The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-11-28
Anecdotes OF Gen. Lee.

huCIuuttc VI NxGns A<CCs
w. @. Barker in Southern Historical Mag
azine.
The life and character of so no.
BILE q man as General Robert L.
Lee Is theme that none but our
greatest minds should discuss in
public or in private, but with your
permission the writer, who held AN
humble position on the staff OF
Brigadier- General Jos. X. Davis, OF
Mississippi, (nephew OF Jefiel sou
Davis,) in the Army OF Northern
Virginia, will relate two little Incl
dents which happened at tue ''Bat-
tie of the Wilderness.r:
On the eve of the 9Th OF May,
General Lee, with General Stuart,
rode TO the front where Stusrt's
cavalry had encountered the ad.
vance of the Federal army. AS
they rode through the Infantry,
then awaiting orders passing a
farm house, three young ladies'
stood at the gate OF the residence,
holding package, which trom his
gallanlry, oI good looks, or both,
they entrusted to Capt. Il. p.
Thompson (uephew OF jacob
Thompson, and now a Mississippi
editor. of Gen. Davis's staff, with
the request That he deliver the
same TO Gen. Lee. Ii contained
three handsomely embroidered col.
cred merino overshirts, very much
worn IN the army. Capt. Th0mp-
svn al once rode forward to over
take the General, Who had by this
time reached within range ot the
shots tom Grants skirmishers, and
while under 6re rendered the gilt
as from the ladies'. Gen. Lee, with
his usual seli.possessiJn and court
eous bearing, said to Capt. I.
"Return my warmest thanks TO the
ladies, aud be kind enough to de.
liver the package to one OF my
couriers: say thai trust may see
and thank them in person"
Early on the morning OF The 9th,
Grant, who had massed "a heavy
force in the immediate trout OF
Da,is's Mississippi brigade, open
ed fire and began a forward NOV, :.
ment on our lines at this point.
Seeing we were unable to check
their advance, Colouel Stone (since
Governor of MIssissippl), com.
nianding Davis's brigade, sent
word to Gen. Heth, division con-
mapder, that he must be re.inforc-
ed, which brought To our aid u di.
vision OF Longstieei's corps, led in
person by an able Lieutenant Gen.
eral. 1t was at this critical crisis
that Gen. Lee appeared upon the
scene. After the euemy bad been
repulsed on the right, and while
our chIeftain was awaiting, in pain.
tul anxiety, information tiom our
left wing, u cOurier-a mere youth
Game daslling up with message
from Lieutenant-G General II. II An
derson, bis small pony painting like
a deer that had been pursued BY a
pack OF trained hounds. Deliver.
ing his sealed message t. Gen. Lee
iu person, who, after reading it, no.
ticing how tired bis pony was, be
said 10 him: "Young man, you
should have some feeling for your
horse; dismount and rest him ~ ai
the same time taking from the
small sa,ldle-bags attached to his
own saddle buttered biscuit, CIV
ing half of it, from his own hand,
to the young couriers pony. This
act Of consideration for the dumb
beast made a lasting impression
upon my then youthful mind, and
taught me ever since to treat all an
imals as If they had feelings as our.
selves. AT the moment it occurred
to me, hungry as | was, that he had
better have divided his biscuit
with the rider OF the animal, or my
self; but soon appreciated the mo-
tive of his hospitality to the poor
beast, aud, as before seated, learned
lesson in kindness to animals |
shall not soon iorgrt.
w. b. BARKER.
507 Broadway, N. Y.