The Sunday herald., 1886-12-05

clay. Unaware OF the appearance he presented
Wise, with his blanket thrown around him, and pre-
sentlng not lnnpt resemblance TO an fnnian chief
walked up To where Gen. Lee was standing In
group OF onicers. Despite the gravity of the situa-
Good morning, Gen. wise he remark ed in tone
OF merry pleasantly. u perceive that you, nj any
rate, have not given up the contest os you are in
your wnr-paint this morning.
An incident which rccurs several times In the
narrative Ia that Of Gen. Lee exposing himself more
In battle than his soldiers wished. Gen. Long in
dignantly renels the idea that II was with any
suicidal intent of throwing away his HE after the
struggle became hopeless. The Union Generals, by
the way mostly managed 10 avoid any risk Of incurs
ring this suspicion.
Col. Thomas N. Carter furnishes to the author
such story, hitherto unpublished, In the following
language:
"Whcn the infantry was htirrying TO the support
Of FliH Lees cavalry at Spoitsyvania House.
] happened to he near Gen. Lee when n few bullets
cut thc limbs and struck the ground near him.
Some geueral-l forget who--sald, General, this Is
no place Tor you: do 60 away at once TO safe
place. lie replied, with ahalf-complainlng smile
and manner. II wish knew where my place is on
the battlefield; wherever go some one tells 1t Is
not me place for me to be- But no was always
deeply touched by these Indications OF the devotion
OF his army and people to him."
| companion anccdo,c Is one that would have de-
| lighted Plutaroh:
"Gen. Lee was visiting battery below Richmond,
and the soldiers gathered near him In a group that
| attracted the encmy's fire. Turning toward them,
| he said In his quiet manner: 'Men, you had better
go farther to the rear; they are firing mp here and
you are exposing yOurselvestO unnecessary danger.
| the men drew back, but Gen. Lee, as II uneon-
scous OF danger to himself. walked across the yard,
picked up some small object from the ground,
and placed It upon the limb OF tree above
his head. 1t was afterwards perceived that
the object for which he had thus rsked his life
an unncdged sparrow that had fallen from It's nest"
| The incident In the life OF Drntus set forth by
Shakespeare is curiously paracled p. 223) by Gen.
Lees reception of the news OF the death OF beloved
daughter just before he began his ocial duties for
tho day. His letters to his children, OF which num-
her are given, arc models Of wisdom and affection.
His feelings toward them are well expressed In the
following:
seen. Lee tells an Interesting anecdote In con-
ncctiOn with one OF his sons, (Cuss.) When u very
little child his father took him to walk winters
| day In the snow. Soon the boy dropped behind.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw Custs initiating
hls every movement, with head aud shoulders erect,
putting his little feet exactly In his fathers foot
prints. 'When saw tns.' said the General, u said
| to myself ut bchooves me to walk very sraig ht,
when this fellow IL already following In my tracks.
In conclusion II may he remarked that the volume
meets one first great requirement OF history and bi-
| ography, In being distinctly readable, and never
dull. The complete account OF Gen. Lees part In
the Mexican and Comanchc wars, his civil engineer.
Ing, and the noble work OF his declining years as
| president OF Washington College, will be novel to
many, and will elicit admiration unmixed with the
perpexing questions Of the time of Civil War.
In days to come, the warfare OF Puritan and Cava.
cr on this side of the Atlantic will seem as remote
and shadowy their ancestral conflict in England.
| When that time arrives, our descendants, looking
hack TO the character of Lee as impartally we do
now to the brave men on both sides OF the Parlla-
mcntary wars, may he proud to say, ale too was an
| Americana