Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06

But we are not here tonight SO much e
speculate about future verdicts az pas
trials.
When you and I and all OF us were fol
lowing Mars Robert" every campfire
had its stories showing the love, admra.
ton, and confidence OF the boys, but they
did not bother about the measure OF
fame he might attain throughout ths
world. Not one whit was this faith anc
affection abated by Gettysburg and APP
| pomattox. The Army Of the Potomac
with its hundred thousand tongues. made
wild clamor Of salute when Little Me-
rode down the lines. When he was be-
headed. they were silent submitted, and
soon forgot him. except to criticse him.
| Who can tell what would have hap
pened In the Army of Northern Virginia
| II General Lees sword had been taken
away, except that the next day Appomat-
tox would have 1Comed up in the near
distance? speak OF him now as a man
| the "well-beoyed'-and II was because
he had rare combination, that perfect
mixture OF the sexes. the complete man.
| illness Of thorough masculine nature,
and all tho lovableness OF a well-poised
woman. 1t was this that made him. as
few great military men ever were. the
'well-beloved" Of his army and his peo-
pie.
THREE NECESSARY CHARACTERIs-
TICS.
General Lee inherited, not only from
MS rather, but from a remarkable line OF
male ancestors, three necessary charac-
teristics Of great commander
J. He was a student of the art OF war
and was fond Of II as a science.
:. lie had In the highest degree the
ability TO understand that art, and TO put
1t 10 the touch in the field.
3. He had the moral courage to make
war, and to make 1t aggresslvey when
MS Keen Judgment dictated It,.
Ana yet General Lee could not have
been a dictator, no more than Washing
ION Singulariy alike In many elements Of
character and bearing, neither of them
could have been induced to attempt that
role neither OF them had the qualifca-
lions for success as usurpers or abso-
lutte rulers Grant might have been a
dictator II the occasion demanded. and
stonewall jackson surely. but not Lee
HISTORICAL COMPARISONS.
But to get the full measure OF General
Lees greatness We must consent to look
at him historically and by comparison
with others. We must recall how much
harder 1t all was for him and how little
the after-renOwned commanders of the
world knew of the trials and tribulatIons
that environed him. He had their share
or the perpleXities OF military plans. or
tensive and defensive, the problems of
strategy and tactics; OF marches. at
tacks, retreats, pursuits. These are COM
mon to all wars and all generals con-
Quoting them, but there were other en-
Darrassments of his situation which not
MS opponents and few of his great prede-
CeSSOFS EnaVv Ia -
enough FOR the accomplishment of any
great purpose he might have; for defen-
siVe or offensive purposes he was forced
10 work with what he had. In his great
est movements he was forced 10 piece
out his army here and there with small
patches. To these perplexities were
ADDED want OF arms, EQUIPMENTS, am
muniuOn, clothing, transportation. and
then at last came those hideOus and
Vengeful harpies. hunger and thirst. 10
confound all his plans, to demoralize and
wreck his army What did Marlborough,
or Napoleon, or WELLINGTON, or Grant.
know Of such things? Who can tell how
they would have survived such tests and
tugs OF war? The solemn truth is, it is
not possible for any one but a Confede-
rate soldier, In close touch with General
Lee and with full knowledge OF his daily
life, 10 understand the dire straits and
eXpedients and almost despair TO which
he was driven by the trials which beset
him. Historians talk Of it in a vague
way as they talk OF the destruction OF
Sodom and the burning Of Rome but
their imagery is lifeless. / wish that out
of the surviving Confederates would arise
some Sienkiewicz, who could burn the |
truth with scorching words into the peo-
pie or to-day and those who are 10 make |
history.
LEE AND JACKSON CONTRAsTED.
Much is often to be learned by con- |
trasts, and it does not necessarily follow |
that the contrast of two men is injurious |
TO either. The strong points of each may
sometimes be brought out and made the |
clearer. 1t seems TO me this is the effect |
OF bringing. side by side, the personality
and the soldiery qualities of Lee and
Jackson. There is food for thought here.
If we carefully read and study the history
OF the building up or Virginia from James,
town to the Revolution and reflect upon
what ii ali means, we can hardly fail TO
recognize the fact that Lee, of our day.
was the elimination Of the highest type
of cavalier who settled Eastern Virginia,
and Jackson the most stalwart survival OF
the hardy and resolute Scotch-Irish ele-
ment that began to pour into the Valley
Of Virginia about 1880. 1t is impossible
that this important historical and racial
fact should not demand our attention and
thoughtful study, and when 1t does and
we give full consideration 10 II, We will
ind it easier TO understand why Lee the
Cavalier OF Episcopalian, and Jackson,
the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, working to-
gether tremendously and earnestly, with
a single thought and a single purpose.
welded their faithful Cavalier and
followers into that wonder
full Army Of Northern Virginia which
for four years. as Swinton says, carried
he revolt upon its bayonets; which. re-
,eiving terrible blows, did not fail 10
give the like, and which, vital in all its
,arts, died only with its humiliation"
Enough has not been made Of this fact.
nor in the philosophy Of history has it
received the attention 1t deserves.
LEE A MODEL Or NEATNEsS.
What a singular contrast these two men
resented How entirely they differed IN
except In their mutual warlike
ourage and aggressiveness. General Lee
vas the highest type Of the patrician In
,erson and bearing. OF ideal height and
uild for soldier or citizen, with limbs as
ounded as a woman, neither large nor
can; small, shapely hands and feet, the
after arched in instep like the neck of a
and always well-shod: a
model of neatness in dress, with a car
iage that combined dignity with graceful !
,ase. he was on horseback and off the
andsomest man / ever saw. Neither slow /
Tor rapid In his movements, distinct or {