Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-06-04

ard Wlpt6rSmlth mas nnoly expressed U6t
eral Lees resemblance to Washington i
one of his quaint epigrams: "When Rob
E. Lee had beet taken up to heaven, Gee
Washington was relieved from the sense G
an eternal loneliness"
I did not see General Lee again until th
month of May, 1862 when took my plac
on President Davis's staff as aide de-eamI
Mr.. Davis was at that time in constant COG
slant consultation with Gen. Lee, aud, a
he spoke freely to me of projected move
ments and the views ald opinions Of hi
leading generals, | formed my owu estiul
ate Of their military and personal characters
Being young man, and looking up to M
chief, 1 was doubtless influenced by his pre-
dilections, though / was accustomed to tn
habit of independent thought, and as
young man had good deal of confidence il
my own judgment. Mr.. Davis had YER
high regard for Gen. Lees personal ant
military character, and relied upon hin
more then than upon any one else. III,
own relations to Gen. Lee were almos
strictly official, but be always tr~ated me
as he did everybody, with the utmost kind
ness. Still had, through Mr.. Davis, ;
very accurate understanding OF his military
views and plans. / remember that, befor,
pQ6 DaGbl6 VI OtfCH thOst AO Rho HAAs Ohfi
agreed with Gen. Jos. E. Johnston as to th,
expediency of an attack on Mcclellan
right and rear by A. P. Hills corps, and by
passing G.. W. Smiths corps across tn,
Meadow bridge, so as to turn the Fedora
gun, but abandoned before completion
Mr.. Davis rode with Gen. Lee on the frs
dav of the battle of Seven Pines, and they
parted not far from the front. He told MT
that night, as we rode back to Richmond
after Gen. J. E. Johnston had received his
wound, that he would put Gen. Lee in com
mand of the army. Gen. Lees theory Of
the campaign was for prompt and aggressive
movements. Mr.. Davis told me at that
time that some generals of high rank had
urged in council that we could not main
tain a line of defense north of the James
river. and that Gen. Lee answered, with
considerable feeling, that such course oil
argument, pursued to its legitimate results,
would leave us nothing except gradually to
fall back to the Gulf of Mexico.
Soon after President Davis sent me to
the army of Tennessee on business, and
was not present at the time of the Seven
Days' battles. 1 remember, however, that
he told me on my return that our plan OF
battle was not unlike the Austrian plan at
Austerlitz, The chief danger was, that,
while Lee with his main body was assailing
and turning McClellan's right, on the north
side of the Chickahominy, Mcclellan might
make a show of resistance there, and, with
his superior forces, cross the Chickahominy
with his main body, and, breaking through
our centre, 90 right into Richmond, Gen.
Maoruder commanded our centre. The un-
derstanding with Gen. Lee was that Presi-
dent Davis should stay with our centre,
and, if Mcclellan made that attempt, he
should hold the centre as long as he could,
"Check him as long as you can" said Lee,
"and before he reaches the outworks of
will be upon his heels -
Gen. Lee came to Richmond after the
battle of Charlottesville, and called on
Mr.. Davis at the executive Office. While
awaiting an audience he stepped into my
office and we had a brief conversation.
him on the results of the bat.
tie, and added, "You have met terrible
loss, General, in the death of Gen. Jack
son. He said. with great feeling, can
irreparable loss, Colonel; a loss like mans
right arm. Why, sir, there is nobody who
moves like him. I ordered Gen. - to
move at 8 o'clock in the morning with q
division, and Gen Jackson at with his
corps, and at 9 o'clock Jackson was ahead
Of him." Just then Mr.. Davis sent for
him.
Gen. Lee, in addressing me, employed a
certain popularity of pronunciation, which
I often observed afterward, as "Coronel.' -
He spoke very pure English, bat had few
Virginia provincialsms in pronunciation,
such as sswennut" for "walnnt."
saw a great deal of Gen. Lee in the lat
ter part of the war. When his army was
falling back from the Wilderness, contest
ing Grants advance, I rtSe frequently to
the front to visit the generSS y and officers,
among whom I had many irSmate friends;
would return late in the .Fternoon, and
report to Mr.. Davis, after nigh, what had
learned. One morning went tt Gen. Lees
headquarters, carrying in one hNster boz
tie of strong French coffee for him, and
made my approach to him quite eatly in the
day. He was very kind and affs.eJ and
when he mounted to ride asked me to &C.
company him, which 1 did. We role Just
in the resr of the lines, fairly well under
cover. A pretty sharp fight was goi,g on,
a good deal sharper than usual, but not
such one as to impress me with the idea
of a great battle. Indeed, it could hardly
be called a general engagement, for the
pressure seemed to be confined almost en-.
tirely to our immediate front. After he
heat of the conflict subsided, Gen. Lee le-
turned to his headquarters, and went with
him. l did not then know that Lad baa,
at very memorable confict-tbe
battle of Cold Harbor. When / was ready
to leave for Richmond, said to Gen. Lee,
general, is there any message I can bear
to the President for you?' He was sitting
in front of fy-tent on camp stool, with
his hands resting on his knees, and can
never forget the impression made Upon my
mind by the absolute simplicity of his man,
ner. He replied, in tone evinclng deep
thoughtfulness-hal soli.oquy-"I do no6
know what Gen. Grant meant by his attack
this morning. 1t was too heavy for fei-.t,
yet l hardly think he expected to break
through here" said, General, I sup
pose Gen. Grant will continue to move by
his left and cross the ChickahominyP"
"Yes," he replied: ''across the Chickahom.
my, and across the James, l think. You
can tell the President will make BIN CROSS
the Chickahominy as low down as I can.
BY what road 90 you return to town, Col
onel?" "By any road you wish, General,
if can serve you," / answered. "Then
please go by the Nine Mile road, and tell
Capt. - to move his battery down the
Chickahominy, and open on the enemy,
which may induce him to cross lower
down." He also indicated specifically the
position Of the battery, the roads to be TAX
en- to find it, and the new position to be
taken by it. What struck me in this day s
with Ger. Lee was his entire
lack of self consciousness, and the compos-
ure with which he met events so moment
GUS as those of the bloody day of Cold Har-
Dor. None of us, however, realized the
slaughter of the Federals until we saw the
New York papers some days later.
I saw good deal of General Lee from
that time on, often several times week,
and shared in the general confidence 10 his
wisdom, and admiration for his magnanlm-
ity and warlike virtues. One thing which
has always surprised me was the slowness
of the Southern people, as well as of his
opponents, to recognize the tremendous
audacity of his military conceptions. There
was an evenness and self-controi in General
Lees bearing and habits of thought, under
almost any circumstances, which prevented
the ordinary observer from realizing the
boldness and energy held in reserve and
Il