The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-31
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especial 10 Inc
EMPORIA. VA. May 3o.-"One of my
most treasured recollectiona Is slight
which l once had OF General Robert 10.
Lee" said Judge @. p. Barhan, of the
County Court OF Greenesvillc county. as
he sat talking TO a group on the porch
at the Central Hotel hero last night. 1t
was dark and we couldn't see the judges
face, but there was n quaver In his voice
as he went on TO relate the Incident.
and when he got through there was some-
thing IN my tilront which was not a cold.
II was only about six years old when
my father Joined the Confederate army
ir 1861" the Judge went on. y was the
Oldest OF four children. Towards the last
OF the struggle life was hard with US.
and how we kept from starving after the
war Is n mystery. My father was a pris-
oner at Johnson's Island until late In the
summer OF 1905 a negro regiment OF
Union soldiers came np from the South
that summer after the war and carried
off the last horse VIC had. one which had
been in the Federal service. a young
man about twenty-one years old. who
had fought In the Confederate army four
Years. went after those negroes when
he heard our horse was gone. and no
made them give up that horse. liz 1t
wonderful that should think him the
bravest man who followed Lee7
"a year, or maybe two years. after the
war 1t was learned that General Lee and
one OF his daughters would pass through
Franklin on a certain day. The news
spread through that county like a prairie
nrc. on the day on which he was to pass
great crowd began to gather. Farm
ers VINO had served under Lee began to
come early and many brought their fam
tlie.. When II was time for the train
there was an Immense throng at tho lit
lie station. My father, Colonel Bnrham,
and Captain Bogart at once boarded the
train, and I followed close behind them.
for my father had brought me to soc the
prentest man who had ever lived, as
he thought him. My father and Captain
Bogars went up to where General Lee and
his daughter were sitting. but slipped In
between the seats q short distance away
and kept my eyes glued on the great man..
my father and Captain Bogart 'ntro-
duced tho people as they came up. There
were hundreds OF them-men who had
fought under Lee. their wives and sons
and daughters.
..At this distance OF time said the
Judge IL am still .1,ostimpressed by tho
fact that very few OF the men and wo-
men uttered word My father or Cap
tain Bogart would introduce them. Gene
raj Lee would grasp the hand presented.
and the man or woman would move on
without having spoken word. Free
quently General Lee would not speak,
only hand clasp. It was ovation
n tribute OF love and reverence. such rs
this world has given to but few.
"About everybody had left the car ex-
cept passengers, when General Lees
eye fell on me.
I" My son. come here he said. came
to the end Of the seat where he was
standing. He first placed his hand on
my head. and then laid his arm around
my shoulder. do not remember the
gentle words he spoke to me. but can
never forget the expression in those
splendid eyes as gazed up into them.
"And then came away, for the train.
which had been held in order to allow
the people to see General Lee. was about
to carry me off.
"But Ind looked upon man whose
like the world has, never seen. and I. n
boy. had been an actor In an Incident.
the memory Of which will go with me
until am ready for the cemetery"
There was full minutes silence when
the Judge concluded. He and others OF
the group had been detailing Instances
OF the horrors OF reconstruction days.
I noticed that when tho conversation