Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26
FITzHUGKLEE'SBO
His Biography Of tho South's Great
Commander.
SOME UNPUBLISHED LETTERS.
west Point, Mexico. the Civil War
Stonewali jackson The
Surrender.


Extrscts from General Fi,zhugh Lees
Life OF General Robert l.. Lee" Great
Commanders Series. ID. Appleton & Co..
publishers)
During his whole course at West Point
Robert was a model cadet. his clothes
hooked nice and new. his cross-belts, coli
lar, and summer trousers were as white
as the driven snow mounting guard upon
the mountain top. and his brass breast
and waist plates were mirrors to reflect
the Image OF the inspector. lie con-
scientlousiy performed his tours of guard
duty. whether the non-commissoncd Off
Ger OF the guard was approaching his
post OF sleeping in his quarters. He never
ran the sentinel post" did not go OF
the limits TO the Benny Ravens OF his
day, or put dummies In his bed, TO de-
celve the officer In charge. as he made his
inspection after taps. and at the parades
stood steady In line. IL was a pleasure
for the inspecting officer to look down
the barrel of his gun: IL was bright and
clean, and its stock was rubbed so as 10
almost resemble polished mahogany.
A, the expiration OF the usual leave
OF absence granted officers who marry.
I.ieutcnant Lee returned TO his duties
aEnsSistant engineer at Hampton ROADS
For four years he laoored TO make the
harbor defonsible and to construct there
strong works little dreaming mat II
would be his fate 20 study how 10 de-
rnolish them twenty-scven years after
negro
insufrcciion IN Southampton took place,
and the young lieutenant writes 10 his
mother in-law about IL, telling her that IL
As at an end, and adding that the troops
returned 10 Fort Monroe last night from
Jerusalem. where they did not arrive until
the whole affair was concluded. Coionel
Worth says that from all he can learn,
he is satisfied the plot was widely ex-
tended. and that the negroes. anticipating
the time OF rising by one week, mistaking
the third Sunday for the last In the
month. defeated the whoie scheme ana
prevented much mischief. II is ascer-
tanned that they used their religious as
sembIies, which ought to have been de
voted 20 better purposes, for forming and
maturing their plans. and that their
preachers were the leading men.
DEFENDED THEIR MASTERS.
A man belonging TO a Mrs. Whitehead.
nnd one of their preachers, was the chlei,
under the title of Major Nelson, and ms
first act was to kill his mistress. i've
children, and one grandchild. However,
there are many instances OF their defend
ing their masters. and one poor Fellow,
from the inconsiderats and almost I'M
,xarrantabie haste of the whites, was
sadly rewarded. He belonged to a ME-
Blunt. and himself and two others as
sisted by his master and his son. noby
defended them against twenty blacks;
after beating them off and running IN
great haste after horses for them 10 es-
,ape on a party of whites suddenly Came
up. and, thinking the horses were Tor
o;her purposes. shot him dead. The whole
number of blacks taken and Killed ala
not amount TO the number Of whites MUIR
dered by them.
IN MEXICO.
At Vera Cruz Captain Lee met his
brother. Lieutenant sydney Smith Lee. oil
The United States navy. and the soldier
and sailor fought together. In a letter
written from Vera Cruz at the time, after
describing a battery which had been
,laced in position by him. Captain Lee
adds. The first day this battery opened
Smith served one of the guns. / had con-
structed the battery and was there 10
direct its ire. No matter where turieu
my ewes reverted to him, ana STOOD u!
his gun whenever | was not wanted else
,,h.,e oh, | felt awfu!y, and am at
logs what / should have done had he been
cut dawn before me. j thank God that ne
was saved. lie preserved his usual cieer
fulness. and 1 could see his white tee'h
through all the smoke and din OF the III =
l mad rlaced three 81 and three 6S-pound
49, tito, Their fire was
,Sr,inc and the shells thrown from our
,,a,,erv we're constant and regular DIS
rbsrges go beautiful in their hight anu
90 destructive in their fall. II was awlui
NJ bcar, bled for the inhabitants. Inc
Soidiers | did not care so much for, pu'
=, vas terrible to think of the women
"a cbudren. | heard from Smith
,o-day. He is quite well and recoVereo
from his fatigue"
THE WEST VIRGINIA FAILURE
7. ,,,s, no admitted that General Lee
rctired from West Virginia with dimihish
,,u,,orv renutation. Great results had
Iaen axnec I'd from his presence there.
Carnett's defeat and death were TO oe
ovenred and the whole Of that portion
80 Virginia speedily wrested from the
FEDERAL arms The public did not unuer-
stand the difficulties OF the situation. OF
comprehend why he did not defeat Hey-
nolds or the failure to attack kosecrahs.
The news OF the expected great victories
ala not reach Richmond. Men apparently
wise shook their heads and said he had
Leen overrated as soldier: that he relied
1,uon a 'showy presence" and historic
name" and that he was too tender OF
liocd" and leaned too much 10 the en-
tlneer side OF military question: pre-
ferring rather to dig intrenchments than
To fight. There were two men, however
who stood by him faithfully In ms
doubtful period OF his career. one or
Them was the President OF the Confede-
rate States. the other the Governor OF
Virginia.
STONEWALL JACKSON.
Thomas Jonathan jackson was born at
Clarksburg. Harrison county then in VIZ
einia. now West Virginia Thirty seven
years afterward he was born again on the
field OF Manassas. and amid the rifle s
fash and the lannon's roar was christoned
'Stonewall9 Neither of the two govern
ments lost sight OF the great importance
Of tho VALLEY District'-one because
Washington could be easily reached by
hostile troops from that section; the other
because the force there was a part OF
General Johnston's army. and might en-
ter into future military combinations AS
am important factor. 1t was most for
tunate for the South that StOnewall Jack
son was selected TO command this de-
partment lie was combative; his facial
characteristics, Including an iron-bound
S,w." have been compared 20 those Of
Julius Caesar, and William OF Normandy,
Activity vigilance. and restlessness were
marked traits of his character. His
thoughts were with God and his cause.
In camp he organized prayer-meetings
among his soldiers. and when the meet
ing began the hymn raised. and the
proceedings evidently success he often
went 20 sleep.
''If silence was golden. he was DO
ganza." / wrs said OF him al that time
shat ne sucked lemons, ate hanback,, and
drank water-and praying and nighttime
appeared 20 him 10 be the whole duty OF
man. General Ewen, 1t IS related. once
SD ne admired Jackson'S genius, but he
never "saY one OF his couricrs approach
him without expecting an order to assault
tie North Pole"
A GIANT OF WAR.
From a humble professor in the Nir-
ginia Military Institute he rapidly grew
into a giant of war lie believed III j
short, sharp. decisive contest. When first
appointed professor he occupied room
an g h.. Of ha l.4 RIA of<Q