The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-23
NEW BOOK NEWS
CONDUCTED BY MARTHA YOUNG

show the deep appreciation of this great soul of all that was lofty and | beautiful. In the often expressed anxiety for his men. in his readiness to shoulder all the blame for defeat in his afectionate care for his family, even to every small detail of comfort, the magnificence of the great gener- al's soul and character shine with sec rene luminosity.
 The story of Captain Lee than a private in the Confederate army, meeting the general, his father, has been told all over the South in so many various ways that I give it here | in his own words:
 Captain Lee was then an artillery man in ''Stonewalr' Jackson's division It was just after the battle of Cold Harbor.
 "The tremendous work stonewalPs men had performed. including the rap- i'd march from the valley of Virginia. the short rations. the bad water, and the great heat had begun to tell upon us. and I was pretty well worn out. On this particular morning my bat i tery had not moved from It's bivouac ground of the previous night, but was parked in an open field all ready, waiting orders. Most of the men were lying down, many sleeping. my self among the latter number. To get some shade and to be out of the way. I had crawled under a caisson, and was busy making up many lost hours of rest. Suddenly I was rudely awakened by a comrade, prodding me with a sponge-staf as l had failed to be aroused by his call. and was told to get up and come out, that some one wished to see me. Half awake, I staggered out. and found myself face to face with General Lee and his staff Their fresh uniforms, bright equipments and wsll-groomed horses contrasted so forcibIy with the war-worn appearance of our com mand that I was completely dazed. It took me a moment or two to realize what 1t all meant, but when I saw my fathers loving eyes and smile 1t became clear to me that he had rid den by to see If I was safe and to ask how I was getting along. I remem Der how anxiously those with nim gazed at me, and I am sure 1t must have struck them as very odd that such a dirty ragged. unkempt youth could have beea the son of this grand looking victorious commander. I was introduced recently to a gentleman. now living in Washington, who, when he found out my name, said he had 1 tfiSI tn6 OHC0 DcIOES anu that lI was l on this occasion. He also said that he had often told of this incident as Illustrating the peculiar composition of our army"
 Captain Lee relates a like instance It was at Second Manassas where the general had refined in Traveller" within a few feet of the gun of which young Robert had charge;
 When the general, after a moment or two, dropped his glass to his side, and turned to his stan, Captain Mason said:
 "'General, here Is some one who wants to speak to you The General. seeing much-begrimed artilleryman. sponge staff In hand, said: Well. my man. what can l do for your" I re- piled. Why, General, don't you know me? and he, of course at once recog- nized me, and was very much amused at my appearance and most glad to see that was safe and we'll"
 The heart is touched to the quick at the story simply told of 'Stonewall'' Jaekson's .death-wound and of the tributes of these two great command CTS each to the other;
 'tFO Jackson's note, telling him that he was wounded, my father replied I cannot express my regret at the oc- currence. Could have directed events, should have chosen for the good of the country to have been dis abled in your stead9 I congratulate you on the victory, which is due to your skill and energys Jackson said when this was read to him, Better that ten Jacksons should fall than one Lee Afterward. when 1t was report ed that Jackson was doing well, Gen. eral Lee playfully sent him word: You are better off than I am, for while you have lost your left, | have lost my right arm Then hearing he was worse. he said: Tell him that am praying for him as I believe I have never prayed for myself.'"
 Captain Lee relates in a perfectly unprejudiced manner the story of the Federals sending to the home of Mrs Wickham, Hickory Hill," to take prisoner his brother, General w. H. F. Lee, lying i'll of a wound. General R. E. Lees letters to his family at this time show the greatness of the man. To his daughter-in-law. wife of General Fitzhugh Lee, he writes: T can appreciate your distress at Fitz- hugh's situation. l deeply sympathize with it, and in the lone hours of the night l groan in sorrow at his captiv- tty and separation from you. In His owR good time God will relieve us and make all things work together for our SoS0s IT "S give l1lm our love and place in Him our trust. I can see no harm that can result from Fitzhugh's capture, except his detention. I feel assured that he will be well attended to. He will be in the hands of old army officers and surgeons, most of whom are men of principle and hu- manity." To his wife the General writes: T have heard with great grief that Fitzhugh has been captured by the enemy. Had not expected that he would be taken from his bed and carried off, but we must bear and moi repine at the will of God. It will eventuate in some good that We know not of now"
 Before passing through the gloom Of the story of slow crushing out of brave men by might, money and num- bers, let us read with unmarred pIeas- ure Captain Lees description of a re- view of that "incomparable infantry. " the Army of Northern Virginia:
 The General was mounted on Trav- eler looking very proud of his mas ter who had on sash and sword. which he very rarely wore, a pair of new cavalry gauntlets. and, think, A new hat At any rate. he looked unusual " me, and sat his horse like a perfect picture of grace and prowess. The infantry was drawn up in column by di- visions with their bright muskets all glittering in the sun. their battle-fiaRs standing straight out before the breeze vaN-