Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-16


all three died during his imprisonment.
MAGNIFICENT FIGHT.
In the mean time one of the most gallant
and desperate fights III the annals of the
war took place about mile below Hickory
Hill. A company of North Carolinians.
about tbifty-hve in number, were guard
ing the bridge over the South Anna. They
were protected by the river and fair
brcastw work aud could have made a safe re-
treat. but they stood their ground and
literally died IN thoir tracks: For four
hours they held their position. but finally
a ford was disclosed TO the Federal troops
10y negro and thew were attacked IN the
rear aud every man was either killed or
wounded.
LIKE A KNIGHT OF OLD.
When General Rooney" as he was
generally called, reached Fortress Mon
roe nc Was put in solitary confine-
mcnt. General Custis Lee was then on Mr.
DaV stan. ana held the rank Of briga-
dler. the same asthat Of his wounded and
imprisoned brother He went 10 Fortress
Monroe under special flag of truce. and
met representatives, Of the United States
Var Department. upon whom he urged
that he be allowed 90 take his brothers
place. He tod them that he was confident
Mr. Lincoln did not wish 10 cause unneces-
eary agony 70 the innocent aud non COM
hatauts, meaning his brothers wife and
children. that all that was wanted was
hostage of The same rank rs that of Gen
crl ". II. +. Lee. and that his brother
was married and be was not.
The oher was declined with the state
uent t1at war was war and its burdens
had 20 fall where the chances and fortunes
4 war placed them. but that IL was not
though, there would be any necessity for
the execution Of the wounded General.
Tins proved correct. rs at a later period
General Lee was regularly exchanged. rose
- the command of division OF cavalry,
and fought at AppomattoX.
His Traits ns n soldier.
on two points all of General W. II. F.
Les old troopers are unanimous aud
these are that hc was a gentleman under
all circumstances and was always where he
ought TO have been. Mr.. J. A. McLaugh-
lin, who vas a private IN General Lees
Old regiment and IN that capacity and rs a
scout was with HIM pretty much all during
The war, SAID yesterday
General Rooney Lee was universally
beloved. He was thoroughly kind-heart-
et gentleman. always apprOachable, and
never gave an order even 10 the humblest
private save IN "a gentle manner. He was q
diSc.pinariau. and believed III thorough
drilling, carrying this idea 10 the extent
thal he never lost an opportunity 10 exer-
else the men even If he could do nothing
else but put them through the sabre drill.
Vet hO never enforced discipline III harsh
Way.
CONsUMMATELY COOL.
He was not regarded 10y the mon as q
brilliant officer in the sense that we as
-Ociatc that expression wlth dashng
cavalryman. However. he was consum-
mate!v cool. always kept his men well In
hand. kept his own head, and the boys
had perfect confidence in him. They
knew that when Rooney gave an order
be had mapped the whole thing out. lie
never PLAYED tor personal reputation. His
game was 10 win and take the best care OF
MS men. lie manTuvred for position and
when he got It IL meant stubborn fighting.
DON'T Won make ally mistake about that.
lie was as tenacious as bull dog.
d" IL the fight al BRANDY station. IN which
he was wounded and where he exposed
himself unnect ssariiv several times, he
held the advance. Indeed. his line was q
picke; line. He put mp u beautiful fight,
tut was finally .lanked by an overwhelm-
lne force. and had To fall back. But he
did not fall back all the way 20 the sup
ports tie only retired half way. got o
position. and held on like grim death until
relniorcemeuts came UP.
CLUNG 10 HIM LIERA CAT.
a. the time of the operations around
Cl.ncel lr-ville. where Stuart had de-
he'd more # the cavalry and taken them
uu there. Rooney with M brigade was
loft 20 look after hllpatrlck. In following
kllpatrlck tie exhibited not only great
coolne-s, but great military ability. Al
though be had but a handful Of men he
got On Kilpatr.ck's back and hung
tLere like a cat, harrasslng him at
every step. IN that little chasing
frol.c Lee captured nearly the whole
of the Filth United States regu,
lar cavalry. Yes. Rooney was a splendid
soldier. splendid gentleman. and stub
born fighter. Bat | can tell You who
knows moro about him. perhaps, than any
one ei.e around here. and that Is Colonel
". B. Robins up there III the Capitol. Be
fore Robins was made "a colonel he was
Koouey's' chief of sta1. and he was deS-
perate reckless sort Of fighter. whenever
ae rode up with that grin OF his on tue
boys knew II meant business
ONE OF rHE BBAyEsT.
Colonel Robins. in speaking OF his old
commander. described his sOldlerly traits
rr..ttv much a. did Mr.. Mclaughlin
,,...'neyal Rooney. he said. was one Of the
hrayrst men that ever lived and always at
b,srn.t He was O man of strong common
ssnte and he Colonel Kobius) knew of
ms uer.oual knowledge that Stuart had
Ito bi0hest opinion of his judgment
s,,1 aIlltv. General Rooney would
MT sad Colonel Robins, take fool
IN chances or expose his men simply
for the sake If fighting. but ,when Tue NJ
ce.slty arose AMI II WAS incumbent upon
INN to protect ANYTHING IN his rear, cover
"a retreat. hold position. or when point
,yas 10 Le gained by fighting. he was a
rouoh rider. concentrated every faculty OF
md and body upon the worK before nm.
ar.d was stubborn 10 the last degree.
rNpFRsT 1oD THE SCIENCE OF WAR.
y5a understood the game of scientific
,r'-faTe and PLAYED II well. Referring TO
C--..-ol | ec's pursuit OF Fitzpatrick. Colonel
!, - said that no general engagement
,'.,s thought on o. Lees force was mere
n.gafeue az compared with thc enemy =
in, he was constantly cutting Oh detach-
uqnts OF the Federal cavalry and hAue J"
warm for klipatrick al every turH'
The News at the soldiers Home
rta ,,,nates of the Soldiers Home in
~ civ have watched the illness OF
G,a,erai Lee with the most profound
s,,x,.tV. ard his death created deep sor-
--,,s among them. When a representative
80 theD DISPATCH called at this institution 10
-, snIne of the incidents connected
,,',,h the Gfe Of the gallant cavairynan;
,he vets clustered around HIM ana al
commenced their praises OF the ueau
Cantain Pollard, who first enlisted III th9
c,,,'r,anv organized by Generai Lee ah1
sni,se0uently served In his orlgane' saiu
,Sat f.w officers were more university oo-
In,'sd nv the soldiers than the deceased, ~
b.. alyays carefully considered the welfare
- I;s mon and was extremely particular
stont exposing them to any unnecessary
10 csnta,p Pollard, ia speaking OF General
TscSs military career, expressed ms
'-n,r,ou mat ne WAS one OF the most
Tinted officers IN the service OF the Con
t'J.rncv- certainly considerably more 50
than ipany others who had obtaiheu
49, =, a: az; astonishing 10 see how well those
o., ,%e Home who served under General
lee embered his campaigns ana no'o-
prob,bie place OF Intermenf-
Asstated ia the DisrArcH's special ABOVE
.bn funeral arrangements had not peei1
nerfected last night, out IL s plooaoii'
,bat the interment will be at haVehs"or.n.
Ns5oy r. n. Nash, who received telegram
10. nioht from one OF General Lee ~ soiis
"nnon5ciug ann his fathers death, was OF this
~n,n,on' lie says there was family ouiy,,
ino-ground at Rayensworth, ana "eneLai i.a
Ice had had the remains OF TWO 9I nus his
children. who died at the white iiou,o %