Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-02-27
THE RATIrLE-FlELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and in
Graphic and Interesting Manner


Civil War, when General Lee had his
headquarters near Petersburg,
young man was sent to him with a
message from his son, Gen. William
HI. f. Lee, whose cavalry command
was then stationed at g., about forty
miles distant. The message was YER
bal one, to the effect thai the son
would join the father with his entire
cavalry the next morning by 8 o'clock
at Rowanta Greek, point below Pet
ersburg on the Weldon railroad. The
young man, now long past middle life,
tells the story himself.
l was little more than a boy, the
youngest and last appointed on the
staff of our gallant commander; and
In addition to the novelty of it, there
were two other reasons which made
the nights ride the most exciting ex-
perience had ever known-General
Lee was my idol, and l had never
seen him.
had to ride fast, and wnen at last
/ left my dripping horse at General
Lees tent door and was ushered into
his presence, | was almost overcome
with fatigue and heat, though too ex-
cited to realize it. General Lee sat
at a table, over some midnight work
He stopped writing for moment and
rose to receive me. while l saluted,
more than realizing my boyhood's
ideal in the commanding presence in
which | stood at last. Almost faint,
as l said, l forgot myself and my err
rand and seemed to see the object of
my admiration through sort of mist,
like a dim picture looking out, Of a
dark canvas. Suddenly 1 became con-
scious that General Lee was asking
me my Grand
II have been sent by your son, Gen
eral William H. f. Lee,' l began, me-
chanically, ito tell you that he will
meet you with his cavalry tomorrow
morning by o'clock at" and then
L stopped
''At what point will he meet me?"
asked General Lee
1t was a simple question, but the
cold sweat started out on my hands
and face. as he asked it and things
grew DINNER than ever.
81 have forgotten, general said,
as soon as L could get my voice 1t
seemed to come from a hollow under
my feet somewhere.
General Lee looked at me in sur
prise; then, as if to relieve my embar-
rassment, he took a turn across the
tent. Cant you think?" he said, as
l remained silent. l tried to go over
the places in the country round.
could not think of one. The general
stood still again before me, trying to
think himself.
"Was it Ream's Station?' he asked.
"No, general, it wasn't that" l said,
beginning to take little courage.
''Or Hatcher's rum"
"No, general"
"Was it Stony CreekW
mo, sir" l was as blank as ever.
Maybe it was Rowanta Creek he
ventured again, after a pause l drew
eyes.
Eyes, general" l said. sit was Ro-
wanta Creek" and waited to be dis
missed with the unlimited contempt l
deserved.
when did you leave G.?'' was the
next question.
'At II O'clock" 1 replied. 1t was
then half past 3.
You must be tired. Orderly" he
called. The orderly appeared at the
tent door. ''Take this courier and see
that he has some supper and a place
to Sleep" l saluted, and went out
with the orderly. l had the best meal
l had eaten in many a day, and drop
ped asleep as soon as my head touched
the sheltered grass which served as
my bed in the tent assigned me.
When l woke there was no tent over
me- The sun was shining in my face.
The field was clear. Not a vestige of
the encampment but its refuse was
left. On one of the forked props which
had upheld the tent hung my KNAPP
sack. l examined 1t. 1t was filled
with food. Tied to tree near by was
my horse, saddled and bridled, and
showing a very dainty appetite for
grass. 1 seized some of the contents
of my knapsack, and eating as rode,
galloped on toward Rowanta Greek.
1t is needless to say that in the
struggle which followed during the
next few days over the Weldon rail-
road l fought as 1 had never fought
before for the man before whom
had stood as fool and, but for his
own thoughtfulness, the possible cause
of the failure Of battle, but who
deemed it worth while to notice only
that was tired and hungry, and took
pains to see that l and my horse had
food and rest.