Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-10
GEN. ROBERT Z. LEE.
TWO NOTABLE INTERVIEWS WITH
THE GREAT viaGlNiAN.
The "Eebci Yell" First Heard at Hamp-
den-sIdney Coiiege-iiis Strict sense oil
Honors Go Home and Become Citizens.
rw W. Pare IN Tho Century for March.I

Nv. w. rage IN Inc century iV' "'''
Imet General Lee first at his residence
ON Franklin street. Richmond, in 1851 ms
face was Clearly shaven except very full
blask moustache. He was tall and slender
and erect, and reminded me OF frencn
officer of the highest type. Thought MIN
then the most imposing man had ever
seen. Before giving the interview would
like 10 give a little of my own history
which led up to 1t.
/ was on the college campus at lamp
den-Sidney, Virginia, in May, 1861, with
number of the students az play, WheI
President Atkinson, who bad Just returned
from Farmville. rode up and SAID; Young
gentlemen, northern troops have crossed
The Potomac into Virginia at ALEXANDRIA
Ellsworth's Zouaves tore down the VIZ
oinia flag on .Jackson's Hotel. jackson
shot Ellsworth and the Zouaves have killed
Jackson-the war has begun" The BOYS
raised and heard for the first time the
rebel yeil' Ii was arranged that after,
noon that the students of the college ana
Theological seminary should form COM
pany with DR.. Atkinson as captain.
No one who was there can ever forget
the fiery enthusiasm OF those bows ana tne
girls on College Hill, for the girls were
worse than the boys. Woe TO the boy who
did not thirst TO die on the bloody field
Little chance would would he have stood
with one of those girls!
The company was ordered first to Rich
mond, and soon after. with Colonel John
Pegram. 10 Rich Mountain in tie wlids or
West Virginia. At Rich Mountain we
were attacked by General Mcclellan in
front and by General Rosecrans in the
rear, and after severe engagement the
Misunderstanding boys were surrendered
by Colonel Pegram to General Mcclellan,
who treated them very kindly, paroleu
them. and told them to 60 back to college
and finish their studies.
WAR ExPERIESCEA
], however, made my escape without be-
| ing paroed. | was sick when the surren-
der took place. The next day typhoid
| fever set in and / was sent to private
house. Here met Federal sergeant who
engaged for $50 in gold in advance, to take
me ont of the lines. Before day the next
| morning he was at the house, and taking
| me in his arms laid me in the bottom
of his wagon and covered me with
| hay. He then drove to the outer picket
post. where there was great excitement
| and anger, owing to the fact that two OF
! their men had just been shot by bush
| whaekers." As we drove mp they were
| breathing out threatenlngs and slaughter
1
| on the front seat and asked the sergeant
where he was going. He said, Foraglng."
| What had he in his wagon? He said, NO
! thing" After a few pleasant words the
| sergeant said he must go on. lie tnen
| drove over into the woods, and, taxing
| me in his arms, laid me down, express
| ing the greatest regret at leaving me
| there in the woods To die" Cutting on
| one Of my buttons as a memento' anu
| kissing me on the cheek, he drove away.
| The thought of escape and freedom were
| far superior 10 disease. | sat up-stood-
| walked-leaped for joy-came up with
/ Confedarate wagon, took the cars at Statn-
| ton, and reached Manassas in time TO WIT;
| ness the close of the first battle OF Bull
| Run.
IN HONOR BOUND.
After I had served for some time in
| Mosby's independent command, known to
the Federals as "guerrillas," | was offered
| fine adiutanov OF a regularly organlzed
| regiment. The question then arose
| whether, as my company was paroled.
| had a right to go into service before 1t was
exchanged. This question was referred to
| General II. L. Lee, whom | sought
| in Richmond. II was on Sunday morn
| ing. General Lee was alone III his par
lor. When | was stating my case ne IN
terrupted me by saying that this seemed TO
/ Dp a matter OF DuSlntSS. IL II my ihAS
never to transact matters of business on
the Lords day, except in cases of necessity
or mercy" told him that | had to leave
the sity next morning at o'clock, and he
then allowed me to proceed. Though |
had been received in kindly and cour-
icons manner, vet felt all the time that
General Lee was preoccupied. Now and
then he seemed engaged in deep thought.
When had stated my case ne directed me
to repeat it, saying that he had i. not a. peeh
pressing regret that / had intruded upon
him in a matter that was largely personal,
and rose 10 leave.
As reached the door General Lee asked
| me nv name, saving that he had not heard
IN when was introduced. / told him, and
he said he knew my family very well. lie
then insisted that should dine with him,
saying that he would like, very much "a
have me. / was nothing but q boy and
declined. but / was very much ashamed OF
myself afterward for being annoyed at bis
inattention, when he told me that he had
inst received the intelligence that the
| enemy had landed in force under General
Mcclellan on the Peninsula.
He then said that | could not be held
technically; that the enemy did not have
my name as a prisoner OF war on parole OF
honor; but they were kind to you IT
1
Of your sickness, and if were in your place
| | should consider myself in honor bound
| TO observe the parole until the company Is
exchanged"
The last two years of the war | spent al
| General Lees headquarters as captain OF
company of scouts. guides, and courier'
IN his body-guard and in all that haC
| the privilege of seeing him during those
| wears the two things that impressed ms
| -. "a Ar inf htUh sense
of honor and his deep though intelligen
Christian sentiment-shone conspicuous
COUNCIL OF WAR.
The last time saw General Lee was il
1865. The curtain had fallen, foreye
Shutting out from our view. trust, th'
bloody tragedy of fratricidal war. Salts
fed that a surrender was inevitable, | haC
taken, nv command out and was on thu
James river near Gainesville, IN Cumber
land county. Here was held council
war, over which, L think. General Rosse
presided.
General Lee had surrendered but verl
large portion of General Lees army hat
escaped. What course should we pursue
: One proposition before the council was T.
z reorganize as far as possible and form
junction with Johnston in North Carolina
or, failing in this TO join u, Kirby Smitl
in tine Trans Mississippi Department.
large number advocated our retirinI
/ 10 the mountains and woods and carry
, ing on guerrilla warfare all over the coun
try until we could again bring our armie
into the field. The first proposition wa
, objected 10 as under the circumstances i'm
probable, if not impossible; the second o.
the ground that although it would necessi
: tate large standing army on the part
the North, yet 1t would inflct untold hol
rors and suffering upon the South. Still
{ was the favored plan of operations. Th
T discussion was long. earnest, and stormy
: and the council. failing to agree, adjourn
e | ed in the hope of obtaining more light. an
| aenaoially that il might get some wor