The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-20

Directly after that offer ana refusal
Col. Lee went to Gen. Scott and told him
OF it, and then the next day he sent in
his resignation.
While Col Lee still hoped that war
might be averted, yet he was a VirgniGn
he felt it incumbent on him to obey the
authority Of his State, and to cast his
fortunes for veal or woe with his people
Two days after he had resigned, Virginia
then having withdrawn from the Union
the Governor OF that State invited Lee
to Richmond; and ne at once proceeded
TO that city. The Legislature was in Ses-
sion and conferred on him the appoint
ment of MajorGeneral, and invested him
with the command of all the forces of
that State. He accepted the commits
SIGN, and entered the military service Of
Virginia as an independent and sovereign
State.
1t was during the reposc after the
easy defeat of Burnside's assault, when
Tic Confederate hopes were in an ecstacg
OF pride and confidence, that the day ar
rived, when under Mr.. Custis's viii, the
slaves of Mrs. Lees estate were to be
cr.ancipated. Gen. Lee turned aside from
his military cares and duties to prepare
and arranged for the future comfort and
welfare of the hundred slaves that would
otherwise have been the property Of his
wife and that at a time, too, when their
home at Arlington had been siezed ny
the Federal Government, and their prop
erty there confscated.
Gen. Lees life in camp was simple and
transformations. The bearing of the great
military chieftain, even in the mer dian
Of his glorious career, was always kind
and considerable. With his military FAM
| lily, his dignifed courtesy was often
dashed with a lively humor and a pleas
ant revelry, rather severity of demeanor,
sometimes, urged his young men on TO
greater zeal and Watchfulness. He was
always looking after his soldiers organ
izing them; and as far as possible provid-
/ ing for their necessities. Mr.. Lee and
! her family were setting an example to our
Southern matrons by knitting socks and
gICyes, which she sent IN bacheS to Gen.
! Lee, who portioned them out TO his sui
/ fering army. In che letter he wrote:
There was siXty-seyen pairs OF socks in
the bag which | brought from Richmond
with me yesterday. One dozen OF the
Stuart socks had double heels Can't You
teach Mildred that stitch?" Picture the
great military commander, after a con-
! terence with the President. carefully car.
rying a bag of socks back to his army,
| knit by the fingers of his wife and daugh-
ters! Again, he wrote, Your note with
the socks arrived last evening. l have
sent them to the Stonowall Brigade, in
! GLIDING this last parcel, l have sent to
that brigade 263 pairs. Still there arc
about 140, whose homes are within the
enemy's lines, and who are without socks.
| Tell the young women to work hard for
the brave Stonewalers." And so, While
he planned and fought, his wife and
daughters of the Confederacy, We're ply
ins Their needles. night and day, to re-
lieve the sufferings of the soldiers in the
army. And as resolute and courageous
as the men were, the mothers and daugk-
tiers Of the Confederacy were equal to
them, in fortitude. and in patient endur
ance of the sufferings and privations OF
the long protracted period of the war.
Mourning and desolation came 10 every
household. but the spirit Of the woman
OF the South vas unconquerable.
Early in February, Lee was invested
with the supreme command OF all the
/ Confederate armies.
But it was now too late. Had this
been done six months earlier, the final re-
suit would probably have been different.
/ Notwithstanding the vast resources OF
the North in men and material, conll'
dence in its success was last failing. us
money had sunk to forty cents on the
dollar. and the expenses OF the Federal
armies were appalling. One more cam
pagn: thorough awakening OF the
South to the necessity of a supreme Ell
fort-and the North would probably
have abandoned the war as hopeless.
But as gloomy as the situation was
Lee did not despair.
His noble army; his flag, emblazoned
with glory, and the Confederacy whose
defence had been committed to his trust,
had all passed away.
In those black hours of cruel fate,
while yet in the agony of disappointment,
and of grief and of love--and while the
peans of his victorious foes rang in trl-
umph throughout the contlnent-his lofty
soul sent forth note that only his great
heart could have uttered:
Human fortitude should be equal to
all human calamity
Success generally bespeaks merit.
/ Such success as was won by StoneWall
jackson and General Forrest is the high
est proof of great merit The victories
of Lee will also attest to posterity his
title to immortal fame; and the final dis
aster that overwhelmed him, cannot de-
tract from it, The adverse circumstances
that at last surrounded the South rem
dered victory impossible. Lee did not
| inaugurate the war; he did not advise
it: he deplored it. It's entire conduct
was not in his keeping; he was given an
army command, and he made it an army
of heroes-the most glorious army IN
the annals of time.
The beleaguered, bockaded South,
without military supplies finally eX-
hausted its resources. It's money became
worthless, its provisions failed, suffering
and privation' and hunger pervaded the
land The great North, with its larger
population, its numerous factories, its eX-
tensive commerce. its immense wealth,
had the world for its store house; and its
| supply of men, as well as of material,
was almost inexhaustible. The Northern