The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-24

lltA . f - 4 Il W Z
mounted on a large rusty looking horse.
Il / was not so greatly surprised at being
informed that the dignihed, commanding
looking soldier was General r. e. Lee,
but3I was surprised and felt uneasy that
he should be where he was likely 70 be
struck down any second. = SO expressed
myself, at the same time sremarklng tliiit
i did not suppose General Mcclellan was
in a mile Of the battlefield. 1T is not gen
Z orally the rule that the commander-ln-
chief advances with the men under q ter Il
rife, sweeping fire rifles and mus
kerry and shrIeking, bursting shells. Ills
ssubordinntes, from brigadl er- generaallls
down, are expected to do this, and occa-
sionally his major generals lend their
assuring presence in q hot and doubtful
struggle. readily recall two gallant gu
dier-generals-Paul Semmes and NJ NJ.
D. Corse--that had the honor to serve serve
under, who always led their men In any
and every general engagement with the
enemy. . :, "a ~ :,
l,rTIn GREATEST FIGHT OF THE
j. T NINETEENTH CENTURY.
so IT came about that I first saw Gem
eral Robert Il. Lee to know him. at
'sharpsburg, September II. 1862. while the
great battle Of Antietam was In fun
swing;', while it was raging; while some
one hundred md twenty thousand Q2O, =
COY men were making the gnmest light
OF the nineteenth century, not excepting
Waterloo, which, III some respects, resem-
bled Antietam, but with very different
results, Napoleon being defeated and
leaving the field with a badly-routed
army, Lee, with his heroic army occupy
ing and resting on the field OF battle
the entire day after the battle and
then, the night OF September 18th. re-
firing deliberately, and In good order,
carrying all his guns and baggage. When
I saw General Lee he looked firm and
resolute, perfectly self-poised, confident.
5dlgnified. He evidently felt that his 49,
900 veterans could hold tho field and
carry it over the $1,000 men composing
the Federal host. ! saw our great Lee
at his best, with the light Of battle in
his eye, herosm in every feature 1t was
during the most critical and trying part
Of that most desperate day. when the
deadly, bloody tide Of dubious conflict
Ing; when the red vintage OF human gore
flowed In cornflelds and apple orcards.
In open hollows and on wooded slopes;
often blushlng the pure waters Of the
modest streams, and staining the shapo-
,ly leaves of the sheltering forest
THE FORTUNE OF WAR sTREAIBIiES
IN THI1 BALANCE,
On this terrible, THIS aensangulned field
at midday, the struggle for supremacy
was most evontful and uncertain, It
could not be told where the bird OF
victory would fold It's weary and tr-
umphant wings. II was here "the red
badge of courage" Haunted Its crimson
hues over all the fair face of peaceful
nature;it was here that knightly deeds
far outshone the mythical splendor OF
that vaunted time when knighthood was
In hower;" 1t was here that captains
courageous only emuated the superb
courage Of their meni each and all brave
~ doing amid so many heroes dead
and dying.
1T was here We would have been SO
sorely pressed as was gallant Roland
at fatal Roncesvalles had not our peer
less Charlnmagne been with us.
WWE WILL FIGHT TOMORROW,
GOOD-NIGHT."
And 1t was here and then the heroic
manhood OF Robert y, Ice was tried and
tested, and found equal to the enler-
gency OF holding his battle lines of Of.
Tense and defense against the powerful
enemy, The night after the battle, after