The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-04
New Story Of Gen. Lee.

Alta meeting of the Loyal Legion
held recently in San Francisco 10
honor Of Mai Gen. Shafter, says the
San Francisco Chronicle, the follow
ing incident in the life of Gen. h. f..
Lee was related by Capt. Murray f.
Taylor, of the Confederate Army;
"Iu the fall Of 1863" said Captain
Taylor. General Burnside, who
commanded the Army Of the Poto-
mac. in his onto Richmond move
meut, reached the RsppahannOck
river opposite fredericksburg and
there found confronting him on the
south side of the stream portion of
the Army Of Northern Virginia. My
old home, Fall Hill, is the first resi-
dence on the range of hills encIrclIng
fredericksburg, and commands
view of the plains on the side OF the
river upon which the town is l3cated
The same range Of hills lower down
ends at Marye's Heights, at the foot
of which is the stone WALL where at
the battle of Fredericksburg, on the
l3th of December, the Army of the
Potomac met defeat.
"The view from Fall Hill is the
most beautiful in all the country
overlooking the Valley of the Kappa
hammock and the towns and villages
on the river for many miles, and it
is, as well, the highest point of the
entire range of hills. The house Is
situated Just back from the brow OF
the hill. General Lee aud some Of
his staff rode into the yard and were
examining the country before them,
when the Federal artillery on the op
posite side Of the river, attracted by
this group of horsemen, opened fire
from the Stsfford Heights. A shell
soon struck a large cedar tree stand
ing upon the brow of the hill and
nearly in front Of the house, cutting
it off just under its branches and
leaving the trunk about twenty feet
hign. My mother was standing 10
font Of the house, watching General
Lee, who was nearly under the cedar
tree at the time After the war she
planted IVY around this trunk, and,
AS memento of the narrow escape
of General Lee, cherished the young
plant aud trained it most csrfuliy I'M
ill it covered the whole tree with its
leaves. 1t was very beautiful in its
green foliage, and at once attracted
the eve of any one looking in that
direction. la the spring of 1869
General Lee visited fredericksburg
as q delegate from Lexington, Va,
to the Episcopal Convention, and
came out to spend the afternoon at
Fall Hill. was at home at the time,
aud was with my mother when she
welcomed him at the door. General
Lee paused before entering the house
to admire the beautiful landscape,
which, clothed in the verdure OF May,
was lovely and impressive beyond
description. Ny mother called his
attention to the ivy covering the
cedar trunk. The General observed
it a moment and remarked Mrs.
Taylor, will you grant me favor =
"My mother replied General, l
shall be as proud to do your bidding
as nv FIVE sons were to serve you and
their country during the war;
"Then, Dear madam cried Gen.
eral Lee, cut down that tree and de-
stroy every vestige of it,
"My mother greatly surprised, ex-
claimed Why, do you wish to de
stroy the beautiful ivy, General,
which | have cared for so long and
have watched grow with 80 much
pleasure7 Don't you remember how
narrowly you escaped being injured
when the tree top was cut off by the
Yankee she'll ? However, if 1t is your
wish it shall come down, even al
though it has grown very dear to me
in all this wreck and ruin OF my once
beautiful home. | have always cared
for it, in remembrance of the day
when the top fell, and when you so
mercifully escaped ipjury.'
"The Geoersl paused a moment
and then. with evident feeling, said {;
THANK you, madam, but this is too
fAft a prospect to be saddened or
marred by reminders of the terrible
war. We are one people, and we