Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-28


OF the most striking examples OF TINS
development recently appeared IN inc
Philadelphia Press. A Williamsport CUT
respondent OF that paper ran across
historian Sin a sense" in the person OF
one Captain Anderson. whom the CUTIE
spopdent. with the true newspaper IN
stinct. knew was "chock full' Of histori-
cal information. But like all men "ho
are prone to hide their light under
bushei. the gallant Captain was shy. ne
was as coy as debutante. He was
built. in fact, on the plans and specinca-
lions of the bird that could sing, but
wouldn't, and had to be made TO sing.
The correspondent was equal to the oc-
casion, however and after he mad re-
sorted to various tactical manoeuvres
known only TO the newspaper strateglst'
and brought his batteries of persuasion
into full play, the Captain surrendered at
discretion and proceeded a tale to unfold
which. II 1t does not harrow up the SOUL
is calculated TO tickle immensely the
risibles of thousands.
The story is that of the capture OF
General Fitz Lee by Union soldiers du-
ring the war" and the Captain Is one OF
the heroes Of the incident 1t opens with
a description Of the Captains meeting III
Richmond just after the surrender the
daughter OF General Fitzhugh Lee. VINO
had two years previously married
United States senator from Texas, ana
in the presence of the Senator his bril-
liant young wife ;" and the Captain re-
new their acquaintance formed at the
time of the Generals capture. Here the
Captain illustrated his story by producing
a photograph of General Fftz."
The Captain then goes on to narrate
that in the summer of 1863 Colonel Spear,
Of the United States army, while en-
gagged in destroying bridges in the rear
of the Army of Northern Virginia, was
informed by negro slave that General
Lee was at nearby plantation recovering
from wound. The Captain, then acting
as lieutenant, was detailed with squad
of cavalry to investigate the report, ana
on reaching the mansion of the planta-
ton designated, and, knocking at the
door, was met by a charming young
lady-the daughter of General Fitzhugh
Lee above referred to. A politely-ex-
pressed desire to see General F'itz. soon
brought that Confederate cavalry leader
into the presence of Anderson, and
pistol thrust into the Generals face
quickly made him prisoner. This chap
ter closes with the remark from the
daughter, who afterwards married the
Texas Senator, that you are the first
Yankee I've seen, and 1 shall recollect
YOU"
The next chapter represents General
Fitz as mounting his horse. which was
held by the negro who had betrayed
him, and riding off with his captor. who
had just declined freshly-baked pie Of
fered him by the Generals daughter, who
married the Texas Senator.
The only trouble about this piece OF
history, as "she is writ" is that in It's
details it is about as far away from
truth as 1t is conceivable that story
having a simulacrum of fact could be-
Assuming that our historian, IN a sense"
participated in the real incident that in
spired his narrative, he has mixed the
Lees as badly as the babies were mixed
in Pinafore, and has more riotous
imagination than Rider Haggard or Jules
Verne.
General Fitzhugh Lee was never cap
tured-why, is one of the mysteries OF
the war, for he had genius for getting
into tight places-and about the date
Anderson captured" him he was af-
fcrding the enemy a lively time IN
Pennsylvania. He did not marry until
after the war, and consequently tho
daughter, who married the Texas Sena-
tor some two years previous to soon
after the surrender. is a brilliant"
creation of Anderson's fancy. IL Con-
federate pie of 1863 had been offered
Anderson, and he had taken 1T, we
might account for his remarkable rela-
ton" Although the average Yankee
stomach takes TO pie as naturally as
duck does TO water had Anderson eaten
a Confederate pie of 1863, he would pro-
baby have had nightmare, and seen
strange things that would have held his
memory to this day.
The simulacrum of truth that is the
basis of the story is found in this: Gene
raj William Henry Fltzhugh Rooney)
Lee was captured in the summer OF 1858
at Hickory Hill, the Wickham place in
Hanover county, and the men who cap
tured him were a part of the command
of Colonel Spear 1t is possible a negro
betrayed his whereabouts. General
Rooney had been desperately wounded
In the engagement at Brandy Station,
which occurred only short time be-
foe. and was in bed when made pri-
soner. His family then consisted of his
first wife and two small children, all OF
whom died, IL we mistake not. during
his Imprisonment. He was taken TO Fort
ress Monroe in a wagon, or some other
yehicle-a fact which effectually disposes
Of the horse-mounting episode-and held
as a hostage to be shot, in case the Con-
federate Government carried out certain
threats Of retaliation. He was exchanged
In the spring of 1864, but during his
imnrisonment his brother. General Gusts
Lee. made of the Federal authorities
request, which was declined. to be per-
mitted to take the hostages place, as
Rooney was married and had children,
and he (Custis) was not married.
II Is clear, from the above statement
- <.o.~ .ho+ our historian sin a SENSE