Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-01
DIR. Bedford Browns Address.

dress at the Conieierate Veteran ; re-
union on the night of the 10Th ultimo,
on his personal recollectoDs of General
Robert E. Lee during the campaign in
Western Virginia in 1861
At an early stage of the war, about
July, 1861, the enemy realized the i'm
portance of obtaining possession of
Western Virginia, aud threw large
and well equipped force, under Nc.
Clellan, into that region, crushed
out the feeble forces of Garnett and Pc
gran and occupied that entire section.
Independent forces under Floyd, Wise
and Loving were then despatched to
that section for the purpose of retaliing
it from the enemy, but failed. Finally,
late in the summer Gen. Lee was or
dered to assume command of those in
dependent forces and confront the Fed
eral army under Rosecrans and Cox, to
assail and drive them out and regain
possession. With the small force and
poor resources at command this was an
impossibility.
The command cf Gen. Lee consisted
of about 5000 half-starved, ragged men,
one-t third of whom were on the sick
list. Rosecrals then had one of the
largest and best equipped armies in the
United States But Lee with this small
force could only hold him in check on
Little Sewell Mountain and prevent his
further advance towards the White Sui
phur. But Western Virginia was never
retaken, and, consequently, Gen. Lee,
who was blimeless, was not only held
accountable but condemned by the
Richmond press and politicians in most
outrageous and even undeserved terms,
and they finally became clamorous for
his removal.
AS splendid as became his fame, as
illustrious as his deeds, as glorious as
his name and true his patriotism, and as
much as ne was loved and adored in
after times during that troublous pc
riod the life of the great Lee was
strewn with many sorrows and his
path with many trials. But he lived to
see the ungrateful become the grateful
and to find ingratitude turned into
gratitude and bitterness converted into
love, and his end was magnificent
triumph over adversely. It was in the
midst of this horrible campaign. in sep
tember of that year, that ! first laid
eyes on Gen. Lee and sought my fir: I
personal interview with him on bus
ness connected with my department.
At that time, though contending with
the pitless clements of nature, discor-
tent, dissatisfaction and the deep NUT
terings Of his own people, want, disease
and suffering of his small, undisciplined
army, as saw him then in all the vigor
and elegance of a splendid manhood l
could but regard him as the most su-
perb specimen of digniGed, impos-
ing, handsome man that had ever be-
held.
will briefly recite to you the cir
cumstances that prompted me to seek
this interview with Gen. Lee. Gen.
John B. Floyd had determined to de-
tach his forces from the main army of
Gen Lee and start on his campaign to
the West, where subsequently he fought
the battle of Fort Donelson with unfor-
tuate results.
In the army of Floyd there were two
or three southern regiments of which !
was the chief surgeon. These regiments
Gen. Floyd was exceedingly DESTROYS TO
take with him TO the West, but two
thirds of the men were on the sick list
aud in no condition to go on a long cam
paign. The colonels of these troops
held council and decided to petition
Gen. Lee TO detach them and permit
them TO remain with the main army,
and / was selected to bear the petition
in person to Gen. Lee in verbal form.
|, then young surgeon with grave re.
sponsibilities on my shoulders, did not
then comprehend the improperly OF
delivering verbal military message as
did afterwards However, called al
his headquarters, and finding him
standing by his camp fire, gave him the
customary salute and proceeded to
state my business. To my astonish-
ment he very promptly and peremp-
torially cut my statement short in the
following very curt language: "Sir, |
will hear no verbal statement Of any
nature. Return 10 your tent, prepare 8
written statement of your business
send it 10 me and will give it atten-
tion.n His manner was sharp, severe
and positive, and conveyed more mean
ing than his words. / asked his pardon
politely and courteously withdrew, ant
though chagrined and mortified, de-
termined to prepare paper that woulc
enlist his attention and respect.
But we should remember that this
was far from the usual demeanor o.
Gen. Lee toward his interiors in rank
He was at that time suffering uuGel
, most harassing vexation and annoy
ance.
Gen. Lee was always diguifed, anc
while courteous and respectful to al
: and ever accessible when rightly ap-
preached, permitted familiarity from
no one. After this, my first intrusion
| returned to my quarters, took gooC
: long smoke and prepared and sent NJ
) to his headquarters plain matter o
fact statement of the case. Within tx,
hours was summoned to Gen. Lee
headquarters, which order, confess
was obeyed with some doubts and ap
prehensions. But lin this | was mos
, acreeably disappointed, as found tn
d General standing at his tent door viii
i