The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-14
STORIES OF LEE AND JACKSON.
DR.. James P. Smith Addresses
Watts Camp of Veterans.
He Gives a Graphic Description of tho
Death of Jaclsson-Rev. DIR. James
Reads q Paper on the First Battle of
NIanassas-An Interesting Meeting of
tho Old Vets.

William Watts Camp, Confederate
Veterans, met last night. The new
charter granted by Leo Camp, of Rich
mond, was conspicuously present, and
elected much admiration.
Commander Brooke presided and
Major Pitzer, tho adjutant, acted as
secretary.
1t being announced that DR.. HI. A.
Sims had moved to Chicago, DIR. Wilmer
Hodgson was elected surgeon in his
place.
Letters were read from Generals
James a. Walker and William III.
Payne, agreeing to furnish tho camp
with papers to read in short time.
On motion of Col. Thomas Lewis, it
was decided to invite General Walker
to be present in person and read his
paper.
There was largo attendance and
many prominent business men were
present, among them being DR.. James
p. Smith, of Fredericksburg, who was
chief-of-staff for General Stonewall
jackson; Col. Lewis, DIR. Campbell, Rev,
j. w. Duffy, Maj. Pltzer, NJ. Ii. Johnson,
G. c. Talliaferro, l.. II. Cooke, w. p.
Dupuy, Dr. lIodgson and others.
Col. Brooke then announced that the
camp would hc entertained by DR..
James, after which they might expect
another rare treat.
DIR. G. L. James, Of tho committoc to
entertain. then read an admirable ad-
dress on his "First Battle" The dec.
tor said previous to reading:
L had little tasto of war during
the John Brown raid, serving as cav
alryman for twenty-onc days. / helped
to hang John Browns accomplicss in
tho Insured ton at IIarpers Ferry. At
the age of sixteen entered the army"
The doctor then read tho paper, which
was written many years ago. 1t was
description Of tho First Battle of Man
assas. His company was under the
command of Captain Grayson.
The paper gave splendid description
of the evening before the baltic. A
heavy cloud rose that night, and throat
ened TO drench them with rain. But
strange to say tho cloud shifted, and
poured storm like an i'll omen on the
enemy in front.
The next day the battle camo on.
The company was engaged, and did
gallant service at the decisive blow.
1t gave further fine account of the
battle in detail, and how General
Beauregard appeared as he rode down
the line during the day and rallied tho
almost defeated troops. DIR. James adj
dress was received with applause.
Rev. DR.. James p. Smith, of Fred
ericksburg. was next introduced. The
doctor began by saying;
81 can among you for poaceablC pur-
poses. did not expect to so soon he
involved in war. have gone back to
tho field Of Manassas with Or. James
to- might. 1t, too, was the first battle
was in and the first timc was under
fire."
Speaking of General jackson, he
said:
zone of his great traits was keeping
everything secret. He never allowed
any of his officers to know what no
was going to do. Considerable COM
plant was often made that such was
the case.''
He then told of how General jackson
shifted his army in the valley and went
to Winchester on one occasion. His
staff fitted up house which had been
donated to him for his headquarters for
the winter, it having been currently re-
ported that quarters would be there for
some time. The general wanted to
know one day ii they were preparing to
stay for the winter, and smiled as though
he knew quite different.
Tho next day l was standing at the
window when courier rode up be-
spattered with mud, and handed me a
dispatch. opened it thoughtlessly,
and was astonished at the first two
paragraphs. turned it over, and saw
that it como from Gen. Lee. / feared L
had gone too far, and Immediately
went into Jackson's room and handed
him the dispatch. In few minutes he
como out and said: Gentlemen, who
opened this letter." l arose and told
him had done so under misappre-
hension. The general bowed politely,
and asked me to his room.
''Thc dispatch was an order for Gen
eral Jackson to move at once to the
Rappahahnock. We prepared tho plan
of operation in secret that evening, and
moved tho next morning. These re-
marks are to show General Jackson's
manner Of conductin his business.
Sometimes he would hanover his army
all day and not even his staff officers
knew where he was going.
t'0n another occasion, in company
with Generals Lee, jackson, Stuart and
Major Pendleton, the staff visited Gen.
erai Lees venerable kinspeople, Mr..
and Mrs. Taylor.
"After an introduction by General
Lee, he said:
Nov, Mrs. Taylor, you wouldn'tsur-
pose this amiable gentleman was SO
cruel and heartless.' No, would
not she replied; Il have always hoard
that General Jackson was good
Christian man. Why, my dear madam, ;