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

way: it WAS TIE very iiiin4 | wanted to
enable L 20 form a coirrc; opimion OF
the case, AMI Freely grant your peii-
ton" Sit Gown and let Us talk about
our sick and suffering men" For
nearly an hour we engaged in conver-
silion in tie most frank, unconstraine d
manner, each OF rs expressing our opin-
ion about the causes and prevention q
the diseases then intesting the army.
One Of the causes that he assigned was
want OF cleanliness. He said that when
Young officer in the Mexican
war for the purpose of protect
ing himself against disease and
for the prest trVa,ion Of cleanliness he
was in the habit three times every
week Of going TO IA steam near the
camp and taking his shirt of, then taking
general bath, washing his shirt in the
stream, aud, after drying it in the sun,
putting it on and returning to camp.
70 this replied that many of our men
had no shirts, and those that had them
were wet from the rain every day in
the week. But | could not convince
him contrary 10 his convictions. When
| arose and babe him adieu, he gave
me cordial invitation to call on him
whenever needed advice or aid in my
department.
can truthfully say that on num-
Der of occasions after this when | was
thrown with General Lee on business,
he was ever after this accessible,
considerate, kind and ready to give
! i l.,t I 1t nf
the most interesting occasions on which
| was thrown with General Lee occur
red in October of that year. The con-
versaton on this special occasion has
never been made public before. The
conversation and circumstances of this
occasion have impressed themselves in
delibly Oh my memory. On the occa-
sion of which now speak | had called
at lis headquarters as usual on busl-
uess and, having alighted from my
horse, was standing near his camp fire,
when General Lee approached and,
greeting me, remarked that he had
heard most uniavorable reports from
the Blue Sulphur Springs hospital,
about seven miles from our camp at
Meadow Bluff, that he felt anxious
about the condition Of the sick there,
and had determined that, in company
with Captain Taylor, lis adjulant gen
eral, he would visit this hospital and
inspect its condition and requested
that ] should accompany them, to
which readily assented.
Very soon he, Captain Taylor and
myself were vending our way over this
mountain road, through gorges and
over hills towards the hospital. For
some lie time our conversation re-
lated principally to the condition Of
the sick-the usual topic and the one
most frequently discussed. He sudden
~ ceased conversing and his manner
became thoughtful and silent for mo-
ment. and then turning to Captain lay
or said Captain, am glad General
Floyd has left us. ! hope now that
the editors and politicians who have
been so clamorous against me in Rich
mond, and who have assailed me so
bitterly and uniustly, are now satisfied,
as ne has gone TO a new field of action
where he can act independently of all
control. Why these violent unmerited
and unrelenting assaults on my char
acter and motives should be issued so
continuously from The Richmond press,
| cannot understand. When my dear
old mother Virginia took her position
against the Union, / obeyed the die
tates OF my conscience, my devotion,
my allegiance and duty to her and re-
spondel to her call, resigned my posi-
ton in the l. s. army and rendered
her my humble services, and if
need be my life in defence of her cause.
am willing to devote my life,
ny time, my lahors and humble
dents to defend her against all
enemies without expectation or
desire of preferment. | came to her
not prompted Icy motives of ambition
for had every temptation to remain
on the other side, but because of my
love and devotion to her in her hour OF
trial. No. did not come to Virginia
tc seek honors, but to serve her. |
left my invalid wife in the enemy's
lines and my dear old home (Arlington)
with all lis contents and associations,
its treasured family relics and family
pictures hat never could be replaced if
lost, in the hands Of the enemy to be
either taken or destroyed. Yes, l left
everything that possessed on earth in
the bands Of the enemy. But if poll
ticians and people of Virginia are not
satisfied with my course will willingly
lay down my commission and take
any humble position, however obscure,
where can best serve the interests of
my dear old native State. Our duty is
first due TO her and if all will do their
duty faithfully to the end, though we
have powerful foe TO contend with, if
| God favors our cause we will succeed. y
These remarkable and impressive
words from so distinguished man
under such circumstances, at such a
time and such a place, while travelling
or a lonely mountain road with only
his adjutant, Capt. Taylor, and myself
rs his hearers, confess startled me at
the time, though | afterwards learned
that these matters had been not unfre-
uuent subjects OF conversation between
himself and Captain Taylor. Picture
to vourselfa a great military captain OF
national reputation to whom the eyes
of Virginia and the entire South turnt d
in the besinl in of the war as their leat.
er defending nimselfin the presence OF
two Young men against the assaults and
aspersions of his own people from whom
he had the right to expect support and
encouragement, with all the exalted
dignity and high bearing of his charac-
~ vii n ,,,u1ice m none and fOrbearauCe