Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-26
IDOLS OF THE LOST CAUSE.

IDOLS W THE LOST CAUSE.
An Interesting Sketch Of It's Two Greatest
+ Generals, How Lee ana Stonewall Jack.
son We're Regarded by Their Followers
The difference in the manner il which
Gen. r. E. Lee and T. J. Jackson were
regarded in the Confederate Army oil
Northern Virginia, says the National
Republican, y is one Of the curious feat
ures Of the war. Both Generals were
recognized as men of genius, of piety
and of kindness of heart; both were
courteous and digaifed in their inter
course with others, although jackson
was very abrupt and curt in speech and
action, and yet they were looked upon
and treated BY the troops in q direct
contrary manner. rsFor Gen. Lee the
men had an implicit trust and rever-
emit affection that never faltered
from the time he took command of
the army until they crowded around
him in fearful silence, to, bid him a
last farewell on the hill near the Apo
matox Court House, where the; BATTLE
flags were unfurled for the last time be-
fore being piled upon the surrendered
stacks of arms. To tell the truth, he
was deified in the thoughts Of his troops,
and they never doubted the issue of a
campaign under his leadership, not
even in the beginning Of the campaign
OF 1865, when defeat was pressing all
other sections of the Confederacy, and
had not "the bottom of the bucket SO
suddenly fallen OUT" it is more than
likely that a Dictatorship would have
been thrust upon us as last resort to
beat back the oyerw helming numbers
Of the Federals. " / T., !: ~ ::
Gen. Lee was a fine figure when
mounted on his iron gray horse Travel
er, and even when on@a hot and dusty
march looked always neat. His dress
then was simple gray sack-coat, with
the star OF general on the turn down
collar, dark slouched hat, Topped UP
on the left side, gray pants and long
riding boots. [ never saw him with
either sword or pistol buckled On him.
AS he rode along beside the marching
ranks, at the head OF his staff, he al
ways had his hat pulled down over his
brow, with his chm lifted, as if gazing
intently into the distance. He was al
ways considerable for the health and
comfort of his men. One of the most
provoking things to aregiment of infan-
try on a hot, dusty and wearisome march
was for some mounted officer or man to
come dashing along kicking up more
dust, or attempting to make way along
the road which tue infantry always
claimed as their right of way. Some
Generals and their staff INDUCED in this
practice, but Gen. Lee never: He al
ways took to the fields. Again, it was
currently reported and believed that
when the army was in straits for rations
he utterly refused to make use of the
delicacies which the farmers were Gag
or tosend to his headquarters, but order
ed them to be turned over to the field
hospital. When, occasion offered he
visited the sick and founded, and many
q poor fellow was revived by his cheer
ing word and sympathy. All these
things, and others that might be enum-
Grated. endeared him to bis troops.
On the march the Generals presence
among the columns was scarcely noticed
except that the tired limbs, were brac~
ed up and the spirits raised for fruther
effort; but when he passed along the
roads leading among bivouacs and
camps, the men invariably crowded to
the roadside and greeted him with a
reverent silence that was more eloquent
perhaps, than the. widest cheering.
He 10 doubt was pleased and encour-
aged at this silent homage, yet he al
ways responded by gravely lifting his
hat, without change of countenance.
The writer4never recollects to have seen
Gen. Lees face otherwise than serious
and preoccupied. ~<.H
: Twosexamples may be given to show
the estimation in which Gen. Lee was
held and to illustrate the belief that the
success of the cause WAS absolutely de-
pendent ON him. At the battle of An
tietam, late in the afternoon, Gen.
Burnside, forced apassage Of the bridge
and assailed fiercely the thin confed-
crate line on the ridge: This was be-
fore A. r. Hills division had come up
from .Harper's Ferry. Finally, the Hol~
legion of South Carolina. aftrr
fighting bravely, gave way IN confusion,
leaving dangerous gap in the lines,
and the day seemed about lost on the
right. At this critical juncture Gen.
Lee rode up to them, and Selling their
flag, shouted: "What. my men, are
you2going to desert your country in it's.
hour of peril? Come on; your Cen
eral will lead you'll" The legion rallied
Immediately and reformed the line, but
refused to charge until Gen. Lee had
He consented, and they game.
ly plunged into the fight and held their
own until A. P. Hill came up.
Again at Spottsylvania Court House,
when Hancock's men had swept over
the field, capturing the entire division
and guns of Gen. Edward Johnson, and
threatened to break the Confederate
army in two, and when the battle
seemed lost to the ,Confederates, Gen,
Lee, who never hesitated to expose him
self at the point of danger, dashed
np. to Gen. J. B. ,Gordon's divis-
ion >. and announced his intention
to- lead J them personally to the
rescue. When he placed himself
in front, instantly cries arose from the
ranks, "Lee to therear!" lice to tie
rear!" Gen. Gordon seized the bride
rein! Of Gen. Lee, and assuring him that
the division would not bulge if he did
not retire. Lee reluctantly rode back,
the division swept forward
in gallant STYLE and reestahlished the