Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-17
LEE In THE CAPITOL.
vIRGINIANs MAKING AN EFFORT
TO PLACE HIS PICTURE THERE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF AN EPOCH.
A n Contemporary of Grant and
Mcclellan, He Deserves n Place
There-The Army of the West.

There-The Army of the West.
s. ID. F. writes from Washington TO
the Philadelphia Times the following
which. especially the latter part, Is re
produced for what Il is worth:
Prominent Virginians are now propos-
ing that a portrait Of General Robert i
Lee shall be placed in the Capitol as
contemporary OF Mcclellan and Grant II
a national epoch OF history, and tha'
future generations should have an OPP
portunity TO sec the Confederate com
mander. no matter what they may say
of him or think of him, and the part
,chich he played in the national tragedy.
They are Just beginning the agitation
and sooner or later they will accom-
plish their object, for ii is singular
fact that persistent men and women
achieve things in washington which are
at first regarded with intense and bitter
opposition. The persistent people perse-
we're The opponents gradually disappear.
One of the very best extant PORTRAITS
of General r. T.. Lee was painted In
paris some sixteen or eighteen years
ago for a former resident of ST. Louis
by French artist who never saw the
original In this painting when no"
hangs among other portraits OF distin-
Kuished Virginia soldiers in the mess
hali OF the Virginia Military institute
the artist has given wonderfully me-
ike picture of Lee as he appeared TO his
of,,oers and men in the heat of battle 1t
ia a view of Lee that no other painting
does give. and that no photograph could
give. OF the self-poised commander un-
der strong emotion, yielding 10 the I'M
pulse OF the soldier.
Equally interesting as historical paint
inxs are three portraits or Lee Dy Johh
Elder, a Virginia artist VINO gaihee
much fame for his war scenes, OF Whlch |
he made a specially Tor seVeral ye"ls
sfter tho close OF hostilities. Many or |
the best compositions were sold out OF 4
he gtate. but his Battle OF the Crater, |
spirited picture of the desperate hght
which followed tho explosion OF the MS
toric mine at Petersburg. was purchased
nv Senator Malone. His first, which \
hangs in the State Library in the Capt. |
tol at Richmond. was made from ac-
tual sittings while Lee was IN retirement /
at Lexington.
Tho University picture. In some respects
a better portrait than the last mentioned
is one which Elder painted on an order |
from The students OF the University OF |
Virginia In the spring OF 1871. Ii is
large canvas. three quarters full length,
repressntiug Lee in the uniform or |
Confederate general. Elders third por-
trait was made in iS7l for the city OF
Savannah. 1t is a full length figure, and
rsnresents Lee standing In soldierly at
titude in complete uniform and az
coutrements. Artistically, 1t Is the best
OF the series.
But there is one other likeness OF Lee.
sim IN the possession Of his family. that
always possessed a greater interest than
any portrait OF the world-famous general
II lie the picture of a young lieutenant
OF engineers in the fun bloom of manly
strength and beauty.
There is story current among Viz
einians that when Lieutenant Lee pro-
posed for tho hand OF Mary Gusts. her
family urged that the heiress OF Airing
ton and OF the white House on the
Pamunky, should look higher than to
an alliance with a young officer who
yer had his SPURS to win. When one looks
upon this picture OF Lee as he was at
70. II is no wonder that the fair kins-
woman OF Martha Washington chose as
she did. That full. dark, silken NOUS
tache Of his was alone enough 20 make
her envled of half the bellies OF the Poto-
mao country.
At The beginning OF tho civil war, says
Erastus Turner, Of Kansas. there was no
man more prominent in national affairs
than Senator Pomeroy. of my state. He
was an intimate friend OF Abraham Lin
coin and was very influential with that
great and good man. He was the first
loval man 10 know that Robert Il. Lee
was 10 enter the Confederate service.
Senator Poueroy often told the story
70 his friends. AS l remember It, he
said:
Nobody knew who was but any of
the Virglnians who were present VIII re-
member a stranger who stood leaning
against one OF those big pillars On the
portico at Arlington. The way II came
about was this: I had just arrived in
and circulated around among
the crowds at the hotels picking UP what
l could about the move
ments and plans OF the secessionists.
One day. about the 18th or 18th OF March.
1861. a committee came up from the con-
vsntion. then in session at Richmond.
found out who they were. and was de-
termined TO discover what they were up
TO. About or 4 o'clock in the after
noon they all took carriages and started
III. There was a buggy In front OF the
hotel. and hiring II l followed them over
10 Arlington.
General Lee was evidently not expect
Ing company as they caught him in his
dressing gown and slippers, and remem-
Der. as he came out TO welcome them,
he Impressed me with being one Of the
noblest looking men ever saw. Most OF l
the party were strangers 10 him, and
While they were being introduced, my |
friend and | stood at one side. as II we
had come on some business, and were I
willing 10 wait until the others were 4
through with theirs. Lee. you rscollect, ! /
had been sent for by General Scott TO I
use his influence TO prevent the recession
Of Virginia, and believed his wish was I
hat she should remain In the Union. I
AT any rate. he was generally re- +
garded as a loyal man. After the intro I
1uctions were over the chairman CT the .
were about dozen OF .
and hawed little. and q
then began to make a speech. i kept b
diary then. as do know. and have ever
since, and wrote out full account OF
ha occurrences OF that night, putting
Down tho speeches as fully as could
fecollect them.
The chairman said that they bad been :
sent on nv ta copvenfiSH of Virginia,