The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-30

sea. Not moment shall be lost in pursu
irg ihe enemy. will not. lose
moment in bringing them 10 attion.i
ga W lth ms hcrce passion fo' Eight, the Gen
cral must nniic Tie sclf-cOntrol which vii
refuse battle. or calmly await attack, and
lot least, the fortiiudo which can endur
defeat. For weeks and months he must IL
ready at any moment of The dly or night &
draw on these vast resources without eve
showing weakness under the protractet
strain.
'9ith men; the business Of general is {,
lead men in that most wonderful Of human
ORGANIZATIONS, an army, on that dread arena
the Held Of battle.
Ana now come into play The qualities o
heart and soul.
Conse'ya,td TO his high Office, gen
clal ought % be morally the best. the mOsi
just, the most generous. the most patriotic
man among his counirymcn. lie must mol
oniN bc their greatest leader he must know
how 70 make every man IN his army bcliey,
him % be- their greatest loader. And
mere eelicf ~ not enough. There must
hc IN him a power 90 call forth an
enthusiastic ard passionate devotion. ol
all careers. a military life makes the heayi-
est demand on the self-enacement and self
sacrifice of those who are 20 follow and
obey. Love and enthusiasm for a leader
are the only forces powerful enough TO raise
men TO this heroic pitch. Without them an
army Is a mob. or, ai most. a spifiiless ma
chine. With them il becomes capable of the
sublimest exhibitions of Salor and dcyo-
ton. But, essential as is This magnetic
power i'm the leader 10 draw all hearts, to
quiet iealOusics. 10 compel obedience and
90 fuse the thoughts and passions OF thou
sands Of individual men into a single mass
III ff.tN ft
present, and the true commander absent.
POLITICIANS have had these gifts, soldiers
even have had these gifts. and utterly failed
IN the command of armies.
Ioall these rich endOwment- there must Ice
added an impcrturbabl bic moral courage equal
to any burden or buffet Of fortune. and
physical intrepdiiy IN lie highest and
grandest forms not Only the Nal0r which
carries a di' isiOn commander under orders
with 0ycrmastering rush 10 some desperate
assault. like Clcburne's at Franklin, or
makes him stand immoyable rs a stone
wall, a. Bee saw Jackson ut Manassas.
but nm aggressive and unre,ting ardor 10
fdli on the enemy. like that Which burned
i'm Nelson when nc wrotei II will fight them
the moment can reach their feet. bee they
at anchor or under sail. | will not lose one
moment i'm fighting the French ileet.
And over and above all there must pre-
side some G0d-like power, which, in the
crisis Of strategy or the storm Of battle. not
only preserves 10 the commander all these
high faculties. but actually iniensities and
expands them. I'm those irreyOcablc mo-
mcnts. when the decision Of an instant may
determine the destiny Of states, mere talents
must spring into genius. and mind and out
ward eye send flashes Of intuition through
the smoke Of battle and the dark curtain, on
aI. an pf a lta
read only in iitiul shadows. In that
hour Of doom, nations fate.
a peoples ransom, may be staked
ON one mans greatness of soul.
II is the recognition i'm Lee Of the princi-
pal elements of this high deal-courage.
viii. energy. insight, auth0rity-the organ
ling mind with its eagle glance and the
for command broad-based
upon fortitude, hopefuness, JOY in battle.
all exalted by heroic purpose and
kindled with the glow Of an uncon-
querable soul; il is besides and above
ALL the unique combination in him of moral
strength with moral beauty. OF all that is
great in heroic action with all that is good
in common lite that will make of this pile of
stone sacred shrine, dear throughout
coming ages not TO soldier. only, bat To all
''hclper- and friends of mankind
let brief recital show that these are
words of truth and s0bcrncss. Lee was
i'm his birth, for be -prang from "a
race of men who had just shown ina world
famous struggle all of the virtues and few
Of the faults of "a class selected TO rule, bee
cause titie-t to rule. His father had won n
brilliant fame a. "a cavalry leader, and the
signal honor Of the warm friendship of
Washington.
The death Of Light Horse Harry Lee
when Robert Lee was only eleven wear,
DID made the boy the protector Of his mother.
a school of virtue not untitled TO develop a
character that Nature had formed for honor
Ii was partly. no doubt. the example Of
bis fathers brilliant service. but mainly
me soldiers blood when flowed i'm his
.en.. that impelled him to seek place IN
be Military Academy ar West Point. lie
was presented 10 President jackson, and
We may we'll believe the story that the old
soldier was quickly won by the gallant
youth. and willingly secured him 10 the
army. ! cannot dwell on bis proficiency in
he military school. or his early years Of
Useful service. i'm the corps of engineers,
houeh doubtless these practical lab0rs had
an important influence upon the future
eader of that Army Of Northern Virginia,
20 famous for IFS
Looming bastions iTngcd wit fire.
he creation Of the axe and spade.
one aussiciOus incident Of that time /
must not pass hy-his marriage 10 the
OF " ashngtOn's wife.
Thus another tie was formed. which con
leciDd him by daily associations Of family
lrd place with Wa~hiugtons fame and
character. He became i'm some sort " ash
ngtou's direct personal representative. Is
{ nnciul 10 suppose that all his had an
effect on his nature so moulded
llready % match with whatever was great
md noble: 1t may well be believed that !
zee made Washington his model OF public |
lUty. and in every important conluncture
Il his life unc0nsciOusly, no doubt, but !
npctyelv asked himself the question, How !
would Washington have acted i'm this case:
The greater elements Of Lees character
must appear in the story Of his later lie. !
ct me try now To give some conception OF
lis noble person. his grace, MS social
harm. his pure life; of that Unborn dignity. |
which with look could check familiarity, |
n convey rebukc: Of that manly beauty ana
presence, fitted alike 10 win |
hild or maiden, and % awaken in The |
ternest soldier an expectation and assur- /
nee of prominence and distinction.
lt was this which drew from great mas |
or of the art of war, whom a benehcent |
providence still spares 10 be model oil
very manly anu iudl TAI iAAA' W thN 'N'i" /
fthe Youngest soldiers who followed his |
nstained banner, it was the recollection of
he fascination of Lees manner and person |
n the DAYS Of their early service, that drew |
rom General Joseph J.. Johnston these |
lords of vivid and loving description: mo |
lher youth orman so united the qualities |
hat win warm friendship and command
igh respect For he was full Of sympathy |
nd kindness. genial and fond of gay con |
ersatiOn and even Of fun. ME |
lis correctness Of demean0r and Ian |
uage and attention to all dntics, per- |
onal and official, and a dignity as much |
part of himself as the elegance OF his per- !
on. gave him a superiority that every one |
cknowledged in his heart" Ii was this |
ghjch made Lord Wolseley say Of him rs he /
aw him i'm later years: ~ have met many /
I the great men of my time. but Lee alone |
impressed me with the feeling that j was |
h The presence at man who was cast III a |
rander mould, and made Of different and |
ncr metal than all other men. lie is |
tampcd upon my memory as beng !
part and superior 10 all others in every |
iav." Thus endowed to command the love |
nd respect Of every human being that came
lto his presence, fully equipped IN every |
Military ant, temperate, pure, heailhiui' |
rave. consciously following duty as MS !
ole star and all unscOnsciOusly burning I
,ith arlor 10 win a soldiers fame, he en- |
..,1 upop that war Nifl Mexico. which |