Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-16
GEN Ice IN 1861
A Confederate .oldirr'- rrmi iscence OF
the .0uthpru CHE.

! mot Gen. Lee first 100 his residence
in Franklin street Richmond. in 1851.
His face was clcanly -hlven except a
very full black mustachr lie was tall
and slender and erect, and reminded me
OF French officer OF the highest type.
] thought him then the most imposing
man had ever seen. Before giving
the interview would like TO give lit
tie OF my own history which led up
to it.
was on the college campus at lamp
den Sidney, Virginia, in May, 1851. with
a number Of the students at play. when
President Atkinson, who had just re-
turned from Farmvillc, rode up and
said: Young gentlemen, northern
troops have crossed the Potomac into
Virginia at Alexandra. Ellsworths
Zouaves tore down the Virginia dag on
Jackson's Hotel jackson shot Ellis
worth and the Zouavcs have killed
Jacksonville war has begun" The
boys raised, and heard for the first
time the rebel yell II was arranged
that afternoon that the students Of the
college and theolo gical seminary should
form company with Dr. Atkinson as
captain.
No one who was there can ever forget
the fiery enthusiast Of those boys and OF
the 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 feldi Little chance would he
have stood with one Of those girls.
The company was ordered first to
Richmond, and soon after. with Col
John Pegrnm, TO Rich Mountain in the
wilds Of West Virginia At Rich Mount
ain we were attacked by Gen. McClel-
Ian in front and by Gen. Rosecrans in
the rear, and after severe engage
ment the Iampden Sidney boys were
| surrendered by Col. Peyram 10 Gen. Me-
( Clellan, who treated them very kindly,
paroled them. and told them 10 60 back
I TO college and finish their studies.
], however, made my escape without
being paroled. | was sick when the
surrender took place, The next day
typhoid fever set in aud was sent 10 a
private house. Here | met a federal
sergeant who engaged for Fifty dollars
In gold, In advance, TO take me out {
the linea Before day the next morn
ing 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 me 10 the outer picket
post, where there was great excitement
and anger, owing 10 the fact that
two Of their men had just been shot by
"bushwhachers. As we drove up they
were breathing ont thrcatcniug> and
slaughter against confcdcratcs. One OF
them jumped up on the front seat and
asked the sergeant where he was going.
lie said; "Foraging.' What hc had IN
| his wagon lie said: Nothing After
u few pleasant words the sergeant said
| he must go on. lie thea drove over
into the woods, and, taking me in his
arms, laid me down, expressing the
greatest regret at leaving me there in
the woods ITO die" Cutting or one Of
my buttons as n mcmcnto, aud kissing
me on the cheek, he drove away. Tue
thought of escape and freedom was far
superior TO disease. / sat up--stuoa--
I walked-leaped for joy-canc up with
a confederate wagon, took the cars at
4 Staunton and reached Manassas in time
to witness the close OF the first battle
of Bull Run.
After | had served for some time in
Mosby's independent command, known
to the fedcrals as PucrrillaS," was
offered the adjutancy of regularly ur-
gauizcd regiment The question then
arose whether, as my company was pl-
rolled, had n right to go into service
before 1t was exchanged, This qucs-
ton was referred 10 Gen. r. T.. Lee,
whom | sought in Richm)nd II was
on Sunday morning. Gen. Lee was in
his parlor When | was stating my
case he interrupted me by saying that
this seemed to he n matter of business.
ITS my rule never 10 transact matters
OF business on the Lord S day, except in
cases of necessity or mercy" | told
him that ! had to leave the city
next morning at six o'clock, and
he then allowed me to proceed.
Though ! had been received in a
kindly and courteous manner, yet
felt all the time that Gen. Lee was pre-
occupied. Now and then he seemed en-
gagged in deep thought When | had
stated my case he directed me to repeat
II, saying that he had not been liotcn-
ing to me. This | refused to do, cx-
pressing regret that had intrudcd
upon him in matter that was largely
personal, and rose to leave.
As reached the door Gen. Lee asked
me my ma ne, saying he had not heard
IL when ! was introduced ] told him,
and he said he knew my family very
we'll lie then insisted that | should
dine with him, saying that he would
like very much To have me. | was moth
A ing but boy and declined; but ! was
very much ashamed OF myself after
a. ward for being ANNOYED at his inatten'
h ton, when hc told me that he hal just
b. received the Intelligence that the enemy
n mad landed IN force under Gen. McClel
= Ian on the peninsula,
II He then said that could not be held
4, technically-that the enemy did moi
h have my name as u prisoner of war or
D.. parole Of honor, but they were kind
y TO you in sending you to private house
\ on account OF your sickness, and II
, were in your place / should consider
p. myself in honor bound TO observe tn,
parole until the company is eX
changed"
The last two years of the war spen
D At Gen. Lees headquarters us captain
u company OF scouts, guides, anC
'ouriers in his body-guard, and in al
hat had the privilege of seeing of hin
-, turing those years the two things tina
, impressed me most in this first inter
Y View-his high sense OF honor, and hi
!" deep, though intelligent Christian sen
liment-shonc conspicuous.-W w
At Page, in Century.
FOND Mammn--You boon ba.