The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-23
GEN. LEE AND PRIVATE SMITH.
Two Occasions on Which the Former Enter
tnined the Latter.
From the Chicago Times. Herald.

From the Chicago Times. Herald.
Henry II. Smith, the well-known cotton broker
Of Atlanta, Ga, Is a model business man, and
apparently the last person in the world to take
any liberties with n stranger. But appearances
are sometimes deceptive, and Smith makes out
u strong case against himself in n story which
he occasionally tells when he attends a Confed-
crate reunion.
I'm the early part of the war;" said Smith, At
was n private soldier under Stonewall jackson
in Virginia. At that time I was n mere boy,
and my gun was almost as big and heavy as I
was. You can imagine how tired and hungry I
was after I had marched two days without any
food. A driving rainstorm came on, and I could
hardly drag my feet along the muddy road. A
tent by the roadside attracted my attention, and
! saw a gray.bearded face peeping out at tho
Hello; old mani! I shouted; got anything
tent replied.
II told him that I was hungry and had been
".Come right In. said tho old fellow pleas
Into the tent l plunged in a hurry. throwing
down my gun and smacking my lips in antici.
patton OF a square meal. The stranger opened
a camp chest and invited me to help myself.
You should have seen the way ! sailed into tho
%rations. ate ravenously, without saying a
word. and for the time forgot all about my Kind
Finally he asked me il I would have a drink
of water. and handed me a gourd from a bucket
In one corner OF the tent. took a big drink and
got ready to depart.
You have been very kind to me- I said to
my new friend, and 1 would like to know your
- My name is Lee was the answer.
"'Lec-what Ieef l asked him not Gen.
"'That is my name was his quiet response.
well, ! was taken aback, OF course, but I was
young and cheeky and l made the best OF 1t.
Soldiers had no handkerchiefs, and SO I wiped
my hand on my brooches and gave the Generals
paw a cordial shake.
IA few days later my was on the
march. and had Just reached a bridge when it
II was standing at the head Of the line, and
when the General dashed up, followed by a ne
gro servant riding on another horse, l could not
"tHowdy. G~eneral!' / shouted.
pulled up bis horse. Here. smith, get on this
THE negro turned over his horse to me and I
II rode on with my commander. feeling
mighty good. can tell you, but those rsscals at
about a thousand OF them set up a yell.
no I'T TAKE him along; General they hpwled:
in his liteIcan't do nothing but eat-take him
THAT was tho send-or my comrades gave
me; but the General understood tho humorous
side. OF camp life. and he merely smiled and
kept straight ahead:
turned to my company in the course OF mn hour
or two. after the Generals stan had Joined him.
That is the story of my meeting with Bob
Lee. Do YOU wonder that We boys all took a
fancy to him : He was Just rs clever to Private
Smith as he would have been to a General, and
I could see that it was a pleasure to him 10
share his ~rations with me.
But the boys Euyed me about II n long time.
They told the story with lots of fanciful flour.
ishes. and three years later. when I went to tho
West as an officer on Gen. Forests staff I found
that the tale. had preceded me and had made me
well known in army circles"