Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28
LEE AND THAT FLAG STORY.
Col. Floyd, of Lynchburg, VA, 1i'es
the Correct Version.

the Correct Version.
Colonel N j. Floyd, of Lynchourg, re-
Gently published letter in the Daily
News Of that city, and which Is pro-
nounced by a member Of General Lees
staff as a correct version Of an incident
at Chambersburg, Pa, during the late
war, and which was incorrectly stated
In a recent article in the Pail Mall Maya
zine. attention TO which was called In
the Sun in a letter from Rev. William
Munford. Of MlIersville, Nd. and which
was reproduced in several southern pa
pers. The following is the letter OF
Colonel Floyd, who was Confederate
officer. and is now a prominent citizen
Of Lynchburs:
81 notice an inquiry from Rev. William
Munford, Of Millersville post-ofiice, Md
published in your paper of yesterday,
asking information concerning the ac-
curacy OF an incident which writer on
this side Of the ocean furnished 10 the
Pail Mall Magazine as having occurred
with General Ice in Chambersburg. Pa
and which is calculated. II accepted as
correct, to give those who never knew
him an erroneous impression as TO the
nice sense of dignity which. even on
trivial occasions. characterized the great
give a correct statement OF the incident
because It happened that l took small
part in II, and believe myself 20 be the
only Confederate who was so circum-
stanced as TO be able to know positively
that he saw and heard all that occurred.
"As General Lees army passed through
Chambersburg, going along the main
thoroughfare. and not through any mar
row street, as stated, some women here
and there at shop doors and windows were
disposed to be sarcastic, If not insulting
But the soldiers were in their usual
amiab.e mood-many Of them had had
a full meal of Pennsylvania bacon that
morning. which, no doubt, made them
particularly amiable-and they laughed
at the gibes and taunts directed at les
miserables so good-naturedly that even
the most spiteful shrew among the wo-
men could hardly hold on TO her Ill tenn
per against the witty, but courteous, II
sometimes sarcastic, replies that were
fired back as the men tramped steadily
forward.
after passing through the centre OF
the city we came 10 a large building on
the left hand-the side of the street on
which we were marching-which had
lawn, with handsome shade trees in
front The street had been graded down
and the lawn was some 6 feet or more
above the sidewalk, and supported by a
heavy retaining wall, surmounted by a
substantial railing. A number of hand
some, well-dressed young ladies were
leaning against the railing, and waving
Che Stars and Stripes over the heads of
the soldiers as they passed below.
Having some curiosity to know how the
refined people of the country would de-
port themselves under the circumstances,
and also desiring TO be an unobserved OBJ
server of the frolic which both sides were
making l placed my back against the re-
tanning wall and let the troops drift by.
There was an increasing fusillade Of wit
and repartee as the young ladies would
order you saucy rebels TO pass under
the flag and as now and then the young
men would make vigorous leaps up to cap
ture ii, or else spring into the muddy
street and pass around 1t with threat
to flank the beauty battery and take II
by a charge in the rear. The young
ladies were enjoying the fun greatly,
when one Of them called attention to the
handsome old officer approaching in the
distance on a gray horse. All eyes were
turned in that direction, and as General |
Lee approached nearer one of them said
L know that he's a gentleman, and I'm |
he does, he'll be the ninth
when General Lee, riding In the mid |
die OF the street, had arrived within 50 |
feet Of the party the flag was given seve- |
raj extra hourishes raised aloft and |
then dropped until 1t tapped upon the |
muskets OF the men passing below. The |
manoeuvre was successful 1t attracted |
General Lees attention, and turning his |
face toward the young ladies with a be- |
l. 4.
by the crown with that slow. majestic |
motion, which so many of the young Off |
GERS vainly essayed to initiate. and |
raised 1t a few inches above his head. |
He had passed. had covered his head |
and the young ladies were taking a rear
view Of his side face before the silence
which had ensued was broken by ex-
of admiration and OF surprise
as TO his identity. l then made myself |
visible, and informed them that they |
were looking upon the commander of the |
army, Robert Il. Lee, and among other
EXPLANATIONS was one canvassing the |
probability that one possessing his mild,
sad eyes could be the terrible Lee
This is the whole incident, exactly |
as my memory recalls It, and is the only
one with which General Lee was con-
nected in Chambersburg. An account Of
Il was published a number Of years ago,
ana Philadelphia artist made very |
creditable sketch Of it, except that he
failed to do justice to General Lee In
either face, form. or figure. Otherwise,
the picture is fairly accurate. and the
curious may see a copy of 1t on page 32l
Of 'Thorns in the Flesh published by
Hubbard Brothers, Philadelphia, 1884.
ITO any one who knew General Lee,
the story, as published in the English
Magazine, carries its contradiction on its
face almost as plainly as the silly one
told of Stonewall Jackson at Frederick.
Md, and which the poet, Whittier, much
10 his eubseduent regret embalmed In |