Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-11-30
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
GEN. LEES COAT.

III Almost OhuStu " FIEnb oh Nlhthibbtppt
River Boat
One would scarcely think a coat could
be the cause of fight, uAless it was st
Douny brook fair trniled behind II son OF
the Emerald isle, with the challenge,
the Emerald isle, with the challenges:
who'll tread on the tail of me coatw
But Gen. Leo's coat, without the gener.
oil in IL, came near causing bloodshed,
and would have done SO only the
colonel" was good natured, and the
war was over.
1t happened this way: Whom | re-
sided in Mississippi, in 1860, and mad
just completed n small bust of Dickens,
was enthusiastic with my work and
wanted to do something great, so be-
gan bust of Lee, thinking it would he
an appreciated gift to the people who
had always treated me so kindly.
A letter from my pastor, Rev. Mr.
Dana, cousin to the proprietor of the
New York Sun, to Mrs. II. Z. Lee, IN
closed in one from myself, brough:
most gracious reply. In n few days
received several fine photographs,
among them one in co1ors, of the hand
some, stately general. Mrs. Lee seemed
pleased with my wish to perpetuate the
features of her much. loved husband, so
sent me all the information she could
on the subject. also the generals cou-
federate coat with the three gold stars
cl. each side of the standing collar; she
wrote me that he had never worn il,
but that it was perfect fit, so would
answer the purpose for which needed
it,
In due course of time the bust was
completed, and wishing to return the
coat safe and sound-after having been
iInportuned to loan it to be exhibited at
charity fair, which | peremptorily
declined-l boxed it carefully and gave
it in charge of the colonel, who was go
ing to Washington, ID. c., on leave of
absence.
He was to carry it to certain point,
then express it to Mrs. Lee.
On the way up the Mississippi river
there were many southerners on board
the boat. One lady in particular at
tracted the colonels attention. She
was from the mountains, and had
strong opinions and did not mind eX-
pressing them, either; but she did not
represent the real southern lady, who
is so sweet and amiable, for she was
fierce like those who helped to prolong
the war.
Admiring the ring on the colonel's
finger, she said: "We-uns had plenty of
diamonds until you-uns took em."
Then the colonel tried to explain to her
how he had never taken anything dur
ing the war, save q chicken or two when
he was hungry, and that his striker"
did for him.
But this she did not believe, and
drawled out all the foolish stories about
Butler, that great man who saved so
many lives by cleaning New Orleans.
This the colonel smoothed over as
best he could, and to try and please her
said:
II have get Gen. Robert E. Lees
coat"
"W-h-a-t?" she exclaimed, nearly
Filling backwards, chair and all.
"Yes, his beautiful gray coat, with its
shiny, golden stars"
"You-uns hev got the generals coat?
You-uns be liar!"
The colonel was good natured, but
this rather staggered him.
But, madam, /"
"Iou-uns needn't madam me. You
hain't got his coat, and you-uns know
you lie."
But, madam, did not say"
Eyes, you-uns hit and fit and fit, but
you never captured the generaI!"
But"
IF l was man, I'd teach you-uns to
brag about capturing the general, and
stealing his coat"
But, madam, if you will listen a
! minute, you will see l did not make any
| such brag."
II don't want to listen to you-uns-"
"Now, Florencetta, just hold on a
minute" said her companion, who was