The Washington times., 1904-10-09
Intimate Personal Life of Great Virginian
Revealed Through Publication Of His
Correspondence.
Story of the Occasion When the General
Failed TO Recognize His Son, and Many
Other Anecdotes.


ingso thorough that a united country has
come TO accept the achievements OF the
COmmander-in-Chief OF the Confederate
armies as a brilliant addition 10 the rec
ORD OF American military glory. Tine
fact that his enduring fame viii be
based on his magnificent defense OF
Richmond against the advance OF the
United States army IN no way detracJs
from a feeling OF national pride that the
man who exhibited such genius as "a
military commander was a product OF
an old American family and graduate
OF West Point who secured his practical
knowledge OF war from the contest with
Mexico, in which he played a prominent
part.
The passing OF time has established
Lee in the frst rank OF stFategists.
While the country as a whole does not
share in the belief OF the Southern
States that he was the greatest general
of modern times. his defensive fighting
during the last three years OF the civil
war against overwhelming odds and
with the inadequate forces and supplies
at his command, gave him a place in
history superior 20 that Of any general
since his day.
Valuable Addition to Literature.
A collection OF the personal letters OF
Gen. Robert 3. Lee. edited and elab-
Grated By his son, Capt Robert =. Lee,
has been gathered together in book form
and issued from the press of Doubleday,
Page & Co. The volume does not add
anything 10 the actual history OF the
war, nor in fact deal with Lee as a com
mander to any material extent, but as
picture OF the intimate personal life OF
the great Vlrginian it IS a valuable ad-
ditiOn 10 the literature OF the country.
Hail the charm Of the letters lies in
the fact that they were written with no
thought that any but the writer's i'm
mediate family would ever read them.
and for that reason the character of the
man is fully disclosed IN all its simple
nobility and deep religious feeling The
m0desty of Lee has kept from the let
tiers any reference 10 his military plans
and accomplishments. but his views on
the great questions with which his name
IS so intimately associated are frequent
" reflected in the correspondence with
his wife and children.
Control Of Cadets Wonderful.
Captain Lee relates many interesting
anecdotes OF his father during his term
as superintendent Of the West Point
Military Academy. His control OF the
cadets was wonderful, and foreshad-
owed the obedience and devotion that
he secured from the undisciplined army
OF Northern Virginia at the commence
ment OF the civil war
1T was against the rules" saws the
author. that the cadets should 90 be-
yound certain limits without permits
sion OF course they did 90 sometimes.
and when caught were given quite
number or dement's Ny father was
riding out one afternoon with me. and,
while rounding a turn IA the mountain
road with a deep woody raviue on one
side. We came suddenly upon three
cadets far beyond the limits. They i'm
Inedlateiy leaped over a low wall on the
side OF the road and disappeared from
our view. We rode on for a minute in
silence then my father said; Did you
know those young meuZ But no. If you
did don't say so. ] wish boys would do
what is right. It would be so much easier
for all Uartiesr "
He knew he would have 10 report
them but, not being sure OF who they
were, presume - wished TO give them
the beneht OF the doubt At any rate
never heard any more about g. one OF
the three asked me next day II my
father had recognized them. and I told
him what had occurred"
His Love for Animals.
General Lees love for animals was
Gistinguishing trait OF his character.
During the Mexican war he purchased
ln Texas chestnut mare Of fine size
and great power, which became his IA
vorite riding horse. and was called
Grace Darling. She bore him through
the entire campaign, and was shot seven
times, but not seriously injured. in a
letter 20 his family be writes OF the att
tention he considered due his faithful
animal
j only arrived yesterday, after a long
journey up the Mississippi. which route
i was induced 20 take. for the better
accommodation OF my horse, as / wished
% spare her as much annoyance and
fatigue as possible, she already having
undergone 50 much suffering ia my
service. I landed her AT Wheeling ana
Left her 10 come over with jim"
Solicitors About Horses.
During the civil war and for many
years after. while he was president OF
Washington College. his fsVOrite riding
horse was Traveller, He frequently
speaks in his letters OF the horse. and
once when be was away from Lexington
ar the springs he asks In letter 20 his
clerk: How is Traveller Tell him I
miss him dreadfuIIys and have repsnted
or our separation but once-aud that IS
the whole time since we parted
II think" says the author, Traveller
appreciated his love and sympathy. and
returned IL as much as was a horses
nature % do. One afternoon the gem
eral rode down 20 the canal boat land
iag 20 put on board a young lady who
had been visiting his daughters and was
returning home He dlsmouuted, tied
Traveller 10 a post and was standing
GA the boat making his sdisux when
some one called out that Traveller was
loose. Sure enough. the gallant gray
was making his way up the road. In
creasing his speed as a number OF boys
and men tried 30 stop him.
'Aiy father Immediately stepped
ashore. called % tho crowd 20 stand
Etil, and advancing a few steps gave "a
peculiar low whistle. AT the nrst sound
Traveller stopped and pricked up his
ears. The general whistled a second
time, and the horse with a glad whiuuy