Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-08-26


TO Stuart than any other officer of the
cavalry corps and had that officer
named his own successor the command
would have been given to Fitzhugh
Lee.
Gen. Lees sons were all in the con-
federate army. Two of them, G. w.
Gusts Lee and William Henry Fitz-
hugh Lee, were major generals, while
the youngest, Robert E., who is more
like his father than any of the others
in looks, was in the artillery.
At Antietam, just after the artillery
had been sharply engaged, the Rock
bridge (Va.) battery was standing
waiting orders. Gen. Lee rode by and
stopped moment. A dirty-faced
driver about seventeen said to him:
General, are you going to put us in
agafn?"
Think of such question from such
a source to the general of an army, es-
pecially when that generals name was
Lee.
"Yes, my boy" the stately officer
kindly answered, II have TO put you in
again.
But what is your name? Your face
seems familiar, somehow"
Il don't wonder you didn't know me,
SIR" laughed the lad, I'm so dirty,
but I'm Bob"
1t was the generals youngest son,
whom he had thought safe at the Vir-
ginia military institute God bless
you, my son: DO your duty!' and the
general rode on.
NA-If,,rr rNoirNal fn
leave the old army. He was on leave
early in 1861 and lived at Arlington.
Almost daily he rode over to Washing
ton. lie was always in immaculate
riding costume and rode the best horses
that could be bought. "Ycs, l am some
what eXtravagant in the matter of
horses" said Col. Lee, with gravity, to
friend, but horse is the noblest
work of God after humanity. l do not
consider it an extravaganza TO own the
very best horses your means will per
nit
1t was n charming spring day, the
9th of April, in 1861. when Col. Lee
severed his connection with the United
States army And here it may be said
that not since Christ was taken up or
the mountain to be tempted of Satar
has any man been so tempted as was
r. E. Lee. 1t was known that Gen. Scott
would soon retire Old Francis p
Blair told a friend that he went to r
L. Lee in person and told him he coulC
have command of the United State:
army within the year 1861.
On one side were the highest honor:
of the service he had been bred in.
great war was coming on. With i
might arrive opportunities for renowI
and distinction that were beyond am
bition's widest dreams. On the othel
side was-what? A future that wa
uncertain, and beyond that God alon,
could see. But Lee never hesitated o.
faltered where he thought he wa
right. And so on that sunny day 27tl
of April, as he rode along the way h
would ride no more, no man could SCI
aught in his firm, impassive face tina
indicated the storm in his mind ant
ment. Lieut.. Col. e. d. Townsend, al
terward adjutant general, and Maj w
A. Nichols were on duty.
81 wish to see Gen. Scott" sal
Lee, after exchanging the usual salu
tationS.
So one of them summoned him. II
remained with the venerable Virgini
an and soldier almost two uninteI
rupted hours. What valuable con
tribution to the history of the perio
full report of that conversation woul
bel Finally Lee went out, very pal
and evidently under deep emotion,
says an officer who happened to see hir
as he left the venerable friend he wa
never to see more.
OF all the episodes of war, there
none fuller of pathos than this. AS
walked away Lee felt that he wa
leaving all his hopes behind him.
happened that he met Ben Hardi
Helm, confederate general who die