The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20

In the spring of 1851 was student In
| the Theological Seminary. then at Hamp-
Sidney. Prince Edward county. Va.
One day, being In FarInville. found the
| town we'll filed with people from the
country around. gathered to hear t!dings
from the State Convention, then in ses-
sion In Richmond When the Richmond
train arrived, great cheer greeted the
delegate from Prince Edward, Colonel
John l.. Thornton. From the porch of
the hotel nearby he told his people OF
the proceedings of the convention. My
memory recalls nothing OF the speech Of
Colonel Thornton, a gentleman of high
character and n speaker of power and
eloauence, save the announcement that
'in the days of revolution Virginia called
| to lead her sons a young man from the
county of Westmoreland, Colonel George
Washington. and that In the struggle for
Independence. again impending, Virginia
had called from the same county another
soldier to lead her sons, Colonel Robert
z. Lee" From that day. with me, the
name of Lee has been linked with that
OF Washington, as great Vlrginians, tho
leaders of VIrginians in the two great
struggles for independence.
When the Army of Northern Virginia
went into Maryland. after the Second
Manassas. was a corporal in the Rock
bridge Artillery. In Frederick City I was
found by party of ladies' friends of my
father and mother, and carried home to
dinner. 1t was great pleasure to have
a warm-hearte6 welcome by handSomely-
dressed ladies in n home of comfort ard
elegance. But to my CONSERVATION dis
covered that the commanding general and
his staff were guests at the dinner 1
was In a uniform. notably undress. with
out the Jacket which had been lost in
the campaign, and with no opportunity
for any toilet whatever. The forlorn cor
poral made an effort to escape, which was
a failure. I do not remember that any
of the staff condescended to speak to the
unhappy artilleryman. but do remember
that General Lee placed his hand on my
shoulder and spoke most kindly of my
battery and the service it was rendering
to our cause It was on the next day
that I was called from service behind
the guns to be the mounted aide of Stone
wall Jackson. Boy as was, there came
the thought that If that unexpected APP
pointment had come before the dinner
with General Lee. I would have enjoyed
the dinner so much more.
A week or ten days later. after Sharps-
burg. at the breakfast at corps head
quarters, General Jackson said he wished
me to ride with him to see General Lee.
We found him In tents In a peach orchard.
on the hills back OF Shepherdstown. Cen
eral Lee came out to greet General Jack
son, and I was introduced to the COM
manding general as new member OF
General Jackson's staff. The same father
~ hand was laid on my shoulder. and the
same grave and kindly voice said: you
are a lucky young man. captain to be
associated with Your good general" A
large basket Of fine peaches sat at his
ND oF hi 10 Iofe
General Lee said: Take these peaches
and see that Captain Smith has ms many
as he can eat" And the peaches are
remembered to this day.
Before the campaign on the Rappahan-
mock and the battle Of Fredericksburg,
Jacks1i led his four divisions from the
Valley, by Luray and Madison Court
house. to Orange, his command changing
its title on the top of the Blue Ridge
from the Army of the Valley 20 the Ser-
ond Corps. Army of Northern Virginia
With General Jackson and a few couriers
rode from Orange down the plank road
dining at Mr.. Melzi Chancellor's, and
turned to the right at Salem Church, in
fast-falling snow We reached tho
army Headquarters, on the old Mine Road,
after dark on SATURDAY night. I we'll
remember the cordial welcome by Gen
eral Lee ont in the snow. without his
hat. and his great concern for our COM
fort, and then tho camp supper, for
which I, forsonc. had most eager prepara-
ton. Against General Lees protest Cen
eral Jackson declined to use the bed
ding offered him, and he and T spent the
night In Q farmhouse nearby, the home
Of Mr., NTuscoe Garnet, of Spotsylvanln.
After ourscorps headquarters were set
tied at Moss Neck. General Jackson gave
dinner on Christmas Day. General Lee,
General Pendleton and General Stuart
were the guest of honor. and numerous
stan, nov known to heroic fame, gathered
about our table. 1t was a good dinner
and greatly enjoyed General Lee rid-
euled our fine living and our dining-room
servants In white aprons He said we
were playing soldiers, and we must all
come and dine with him to see how SOL
dlers lived
Not long after tho Christmas dinner
General Jackson met General Lee and
others by appointment on tho river road,
to reconnoitre the defensive position on
the Southern banks of the Rappahannock.
The whole party dismounted at Hayheld