The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-08

at such scene as is here described aud
that the words which then passed ana tne
incidets which occurred should NOT nave
been indelibly. imprinted upon his memory.
| am disposed therefore. to consider TINS
reliable historical material Meanwhile Il
SO chances that am able to supplement u
ny similar, as yet unpublished, testimony
from another quarter Some years ago
was closely associated with General s; +,
Alexander who had been chief OF artlleIy
ID Longstreet's famous corps and VINO, III
April, 1865, was. II my recollection is cor:
rect, chief Of artillery Of the army OF
northern virginia. IT was General Aie .Ai
ander who In 1868. fought with General
Hunt of the army OF the Potomac. the Ia
mors artillery duel which preceded on
July 3, the memorable charge of Pickett
DIVISION az Gettysburg, lu the course OF
ander. whose memory, siDgulurly accurate
as well as tenacious. was also supported
oy memoranda taken at the time, ne more
than once gave me an account or wllch
retain the freshest possible recollection,
OF an Interview which followed close upon
That with General Wise at Lees headquar.
ters General Wise evidently saw Lee at
an early hour of April 9. That same morn
ing General Alexander had occasion TO re,
port to Lee. He knew that the army OF
Virginia was In a desperate situation.
Moreover, as he well knew the timber
chests were running low; his arm OF the
service was In no condition TO 60 INTO an ,
other engagement. Yet the idea OF an
| Cured to him as among The probabilities.
All night he had lain awake thinking rs
to what was next TO he done, FmaIly
he had come to the conclusion that there
was but one course to pursue. me army
of Virginia. while nominally captivating
must In reality disperse. and those com
posing IL should be instructed. whetner IN
divdually or as part Of detachments, 10
get to his own State In the most direct
way and shortest possible time and report
to the governor thereof with view 10 q
| further and continuous resistance.
PARALLEL WITH SOUTH AFRICA.
Thus, exactly what is now taking place
in South Africa was to take place in the
/ Confederacy. General Alexander told me
/ that as he passed his batteries on his way
to headquarters the men called out to him
| in CHEEKY tones that there were still some
/ rounds remaining in the caissons, and that
they were ready to renew the light. Riding
rapidly to his destination, General Alex
| ander found Lee seated on the trunk OF a
fallen tree before a dying camp nle' he
was dressed in uniform. Full OF the lde9
which dominated his mind, Alexander said
that he sprang from his horse ana auNHnC
/ ing to Lee. knelt down beside hlm, leaning
against the log on which ne was seateu
| aud proceeded almost az once 70 PtVUPo ~
/ his plan, for IL seemed 10 him the only pan
worthy of consideration. As ne went a OF
| General Lee, looking steadily INTO me NJ
| with an distracted air, listened patlenuN
Alexander said his full say breT pause
ensued, which Lee finally broke IN syn, SOM =
what these words; No, General AleA ~,
der. that will not do! You must rememDel
We are n Christian people We have fought
Ibis tgbt as long ana as well as we knew
how. Ne nave been defeated For u.s. "a a.
Christian people, there is now put on on,
course no pursue We must accept "a
situation: these men must go home an'
plant a crop and we must proceed 10 pun ,,
IN our country on a new basis. we ca
NOT have recourse to the methods you sus
gSst7 remember being deeply impresse'
with Alexander's comment as ne repeatS1,
these words Of Lee. They had evident y
6urned themselves into his memory n
ia 81 Mad nothing more to say; ! rel
tbat the mau mad scared way up above m. M
he he dominated me lomp:eteiy ] rose i Iod
beside him. silently mounted my n9'se s.. fb,
/ hack 10 my command ana W"ItVu ~ -
/, order 10 surrender ~. .4,,rso III
Then and there Lee decided IT'S course neo 10
the Confederacy And take ~ ih Sts+a
yiot one solitary man IN the Cnited sl4 ~
today North or South, who does not zee
+hot he decided right.