Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-30
ROBERT E. LEE.
BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH TRIBUTE.

We take the following from the London
Lee was stricken by paralysis, and before he
died.
The announcement that General r. e. Lee
has been struck down by paralysis, and is not
expected to recover, will be received even at
this crisis with universal interest, and will
everywhere excite sympathy and regret
which testify to the deep impression made on
the world at large by his character and
achievements. Few are the generals who have
earned since history began a greater military
reputation; still fewer are the men of similar
eminence, civil OF military, whose personal
qualities would bear comparison with his. The
bitterest enemies of his country hardly dared
to whisper word against the character of her
most distinguished general while neutrals
regarded him with an admiration for his deeds
and a respect for his lofty and unselfish nature
which almost grew into veneration, and his
own countrymen learned to look up to him
with as much confidence and esteem as they
ever felt for Washington, and with an affec-
ton which the cold demeanor and auStere tenn
per of Washington could never inspire. The
death OF such man, even at moment so eX-
citing as the present, when all thoughts are
absorbed by a nearer and present conflict,
would be feltas misfortune by all who still
retain any recollection of the interest with
which they watched the Virginia campaigns
and by thousands who have almost forgotten
Vile, the Wilderness and SpOttSylvania. By
the South it would BE recognized as nation
al calamity-as the loss of a man not only in
expressibly dear to an unfortunate people by
his intimate association with their fallen
hopes and their proudest recollections, but
still able to render services such as no other
man could perform, and to give counsel
whose value is enhanced tenfold by the source
from which it comes. We hope, even yet,
that life so honorable and so useful, SO pure
and noble in itself. so valuable to country
that has much need of men like him. may be
spared and prolonged for further enjoyment
of domestic peace and comfort, for further
service to his country; we cannot bear to think
that career SO singularly admirable and so
singularly unfortunate, should close SO soon
and so sadly. By the tens of thousands who
will feel as we do when they read the news
that now lies before us, may be measured the
impressions made upon the world by the life
and the deeds of the great chief of the Army
of Virginia.
Whatever difference of opinion may exist as
to the merits of the generals against whom he
had to contend, and especially of the antago-
mist by whom he was at last overcome, no one
pretending to understand In the least either
the general principles of military science OF
the particular conditions of the American
war, doubts that Gen. Lee gave higher proofs
of military genius and soldiershp than any
of his opponents. He was outnumbered from
first to last; and all his victories were gained
against greatly superior forces, and with
troops greatly deficient In every necessary of
war except courage and discipline. Never,
perhaps, was SO much achieved against odds
SO terrible. The southern soldiers hat in
comparable southern infantry to which a
late northern writer renders due tribute of
reSpect-Were no doubt as splendid troops as
general could desire; but the different for
tune of the East and the West proves that the
Virginian army owed something of its excel
lence to it's chief. Always outnumbered, al
ways opposed to foe abundantly supplied
with food, transport, ammunition clothing
all that was wanting to his own men-he was
always able to make courage and skill supply
the deficiency Of strength and of supplies; and
from the day when he assumed the command,
after the battle of Seven Pines, where Gene
raj Joseph Johnston was disabled, to the
morning of the final surrender at AppomattoX
Courthouse, he was almost invariably victo-
rious in the field. At Gettysburg only he was
defeated in pitched battle on the offensive
at the Chickahominy, at Centreville, and at
Chancel louisville, ON the defensive at Antie,
tam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness and
Spotsylvania, he was still successful. But
no success could avail him anything from the
moment that General Grant brought the mex
haustible population of the North and, en-
ploying Sherman to cut them off from the rest
wear them out by the simple process of ex-
changing two lives for one. From that mo-
ment the fate OF Richmond and of the South
was sealed. When General Les commenced
believe, about $4,000 men; his adversary had
thrice that number at hand, and still Larger
force in reserve. When the army of Virginia
marched ont of Richmond it still numbered
some $4,000 men; after retreat of six days,
in the face OF an overwhelming enemy, with
crushing artillery retreat impeded by con-
slant fighting and harrassed by countless
hordes of cavalry-8,000 were given up by the
capitulation Of -Appomattox Courthouse.
Brilliant as were Gen. Lees earlier triumphs,
we believe that he gave higher proofs of
genius in his last campaign, and that hardly
any Of his victories were SO honorable to him
self and bis array as that OF his six days. re-
treat,
There have, however, been other generals of
genius as brilliant, of courage and endurance
hardly less distinguished. How many men
have ever displayed the perfect simplicity of
nature, the utter absence Of vanity or affecta-
greatness, in triumph or defeat, as Gen. Lee
has done When commander-in-chiefo of the
southern armies he moved from point to point