The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-14

Ian out Of his intrenchments before Rich
rnond. Ny command was then in embryo,
| vet be seemed to take as much interest in
| our petty forages as Ia the operation of our
corps A thorough soldier by training,
familiar with war in its theory and details,
yet there was no man in the southern army
less a martinez and fonder OF adventure
than Gen. Robert E. Lee.
In February, 1865, / went TO see him at
his headquarters near Petersburg. His army
was then reduced TO a skeleton, but his
spirit was az combative as ever. Although
he knew that the end was near his manner
and conversation did not indicate It, He
was just as bold and aggressive in temper
as on the day that he routed Pope at Bull
Run. Looking over In the direction of
Grants lines he said, eve could whip those
people now If we could only get at them, {"
referring TO their being under ground.
My little girl had sent him as a Christ
mas gift a small silk tobacco bag, thinking
he used, like most Virginians, the fragrant
weed. IL was lying on the writing table by
him. He stopped talking about fighting
and, holding up the little bag In his hand.
asked me if l recognized 1t, aud said that be
priced it more than any Christmas gift he
had received. had sent him a fine pair Of
gauntlets which l got through the blockade.
He asked me to take dinner with him, but
told me be didn't have much to eat. When
we walked into the room whore his meal
was spread we saw a smoking leg of mutton
on the table, which seemed to surprise him.
he slyly intimated shat some OK his staff
must have stolen it. Sheep we're scarce in
that region then.
After dinner he talked a good deal about
the military policy Of the south. He was
nothing Of a Fabius In his views OF war;
holder man never led an army. He always
wanted to be the aggressor. He thought
the abandonment Of Northern Virginia in
the spring of 1862 a mistake. He said that
he wrote TO Gen. Johnston after he got to
the RRpidan advising him to march back
and threaten Washington. He thought
that such a movement would have drawn
McClellan's army back to defend the capital.
This statement is verified by the war records
recently published.
In the spring Of 1870, few months be-
fore his death, / was at the Exchange hotel
In Richmond when Gen. Lee arrived there
from Lexington. He had been advised TO
tske trip south for the benefit Of his
health. He looked worn and haggard, and
it was hard to realize that he was the fierce
warrior that had 50 often welded the thun-
derbOlts of battle l went to his room, and
We had a long talk. | had met him ia pu ~
lie after the war, but this was the only time
we ever were alone. The war still threw its
shadows around us, and while we talked of
the present aud the future we were think
Ing Of the past. felt oppressed, almost
over whelmed, by the great memories which
his presence recalled. He was no longer
my commander. yet his word even then
would have been law to me.
Soon after leaving his room met Gen
Pickett. | told Pickett that had just left
Gen. Ice and that he looked like DYING
man. There had been an arrangement be-
tween them. Pickett said that he would
call and pay his respects if would go al ing
with him, but that he did not want to be
alone with him. So returned with Pickett
The interview lasted only few minutes
The conversation was formal, with NJ ref
erenee to the cause Of their difference. do
not think they ever met again.
In few months the great soldier Joined
the shadowy host that had crossed the river
before him. Fate denied him victry, but
blessed him with a glorious immortality"