The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23

had been carried out the result would have
been victory rather than retreat. You did
not know II; for should not have known
1t had he not breatbed II In my ear, only ct
my earnest request, and begging that moth
ing be said about II. The 'clarnor which
then rose followed Lee when he went to
South Carolina, 80 that II became neoes-
sary. on his departure. for me 10 write a
letter TO the Governor OF that State, tell
ing him what manner Of man he was. Yet.
through all this, with magnanimity rarely
equalled, he stood In silence. without de-
Tending himself, or allowing others to
defend him. for no was unwilling to offend
any one who was wearing q sword and
striking blows for the Confederacy."
From the early part Of November. 1851,
until early In March, 1867, Lee was engaged
in directing the construction OF line OF de-
fence along the Southern coast. Itwasmost
important that the Notifications Of Charles
ton and Savannah should be made a. strong
as possible. The difficulties In tho way
were many and great, but Lees persever-
ance overcame most Of them. The out
come Of the plans formed by him was that
neither Of those cities fell till near the close
OF the war. and thus was preserved to the
Confederanv a tract of country needed
for the feeding Of its army. Soon after
the beginning Of March Lee was recalled
to Richmond and on the 18th OF that month
was assigned, under the direction OF the
President, TO the supervision Of the military
operations Of all the armies OF the Con-
federate States. OF Lees military duties
during the next two or three months Col.
Taylor. In his -Four Years With Gen.
Lee testihes: Exercising q constant
supervision over the condition Of affairs
at each important point. thoroughly in
formed az TO the resources and necessities
of the several commanders Of armies in
the field, as well as to the dangers which
threatened them respectively, he was
enabled to give them wise counsel, TO Offer
them valuable suggestions and to respond
to their demands for assistance and sup
port to such extent as the limited resources
Of the Government would permit. 1t was
in great measure due to his advice and
encouragement that Gen. Magruder 30
stoutly and calamity held his lines on the
Peninsula against Gen. Mcclellan until
troops could be sent to his relief from Gen.
Johnston's army Col. Taylor also quotes
a letter of Lees to "Stonewall" jackson.
to show that the former suggested the
movement which eliminated in the defeat
OF Banks on May Is. Among other i'm
portant services rendered at this period
by Gen. Lee may be mentioned the line
Of earthworks around the city Of Rich
mond, and other preparations for resisting
the threatened attack On May 81 the
Battle Of Seven Pines was fought, and
Cen Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the
Confederate Army, was severely wounded.
The next day, by order Of the President,
Gen. Lee took command Of the Army Of
Northern Virginia
Thenceforth Lees military career Is
familiar history, but many a sidelight Is
cast upon it by the author Of this book.
who entered Jacksons corps as a private
soldier. The father and son met on the
field of the second battle OF Manassas, and
again at the battle Of Sharpsburg or An
tietam In the autumn OF 1852 our author
had offered to him the position Of Lieu
tenant and aide-de-camp on the STAFF Of his
brother. w. H. F. Lee, just promoted to
the command OF a brigade OF cavalry. His
father, the General. had told him. when
he Joined the army, to do his whole duty
faithfully, not to be rash about volunt eer-
ing for any service out of his regular line,
and always to accept promotion. After
consulting him, II was decided that the
young man should take the position offered.
and his father presented to him q horse
and one OF his swords. The promotion
neoessitated our authors obtaining an hon.
orable discharge as q private from the
ranks. and this he secured from Gen.
'Stonewall" jackson. commanding the
corps Of which his company formed part.
Thenceforth, as an officer in the cavalry
OF the staff, young Robert Lee had moro
frequent opportunities OF seeing his father.
He tells us that -in the course OF duty
was sometimes sent to him to report the
condition Of affairs at the front, or on the
flank OF the army, and also occasionally
paid him visits. At these times he would
take me into his tent, talk to me about
my mother and sisters, about my horse and
myself or the people and the country
where my command happened TO be sta
toned. think my presence was very
grateful to him, and he seemed to brighten
up when l came ! remember he always
took 1t as q matter OF course that must be
hungry land / was for three years., 80 he
invariably made his mess steward give me
something to eat. IL did not have time
to wait for the regular meal Some days
after the battle OF Fredericksburg was over
young Lee saw his father as calm and COM
posed as il nothing unusual had happened.
He never referred to his great victory.
except to deplore the loss OF brave officers
and soldiers or the sufIe rings Of the sick
and wounded.
1t was not long after the battle Of Fred
ericksburg that Gen. Lee performed an act
which excited a good deal Of comment at
the time In Northern newspapers. His
father-in-law. Mr. GUSTS, had made him
executor of his WILL wherein 1t was directed
that all the slaves belonging to the estate
should be set free after the expiration Of a
designated number OF years. The time
had now arrived. and. Notwithstanding the
exacting duties Of his position, the care Of the
soldiers and his anxiety about
their future, immediate and distant, Lee
proceeded TO carry out the provisions OF the
will, and had delivered to every one Of his
servants whom he could reach deed Of
In a contemporary letter
he pointed out that not all the names Of
theslaves at Arlin gton and on the Pamun-
key were embraced In the list submitted
to him, and he requested that supple
II