Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-07

time. which would have indicated that
his proposed satisfaction was not the real
and unaffected feeling Of his heart, would
have defeated the measure"
Professor White gives us, perhaps, the
clearest idea Of the West Virginia cam
paign and the difficulties that beset Lee
in connection Herewith, that has ever,
been written. After showing how Lee
strove to smooth matters and harmon
lie personal antagonisms "for the good
of the cause" he adds:
Gallant and obedient TO his superiors,
and modest as to his own abilities, Lee
had done his best to carry out the orders
given him. Failure had been the result,
chiefly because the campaign in that
quarter was El-advised from the begin
ming, and because the inefficiency Of
some Of the brigadiers had foredoomed
every plan before Lee assumed active
control In perfect silence. however,
Lee bore the blame which public clamor
put ueon him, and not word OF criticism
fell from his lips nor his pen concerning
his superiors or his subordinates in Of
fee"
Lees campaign from the time he took
command OF the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia until the sad drama at Appomat-
tn are given US in a connected, but
Richmond In the seven-days' battle"
and the bringing OF Jackson from the
Valley, are dwelt upon in considerable
detail. and here, as in accounts or other
engagements, military movements are
described with ringing terseness. Vivid
pictures are presented OF second
Manassas" "Sharpsburg," "Fredericks-
burg" and "Chancellorsville," and link
ing operations, and then comes Gettys-
EEL INN
facts sustains those who place the re-
sponsibllity of the failure al Gettysburg
on Longstreet's slowness, fault Gene
raj Lee had recognized long before.
Anent this recognition, Professor White
In his chapter on Fredericksburg, says:
when Lees eldest son, G.. w. G. Lee,
brought messages from Richmond, ne
sought his fathers headquarters near
the centre of the camp, but found him In
biyouac on the flank OF the army,
among the boulders, near Longstreet
quarters. When asked the reason, Gene
raj Lee replied: General Longstreet Is
so slow. ] am compelled to encamp near
his headquarters in order to hasten his
movements This practice Lee continued
almost throughout the war. 1t was, no
doubt his high estimate or Longstreets
ability on the immediate field OF battle
that led Lee to retain him as permanent
commander Of the First Corps" :,
The Campaign OF the wilderness
and Petersburg and Richmond take
ND a large part of the rest OF the. volume,
and the final chapter. which Is devoted
mainly to Lee as president or WASH
ington College, now Washington and Lee
university. closes as follows: AT half
mast o'clock, on the morning OF
October u. 1870 Robert Z. Lee en-
tered into glory everlasting. his
nody lies in the mausoleum erected d.
the rear of the college chapel and beside
him are laid his wife and his daughter
Agnes. Above the tomb, and visible
from the chapel hall. Is valentines re-
cumbent figure Of Lee, the soldier, taxing
his rest. with his sword sneatheu a,
his side and his martial cloak around
him. Beneath the creeping ivy In this
ouiet abode reposes all that Is mortar
~ him who abldes In the hearts Oh ms
countrymen as ideal soldier ana pe1ec'
man." 49,.
Wa have only given the barest out
lire of Professor Whites book-a mere
suggestion, in fact, OF its contents. IN
his preface the author cites long hsI
of authorities he consulted, ana say
| the basis OF his discussion OF the cam ail
| paigns of the Army OK Nor'nern
GINA was the Official Records or the
war. He expresses appreciation OF the
| courtesy OF General @. w. &. ~<Custis)
lee for items Of information furnished
and for permission to use the letters and
papers Of his illustrious father, and ac-
knowledges valuable aid rendered by
other persons. including Major zeo'
Hotchkiss. Of staunton. and Juase bss-
erly r. Wexford. Of Richmond, MaJoI
Hatchki.s placed at his disposal mass
Of personal testimony that he had col
Elected from veterans, and Judge Well
ford gave valuable suggestions and his
| torical facts. The volume embraces
numerous extracts from the cores
| pondence of General Lee, contains some
| forty neutrality-suspicious. OF members
| ~ the lee family. military maps, battle
ulans. etc.-and Ii dedicated 10 the
authors wife. Fanny Beverley Well
| ford white. 1t Is a notable contribution
| to biography and history, and q distisr-
| credit to southern authorship.