The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-24
GEN. FITZHUGH LEE.
An Interesting Incident in His Ear,
Iy Career.
From the Washington Post.

ly Career.
From the Washington Post
away back in 1861 said Mr.. Charles
H. Mullln. well known manufacturer OF
Philadelphia, at the Arlington. Il had a
pleasant friendship with Lieut.. Fitzhugh
Lee, who was In camp in the early part
of that year at Carlisle. Pa, near which
town l was engaged in the manufacture
of paper
AN order came to Lieut.. Lee TO take
detachment of the forces at Carlisle to
Washington, and as railway transporta-
ton wasn't as good in that day as now,
he marched his men overland. In the VI
entity of my mill he halted, and we had a
long talk. He told me that when he got
10 Washington he intended TO resign from
the army. ! asked him If he meant TO go
with the southern states that had seeded
ana he assured me IL would be impossible
Tor MIN to take up arms against the fed
eral government. In fact, he would stay
i'm the army and fight for the union unless
Virginia seeded, In which event he would
remain neutral and engage in farming
Il told him II would be impossible for
him to resist the tide; that he could not
remain neutral when he saw his neigh
bors taking up arms, and that they would
bring an Overwhelming influence to bear
upon him, which he could not Withstand.
Besides men of his capacity and military
experience would be needed, and he would
find IL impossible to keep out He reit-
Grated his resolve not TO fight against the
friends
Il did not see Fitzhugh Lee again for
two years, and under vastly different cir
cumstances. The union and Confederate
armies were confronting each other at
Gettysburg, and Brig. Gen Lee. with
Stewards cavalry passed along our way.
rearing the destruction of my mill, hunt
ed up my friend Of former days. and ask
ed him If he would not send small force
of men TO put the marauding soldiers out
OF the place, which they might destroy IL
let alone.
Gen. Lee shook my hand heartily II
had reused from sleep among his sleeninR
men on the porch of the old hotel In car
lsle), and Immediately complied with NV
request Tor the protection Of my property
He told mo he had been in the saddle for
about eight days and nights. and during
all that time hadn't enjoyed a SQUARE
meal To my invitation to ride TO INV
house and get a hot breakfast he gave
instant assent
After the meal he remained talking
with me several hours, and | reminded
him OF our former conversation wherein
he had declared his intention of preserv-
Ing neutrality Yes said he, that was
my firm resolve, but when L got back Ia
Virginia found II impossible 10 go against
my friends and kindred / haven't seen
him from that day to this, but my friend
ship for him is just as sincere as though
he had never put on the gray
Maj. John M. Burke, Buffalo BilVg len
tenant, who was In town this week Is a
physical giant and of very amiable tenn
per- though dangerous when reused, Once
upon a time he was walking along Inter
den Linden, when he MORALLY offended a
trio of German students by brushing
against one OF them. In a second one OF
the youngsters handed the major his card.
1t was some time before II dawned on
Burke that the presentation of the paste-
board meant n challenge to fight a duel.
80, you want fight. do you; well here
goes" With one mighty sweep he caught
all three, and after jamming their heads
together threw the trio into the gutter.
They were a surprised and sorrowful par
ty when they had time TO realize what had
happened to them, but Burke had no more
cards during the rest of his stay In Berlin.