The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-03
"reminiscences
Of GE.N.F|IZi!.. lee ] !: {:
----------- 49,
Stories Of the Gallant Cavalry
man in War and in !.
Peace.
. BACKED WE'YLER DOWN n
Cab1ed No Uncertain Message
to the United States
Government.
BACKED WE'YLER DOW
BY j. WILLIAM JONES.

BY j, WILLIAM JONES.
Now that "Our Fitz" has left US. there
come trooping up a thousand memories to
tell OF him as he was, and feel inclined
TO send you from my sick room a fcw
Il OF these which may be OF interest to your
readers
Serving during the four years OF the
war in the infantry, did not have the
privilege OF seeing much OF General Fitz.
Lee--1 met him first at General stuart 8
headquarters but saw him occasionally
riding at the head OF his troopers sitting
his horse with the easy grace which We
remember no WELL or upon occasion sing
& Ing In his clear, ringing voice, L II You
Want to Have a Good Time Jine the Cav
airy"
But II l did not see him often / heard
a good deal OF his gallant exploits, keen
wit, good stories and kind-heart, which
Y made Our Fitz" the Idol OF sthe army.
sSI 1t was told OF him that upon one oc-l
casion HIS favorite mare, nellie Gray, +
had Alost shoe and was q little lame,
and he was heard to say, while Affection
atcly patting her:
a. Nellie, my lady. wish 1t could be so
arranged that you could ride me for
T.
On the campaign OF Second Manassas he
surrounded a house In which q number
or Federal officers were Just sitting down.
TO dinner, 3 and entering the dining room
4 with drawn pistol. he demanded their,
surrender, and quietly said as they we're
making for their arms:
Now, quit your foolishncss gentlemen:
mi this house Is surrounded BY my men, ana
sit viii be better for you % quietly sur
render. just pile your arms In that cor
@ nor; my people will take care Of them
and all will be lovely 8}ss IN;
This demand being complied with he
said:
!, n ..vYell, j suppose that ! have captured
i the dlnnersns well as It's former owners.
and cordially invite you gentlemen 70
4 dine with me. Be seated and We VIII Try
III the quality Of these yfands.' N S
This Invitation WAS very promptly ac-i
III cepted ( and the elegant dinner was dis
posed OF while Jest and story and song
went the rounds. 5;s r.
Drank Their T oddies.
When Stuart made his raid on Catlctt's
Station ana captured I'ope's headquarters,
Fitz Lee was In the advance and came
very near capturing his COUSIN Colonel
Marshall, who rushed out OF the rear ear OF
n his tent, and escaped IN the darkness as
&Fitz. entered the front. $4
was atgthe Ebbitt II ouse. In hington,.
and while reading In the reading room. 4
nj llea I'd n party OF Federal Ulcers telling
ls OF their war experiences. One OF them
r told very wildly his experience at Cat
1 let's Station, when the rebels p .i
things: "Colonel Marshall and 4 had JUST.
Sa mixed our toddies to our taste when we,
heard great confusion In the camp ana
the rebels entered the front8of our..tent
as we went out ut the rear And ! de-
5s9 clare I never kneW " ether we drank
III those toddies or$not -
..Our 5Fitz" could not resist the tcmpta.-
ton to get off a good thing. and so he
promptly camo forward and said: Elk
cuse me. gen tlemen. for interrupting yout5
conversation. but as that entleman seems
N doubtful what beca me Of those toddies..
"a and Il can enllghten him. I will do so.
az d rank one OF those toddeis myself. and one
of my staff the other, am General Fitz
JIM Lee OF Virginia. md led the Confede-$
rates n t. Catett's Station. entered the
front OF the tent MS my cousin. Colonel!
4 Marshall and this gentleman Numbered
to the rear, and seeing the todloes ane
knowing that they had not had time to
poison them. VIC disposed Of them very
promptly. And i want now to thank this
gentleman for his skill In mixing toddies
81 for thirsty and weary rebel..
"A hearty laugh followed. General 5Fitz
38 wa introduced around ana tllea PAL ~ g
delighted to add to their number the &C.:
NAL Confederate. 3i35
.3l $1 have not space to give details OF Gem
eral Lees brilliant service. but can only
give in brief several illustrations.
4FS On the 18th Of March 1853. General
i Ayerlll with 1000 cavalry. splendidly
mounted and equipped crossed the Rap
r5ahnnnock at Beyerly's ford and attack
a ed 9Fitz Lee who could only put 500 troop
ers In the saddle. General Stuart was
with Lee having gone up on an inspect
Ing tour. but promptly said II his ls your
" fight Fitz, and ! will not interfere with
you" After one OF the most hotiy con :
tested cavalry battles OF the war, Leo
d badly defeated Averill and drove him back
across the river. It was. In this fight TINT
Major John Pelham. THE gallant Pol
ham" as Gene.alsR. b Lee called him N
his report OF fredericksburg was killed
leading a cavalry charge, lie had ac-
companied General Stuart on his tour.
asked permission to $50 In, and fell la
Z nented by tho whole army for "the boy
artillerIst'' was their idol.
Rendered Important Service.
ek8 FItz. Leo protected Jacksons moye-
n1ent to Hooker's rear flank at Cham
cellorsylle and rendered most important
service. He made a reconnaissance in
which he found a point from which full
i view could be had OF Hooker's rear flank
and rode rapidly back to Inform General
jackson OF tho discovery and ask him
+ 81 to ride with him to the spot. What fol-
lowed Lee tells so W we'll IN his great
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