Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-08
OUR MAIL POUCH.


1t Brought Up Interesting "Reminiscences.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
1 am indebted to a Pittsburg lady for THE
DISPATCH of recent date. My attention was
attracted by pencil marks to an interesting
article from the pen of Mr.. L. Z. Stofiel con-
cerning the Breckenridge family famous in
the early history of Western Pennsylvania.
The elder, Ii. II. Breckenridge, was able and
distinguished as a lawyer and Judge, and not
less distinguished as a scholar and writer;
while the son, H. NJ. Breckenridge, although
not the equal of his fatheras wit and hun,or-
fst, was his equal, if not superior as writer
and scholar. was an early admirer of the
Brackenridges, father and son. While law
student in the vicinity of Chapel Hill, n. c.,
in 1924 read Modern Chivalry," written by
the elder Breckenridge, and while yet a boy
read ''The History of the War of 1872" writ
ten by the younger Breckenridge, and long
afterward read his "Recollections of the
West" and his History of the Whisky In
surrection," p" as published in the Southern Lit
erdry Messenger. Judge then of the pleasure
and qualification felt in reading your cor
respondents sketch of the two eminent men.
Unwltt1ngly, however, he has fallen into
an error touching an incident in the life or
Judge III. III. Breckenridge In allusion to
the affair between General Lee and Brack-
enrfdge at Phila 'elphia in 1852 your CORE
spondent says: "In 1876 Judge Breckenridge
was editor of the United States Mag dzine at
Philadelphia. He had written some severe
Harry Lee for his course toward George
Washington. General Lee, in q rage, called
ut the office in company with some OF his
aids with the intention OF assaulting the
editor. He knocked at the door, while
breckenridge, looking ont of the upper story
window, inquired what was wanting
Come down. said Lee, and I'll give you
as good horse whipping as any rascal ever
received
Excuse me- General said Breckenridge,
L would not go down for two such favors.'" "
If ,nN tSrlxk Hon. II hrrf
General Charles Lee who figured in the ad-
venture with Breckenridge at Philadelphia.
Ever since Washington's severe rebuke of
Lee at the battle Of Monmouth for his dis,
orderly retreat before the enemy Lee had
been publishing harsh and bitter structures
on the character and military conduct of
Washington. a reply to these structures
and counter criticisms ON Lees conduct at
Monmouth, published in Brackenridge's
magazine, was the cause of the strange
meeting between Lee and Breckenridge
which greatly amused and entertained the
Philadelphians.
And now for Light Horse Harry General
Henry Lee). He was the personal and polit-
ical friend of Washington and 1 hazard
nothing in saying he was never known to in
dulge In disparaging criticisms of the char
acter or conduct of Washington either as
soldier or statesman. On the death Of Wash
1ngton General Henry Lee, then member
of Congress from Virginia, was selected to
deliver the funeral Grafton before the two
Houses of Congress.
tne lulpToSSlOu IudO III Iudt
Grafton, which 1 have not seen for many
years, the words occur for the first time in
their application to Washington: "First in
war, first In peace, and first in the hearts Of
his countrymen." But in looking into the
speech of John Marshall, afterward the
great Chief Justice, announcing to the
House of Representatives the death of
Washington, find those identical words
used and applied to Washington. Marshall's
announcement must have preceded Lees
Grafton feel assured your correspondent
1rlov -f}Nr, fl,xair .fr-11C
JESSE TURNER.
VAN BUREN, ARK, Augusta.