quiet bpt irresistible hu.
nor; poS enough to debase the exal.
ed theme, but just sufficient to set off
gith good effect tAe ever changing
icenes, The audience was highly