West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-11-27

the rattle or muskctry and the
thunder of cannon. Crash after
crash shook the solid earth, and roll.
cd away in mingled and prolonged
-revcrberations among tho hills.
The hotly worked batteries bolched
forth their terrible messengers of
death, and filed the air with the
horrid shrieks Of the shells that
plunged into the masses OF the re-
treating foe.
Says an eye witness; "In the midst
of this awful scene, General Lee
rode to the front of his advancing
battalions. His presence was the
signal for one of those unconoroll-
able outbursts of enthusiasm, which
cannot be appreciated except by
those who have witnessed them.
The fierce soldiers, their faces
blackened with the smoke of battle.
the wounded crawling with feeble
limbs from the fury of the doyour-
ing flames, all seemed possessed
with common impulse. One long
nnbroken cheer in which the feeble
cry of those who lay helpless on the
earth, blended with the strong
voices of those who still fought, rose
high above the roar of battle and
hailed the presence of their wctori-
oHs chief.
He sat in the full realization of
all that roldicrs dream of--triup,ph.
And as looked upon him in the
complete fruition of the success
which his genious, courage and
confidence in his army had won,
! thought it must have been from
some snch scene, that mon in an
cicnt days assembled TO the d,gnity Of
The Gods"
Such was Gen. Lee IN the heigth
of his military glory; but the true
nobility of his character Is shown
in his hour of adversity. when his
arms had met with revcrses, and
the cause which he had so aoly
championcd, had been lost. when
he himself with victory almost with
ia his grasp, had been compelled
to yield, when all hope had been
abandoned and the gloom OF utter
despair had cngulfed him.
There Is II grandeur even in mis-.
fortune when that misfortune is
born by Il noble heart; for while
"snccess may gild the shallow man,
disaster alone reveals the qualities
of true greatness"
Gen. Ice, the noblost hero Of
them all. was destined to see his
fondcst hopes swept away by high
cr power; yet with christian res.
ignation ho bowed to the DEGREES OF
Providence; for when the oonvuI-
sions of war had subsided, and
peace spreading her broad wings,
lovingly settled down over reuni.
ted land, Rob't Il. Lee without n
murmer or complaint, nobly as
sumed n civic trust, and stroye TO
mitigate the suffcrings Of his torn
and bleeding people; here faithfully
executing his duties ho added an
other laurel to his wreath Of glory;
and when the hbors Of life were
over, and the Angle Of death en-
tering his presence with the last
awful summons, gently touched his
brow and beckoned him to the far
ther shore, whore Alexander, Caesar
and Napoleon had proceeded him,
his step did not fail nor his heart
grow fain'; but silently and softly
he fell asleep and his great spirit
passed into the presence Of the
Infinite and Eternal.
His rise in life had been rapid. A
brilliant youth, a noble manhood,
a long, desperate and bloody strug-
gle for what he conceived to be
right, a soldier who never failed in
duty, mar who feared and trusted
God.
Lothis virtues, and they were
legion, be craven on memories
tablets in characters which shall
never be effaced. Let his faults.
and they were few, be written i'm
The shifting sand on the shore of
endless time, where the waves Of
forgetiuiness shall be rolled over
thom by the gentle breeze Of charity.
Vanquisncd no was yet "a victor.
10 honor virtue g. % honor bin.
iu iife be was model Tor all who llves.
in death be- left "a heritage Tor an.
Ono such naafnffr fs worth r.,.r. a., ...n