Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-07
GEN. LEE AND PRIVATE SMITH.
Two Occasions on Which the For
mer Entertained the Latter.
Chicago Times-Herald.


Henry II. Smith. the wellknown cot
ton broker, of Atlanta, Ca. Is a model
businessman. and apparently tho last
person in the world to take any liberties
with a stranger. But appearances are
sometimes deceptive. and Smith makes
out a strong case against himself in
story which he occasionally tells when
he attends a Confederate reunion.
"In the carly part Of the war; said
Smith. II was a private soldier under
Stonewail Jackson in Virginia. At that
time I was a mere boy. and my gun was
almost as big and heavy as | was. You
can imagine how tired and hungry
was after had marched two days with
out any food. A driving raIn-storm
came on. and | could hardly drag my
feet along the muddy road. tent by
the roadside attracted my attention, and
T saw a gray-bearded face peeping out
at the marching troops.
Hello. old mani shouted; got any
thing to eat I'm thereY
".Yes: what's the natter the man
in the tent replied.
.T told him | was hungry and had
been marching two days without scrap
OF food. 80,
leone right in said the old fellow
pleasantly. h,,.
Into the tent ] plunged In hurry,
throwing down my gun ana smachlns
INV Inns in anticipation OF square meal.
Tba stranger opened camp-chest and
invited me to help myself You should
have seen the way ! sailed into the
rations. | ate rsvenously. without say
ING word. and for the time forgot all
about my kind host.
FINALLY he asked me II l would have
n drink of water and handed me a
gourd from a bucket in one corner OF
the tent. took a big drink and got
ready TO depart. q,
".You have been very kind to me- ]
said TO my new friend, and wouio
like to know your name
NV name is Lee was the answer.
Lee-what LeeT asked him-'not
General Lee"
"'That is my name was his quiet re-
Spouse.
'WelI. I was taken aback, OF course,
but I was young and cheeky and I made
the best of IL. Soldiers had no handker-
chiefs. and so I wiped my hand on my
breeches and gave the Generals paw
cordial shake.
"He asked my name and told me
to take care of myself as l left
"a few days later my command was
on the march. and had just reached a
bridge when it was ordered TO open ranks
to let General Lee pass.
81 was standing at the head OF the line,
and when the General dashed up. fol-
lowed by negro servant riding on an
other horse I could not keep still.
'Howdy Generalr l shouted.
"'Why, Smith. my boy he replied as
no pulled I'D his horse Here. Smith,
get on this horse and follow me-.
1.-THE negro turned over his horse TO
me and l mounted him.
IT rode off with my commander, feel
ing mighty good, l can tell you; but
those rascals at the bridge were bound
to have their fun. and about thousand
OF them set up yen.
Take him along General they
howled He amt no good-never was
on a horse before In his life-can't do
nothing but eat-take him and keep himF
THAT was the send-of my comrades
gave me: but the General understood
the humorous side OF camp life, and he
merely smiled and kept straight ahead.
81 accompanied him short distance
and returned 10 my company In the
course of an hour or two. after the Gene
rails STAFF had Joined him.
"That Is the story OF my meeting with
Bob Lee. do you wonder that we boys
all took fancy to him? He was just
as clever TO Private Smith as he would
have been to a general, and could see
that 1t was a pleasure to him to share
his rations with me.
but the boys guyed me about It a
long time. They told the story with lots
of fanciful fiourishes. and three years
later. when / went to the West as an
officer on General Forests staff, I found
that the tale had preceded me and had
made me well known in army circles"