Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-26

out the fanaticism of Havelock. Gen.
Grants impression that he was man
difficult of approach TO his subordinates is
disposed If BY all who had access to him.
His extraordinary gentleness OF manner
would have been dangerous In leader oil
men, but for the belief in him as the man
of destiny. The enthusiastic devotion
felt for him has been mentioned before,
and il is the first thing that strikes the out
slider when the loYss and hates of the war
are referred to. Like other great CON-
manders, although Gen. Lee kept out oil
the way of harm usually, yet m great
emergencies be was quite oblivious oil
danger. AS Napoleon, at the bridge OF
Lodi. rsked all that he had gained by ex'
posing himself recklessly to the Austrian
bullets, so Gen. Lee once, ordering the for
loru nope to advance, found not man
willing to move. The commanding Off
Ger told Gen. Lee that the men refused to
advance an inch until he Gen. Lee went
TO the rear. This was said to be the only
time in his life he was ever seen TO weep.
AS ne turned back the tears flowed down
his face. His men called him 'Marse
Bob" They received orders in advance,
when they were marching on the enemy,
not to cheer him when he appeared, as
their shouts could be heard afar. His two
elder sons had received military educa-
/ tiOns and had commissions, But his
/ youngest child, his namesake and his
/ image, was a teamster in a battery OF
artillery when he was not more than 10.
The Lees all ride like centaurs, ana the
son OF the cOmmander-in-chief was re-
puted the best teamster in the army.
The dignity and formality of Washing
ton was in some respects reproduced IN
Gen Lee. Gen. Grant speaks OF mis- mag
niicent appearance on the morning of his
surrender, On that day Gen. Lee put on
a perfectly new and splendid uniform.
lie wore the jeweled sword presented to
him by the State Of Virginia, and the gold
spurs lett him by Gen. j. f. b. Stuart,
on his deathbed. Eye witnesses say that
the cOmposure Of his manner was mary
elous, and they also say that of Gen.
Grant which reflects immortal honor upon
hIm-that instead of the triumph and Ella
tiOn which mean soul would have eX-
hibited, he was silent and almost embar-
raised IN the presence of his conquered
enemy. These two men, tried, one by the
greatest defeat and the other by the
greatest victory the world ever saw. were
far removed from the contemplate humil
iation on the one side and the greedy eX-
ultatiOn on the other of lesser souls. Gen.
Lees wisdom in his retirement reveals
more to admire the closer il Is contem-
plated. He rightly felt that money cou d
not elevate any more than the want OF IL
could detract from him. What he had do e
was done. Ii he lived in a howell he would
still be one of the grandest figures OF his
age. He was then a very poor man, al
though he had the purse Of every man at
the south to draw upon. He was be-
sought TO join commercial enterprises,
where any sum would be paid him, and
nothing required OF him except the use
OF his name, but he steadily refused. Then
toe same thing was asked of his sons, but
their father forbade them. He had ad-
vised his men TO ego home and 60 to
work." and be set the first example with
his own children. They each had some
land and they began TO work their planta
tions for living Gen. Lee was then or
tered what might have been captivating
to blm-hlgh command in foreign armies.
He was notified privately and called on
through the foreign press to 90 to Europe,
where the greatest strategist OF his age
would have found notable place, while
the wars between 1865 and 1870 we're i'm
pending. But those who thought him ca
pable OF this little knew Gen. Lee. He
had cast his lot with his people, aud with
them he had agreed to live and die. Then
a committee OF English gentlemen, with
the Duke of Sutherland and Mr.. Beresford
Hope at the head, offered him splendid
estate in any part OF England which be
might select, in fee, and guarantee to him
an income Of $4,000 as long as he should
live. This, too, was gratefully declined.
He was overwhelmed with gifts which he
returned, and mis- bills were sent to him re-
ceipted so often before they were paid tina
his business had to be transacted through
third parties. He accepted, however, the
place of President of Washington Uni
Versity at Lexington, which had been en-
dowed by Washington himself. Its name
was changed to Washington and Lee. The
salary was 5000. On this modest sum he
lived and supported his familY-an in
stance of public virtue unsurpassed in all
tune, tie was said to be the hardest-w ork-
ing member of the faculty, and up TO the
very moment of the paralytic stroke which
caused his death, be attended TO a multi
tude OF small affairs with the same energy
and prudence ne had displayed in the COM
mand Of great army.
NOman at his death ever received such
honor as Gen. Lee. The whole press Of the
south came out bOrdered with black. The
Legislatures in session ofall the States adj
jOurned and sent delegations to his fu-
neral, and the Governor of every Southern
State attended. The courts adjourned and
wore mourning for thirty days, and it was
estimated that 10000 people assembled. in
spite Of the floods then prevailing, in the
little mountain town on the day of his fu-
neral. a singular and touching tribute
was paid him. 1t was resolved and has
been carried out that the students of
Washington and Lee University should
keep perpetual guard over his grave.
/ Large sums Were subscribed for his
maus0leum, and when it was dedicated
| two years since, Virginia's greatest ora
/ tor, John W. Daniel, pronounced the
eulOgy before vast multitude of people
/ from all parts OF the State, includingrepre-
! seutatives from all sections, all prOfes
/ sions, ali legislative and official bodies. The
/ money for a monument TO him In Rich
mOnd is now IN the hands of "A committee,
and 1t is desired that it shall equal IN
beauty HOudin's monument to Washing
ton. Fitzhugh Lee was elected Governor
OF Virginia by the magic of name. None
| OF Gen. Lees sons are men OF genius, a.
though they are all men OF respectable and
admirable character. Twoot them-Gen,
William h. +. Lee and Robert +. Lee, j r.
ARE successful planters. The third is
&. w. Custis Lee, the last heir OF Airing.
! ton. GUSTS LIE WAS elected President OF
Washington and Lee University in MS
fathers place, and has filed the position
/ credltably. BE has inherited the Lee beau
~, which seems 10 have passed by the
! daughters in favor OF the sons. He ID
commonly reported to be a woman-batcr,
although very we'll adapted 10 be lady.
killer. Lexington, where be lives, Is
! quite a summer resort; but at the FIRST al
I vent OF young ladies' IN dazzling costumes
be disappears. AT first he would mer. y
keep TO the house, not trusting himself In
fha nraf Observation-Disclosures Vut htg atw,.....