Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-01
General Lees Tact.

From an anecdotsl article oy 5its. Mar.
garet J. Preston in the JOne Century We
quote the following
Few men were more skilled il the svoi;,-
ance of everything that could wound the
feelings of others. Ga The occasion of Gen-
eral Lees being summoned to Washington
to give testimony, an incident occurred
which illustrates this characteristic. a con-
nec,ion of my owp, who attended bim as
one of bis complimentary staff, told me that
when in Washington there were multitudes
of persons-and among them many of ths
most distinguished in the land, North and
South-seeking audience with General Lee;
evening after evening was occupied with
these interviews. Again and again had ny
friends been beset by person who had no
claim to be presented, and as often had he
been waived aside on the plea that the mum.
Der of gentlemen coming to be introduced
was 90 great as to embarrass his provisional
stsfl But this persistent Confederate watch.
ed his opportunity and made the best of it.
Coming up to Colonel M-when he WAS
little off bis guard he whispered. Take
me up now there is nobody being introduc.
ed at this moment"
"But don't you see that the General is
surrounded b. group OF officers aud con
gressmen, and that 1t wont do TO break in
upon their conversation ?"
But the OLD soldier would not be shaken
off. So Colonel Ill thought tha best
way 10 end the matter would be lead him
up to the General, and thus 10 moment
put stop to his pertinacity. Taking him,
accordingly, by the arm, be drew him for
ward. The large circle opened and ellowed
pathway, and the man was presented in
dus form and received with ss much court
esy as if he had been q prince of the blood.
Colonel NJ was about to lead him
instantly away, when be suddenly stepped
into the open space where the group had
made way for him, and in g rather loud
voice said:
General, have always thought that If l
ever had the honor of meeting you face to
face, and there was an opportunity allowed
me, would like to ask you a question
which nobody but you can answer. | seem
to have that opportunity now. This is
what want to know: What was the rea.
son that you failed to gain the victory at
the battle Of Gettysburg" ?"
To have such an ill-timed question drop
ped like bomb shell in such q presence
was, to sey the least of it, embarrassing,
and some curt rejonder would have been
natural and to the purpose; but General
Lees kind. heartedness would not permit
rude dismissal even to go warrantable q
questioner. Advancing end gently taking
him by the hand, while all the listening
group stood ronnd amazed at the mans pre-
sumption, the General quietly said
"My dear sir, that would be 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 oc.
cesion."
This same friend.gave me an instance of
similar encounter that concerned Mrs. Lee,
whose simplicity and kindness of heart RI
vailed that of her husband.
The General and his wife were at the Vir.
ginia White Sulphur Springs, occupying one
of the pretty cottages that had been set apart
for them. The crowd of visitors was great,
and everybody who had the least show for
30 doing was asking for introductions, for
the war had not long been over.
ST encountered good natured but absurd
man from the far South" said Col. M--1-----,
"whose enthusiasm for the Lee family was
at fever heat. His pompous way of talking
was constant amusement to me; ; and when
he asked that should intrude upon the gay
group that always filled the piazza of the
Generals cottage and introduce him, l
naturally hesitated somewhat, fearing lest
he should overpower them by one Of his
magriloquent apostrophes. He Joined me
one evening just as we were passing the
cottage door, where party Of visitors were
being entertained by the General and his
wife. Now is your time he whispered /;
and be forthwith drew me to the Steps,
where, as in duty bound, I presented him.
Withdrawing little, he assumed Hamlet
like pose, and lifting his hand with most
dramatic air, he began:
"'Do behold the honored roof that shell
ters the head of him before whose name the
luster of Napoleon pales into shadow !?
Do I see the walls within which sits the
most adored of men Dare tread the floor
which she whois scion Of the patriotic house
of the revered Washington condescends to
hallow with her presence Is this the
portico that trails Its vines over the noble
pair
II stumbled back sghast," said Colonel
M, "at my own blunder, as listened
to this ridiculous speech, which 1 really be
lieved was gotten up and conned for the
occasion. But was relieved in moment
when Mrs Lee, quietly laying down her
knitting and interrupting the rhetorical eff.
fort. with kind look upon her face replied l.:
"iYes, this is cur cabin will you take g
seat upon the bench p"