The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-20
ANECDOTES OF GEN. LEE.
Story Of the Confederacy's Great Military
Leader.
R;chn,ond Times.
Leader.

severe storm. The rain poured. and
and soon the sombre garments OF the
minister, as we'll as his Immaculate
linen, were drenched. he presented
himself at the mansion in deplorable
condition, and without change OF
raiment.
Here was predieament; the we'd
ding was to take place within the
hour, and it would take much longer
to make his reverence presentable.
in this emergency recourse was had
to Mr.. Washington Parke Custis, faith
er of the bride, who cheerfully agreed
to loan the necessary garments. But
Mr.. Custis was as short and fat as Mr..
Meade was long and thin, and the lat
ter when he arrived in his host S
habilaments was sight for gods and
men.
However, with the aid Of his sur
plice, which covered a multitude of
evils, he went through the ceremony
with such digaityaas he might in his
mis6t condition.
SAVED HIS BACON.
| It is said Of Gen Lee by those who
knew him intimately, that he was one
of the most even-tempered Of men and
never allowed himself to give free rein
to his passion but twice during the
course of the Civil War. On one
! of these occasions the life of sol
dier was put in deadly peril by his ac-
tion.
| 1t was near the field Of Sharpsburg
that the general came across a soldier
who had stolen and killed pig, which
he was carrying'to his quarters.
! The most positive orders having
been given against pil!aging Of all
kinds, Gen. Lee was infuriated. He
i
ordered the arrest of the man and is
sued instructions that he be taken to
jackson, to whom he sent word to
have the thief shot at once.
sold Jack" as be was called, was
man of his own mind, however, and
as soldiers were very scarce he deter
mined to carry out the commanding
generals orders in different manner
from that intended.
! Aotuated by the same amiable mo-
tives that actuated King David in
Uriah' case, he posted the man in
the front Of the fight, where his chan
ces for being killed were most excel
lent.
More lucky than Uriab, however, the
man not only escaped injury, but
won q reputation for coolness and cou-
rage.
HIS sELF-cONTROL.
| Under circumstances that would
have overcome many another, Gen.
Lee was outwardly calm and serene,
showing his great power Of self-com-
mand.
This was exempli6ed soon after his
return to Virginia from his Maryland
campaign, when he received tidings OF
the dangerous illness Of his best-loved
daughter. His duty to his country
kept him from fastening to her bed
side, and he waited for news from
home calmly, although his sufferings
must have been terrible.
One morning, as usual, he summon
+! ed his adjutant general to his tent and
went over with him the customary
routine, his actions not indicating
anything unusual had happened
The latter left, but returning in a
few minutes unexpectedly, found him
with an open letter in his hand con
vulsed with grief. It contained the
news Of his daughters death. With
that in his possession he had thought
first Of his duty-the welfare Of his
men.
A PECULIAR TRIAL.
Col. Taylor, Gen. Lees adjutant
general, tells an anecdote which
brings to light peculiar phase of the
Confederate leaders character.
"He had said Col. Taylor, "a
great dislike for reviewing army com
muuications, which was so fully apprc
ciated by me that I would never pre-
sent paper for his consideration un-
less it was Of decided Importance. On
one occasion it became absolutely ne
cessary to secure his judgment on scv'
eral matters,
s'Iien Lee was not in Il pleasant hu
NOR: he showed signs of annoyance
and finally became decidedly worried
II, too. lost my temper. and pctu
lantly threw aside the paper under
discussion. Instead Of admi+ +stcrius