The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-05-26

Rev. j. William Jones, of Rich
mond, the well-known preacher
author and noted Confederate soldier
chaplain, was in Norfolk recently and
reporter Of the Virginian and Pilot
had an interview with him. Natur-
ally he talked of war and as naturally
Of Gen. FitZhugh Lee. remarkinp
upon the fact that the Virginia bows
want to march and fight under the
famous cavalry leader. The Virgin-
tan md Pilot quotes DR.. Jones AS fol-
lows:
''Well, | don't wonder If the bows
want to fight, want to be right in the
thick of 1t, want to show the Span
iards that there is something in them
above the mereenary, want to let the
Dnns see that the spirit of 70 and '62
burns as brightly and fercely as ever,
all they have to do is to follow the
gallant Fitzhugh Lee, and if they have
backbone he'll stiffen it, and he'll
never send man where he won't
lead
DR.. Jones was in reminiscent
mood, and his mind wandered back
to the stirring days of COS. when he
was chaplain Of the gallant Thirteenth
Virginia regiment, attached to fight
ing General A. Z. Hills corps.
1t was in those times that brought
out the manhood in a man that Rev.
Mr.. Jones first encountered Lee
''He was a gallant soldier, and
every inch a man, true Virginian
gentleman; and his men fought about
him like knights of old, for they loved
their heroic leader" said Rev. Mr..
Jones
''Fitzhugh Lee was cavalry in
structor at West Point, when the
war broke out. He resigned at once.
They tried to retain him: but the
blood of Light Horse Harry Lee, his
grandfather, that surged through
his veins would not be downed: his
duty was to his loved southland, and
amidst the genuine regrets of his
comrades he laid down the sword of
the Union and took up the cause of
his dear Virginia.
''Iherc is so much to tell of Fitz-
hugh Lee, but briefly the history of
the Cavalry of the Confederacy is the
war history of the man. He is in
separately and heroically connected
with it. To leave him out of caval-
ry charge is to leave vacancy in
deed. He was at the first Manassas
battle, and went to the front as he
did ever after. From Captain he
rose rapidly to Lieutenant-Colone
Colonel, Brigadier, then Major-Gen-
eral. which place he occupies again,
and will again distinguish.
lice was desperate, daring, bold
and courageous, but never reckless.
have seen Lee and Stuart 90 into
battle singing, and their men join
ing in the chorus. They sang as they
charged sang with bullets flying
about them; sang even as they ducked
to dodge vicious sabre cut.
lin camp he had a band known as
Fitzhugh Lees Minstrels, and many
were the entertainments they gave.
He did not neglect his mems souls;
but had religious services whenever
possible.
AT the second Manassas he cap
Iured some of his old West Point |
and they put in a night of
Jun and jollity. He told them he
had message to send through the |
Union lines; paroled them, sent them
)tf on their horses, and one of his |
Did comrades took that message and |
carried it through his own lines.
under the fire of his own men. He |
had given his word and kept it.
AT Beverly Farms. in Culpeper,
t was Lee that, with 800 gallant |
-roops. drove AveriIl and his 5000 |
men back, capturing many of them.
LIN 1864, when Grant made his hur-
-ied march from the wilderness to |
Spottsylvania c. H., to get between
R. +. Lee and Richmond, it was Fitz |
lee who was sent to oppose him from
a. IN. till late at night, until An
ierson's division of Longstreet's
corps came up, and General Robert
+. Lee had formed his line at that |
historic spot.
"Fitzhugh Lees name is INSOFAR
ably and honorably linked to the
Cavalry. and the history
of Virginia. and the boys do them
selves honor when they fall in be-
lind him. He will lead them where
lonor lies or the soldiers grave"
Rev. DR.. Jones was fighter him
self, enlisting AS a private in the
'anks of the famous "StonewalI' |
Jackson's Foot Cavalry, and fighting
ike parson can fight on many a
lard-fought field.