Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-30

70 bc carer OF stad.
The business Of war IL with men; the
business OF a general is to lead men IL that
most wonderful of human organizations,
an army--on that dread aroma, the field Of
battle. And now como into play the quali-
ties OF heart and seul. Consecrated to his
high Office, general ought to be morally
tho best, the most just. the most generous.
the most patriotic man among his country
men. lie must not only be their greatest
ieader--he must know how to make every
man in his army believe him TO he their
greatest leader. And mere beliet is not
enough. There must be in him power
10 call forth an enthusiastic and passionate
devotion. OF all careers military life
makes the heaviest demand on the self
edacemeat and self-sacriico of those who
are to follow and obey. Love and enthu-
siasfn for leader are the snly forces pow
erful enough 70 raise men to this heroic
pitch. without than an army IL q mob. or
at most spiritless machine. With them
il becomes capable OF the sublimcst exhi-
billions of valOT and devotion.
But, essential IS IS this magnetic power
in the leader to draw al hearts. TO quiet
iealOusios. 10 compel obedience, and 10
fuse the thoughts and passions Of thou
sands OF individual mon into q single mass
oil martial ardor, ell these gifts may be
present and the true commander absent.
4
evon have had these gifts and utterly failed
in the command o. armies. TO al these
rich erdowments there must DO added an
imperturbable moral courage equal TO any
burden or buffet of fortune and physical
intrepidlty in its highest and grandest
fogms-not only the vQlOr which carries a
division commander under orders with
overmastorlng rush to some desperate as
ssuit, like Cleburne's Rt franklin. or makes
HIM stand immovablo "a a stone wall, as
Bee saw Jackson at Manassas, but an az
gress.Yc and unresting ardOr 10 fall on the
enejay like that which burned IN Nelson
when he wrote: Il will fight them the
moment can reach their feet. be they at
anchor or under sail will not lose ono
moment in fighting tho French feet-l
mean To follow them If they 20 20 tho
Black Sea-not q moment shall be lost in
pursuing the enemy. l will not
lose moment in bringing them to action"
With this fierce passion for fight the
general must unite the solf-control which
will refuse battle or calmly await attack,
and, not least the fortituds which can en-
dure defeat. For weeks and months no
must be ready at any moment 81 the day
or night 20 draw on these vast resources
without ever showing weakness under the
protracted strain. And over and above all
there must preside some God-like power
storm of battle not only preserves TO the
commander oil these high faculties, but
actually iatensties and expands thcm. la
those lrrcyOcable moments, when the de-
cision Of an instant may determine the
DESTINY of States. mere talents must spring
into genius, and mind and outward eve
send flashes of intuition thIouCh the
smoke OF battle and the dark curtain on
which the eneIny's movements are TO be
L.. IN ft,l Iaf In
of doom nations fate, "A peoples ransom
may be stakod on ono mans greatness %
soul.
1t is tho recognition in Lee OF the princI-
pa elements OF this high ideai-courage,
will, energy, insight. authcrity-the organ
izing mind with Its eagle glance and the
temperament for command broad-b based
upon fortitude, hopefulness, JOY in battle
all exalted by heroic purpose and bindled
with the glow Of an uncomfortable soul /;
il is besides and above oil the unique COM
bination in him of moral strength with
moral beauty. Of al that is great in heroic
action with all that is good III common life,
that will maze of this pile OF stonea sacred
shrine dear throughout coming ages not to
soldiers only, but to all
helpers and friends OF mankind"
Let a brief recital show that these are
words Of truth and sOberness.
Lee was fortunate in his birth, for he
sprang from q race OF men who had Just
shown IN q w0rld-iamous struggle all OF
the virtues and few Of the faults of class
selected to rule because fittest TO rulo. His
father had won brilliant lame as cavalry
leader and tho signal honor OF the warm
friendship Of Washington. The death OF
"Idght-Jlorse" Harry Ice when Robert
Lee was only eleven years old made. the
boy the protector of his mother-a school
OF virtue not united to develop n chaTac-
ter that nature had formed for honor. II
was partly, no doubt, tho example OF his
fathers brilliant service. but mainly the
soldiers blood which flowed in his veins
that impelled him 70 sock place IN the
Military Academy at West Point. He was
presented 10 President Jackson, and we
NAV well believe the story that the old sol
dior was quickly won by the gallant youth
and Willingly secured him TO the army.
cannot dwell on his proficiency in tho
military school or his early years OF use
full service in the corps Of engineers,
though doubtless those practical labors
had an important influence upon the fu-
ture leader of that Army OF Northern VIZ
ginia, 80 famous for its
"Loom'ng bsstions fringed with nrO ~
the creation of tho axe and spade.
One suspicious lncid ent of that time l
must not pass by-his marriage to the
rreat-crandGaughter Of WashingtOn'a Wlie.
THUS another tie was formed which CON
nected lm bv daily associations OF family
and place with Mashlngton's fame and
character. Ito became IN some sort wash
ngton's direct personal representative. Is
Il tauciful to suppose that all this had an
immediate ehect on his nature, so moulded
already TO match with whatever was great
and nObleY
1t may we'll be believed that Lee made
Washington hiH model Of pablo duty, and
in every important coujurcture OF his lie
unconsciou.ly, no doubt, but effectively
asked himself the question; " How would
Washington have acted IN this casc?"
The greater elements OF Lees character
must appear IN the story OF ms later HE;
Let me try now to give some conception OF
bis noble person, his grace, his social
charm, his pure life-0f tAat intorn Dig
nitv which with look could check fami-
larity or convey rebuke, Of that manly
beauty and commanding presence fitted
alike 10 win child or maiden and TO awaken
in the sternest soldier an expectation anu
assurance Of preemlnence and distinction.
II was this which drew from great master
Of the art Of war, whoma benehcent frOvi-
dence still spares TO he model or every
manly and martial virtue to the sons of the
Youngest soldiers who followed his unstaln-
ed banner, il was the recollection or tho
fascination Of Lees manner and person IN
the DAYS of their early service that drew
from General Joseph i. Johnston these
words OF VIVID and loving description
mo oth.r youth or man so united the
qualities that WIN warm friendship .nnd
command high respect. For he was null OF
sympathy and kindness, genial aud tondpt
cav conversation and even OF Jun
while his correctness or d.
meanor and language and attention
10 all duties, personal and OIL
cial. and a dignity a. much part OF him
self as tho elegance of his person, gave hlm
a superiority that every one acknowledged
in his hoart." ~
II was this which made Lord Wolseley
cav of him as be saw HIM in later years
o. have met many of the great men OF my
time. but Lee alone impressed me with the
feeling that was in the presence OF man
who was cast in grander mould, and made
of different and finer metal than all other
men. He is stamped upon my memory as
being apart and Superior to all others IN
Tbus endowed to command the love and
respect of every human being that came
INTO his presence, fully equipped IN every
military art, temperate, pure, bealthiul,
Lrove consciously following duty as his