The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-04


thought that day, I turned away as ne
left me with the thought that he was
handsome beyond the men I had ever
seem
Again I saw him when I enlisted in
May. 1861, and once or twice in 1857, no.
tably at his headquarters below tich.
mond just after the raid OF General
Stuart around Mcclellan, on the Chick
ahorniny He had allowed his beard 10
grow and it had turned very gray.
saw Kim no more until the I'd day OF
JULY. 1869. at Gettysburg, nor can dwell
on that view of him further than to speak
Of CARRYING dispatches from General Stu
art there.
At Hagerstown I carried messages to
General Lee and found linn flying at, his
Headquarters for the first time THE Milk
white Banner of tho Confederacy,
with the battle flag as its union, which
formed the next to the last Ma tionai Flag
Of our country.
THE GREATEST OF MEN.
With occasional glimpses of him ON the
march as we entered upon the fail cam
paign Of 1865. was learning to look up
on him as no longer curiosity. hne"
nothing of him personally up 10 tiisll
time.
But in the winter of 1861 I was sent
to him frequently and as the 'ald-de-canip
Of General Stuart was admitted on oc-
casfon to the commanding Generals tent
He would speak to me briefly, but WIN a
cordial and gentle deep tone, and would
ask after Stuart with good will and
kindly interest.
I can recall the deep impression these
interviews made upon me. No emperor
on his throne, nor. prince nor potentate
on earth could inspire me with the sense
Of superiority which I felt General Lee
possessed over all mankind. The atmos-
phere about him was that of the high
mountains, raro and invigorating. and
the mental vision was treated TO sense
of the sublime.
saw him often as we entered the
Wilderness. T saw him rally the troops
of ,Heatlls Division that evening near
Parller's store. I heard him say to some
rushing out from "the firing line as 1t
is now called, STEADY men, go back!
We need all good men at the front now,
and Colonel Venable demonstrated with
him for being so close under fire. but
..NTars Robert" wouldn't leave until the
line was restored.
j This was not the incident which occur
red (next morning) at the spot, when
the Texans yelled, you go back, Cen
era! Lee, to the rear" as they plunged IN
to the masses of the enemy and hurled
them back at the point of the bayonet.
/ g
few minutes after LonSStreet hao peen
wounded May 9Th.
1 had come across the Wilderness from
Stuart I dlsmounted and delivered YER
bal message to General Lee.
fIe motioned mo to follow him, and
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
our right flank, and said: General Stu
art mas struck heavy line Of battle
held by infantry and artillery, and cannot
break through Them"
And here for tho first time I experienced
what afterwards learned was almost a
habit with General Lee-to think aloud.
He murmured to himself as IL address,
ing me: ''Well, Captain, what shah we
dog To which inquiry am pleased to say
had sense enough to make no reply.
and, indeed, to appear as II had mot
heard it.
THE MAN WHO KNEW AND DID.
The same question escaped his lips
as il in soliloquy, when I came TO him
and told him that the Battle Of Five
Forks had gone against General Pickett,
and as I heard his deep bass voice ask
ing, well, Captain, what shall we do?"
T felt that nothing short of Almighty Wis
dom could provide a way out Of that ca
lamity But it meant nothing. He knew
what to do, and he did Ill that man could
do to rectify the blunders that some of
his people were constantly committing.
Again I saw him the evening OF the
Battle of Sailors Creek. 1t was few
minutes before ha learned of the great
disaster that had befallen Gusts Lees
Division and General Ewelrs troops.
We Chat is to say General Roberts
Cavalry Brigade) had just crossed the
creek and were watching the gallant
fight of Walkers Stonewall Brigade.
against the surging host of. Yankees on
the opposite bank. General Lee came up
to our line entirely alone, and dsmount-.
ed near cabin. holding Traveller by
the bride, and using his field glasses
with the other hand. He was looking
across the country at a large collection of
white Objects which appeared like flock
of sheen. and as stood beside him he
said: ..Are those sheep or not No.
General: they are Yankee wagons. He
looked through his glasses and then said
slowly: 'eYou ara right; but what are
they doing there?" 1t was an unexpected
appearance, and indicated 2 closer pur-
suit than he had anticipated. and soon he
rode away to the High Bridge. only IT,
learn that his son had been captured.
Gusts Lee's4Division annihilated and Ew-
ellis troops eliminated from further ac-
ton.
LEE AT APPOAIATTOX.
7 saw him last at Appomattox. but not
after the surrender. It was just before
he moved out against Sheridan and Ord's
troops and his manner was In no wise
different from what it had always been
You, who witnessed his majestic he
ing when all was over can tell your chill
dren and all the generations to come,
that Human fortune has equalled,
human calamity
A few weeks after Appomattox, I was
seated in mis- par1or On Franklin street,
Richmond, talking With his daughter.
when the General entered tls room.
Never can ] forget his gentle manner az
he extended his hand, and put me at my
my ease with few cordial.words OF well.
come (which he 50 well knew how to
speuk to young ana enba raised Wis
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