Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-02-15
Hts Interviews with Genera,

The following account of two inter
views OF local interest lie had with
General r. E. Lee is furnished by
capt. L. f, McCardell, of Cumberland,
to the Times of that city.
1t was in 1863 that our first inter.
view occurred, and it took place under
the1ollowIng circumstances. The Army
OF Northern Virginia had retreated
from Gettysburg, and was in line of
oattle around Williamsport, with the
center resting on the pike near Hagers-
town. We had been in position but
sHofI tlfne when / learned that my
uncle, Willoughby S. McCardell, had
ceen arrested by the Confederates when
the army crossed over into Maryland
He had been in the custody of the
Confederates for several weeks with
out word having been heard from
MIN. In the effort to procure his re-
lease the first thing to do was to find
the officer who had ordered his arrest.
After several days inquiry and
search | discovered that he was cap
tam IN Alexander's artillery battalion.
But where was the battery lucated?
NO one seemed to have the least idea.
linen 1t occurred to me that General.
Lee could give me the Information and
l resolved to call on him. AT the time
his headquarters were in beautiful
open woods just three and half miles
from Williamsport ON the Hagerstown
pike. / knew the place well, as it was
within half mile .of the old stone
school house in which L learned NV
A. B. C.'s.
When | entered the open grove Gen
Lee was -sitting on camp stool in
front of his tent. Not another soul was
to be seen, and the great man seemed
to be deeply absorbed in his own
thoughts. | approached within few
steps, halted and stood at attention I'M
covered. He arose, YEARLY, l thought
acknowledged my solute and asked if
L wished to speak to him. In NOM
ent he became interested, and when
told that L came to him because | did
not know where else to get information
as TO the location of Alexander's artil-
lery battalion, he said, "walk with
me out to the pike, and L think | an
point out the road that will lead you
to Alexander's camp" Then he asked
my name, regiment, etc., and by the
time we got To the pike [ began to feel
as If had known him a long time. |
Then he said, pointing in the direction
OIL Nllliamspart, Ego back about three |
quarters OF mile and you Will find a
lane leading off from the right. Fol-
low that abouta mile and you will find
Alexander 70 this 1 replied, "that
will take nae directly to the farm in
which was born" This seemed to in
terest him, and he asked me many
questions about the neighborhood, my
people, etc., and when | thanked him
and raised my cap, as a signal of de-
parture, he held out his hand and with
kindly smile said he was glad to have
been of any service to me.
| found Alexander's artillery battal-
ion encamped in the orchard of the
farm on which my uncle and L both
were born, and when [ mentioned this
fact to the officer, who ordered the ar
rest, he willingly signed request for
my uncle's release and d rected me to
the place where he was held u der
guard. | had no difficulty in reac h.
ing him and his release was immedi-
ately procured.
My second personal interview with
General Lee took place about the 22d |
of August, 1864. We were (meaning
Mahon's division) seeing exceedingly |
hard service around Petersburg, and
on the 2lst were Withdrawn from our
position and hurried to the north of |
the James. We reached the vicin ity |
of deep bottom and set to work impro-
vising line of defense. But we were
too weary to do much and at daybreak
the next morning we were attacked by |
the enemy with great vigor. In Fact
in about an hour our line was broken.
and we were being driven back in such
disorder as threatened to become a
route. The troops attacked constituted
only single brigade, the remainder
of the division not having got on to
the field. Our line was badly broken,
and falling back, the disorder growing
worse in proportion to the vigor of the
enemy's pursuit. Suddenly new
character appeared on the scene
mounted on the old gray horse which
every soldier in the army would recog-
nize mile away, 1t was general Lee
and he seemed disposed to signal me