The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-20


pertinacity. Taking him, accordingly
by the arm, he drew him forward
The large circle opened and allowed 8
pathway, and the man was presented
in due form and received with as mucl
courtesy as if he had been a prince O.
the blood. Col. NJ was about t.
lead him instantly away, when he
suddenly stepped into the open space
where the group had made way fol
him, and in a rather loud voice said:
General, I have always though!
that if I ever had the honor Of meeting
you face to face, and there was an op'
portunity allowed me, would like tc
ask you question which nobody but
you can answer. l seem to have that
opportunity now. What was the rea-
son that you failed to gain the victory
at the battle of Gettysburg?'
To have such an ill-tined question
dropped like a bombshell in such q
presence was, to say the least Of it,
embarrassing, and some curt rejoinder
would have been natural and to the
purpose; but Gen. Lees kind-hearted-
ness would not permit u rude dismissal
even to so unwarranted a questioner.
Advancing and gently taking him by
the hand, while all the listening group
stood around amazed at the mans pre-
sumption, the General quietly said:
"My dear sir, that would be a long
story, and would require more time
than you see can possibly command
at present; so we will have to defer the
matter to another occasion"
Gen. Lees considerate courtesy never
failed him. He used to be overpow-
cred with letters from every part Of the
South, on every imaginable subject,
written by the wives and mothers OF
his old soldiers, asking questions which
it was impossible for him to answer,
and seeking aid which it was impossl-
bic for him to give. INDECENT women
would write, begging him to find
places where their boys and girls
might support themselves. Crippled
soldiers by Scores sought for help from
him; and multitudes whose only claim
was that they had fought for the Con-
federacy entreated his counsel and
petitioned for his advice in every sort
of emergency.
once said to him: II hope you do
not feel obliged to reply to all these
letters"
'I certainly do," was his reply.
"Think of these poor people! 1t is a
great deal of trouble for them to write;
why should I not be willing to take
the trouble to answer them? And as
that is all can give most of them, l
give it ungrpdgingly." And yet at
this time he had five hundred young
men under his management, and a
corps or twenty-five professors; and
this in a line of work totally novel to
him.
His humility was as conspicuous as
about him. His religious
character was pronounced and openly
shown. But he arrogated nothing to
himself as a religious man. l was
present once when my husband in
formed him of an effort being made to
supply our county with Bibles, of
which it had been stripped to meet the
wants of the army during the war.
The Bible Society was being organized
and the general was pressed to accept
the post of president-"for the sake of
the cause; for the sake of the testimony
his name would bear; for the sake Of
the example it would be to his five
hundred students" My husband was
called out before ne had flushed his
plea, and was left in the library for a
few moments alone with the General.
shall not easily forget the expression
of profound humility on his face, as
with a subdued voice he turned to me
and said:
"Ah, my dear madam, l feel myself
such poor sinner in the sight OF God
that cannot consent to be SET up as a
Christian example to any one. This is
the real reason why I decline to do
what the colonel urges so strongly"
He was in the act of saying grace at
his own dinner table when the fatal
stroke fell which terminated his life.
AS to the immediate personality OF
the man, we people of the South
naturally enough think that, take him
all in all, physically, intellectually,
socially and morally, we never saw his
equal. He was a superb specimen OF
manly grace and elegance. escaped
that precisepess of manner which a
whole life spent in military service is
apt to give. There was about him a
stately dignity, calm poise, absolute
self-possession, entire absence Of self
and gracious considera-
ton for all about him that made COM
oination of character not to be SUR
passed. His tall, erect figure, his bright
color, his brilliant hazel eyes, his per-
feet white teeth, (for he had never used
.obacco,) his attractive smile, his
of bearing, the musical sweet
ness of his pure voice, were attributes
never to be forgotten by those who had
once met him.
His domestic life was idyllic in It
beautiful simplicity. His devotion to
bis invalid wife, who for many years
was martyr to rheumatic gout, was