The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-01-25

commit an act that would offend the
most cultured lady
When he returned from the Academy
ID his military uniform, be won the
fancy and captured the heart and
hand Of Mary Custis, whom he had
l5ved from boyhoOd He was as hand
some as a picture; erect and tall. the
highest specimen Of physical manhood.
His first service as a soldier was
in the Mexican war He was first an
aide to General Scott; afterwards
made Captain. and breyeted more Of
ten for bravery than any man In the
army. His physical endurance was
so great, his courage so grand. that
General Scott said. Fif ] was dying
and was asked to name the man VINO
would lead the army in the one great
battle to decide the destiny OF my
country, | would say, let that man be
Robt z. Lee"
At the beginning of the Civil war,
DIR. Cave said, Gencral Lee, with the
knowledge and consent Of President
Lincoln, was offered the Commander
ship Of the U. s. army. What temp
tation that would have been to most
men. What a suggestion what an
easy opening to their highest ambi-
ton. For no one believed the South
would ever conquer the North. Our
only hope was that we might make
such defense as would secure for US
our Independence; and We all knew
that there would remain still gov
eminent and an army; and 1t re-
CURED no great prophesy for a man
to foretell that the commander of the
United States army would be the hero
after the war, and have an easy road
to the Presidency. But 1t was no
temptation to Lee, because his life
was ruled by principle; and he an
swered promptly, mo, ! am opposed
to coercion" He was also opposed
! to secession and he said, "if l had the
4 power would freely liberate all the
slaves in order to avoid war" And
afterwards at Richmond, when he &C
cepted the commandership Of the
Army of Virginia, he did so saying, i
devote my services to my native
State, in whose behalf alone will !
ever again draw my sword"
Speaking of the great love the sol
diers had for Lee, Or. Cave told sew
eral incidents. Upon one occasion, he
said, a group of soldiers were discuss
ing the origin of Man, and some of the
party held to the theory that man
came from the monkey. Finally one
among the number rose and said,
l,"well boys, we may have; I won't
argue that; but NO one but God ever
made such a man as Marse Robert.
On another occasion as General Lee
was riding along he met private sol
der in the road, and the soldier
raised his cap to the General; General
Lee did the same towards the sol
der. The soldier joining bis com
rades said, Il wish Marse Robetr was
Emperor and Iwas his carriage driver
A Georgia soldier, mere strip OF
boy, was badly wounded. his right arm
dangling by his side. General Les
met him, and expressing great sympa
thy for him said, Is there anything
III can do for, you, my boy?" Moth
ing. General replied the young Geor
| gian, unless you win do me ths
honor to shake my left hand" The
General shook his hand and gave hin
fathers benedictton. and told his
attendant to hurry with him to the
doctor.
:. He told of General Lee, leaving
conference of officers on the battle
field. was seen TO stoop and pick III
something from the ground, and put Il
up in the tree. Curiosity led one O
the officers to follow after him and see
what it was; and he found that NJ
had picked up little sparrow whict
had fallen from its nest, and returned
it back to safety. THAT was little
thing" said the speaker, but little
things Outlines show the bigness o
the man"
! He told of the battle of Spottsyl
yania, where DR.. Cave himself was
wounded) and where Gen. Lee in hi'
great anxiety rode to the front, ant
the men, for their love of him criet
out, Lee to the rear; Lee to the rear
we'll follow Gordon, but Lee must g
back" And for love of his men Let
went back, and the intrepid Gordon
led the charge.
He was the man with the soldlel
heart beneath his uniform. A Coz
made man.
Coming to the surrender, Lee, HI
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