The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-17

| and out would go every word that
could be spared, adjective or substan-
| tive, participle or pronoun.
Headquarters was ruled by a grave
| decorum that never relaxed. The Old
Man never for a moment forgot HIM
self. When he rode, he rode two
| horses length in front, and the staff
| followed; and the boys life was not
entirely a happy one. They got even
sometimes. though.
when Meade crossed the Rappahan-
mock at Mine Run in the fall of 1903
Hampton was covering that line with
the cavalry and Gen. Lee rode down
to see what was going on and whether
| it was real movement or only a re-
| connoissance.
"As they rode the cavalry staff, ever
| alert to make themselves comfortable,
were sent off to locate headquarters for
the night. After satisfying themselves
| that Meade was going back the two
| generals rode together until at a point
| a courier stationed in. the road turned
| them off to fine house in the dis
| lance. Arrived there, they found Maj.
| Rawlins Lowndes of Hampton's staff in
| possession, with fine fire in the only
room and good stables for the horses.
after warming themselves-it was
rough, raw weather-Gen. Hampton
| said: General, where are your head
| quarters? Said Lee: Indeed, L don't
| know. These were my headquarters
last night and this morning when I
left here, but these young gentlemen
are so comfortable that 1t would be a
pity to disturb them OF course, great
| proteStation and excuse on Hampton s
part. Well move at once There was
only one habitable room, with two
beds, and it was ultimately arranged
that the two generals should have the
two beds and each keep a staff officer,
and that the rest should shift for them
selves. So Gen. Lee kept Marshall and
General Hampton kept Lowndes, and
| the caValrymen gave Marshall a fair
share of the carpet before the fire and
put him on the outside, next the door,
| so he had to be getting up all night
to receive reports that were constantly
coming in. Lowndes slept the sleep
of the just. warm and long.
Next morning they had for break
fast blockade bacon, musty and rusty,
and rank and poor pone. Some neigh
Dor had sent to Gen. Lee a small tin
bucket with some slices of breast of
turkey and beat biscuits.
Gen. Lee, presiding with his usual
dignity, helped to breakfast. General,
what shall have the pleasure of help
ing YOU to-turkey or bacon?' Bacon,
said Hampton and so on down to
I.owndes. Turkey said Lowndes. So
Lowndes ate the turkey and the rest
struggled along on the bacon. After
breakfast Gen. Lee went back, and
Hampton rode down to the lines. Maj.
Lown1es,' said he don't you think
that was very impudent in you eating
up all Gen. Lees breakfast I don't
think so at ALL said Lowndes. That
| old man is always putting on too much
J style for me, and it does him good to
be taken down occasionally Gen. Lee
however, had a good memory for men
and things.
TN the winter of 1S64-5, before Pc.
tersburg, he returned from an early
ride along the lines to get breakfast
with Hampton. The breakfast consist
ed of a large tray of rice, boiled Caro-
lima fashion, where each grain is dis
tinct and dry; sorghum coffee, /. e.,
coffee made from the seeds of the sor-
ghum plant, and baked sweet potatoes
said Hampton: General, shall
help you TO some of this rice?' Thank
YOU said Gen. Lee, and If it is as
convenient to you I'd like to be helped
before that dish gets to Major
Lowndes.
After the war was over and things
had settled down Lowndes, who was a
great rice planter on the coast of
l
president of Washington and Lee Col
lege, Lexington, Va, two tierces of
rice. So Lowndes had a good memory,
too.
After Gen. Lees conference with
Gen. Grant at Appomattox and the
terms of surrender had been arranged
] the. first thing Gen. Lee did after
reaching his tent continues Gen.
Johnston. was to direct Marshall TO
prepare farewell order to the army
The Confederate camp was immediate
~ deluged by federal officers coming
in to see old friends and acquaintance,
many of them kin. The visitors brought
commissary supplies long unknown to
the Confederate stomach-fine cognac
brandy, old Bourbon whisky, loaf SUI
gar, etc.-and with the interchange of
experiences and the news from mutual
friends at home a staff officer ever If
he was the military secretary, had no
time to write sentimental farewell or
ders.
After the lapse of several hours Gen.
Lee sent for Col. Marshall and asked
him for the order and the military sec
rotary was forced to confess that his
time had been so taken up with visitors
that he had not a chance to write a
word. Then, Colonel said the general
get in that ambulance and you will
4 find time. and quiet to write and call
ing the sentinel at his quarters, he
said: Sentinel. take charge of that
ambulance and do not let any one dis
turb Col. Marshall, until he has finish
ed what he has to do So the fare
well order was written by order and
under guard"
|
4 "Haunts of Fish and Game"
| fe