Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-18
UTE 10 GEN. LEE
lles and His Men; an Unequaled Leader Of
an Incompatible Host
Addrsss 81 Judge Theodore s. Garnet, at the
ssbration of Robert E Lees Birthday in this City BY
Bcchanan Camp Confederate Veterans January
" nj 200

had to do in those days. and have 1t
transferred to the Richmond train.
can remember distinctly as stood at
his elbow, that said to n1yself-here is
a man who Is destined to high COM
mand, and as am going to follow him,
! will take a good look at him. ]
studied every feature of his face, and
though his countenance was serious and
clouded with sombre thought that day,
turned away as he left me with the
thought that he was handsome beyond
the men I had ever seen.
Again I saw him when enlisted In
May, 1861, and once or twice in 1862,
notably at his headquarters below
Richmond, just after the raid of GEN
eral Stuart around Mcclellan, on the
ChiclSahominy. He had allowed his
beard to grow, and 1t had turned very
gray
! saw him no more until the Cd day Of
July, 1862, at Gettysburg, nor can I
dwell on that view Of him further than
to speak of carrying dispatches from
General Stuart there.
at Hagerstown 1 carried messages to
General Lee and found him flying Mt
his headquarters for the first time 1.-THE
Milk White Banner of the Confed-
eracy," with the battle flag as its union,
which formed the next to the last Ma
tional flag of our country.
THE GREATEST OF MEN.
With occasional glimpses of him on
the march as we entered upon the fall
campaign OF 1863, I was learning to look
upon him as no longer a curiosity. I
knew nothing OF him personally up to
that time.
But In the winter of 1864 1 was sent
to him frequently, and as the aid-de-
camp of General Stuart was admitted
on one occasion TO the Commanding
Generals tent He would speak to me
briefly. but with a cordial and gentle
deep tone, and would ask after Stuart
with good will and kindly interest.
can recall the deep impression these
interviews made upon me. No emperor
on his throne, nor prince, nor poten-
tate on earth could inspire me with the
sense OF superiority which L felt Gen
eral Lee possessed over all mankind.
The atmosphere about him was that
OF the high mountains rare and in
vlgorating, and the mental vision was
treated to O sense Of the sublime.
I saw him often as we entered the
Wilderness. saw him rally the troops
Parker's store. I heard him say to
some rushing out from the firing line,"
as it Is now called, Steady, men, go
back! We need all good men at the
front now" and Colonel Venable re-
monstrated with him for being so close
under. fire, but MARS Robert" wouldn't
leave until the line was restored.
This was not the incident which oc-
CURED (next morning) at the spot,
when the Texans yelled you go back,
General Lee, to the rear" as they
plunged into the masses OF tho en-
envy and hurled them back at the point
of the bayonet.
But saw him again that day, just
q few minutes after Longstreet had
been wounded, May 9Th.
had come across the Wilderness
from Stuart. 1 dismounted and deliv-
cred a verbal message to General
Lee.
retiring on foot to an old dead tree. he
sat down on the ground and taking
out his field map. ordered me to show
him where Stuart was fighting. point
ed out the spot on the map, away off
to cur right flank. and said: General
Stuart has struck q heavy line of bat
tie, held by infantry and artillery, and
cannot break through them"
And here for the first time / expert
enced what afterwards learned was
almost habit with General Lee-to
think aloud. He murmured to himself
as If addressing me: Well Captain,
what shall we doc" TO which inquiry
am pleased to say had sense enough
Ito make no reply. and indeed, to APP
pear as If had not heard It,
TILE MAN WHO KNEW AND DID.
The same question escaped his lips
as If in soliliquy. when came to him
and told him that the Battle OF Five
Forks bad gone against General Pick
EFT and as heard his deep bass voice
asking. well, Captain what shall we
do?" felt that nothing short OF AL
mighty Wisdom could provide a way
out OF that calamity But it meant
nothing. He knew what to do, and he
did all that man could do to rectify the
plumbers that some of his people were
constantly committing.
Again I saw him the evening Of the
Battlc of Sailors Creek. II was few
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