Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-19
FITZ LEE AND MAJOR NASH.
War Recollection of the Consul
General Mt Habnnn.

Qsme Dooly, in New York Journai)
Everybody in the States Of Virginia
and Georgia knows the "Majah"-Major
cise-the proud, fiery, courteous, ceremo-
NOUS 'Matah," friend of the Lees and
old school southerner.
The Major is a Virginian, an f. f.. v,
If you please, and a prince TO the Virginia
manner born. The Major is gray now
grayer even than his chum. Fftz Lee.
but, as he says, Of his old comrade Of
childhood, war time and of late years,
and of himself, I'VE are boys yet" In
point Of fact, two mischievous
school-boys playing truant from
school are not more frOlic-
some than these two when they get to-
gether. The devotion between them is
Of the kind that binds two schOol-boys to-
gether. They have never allowed their ten
der boyish relation 10 grow old, and now,
although both are gray and of much inn
I]ortance In their respective spheres, they
are but jolly Virginia boys to each Otner,
happy in the good OLD days when there
was no war or rumors Of war.
Not that the Major does not love war,
The great lark OF his life was wnen N
rode forth TO battle as a member Of Fitz
AAN' = Atll II wac a. AbNaA COMPANY VI
gallant young souls that went out to-
sether with Fitz Lee, rocking not Of the
future. intent alone upon fight. They
were the proud sons Of Virginia's best
families, schoOlmatcs and associates OF
their dashing leader, whom they referred
TO affectiOnately as General Fitz." The
Majors eyes sOftened as he spoke 10
me of this intrepid band.
1T was a grand lot Of young fellows"
he said. There were Fitz. and his two
younger brothers, Henry and John; Phil.
cambridge, Ben. Turner, young Bob. Lee,
Bob Washington, M a score of others"
They made life i'm camp and on field
bright with their songs and jests, and
when occasion came they fought like Nir-
g%inians. Fitz. came out a general, his
came out a major. When the end
they shook hands in silence and
went back TO a ruined Virginia. The for
tunes of peace ave carried the Major TO
Georgia, where he is the head of a big
publishing-house, with headquarters at
Atlanta; General Fitz.' is at his post in
Habana.
Hell stick to his post, too" the Major
said TO me. Il know the Lee blood and /
know Fitz. He never deserted a post yet,
and he never ran away from anything OF
anybody. and he never shirked a duty.
Il don't take my stock in the fear that
the Spaniards are going to hurt him. Fitz.
viii do his duty, even If the enemy's
army is all around him, but he is too
much of a Lee TO give anybody needless
He Is the soul Of courtesy, as he
Is the soul Of honor, and while he is firm
md vigilant, he is amiable and polite. The
Spanish officers may hate him because he
has had the courage TO do right, but you
may take my word for II, they respect
hin. 1t may be a little squally around
he American Consulate, but you may bet
your boots there IS a man inside who is
rot afraid"
The Major refers to General Fftz."
With tenderness always. Just before
General Lee went to Habana he went
TO Atlanta and spent a week with
MAJOR Nash. The two old comrades, boy
sh in their enjoyment Of each other and
Orgetful of their dignity and years, had
royal time together. They have not met
ince, but the Major says they would
meet in Habana if the peril Of the Gene
al called for the protection Of his
"Iftz's old friends are closer to him
low than ever" said the Major, and II
were necessary they would go there TO
i've him protection. But We who know
he man do not believe he is in danger.
less courageous and decisive man
hight be, but I'll warrant Fitz Lee is
The Major delights to tell of General
I'm camp.
II was gentle as a woman, though I
as a lion" says the Major. "He IS I
hook full Of sentiment, and his heart is s
as a girls. I'll never forget him
Ia. rtpr,ng1al q, lya.r harLr hfG emotion i
{ the death Of the brave and brilliant I
Dung Pelham. Pelham was captain Of a
hat we called our horse artillery, and b
dashing young Albanian of heroic
.ould. Fitz loved the boy; indeed, he '
as a ~favorite Of all, especially Of Jeb a
.uart. His tragic death saddened US o
Ike the loss OF a general would have G
)ne. John Esten Cooke, who fought v
yer all our battles i'm verse. wrote a n
poem on Pelham's death and 3
ad it at his grave. While he was read Il
z the touching lines | think most OF p
wept, and General FftZ seemed most L
uched of all. Never TO be forgotten "
as his effort to stife his emotion on u
at sad occasion. J.
But FitZ has as much hunor as senti- "
IN his composition. He never failed
quickly appreciate the humors Of the a
mp, anu lHClt Md0 III llidl llt ~
ore cheerful sound than his robust W
ugh. / have in mind one occasion u
hen his appreciation of a humorous &C
was strikingly shown. He had al
dered the recovery of a gun hat had "
abandoned undo a heavy fire when az
q enemy had us on the hip as the al
ying is. His order was given to a $
giment i'm which was Sergeant s., al
very noted wit and a dauntless soldier. u
cry eye was turned on the side OF the
l where the gun was. and scanning az
e difficult approaches that were all ~
gered by the enemy's distant artilleries le
a neighboring hill, when the dead n'
ance before d charge was suddenly ~
and the whole thrown Dl
o a roar of laughter in spite of the W
rible work ahead. The Sergeant rode
alongside Of General Fttz anc his u
IF. and, s~aluting very tremendously, Fl
ID: ~
Hold on, General Fltz, n minute sc
d IN a loud voice, heard by the entire hi
nmand, he suffered: Il moo-ove that vi
ta-ake up a collection and pe-p-pay IN