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


captain and chief. that I feel there is
little that I can add 20 tho story OF his
life one of uy uncies. John Aiackay
~ Savannah. Ca. was his cIassInate and
intimate friend. and also an engineer.
When they prolgcted from West Point.
they we're both ordered TO report FOR
duty 70 General Mansfield. who vas
building Fort Pulaski on an island ~
the mouth OF the Savannah River. After
staying az the fort q short time. Leu
tenant Mackay persuaded him u move
to hts mothers house IN the city. az
they could 20 TO the fort every morn
ing By boat. This they did. and then
DGyan in the gay little city the strong
friendship that ended only with lie
Ny uncle died young. but General lee s
letters TO him for fifteen years. are stiu
IN existence. for after the building Of
the fort. they were sent 20 different posts.
and General Lee was never but q few
days AZ time in Savannah after that
until 1851. when given the command Of
South Carolina and Georgia He reached
Charleston At midnight. and found many
~ the beautiful old homes. with their
interesting contents and histories. IN
a blaze; and he. with Colonel Long his
chief Of star. Immediately went 70 work
tc blow I'D houses IN the neigirDorhOOd
and remove material from the track OF
the flames. and 50 probably saved the
rest OF tho city. for the tide was out
and The city supply OF water exhausted
When General Lee arrived IN Savannah
Mrs. Mackay, the mother OF his friend
said 10 him. Your old quarters are at
your service. and we would be glad
20 have YOU with US" but though
when In the city he usually spent his
evenings there, resting in a large old
fashioned chair. that was always
called General Lees chair" ne never
spent a night IN private house. we
suppose for fear the enemy might re-
sent II, # they got possession OF the
city. In March. 1862. he was recalled
20 Richmond.
Before 1880 there We're always ar
my and navy officers stationed about
our Georgia coast. and 1 remember
we'll one discussion that never seemed
20 lose interest for them: In event
Of a war with a foreign power. who
would take General SCOTS place? As
years were telling on him" The dis
cussion always quickly narrowed down
to two names, Albert Sidney John
stOn and Robert f. Lee. and usually
decided on the latter. for though the
former was genius OF war" the lat
ter's great stability, and devotion t.
duty" would win the decision It
is perhaps forgotten now that ali
bridges built over the Mississippi al
st Louis were washed away. until
Gen. Lee was sent TO build one. and.
though there are others there now, his
has stood the tide OF river. traffic, and
men for all these years, and IS stiu
IN use.
The last time I saw General Lee be-
fore the war. was IN a morning visit
with my sister. at Arlington. IN the
fall OF 1883. His daughter Annie.
who died IN 1862. wfas IN her rich
dark coloring. character. quiet dignity
and charm OF manner very like him.
and to whom he was very devoted
was my intimate friend, and when
saying ROod-by 20 her. he came down
the steps. ana stood behind us. putting
a hand on each OF US, he said. 40
tears at Arlington. no tears" It is
now 4 place OF tears.
In 1870 his daughter, Agnes and he
went South. and he babe me write 10
his friends in Georgia. that "the old
man would not be able to go TO the
mountains to see them. and they must
return to Savannah. and open the Old
Mackay homo again" I wrote and the
few who were still living went down
to receive Inn. and all the city rejoiced
TO have him tfers and did all they
could 10 show their love and admird-
tion The arst parade OF Southern
troops in Savannah after the war was
ON his birthday. IN honor OF him, and
as each year passes the day IS kept
now, not only by the troops, but by
the children Of the Confederacy also.
on General Lees return from that
journey they were In this city Tor
one morning. and spent 1t with them.
Before they went South I had told
Rim how tho people loved, admired
and believed in him; but one part OF
his greatness was his beautiful humility,
and ne could not realize the feel
ing his people had for him. l
have always felt thankful that
he took that journey, that the
ovations Of the people at every station.
in every State. and city he passed
through would assure him OF their
love. Many went more than a hundred
miles t. look once more at the face
and hear tho voice OF him they knew