Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-06
FOUR FAMOUS PICTURES
OF LEE, BEAUREGARD, DAVIS
AND STONEWALL JACKSON.


Capt. George A. Mercer in behalf Of a
number Of prominent citizens who are
interesting themselves to have placed on
exhibition III this city during the coming
Centennial of the Chatham Artillery the
historical paintings OF Lee, Stonewall
jackson, Beauregard and Jefferson Davis,
painted by NJ. GuilIaume, brought the mat
ter before the Georgia Historical Society
at its meeting last night. NJ. Guilliaume
is now in Savannah and is engaged in
painting a number of portraits of gentle
men here. He painted the portraits Of
Judge Erskine and Judge NICHOLS, which
were recently presented to the United
states Courts by the Savannah bar, and
Is an artist OF distinction. He made his
studle4 OF the great historical group
above referred to from life, except that Of
, Stonewall Jackson, which was completed
While Jackson's body was lying in state
in Richmond after bis death.
A News reporter was shown yesterday
the following note, written to NJ. Gull
/ ljaume on rude Confederate paper, but in
the graceful handwriting Of the lighter
Of Robert T.. Lee:
"My father is here, and, if you are dis
engaged, he will be with you in course Of
hall an hour, and you can avail yourself
OF his presence for a sitting"
The following letter, read by Capt. Mer-
Ger. ls from Col. Oabney, the biosrapher
of Stonewall jackson, and Is eloquent in
its praise of the merit OF NJ. Gullliaume's
portraiture OF that great soldier:
| CHAMPION SIDNEY, VA, Dec. 30, 1867.
"DEAR SIR; twas with great pleasure
that / heard the equestrian picture Of
Gen. T. }. jackson by NJ. Guilliaume has
been engraved and will be offered to the
public. My regard for NJ. Guiliaume, a
deserving and skillful artist, and my APP
probation OF the picture which saw so
often and with ever increasing interest,
| prompt me to recommend it warmly to
the admirers of our great leader. On
page = of my Life of jackson" | re-
marked on the complete metamorphls
produced i'm his cOuntenance by change
of mood. He usually kept his spirit
under rein while IN battle and his
demeanOr was collected, serious and bust
ness-like, conveying only an impression of
quiet determination and earnestness.
Hence, many who knew him in civil lite
only, and many even who served under
him never saw him wear the cOuDtenanCe
which VI. Guiliaume has caught and fix d
upon his canvass with spirit and sue
cess so wonderful. But two or three
times, during his military career, Gen.
JackeOn's fiery spirit fairly broke from
his customary restraints and bore him
away with tempest Of passion and tri-
umph by which mis- face and person we're
literally TRANSPORTED. one OF these was
at Cold Harbour, one at Cedar Mountain,
and one at Winchester. 1t is the last
occasion which NJ. Gulliaume has re-
presented. ! can testify as an eyewitness
to the fidelity of his general conception,
and especially to the perfect accuracy of
the main figure. lie has rendered exactly
the imprisoned srdor Of the face, the
pose in the saddle, the well-knOwn equip
ments, and the sun-burut uniform,
THE moment the artist has represented
was that when the General, after being
held at bay in his first efforts, had sent in
TaylOr's Louisiana Brigade on his LETT,
and had by q general onset broken the
line of Gen. Banks. In the heat of the
battle | was sent by him to bring up this
famous brigade from the reserve, as we
approached the rear OF JacksOn's centre.
Gen. Taylor and | saw him riding rapidly
toward us alone, wearing his intent and
business-like face, coming to see whether
his orders had been Obeyed. When we
reached within a few yards of him he
suddenly pulled up his horse, wheeled,
and without a word rode before us until
we reached his line, then mOtiOning to me
to stop, he pointed Gen. Taylor to the
left and accompanied him to see his Tegi-
ment put in position.
"Having done this, he returned randy
without a single attendant to the place
where he had bid me await him. Imme-
diatelv above and before us was the green
hill which formed the key of mis- centre,
crowned with two batteries which, al
though partially shielded by the swell of
the ground on their front, had suffered Sc
verely. The top had been swept up to
| that moment with a storm of shot. Up the
| reverse of this hill the General now rode
eagerly but cautiously seeking, as he
neared the summit, to raise his eyes above
/ it's level and catch a glimpse of the
| contested ground III front as soon as
| he glanced at it. l who was close to his
| elbow saw both his armed heels strike
! his horses TANKS by sort OF instructive
] spasm, and he sprang at a bound to the
crest OF the eminence. The sight which
| there met his eyes was indeed enough to
| fire the heart OF great soldier, the whole
! Confederate line surglng forward like a
/ simultaneous wave, with TAYLOR on the
left, tue enemy breaking away in frag-
mentary masses from their defenses,
and the southern cross on many banners
streaming forward through the smoke
/ Throwing his horse on his launches, he
paused for an instant, with his face in 4
/ blaze OF triumphant passion, and shouted
/ Forward! Everybody after the enemy =
/ This is the moment which NJ. Guilliaume
has so successfully represented. l know
/ that il reproduces precisely a conception
OF the Generals face and attitude which
is so indelibly imprinted on my memory
! The transactions from which this is taker
are detailed in the lie, pages $40 to 3S3.
II also had the privilege OF eX
aiming the equestrian picture OF
Gen. r. f. Lee. several times
during his production; was
not an eyewitness to the scene il repre-
sents, and have no knowledge Of its his
1 torical accuracy. but / can testify TO the
correctness of the picture OF the grea
commander, OF his manly face and form
his imposing attitude and his graceful
hprsemanship, The adiuncts of the pic
ture are also strictly characteristic, anC
Just such as have accompanied the pas
sage Of the revered commander. thrOlgl
his army during action. ! am dear sir
ETC., Il. l.. DABNEY.
/ To .ueSSrS. GOEDd d Co.,:
The picture OF Beauregard is painted
with the Confederate works arount
Charleston harhor IN the background,
and, like that Of President Davis, Is noted
for its fidelity and artistic merit. Thest
paintings have all been engraved by Con
pill n Co., and every engraving has beer
sold except two, which were exhibited a
/ the Historical Society rooms last night
They appeal powerfully 10 those who wer,
{ devoted TO the lost cause, and certainly
should belong 10 a Southern community
NJ. Guilllaume has been offered 5000