The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-06-17

~AN%S
gone and there was none to take his
place Just one month after Chancel-
lorsville Genera! Lee again started
north with an army of which one of its
Generals said that it was in spirit to
undertake anything
Gettysburg has been reckoned gen
orally as the turning point OF the war.
General Lee never attempted to ounload
any part of the responsibility for this
or for any other Gefeat upon anothers S
shoulders. But that he lost this battle
through no fault of his becomes more
and more evident as the years go by.
Just the other day General G. A. Bat
lie, of North Carolina, speaking at a
celebration of Lees birthday in Peters
burg, Va, said that "a court OF In
quiry appointed by General Lee Of
which General Mahon was president
and General G. a. Battle (the speaker
was secretary, met at Culpepper
Court House for the purpose of inquir-
ing into the conduct Of the Gettysburg
campaign.
The court censured Stuart and
Longstreet but General Lee suppressed
the report and took the blame upon
himself. This report, said General
Battle, has never been given to the
public aud would not now be but for
the fact that General Lee has been at
tackled by General Longstreet.'
From Gettysburg Lee retired to Nir,
ginia to play at war chess with Gener.
al Meade for the balance of the cam
paign of 1868, at the close of which
General Meade retreated and was re-
placed in command by General Grant.
Then came the death grapple in the
| wilderness, in which occurred the dra-
matte incident OF the 18th of July, 1864,
when Gen. Lee, riding to the front to
reform a broken line, was sen; to the
rear by the entreatles of his soldiers
who, when they had seen him in a
place of safety, led BY the gallant Cor
don, rushed forward to regain the lost
position. Then bV Spottsylvania aoG
bloody Cold Harbor and back to the
Chickahominy that valiant army Is
forced by sheer weight of numbers.
Then the thin gray line is forced from
Petersburg and finally from Rich
mond, but not until in this one cam
paign the Southern chieftaln had
killed in the defence Of his country's
capital more men of the enemy than
be had in his own defending army.
And now dark days were upon the
faithful few. The God of battles had
sent forth his fat that two republics
should not be upon this continent IN
the place of one.
Amid all the dark foreshadowings
of defeat Robert Lee was calm, reso.
lutte and serene. His men still trusted
him. They still believed that 'Marse
Robert" .'Old Uncle Robert" some,
how, though they knew not how,
would yet lead them through. Never
did the star of his greatness shine with
brighter ray than in those trying hours
of his humiliation. 70 MS men
crowding about MIN after the surren-
der, in loving sympathy he falters,
Men, we have fought through the
war together, have done my best for
you, my heart is too full to say more. "
Then he leaves that sad field poor IN
all outward seeming yet SURPRISING
rich in taking with him, as he had
told his men they might take with
them, the satisfaction that proceeds
from the consciousness of duty faith
fully performed.
How fitting that the end Of such
nan should be in peace. Accepting
in good faith the new order of things,
he refrained from every action that
might tend to keep alive slum berlng
anlmositles, and set with his life an
example Of dutiful submission to au-
thorlty. Refusing positions of high
emolument he cuose an humble Sta
ton as President of Washington Col
lese. whicn school under his inspiring
administration greatly increased In
resources. widened its sphere OF useful.
ness, and stands lasting monument
to him who ennobled the calling Of
the teacher with the bright example
of his life.
Foremost in all good works his final
summons came, as he would doubtless
have had it come, while his head was
bent in thanksgiving prayer. Laid to
rest by loving hands his body sleeps
| today upon the bosom of the State ne
loved and served so well, while his
spirit awaiting the resurrection morn
dwells with angels around the throne
of God.
And now I have attempted to por'
tray in some measure the man our
fathers followed. If speak more OF
the man than of the soldier 1t Is be-
cause believe that from the lesson OF
his life as man we profit most. And
even had this been a tit occasion l
should not have felt equal to the task
of entering upon critlclsm OF Gener-
al Lee as soldier. Such an exposition
from me must needs be tame to you
who saw him as he went among you,
self contained in victory, resolute IN
defeat, and the incarnate genius OF
war calm amid the iightnlngs and the
crashing thunders of Dattle.
Sufficient it is for US to know that
he overmatched many Generals. and
that with inferior forces and equip
ments he for four years successfully
repelled his country's foes, and when
at last having done all that mortal
could do to deserve success, he was
compelled to yield, he did so wsth noble
dignity, no stain upon his honor, no
burden upon his conscience: Satisfied
then with the verdict that all the world
accordS him as soldier of SURPRISING
genius have turned to the conlempla-
uon of his character as man.
Born in the purele of an lllustrious
lineage, nurtured amid scenes vocal
with The Inspiration Of heroic deeds,
he chose as Ills own his father S pro-
fession of arms, lived a leader IN
event of high import, added to the lus-
tre of his slre's name, adorned with
his deeds the State that gave HIM birth,
won for himself a commanding place
in the affections of his fellow country
men, wore every Christian grace Sc
rene" illumined with his lite the al