The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-08
LEE MAY SAIL TOMORROW.
GENERAL AND HIS STAFF GO ON
BOARD THE PANAMA THEN.

quarters DepHrt-Gen. Lee and Col.
bryan Reply to AtInnta's Invita-
ton.
Gen. Lee announced last night that ii
had been definitely decided that the Sew
enth Army Corps headquarters should go
on board the Panama tomorrow.
The hour of the transports departure
will be governed by the loading of the
vessel. The tide will permit of the trans
port going to sea late in the afternoon if
its cargo is aboard. If it is found that
the work will be completed in time for
its departure on the evening tide. Gen.
Lee and his staff, with their battalion of
clerks, viii go aboard in time to permit
of its sailing then. If the cargo will not
be aboard in time for this it is planned
for the commander and those who will
accompany him to take possession of their
quarters tomorrow night and go out on
the early Saturday morning tide.
Savannahians generally would prefer
that the Panama leave on the afternoon
tide, so that they can give Gen. Lee and
his officers an exhibition Of their regard
that will surpass any demonstration that
Savannah has yet given, or is apt to give,
to departing transport. If the Panama
sails tomorrow afternoon the river front
will be a mass of humanity from one end
Of the city TO the other. Gen. Lees pop
ularity with the people mas been attested
more than once, and the continuous re-
ception that will be given the Panama on
hon ,rfxr mill ha ara1xr
another evidence of their sentiments of
warm regard for him and those associated
with him. The Panama will sail for Ma
rianao, where the troops are bound, and
where they will be quartered for some
time.
Tonight will, in all probability, be the
last night that Gen. Lee and his staff Of
ficers win promenade the lobby of the
De Soto. With their departure considerable
of the life and picturesqueness that has
marked the hotel at nights for several
weeks past will have disappeared. With the
corps headquarters no longer there the in
ducement for the colonies and the captains
and lieutenants to visit the lobby at night
viii be gone. The ladies, who have been
stopping at the hotel because of the pres
ence of their husbands or sons, win Ie
turn to their homes, or proceed to Tampa
to take steamer for Havana. There will be
some officers Of course, but there will be
nothing like the number that have made
the De Soto their place of business or Of
recreation in the past.
Last night there was more than the or
binary throng at the hotel. For two hours
the lobby was well crowded with a con-
stantly changing and shifting mass of SOL
diers and civilians. More ladies were about
than usual, the band, the Second Illinois,
played some popular airs, and the picture
was one of brilliant animation. Mrs. Sar-
toris and her daughters attracted much at
tention. The spectacle of Gen. Lee and the
daughter of Gen. Grant sitting side by
! side, with the daughter of the old Con-
| federate cavalry leader chatting with the
| granddaughter of the victorious Federal
| general, was commented on by more than
| one as indicative of that era Of good feel
ing which the war is popularity supposed
| to have cemented.
| The democracy of the volunteer army
! with all its discipline, was in in nowise
more evident than in the fact that just
| behind the commanding generals chair,
| enjoying the music, along with him, were
| two privates of his army, while not far
away colonel and a private the latter
| having just come up and saluted his regi-
mental commander, were chatting in quite
| a familiar way. They were doubtless old
1
as the commander of 1900 men and the
| other was of the lowest grade in the
| army. Similar pictures greeted the eye
| elsewhere. 1t would doubtless have as
| tonished and set a foreign officer to Won
derng and thinking. 1t it doubtful if
such a thing could be seen outside of the
| United States army. On the hotel regis
! ter might be seen the names of a major
| general, a private, a corporal, a sergeant
/ a a CT al ba
hotel and enjoying the same accommodate
| tons and privileges. 1t would be inter-
estng TO know exactly how a foreign Off
Ger would reconcile il all to his inherited
and acquired ideas of what is proper
Gen. Lee has become acquainted with
many of Savannahs citizens who will re-
| greet his departure. He has been found
an exceedingly approachable unassuming
man and officer. The news last night that
the headquarters were about to leave was
| unpleasant intelligence to all who have
! been enjoying the gay evenings at the De
! Soto. The officers have their office effects
| about packed. To-day the boxes will he
sent down to the wharf, just enough sta
tonery etc, being kept on hand for the
WORK that viii be done to-day and to-
| morrow. There IS a great mass of Office
supplies to be moved. Practically everv-
thms viii be down at the wharf by to-
night and the officers will have little to
DO tomorrow except to get their personal
effects TO the transport.
Yesterday Gen. Lee received a telegram
from the committee in charge of the com
| ing celebration in Atlanta. 1t extended
MN an invitation 10 be among the guests
on that occasion and reply to a toast at
the banquet rendered the President. Cen
Lee replied that it was with regret he
was compelled TO state his inability TO be
present as he would by that time Dee
To- be absent from the country on duty in
Cuba. Col. William Jennings BRYAN also
received a similar dispatch and replied
to the effect that the movements of his
regiment were matter of doubt and mat
| he could not state whe ther it would he in
his power 10 be present at the BANQUET
If the opportunity were his it would give
him great pleasure TO be there.
While no further advices have come
about another corps coming to take the
| place of the Seventh it is the imnressi1n
in headquarter circles that one will he
en- route for Savannah within the navt