Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-04
Aliseellamepus Reaaina.
"REMINISCENCES OF GENERAL LEE.

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"REMINISCENCES OF GENERAL LEE.
In The Outlook, Mr.. S. D. McCor-
mick gives his "reminiscences Of Gen.
eral Robert E. Lee as a college presi-
dent. The wonderful memory that
General Lee had is illustrated. Some
80 students, newcomers, had called on
the president of the university to pay
their respects to him, and among them
was Mr.. Mccormick. In the course of
week fully 400 students were intro
duced. MIR. Mccormick writes:
"Possibly six weeks passed before I
again met the general, when one morn
ing came face to face with him on the
campus, and respectfully saluted. To
my surprise, as had only met him for
a moment, the general, in returning
my salute, called my name. 1 was so
Impressed that I went among the stu
dents, stated the circumstance, and,
after pushing my inquiries, discovered
that each of them had had similar
experience. Afterward, when I knew
the general we'll, 1 called his attention
to the incident, told him of my aston
ishment, and how I had questioned
other students, and how frequently l
had to ask the names of my new ac-
quaintances time and again, although
l was somewhat gifted, as thought,
in my memory of both faces and
names. The general smiled, and said
that his ability to recall a face and
name came from cultivation of the
memory and close observation. He
told me, furthermore, that he had
never been introduced to soldier of
the Army of Northern Virginia whose
face and name he could not afterward
instantly recall. 1 remembered from
my historical reading that it was
stated that Mithridates could call the
name of every man in his army Of a
million men-a statement which con-
sidered as somewhat rosy until l met
General Lee"
Another story of General Lees men,
ory and power of observation may be
cited, as told by gentleman who was
in active service during the war.
"It was my business to carry dis
patches. That duty was entailed Oh
me because had an excellent horse
poor Jack the best soldiers horse that
ever liver. Dispatches are not often
put directly into the hands of the gen
eral in chief because you can't find
him. The dispatches 60 through the
intermediary of some member Of the
generals staff. By an accident, just
within the lines / stumbled across the
general, and was so taken aback that
| | must have forgotten to salute. Twas
called to a sense of military courtesy
by General Lees bow to me as l hand
en- him the dispatches across my horse,
for he was mounted. I was tired to
death. Thirty.odd miles, and through
hard roads, had Jack carried me, and
mostly at gallop. was begrimed
and filthy, and my face Scared where
the trees boughs had scratched me
in fact, was almost unrecognizable.
"Two years after the surrender I was
at an asscmblage in Richmond, and
General Lee was present. l should
have liked to have clasped the hand OF
my old general, but was afraid of be-.
ling thought obtrusive. 1t happened
that passed near him. At once my
presence seemed to call his attention.
Presently a gentleman touched my
arm and said to me, General Lee
would like to talk with you I ap-
preached the general with some tre-
pidation.
"'Wjll yor pardon me- be said, but
did / not seo you on the Chickahom-
|inyi You rode roam horse, and the
poor beast was blown-and you were
a bearer of dispatches. 1t was fine
horse, but he had terrible sore on his
back
eyes, General Lee, that about de-
scribes my mount. The horse had had
a heaqy days work-and I rode then
t1S5 pounds-and Jacks rations had
been few and far between-his condi.
ton was bad-and hard saddle and
no blanket had CALLED him.
al wanted to compliment you at
that time on fairly dangerous ride.
did not know your name then, and
you were off next day. said General
Lee.
"'But, general, how can you re-
| uoanhar snch a trivial matter?'
"'Oh, readily enough. When you
dismounted, 1 noticed that you at once
unsaddled-which was the right thing
to do-and yon looked at the abrasion
on your horses back. Then asked
my orderly if he could get you a piece
of soap. Now soap was scarce just
then. l had a very small bit Of CASTLE
soap left, and 1 gave my man particu-
lar instructions that he should divide
my soap in two and give you half.
Did you receive it?
II did, general, and my horses sore
back had the benfit of it,
"'Did YOU carry your horse safely
through the warp he asked.
"'I did, general
"'Well, l am pleased to hear that,
for I should have missed Traveller so
mu ch had he been killed. Then iol-
lowed an invitation to call on him,
which only too gladly accepted"
Mr.. Mccormick thus describes
Traveller, General Lees tavorite horse /:
IN