Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-03-22

AllH Abu bOiNh 10 fAl rs IN ANAlN+
to Stuart than any other officer OF the
i cavalry corps and had that officer
named his own successor the command
would have been given to Fhzhugh
| Lee.
Gen. Lees sons were all in the con
federate army. Two Of them, c. 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 Rocll-
bridge Na.) battery was standing
waiting orders. Gen. Lee rode by and
stopped moment 4 dirty-iaced
driver about seventeen said To hisa:
General, are you going To- put Us 10
again?"
Thiul; Of such a question from such
source TO the general of an army, cs-
pecialiy whom that generals name was
Lee.
YES, my boy" the stately oiiccr
kindly answered, ~ have toput son ia
again.
But what is your name? Your face
seems familiar, somehow
IL don wonder you didn't know me
sir" laughed the lad, ''lm SO dirty,
but I'm Bob
IL was the generals younrcat son.
whom lac bad thought safe at the Vir-
ginia military institute. God bless
you, my son: do your dutyf and the
general rode on.
Nothing ever so panied Lee as 20
leave the old array. 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 "Tes. lam some
what eXtravagant in the matter Of
horses, said Col, Ice, with gravity. 10
friend, but q horse is the noblest
work Of God after humanity. do not
consider 1t an extravaganza 70 own the
very best horses your meass viii per-
nit"
1t was charming spriHg day, the
27th of April. in 1881. whesn Col Lee
severed his connection with the United
States army And here it may be said
that not since Christ was taken up on
the mountain 10 be tempted of Satan
has any man been SO tempted as was
r. +. Lee. II was known that Gen. Scott
would soon retire. Old Francis z.
Blair told a friend that lie went to L.
L. Lee in person and told him he could
have command of the United States
army within the year 1S6I
On one side were the highest honors |
of the service he had been bred in A |
great war was coming on. With ii |
might arrive opportunities for renowu /
and distinction that were beyond am- 1
bitiOn's widest dreams. On the other
side was-what? A future that was |
and beyond that God alone
could see. But Lee never hesitated or
faltered where he Thought he was
right. Aud So on that sunny dav, 27th +
Of april. as be rode along the way he
would ride no more, no man could see I
aught in his firm, impressive face that
indicated the storm in his mind and 4
heart lie went to the war depart
ment Lieut. Col E. d. Townsend az
terward adiutant general, and Mag. w
A. Nichols were on duty.
- wish to see Cen Scott said
Lee. after exchanging the usual salu
.atious
80 one Of them summoned him. lie
remained with the venerable Nirgini-
IN and soldier almost two uninter-
'upted hours What a valuable con-
.ribution to the history Of the period
j full report Of that conversation would
g. Finally Lee went cut very pale
nd evidently uuder deep emotion,
avs an officer who happened to see him
IS he left the venerable friend he was
lever t. see more
Of an the episodes Of war. there is
lone fuller Of pathos than this As he
walked away Lee felt that he was
eaving an his hopes behind him. Il
that he met Ben Hardin