Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-04-26
JOHN WISE ON
GENERAL LEE.
= rom Richmond Times.

confederate soldier during the last
days OF the Confederacy. which
throws some side lights upon the
character of General Il. +. Lee that
Will very greatly surprise the world.
lie says IN April, 1868. he was
young lieutenant of eighteen. and
that being with General Walker
(Which General Walker he does not
say up on the Danville railroad. he
was sent by General Walker with a
personal letter from Mr.. Davis to find
out, If possible, in what direction
General Lees army was retreating
and to put Mr.. Davis into communi
cation with General Lee if possible.
After some hair breadth escapes
Mr.. Wise reached General Lee. and
this is his account of what took
place:
Touching my cap as rode up,
inquired, General Lee :
"'les, he replied quietly. and
dismounted aud explained my mis-
sion. He examined my autograph
order from Mr.. Davis, aud question
ed me closely concerning the route
J had come. He seemed especially
interested IN my report of the enemy
at Burkevllle and Westward, to the
south of his army. Then with long
sigh, be said: Il hardly think il nee
eSsary TO prepare written dispatches
IN reply. They may be- captured.
The enemy 8 cavalry is already flank
ing us to the south and west. Non
seem capable of bearing Il verbal re-
sponse. You may say to Mr.. Davis
that, aS he knows. my original pur
pose was 10 adhere to the Inc of the
Danville road. have been unable
10 do So. and am now eudeavorinp
To hold the SouthSide road, as | re-
tire in the direction of Lynchburg.'
Have You any objective point.
General-any place where vou con
template making a stand?' ventur
ed timidlv.
No said he slowly and sadly.
NO, ] shall have to be governed Nv
each days Developments The with
touch of resentment. and raising
his voice, he added: y few more Sail
or Creeks and 1t will all he over. in
deed; i'St as ! have expected it would
end from the first
Mr.. Wise tells us General Lee had
no idea he was the son of General
Henry a. Wise.
No doubt Mr.. Wise is perfectly
sincere in his account of this inter
view, but there Is not a Confederate
soldier alive who will not believe
hat his memory has served him
wretcheG trick. There is not SUR
living Confederate who will not hc
leve that Mr.. Wise dreamed this and
in the course of thirty four Years has
come To believe that it actually oc-
CURED. But not one of them will
ever be made to believe that General
Lee took IA young lieutenant of eigh-
teen, of whom he had never heard
before, into his inmoSt confidence IN
this way. If he did some strange
metamorphOsis had taken place in
him. He had never before been ac-
customed to treat his most intimate
and confidential friends or comman-
ders in that way. But it was not to
comment upon this view of the mat
ter, but upon Mr.. WiSe's interpreta
ton of 1t that We took the subject
up. He continues thus:
Il WAS aStoniShed at the frankneSs
of this avowal To one so insignificant
as |. 1t made deep and lasting i'm
preston on me. IL gave me an in
sight into the character of General
Lee which all the books ever written
about him could never give. 1t ele
waited him In my opinion more than
anything else he ever said or did. 1t
revealed him AS man who bad sac
riliced everything to perform con
Scientious duty against his Judgment.
lie had loved the Union. He had
believed secession was unnecessary;
he had looked upon it as hopeless
folly. Yet at the call of his State.
he had laid his life and fame and
fortune ut her feet. and served her
faithfully to the last
AS one who venerateS the memory
of General Lee above almost all
earthly things, and who beiicves him
Discovered by a Woman.
Another great discovery has been made,
and that too. by lady in this country.