The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-10

Lee is compelled to withdraw the in
fantry from his line to meet this move
ment, in the absence of defenders.
Grant, as if on parade. marches over
the Confederate lines, Richmond falls,
and after a brief interval of desperate
heroic unavailing strife, the Army of
Northern Virginia is annihilated. The
fearless remnant of his worn and vast
ed veterans, surrounded by ten times
their number, without a word of I'M
kindness from their brave &foemen
whom they had so often defeated, so
Ions held at bay with all the honors
of war. surrendered their battle-riVen
standards.
Then came that ever to be remem-
bered scene when his wasted veterans
gather al the side of their general, press
his hands, touch his clothing and ca
ress his horse. In simple words he
said Men, we have fought through
the war together. 1 have done my best
for you. My heart is too full to say
more And then the last message to
the Army of Northern Virginia, read
through tears which wash the CRIME of
battle from the veterans face; not
tears of anger or humiliation, but tears
of sympathy for him, of exultation and
pride for the martial honor to the hum
blest private, his leadership has won,
honor preserved to them with arms in
their hands, by the terms of the sur
render; the proudest heritage to the
latest times of the sons of that hero
strain. Aye, more, a heritage of valor
and potency at the command of our re-
united land, which the powers of earth
will do we'll to regard in all the con-
tingencies dangerous to our welfare the
future may have in store. Nor should
that land be, nor is it unmindful CT
the worlds estimate of Robert Ed
ward Lee, and the men he led. said
Won Moltke: He was the full equal
of Wellington, the conqueror of Ma
poleon.' Said Theodore Roosevelt: He
will undoubtedly rank as without any
exception the very greatest of all he
great captains that the English-speak-
ing peoples have brought forth Said
Stonewall Jackson: Gen. Lee is the
only man l would be willing to follow
blindfold.' Said Winfield Scott: He
was the very best soldier that l ever
saw in the field
AND on that sad autumnal day so
many years ago, yet so near to us who
wore the gray as standing with wife
and loved ones to invoke on his frugal
table the blessing of the Master he
loved and served, he sank to rise no
more Oh, what then did foe and
friend say of the white soul of
Lee? Said one great exponent of North
ern thought even in that hour OF little
abated fury: Judged by his motives
the career of Robert E. Lee must COM
mand the deliberate admiration even
of those who most earnestly condemn
the course upon which he decided in
the most solemn and imperative crisis
of his life Said another: Robert Ed
ward Lee was an American, and the
great nation which gave him birth
would be to-day unworthy of such a
son if she regarded him lightly. Never
had mother a nobler son. In him all
that was pure and lofty in mind and
purpose found Judgment. He conquered
us in misfortune, even as he dazzled
us by his genius, when the tramp OF
his soldiers resounded through the val
legs of Virginia. Said another in
words of the Arthurian legend; All,
Sir Lancelot. there thou lieSt. Thou
vert head of all Christian knights, and
now, / dare say thou vert the court
Hest knight that ever bare shield.
and thou vert the kindest man that
ever strake with sword and thou vert
the goodliest person that ever came
among press of knights; and thou vert
the meekest and the gentlest that ever
ate in hall among ladies; and thou
vert the sternest knight to thy mortal
foe that ever put spear in rest
Deny Lee a place by Washington
All, is it sure. If in the awful hour
when the invading columns approached
Virginias soil, the winds of the Proph-
ct had breathed upon the slain that
they might live. that caught from the
wall at Mount Vernon by the reincar-
mated hand of the Father of his Coun-
try. the defensive blade of Washing
ton would not have CLEANED beside the
sword of Lee. Repel then not my coun-
! try the ferYid love of thy sons who
! fought with Lee, and of the children OF
their loins. Their prowess thou has
seen. On the hills of Santiago. on the
waters of Luzon. In thy need the
| children of Grant have been and are
brethren in arms of the kinsmen o.
Lee. officers of his, thou hast called t.
thy service in highest place in peace
and war. His comrades and his kins
men wear thy swords. With Joy hi,
sword, too. had leaped at thy com
mand. The flowers of spring will
equal hand band thou wilt hencefortl
strew on graves of all thy dead. Why
then, repel his blameless name from
thy immortals scroll? Then honor hin
and in thy need on those who low
him wilt thou not call in vain. An,
woe to thy foe in press of battle whei
the soul of Lee shall fire their heart
and his bright sword shall point tn
charging columns of thy sons