The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-19
SUNDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1897
THE GRAND ARMY ON PRESIDENT
ANDREWS.

Several days back we quoted what fiesl-
dent Andrews said within the past ten
days. in A lecture. about General Robert
+. Lee. No Confederate soldier could ask
n higher tribute TO our immortal leader
than President Andrews paid him, and 1t
is peculiarly gratifying to the Confeder-
alto soldier. because President Andrews
was himself Union soldier, and OF the
Kind that faced the enemy when the
lines Of battle were drawn. Since Presi-
dent Andrews delivered his lecture. two.
end perhaps more. Camps OF the Grand
Army Of the Republic nave passed reso-
lutieons denouncing him fercely for dar-
ing 10 say that General Lee was great
soldier. Colonel Warng. Commissioner OF
Streets Of New York city. himself a sure
enough Union soldier who bears upon his
person marks that testify to the sort of
soldier he was in war. published state
ment year or so ago. that the Camps
OF the Grand Army Of the Republic We're
20 a large extent run by the bummers
of the Federal army. We know nothing
about this, but the action Of these two
camps in regard 20 what Mr.. Andrews
said Of General Lee goes a long way
towards proving that these two camps
at least. are run by bummers.
What contemplate and petty malice it
would be for any Union soldier to deny
that General Lee was a great commander
What a reflection upon the arms OF the
T.xt. haf oar
with fifty thousand men he gave Hooker
with 10000 one OF the most signal over
throws IN war at Chancellorsville, II he
vas no soldier? How came it that he
forced Grant from the Rapidan TO the
lanes. never commanding as many as
90 600 men. while Grant had al all times
nearly three times that number. II he
was no soldier? But argument 10 show
that General Lee was a great commander
is words absolutely wasted His deeds
stand out before the world in imperishable
records. they are being studied more and
more every day. and as men study them
and find out from them what he never
toid--the plans ana arrangements tha1
his mind formed the admiration OF man
kind is growing until the student gets
absolutely lost sometimes In wonder at
his prodgiOus comprehensvoness.
II can be confidently said that no man
who ever did things that were talked OF
has contributed so little by his own ut
tcrances to his great achievements being
known. as General Lee has We find alb
solutely nothing in his correspondence or
reports but a simple narrative of the es-
sental facts. and 1t is only ny the stu
TENT laying one event by the side Of an
other and piercing out theories with de-
taoted facts That any idea is obtained
u the great schemes that worked I'm his
brain. But the student is now doing that.
md. ss his work proceeds. General Lees
peat conceptions are coming out as pic
lures upon a canvass. and We are begin
ming &c see that he presided over the
great Geld under his charge with a
genius that peered into every nook and
corner. and that took account OF every
setail that might work to his benefit or
injury. Caesa. left Us full exposition of
his campaigns and Napoieons mind was
always occupied with plans FOR making
the world see what ne did IN the most
favorable light. Bot General Lee had his
mind bent only upon doing that which his
hand had been set to. what men should
think OF him az the time or thereafter
never disturbed his equanm;y for one
moment lie saw his duty before HIN.
he gave his whole mind ana heart 20 the
performance o. that duty. and he left
events to PAT themselves together and to
write their own history with that truth
and certainty tina; facts always bring
about sooner or later. He was not only
one OF the greatest. II not the very great
est soldier that ever lived. but he was the
most perfectly unselnsh. magnanimous
man the world ever saw.
Fer long time the North has sup
pressed the erulCerce OF his fame SO
that only an occasional student here and
there knew the real man. But history Is
beginning 10 be impartially written now
ana mankind 10 beginning to see what a
colossus no was. President Andrews did
~ more than thoughtful men are doing