Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-08

the front when be heard that the enemy
was moving, be said EYES! A ssuer,
more devoted, sslfsacrinciDg soldier
never lived or died in the cause Of
right"
Speaking in general Of the Seven
Days Battles around Richmond, be said
that We accomplished grand results,
and that the failure to snnibilats Nc
Clellsn's army was due chiefly to the
fact that when General Lee took COM
mand there were st headquarters no
maps Of the country below Richmond,
and it was then too late TO procure
them, and that our army moved oil the
time in ignorance Of the country, and
With guides who, for the most part,
proved themselves utterly inefficient.
He said that General Lees object in
the retreat from Petersburg was to
reach Danville, and then to unto with
Johnston and crush Sherman before
Grant could come up.
After General Johnston's surrender
bis object was to reach the transmits
sissippi Department and see If he could
rally the forces there. And this be
believes he could have accomplished
as lie knew every swamp along his pro-
posed route-but he was turned aside
from his proposed route by information
that q band Of robbers were about to
attack bis family, who were travelling
on . different line.
lie gave deeply interesting details Of
the foreign relations Of the Confedera.
CT, and Of how near We were several
times to recognition by England and
France. He spoke in the highest
terms of praise Of Captain Bullock's
Secret Service Of the Confederacy in
Europe - book which we think
should be in every library-and said
that the Confederscy had nothing to
fear from the publication Of all Of its
official correspondence.
He spoke in strong terms of the
double dealings Of Louis Napoleon, who,
after inviting Mr.. Slidell, the Con-
federate commissioner, to have Con-
federste vessels built at Cherbourg, and
assuring him that there would be no
obstacle to their going out afterwards,
vent square back on his word, because
Of certain representations Of Mr.. Day.
ton, the United States Minister and re-
fused to allow them to 60 out.
When he was in France, after the
war, the Emperor sent him word
that "if be desired an interview with
him be would be glad to grant it."
But" said the grand old chief of the
Confederacy, II wanted no interview
with the man who had played US false,
and so promptly replied that did not
desire it,
He spoke Of General Lees high opin-
ion of the ability Of General Early as a
soldier and Of his own emphatic endorse
tion Of that opinion, and said many
other things Of deep interest which !
may not write now.
lie and his family were evidently
deeply touched by the grand ovation
accorded him at Montgomery, Atlanta,
Savannah, &C., last spring, and | as
suIed him that if he would accept the
invitation which / bore bin from Gov.
ernor Lee to be present At the laying OF
he cornerstone Of the Lee monument
next October we would give him in the
last capital of the Confederacy a vel
come equally as warm-an ovation fully
as imposing. He could not promise so
long aheaa what be could do, in view of
his declining years and uncertain health,
but said, There is no place | would
rather visit than Richmond; no occs-
sion had rather be present upon than
one that is to honor r. f. Lee. IL
possible shall DO myself the pleasure
Of going"
came away from Beauvoir with the
highest qualification that | had bad the
privilege Of seeing at his home, eating
with at his table, and minglins in free
social intercourse with the great states
man, the peerless orator, the gallant
soldier, the stainless Christian gentle
IL an, the devoted patriot. whom, with
enc voice, the Confederate States called
TO he their chief, who never betrayed
their trust, but who was true in war,
and has been true in peace" who did
| not desert during the war and has not
deserted since
What true Confederate--what true
| citizen of any section of the country
can fail to Join in the earnest prayer
hat Heavens choicest blessings may
rest upon that beautiful home at Beau
voir-ihat his last days may be his best
days, and that he may finally rest IN
peace. wear &" the fadeless crown of vic
| tory" and rejoice in the plaudit Of the
Great Captain" Well done, good and
faithful servant"-when he shall join
Lee ard Jackson and others of oul
Christian soldiers in that bright land
where wars rude alarms are never
heard? j. WILLIAM JONES.
Richmond, Va.