The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-08
General Lee Prevented Guirila Warfare.

allzation, panic, abandonment Of all hope.
appeared on every hand Wagons wtte
rollng along without any order or SIS.
TEN. Caisson and timber chests. without
commanding officers seemed to be floating
aimlessly upon a tide of dlsorgaulzatiCn.
Rising, TO his fun height, casting glance
sweeping the horizon with his long arm and
hony forehnger, my father exclaimed:
This Is the endl' II is impossible to convey
an idea Of the agony and the bitterness OF
his words and gestures" Then follows
this description Of the interview which
ensued:
tico of the house that | have mentioned.
he had washed his face in tin basin
and stood drying his head with a coarse
towel as we approached General Lee ex-
claimed ella isjr my father my poor brave men
alive. For more than a week they have
been nghting day and night without food.
something to eat!
Some in. general, said General Lee,
soothingly They deserve something to
shall share my breakfast. He dlsarmed
everything like defiance by his frankness
1T was but a few moments, however
before my father launched forth in a
fresh denunciatiCn of the conduct OF Cen
eral Bushrod johnson in the engagement
Of the 9Th. ] am satisfied that General
Lee felt as he did; but, assuming an air Of
mock severity he said General are YOU
aware that you are liable to court marital
, and execution for insubordnaton and dis.
spect toward your commanding ofhcers"'
My father looked at him with lifted
eyebrows and flashing eyes, aud ex.
claimed: Shot! You can't afford to shoot
the men who fight for cursihg those who
ran away. Shot! l wish you would shoot
me If you don't some d Yankee prob.
ably will within the next twenty.four
Growing more serious. General Lee In.
| CURED what he thought Of the situation
=" 'SltuatlonT said the bold old man
! There is no situation! Nothing remains.
your poor mules and send them home in
! time for spring blowing This army is
| hopelessly whipped, and is fast becoming
! demoralized. These men have already en-.
| dured more than | believed flesh and blood
| could stand, and say to you, sir, emphat.
ically, that to prolong the struggle is
murder, and the blood Of every man who is
| head, General Lee
] This last expression seemed to cause
| General Lee great pain. With a gesture OF
protested; oh, general, do not Gu; SO
| wildly. Ny burdens are heavy enough
What would the country think of me II
did what you suggest
NO COUNTRY SAVE COMMANDER.
Country be -" was the quick re
ply. There is no country. There has
been no country, general, for a year OF
more. You are the country OF these men
They have fought for you. They havt
shivered through a long winter for you
WithGNt pay or clothes or care Of any
sort, their devotion TO you and faith IL
you have been the only things which
4 have held this army together II yol
demand the sacrifice, there are stu let
thousands OF us who will die with you
You know the game Is desperate Deyon
redemption and that, if you SO announce
no man, or government or people WI
gainsay your decision. That is Why
repeat that the blood OF any man kllle
hereafter is upon your h1,d."
General Lee stood for some TN time . at a.
now Singing upon the roads and in tn
fields. and made no response"
1t will be remembered that John san
gent Wise was individually present a
This conversation. a youth of 10 | hay
as little respect as anyone well can nav
for the. recollection of thirty years sine
as a basis for history. Nevertheless,
would seem quite out Of tie question tna
youth Of only 10 could have been preselHi