The National tribune., 1907-02-28

pride to sustain them. Loudoun County,
Va, was a hotbed of Union sentiment,
and there were several other Union
communities here and there. Indeed,
if the Union and conservative elements
thruout the Old Dominion could have
been strongly organized and properly
led the State would never have passed
the ordinance of Secession.
Mares Nest.
The writer, during three years cam
paigning over pretty much every part
of the sacred soil,'' which, by the way,
he was not much stuck" on, tho much
of it stuck to him. had many oppor-
tunities of verifying this assertion by
means of both Union and Secession tes-
timony. The States Rights theory was
essentially politicians mares nest,
the significance of which was lost on
the intelligence of nine-tenths of the
Southern people, who thought it meant
a safeguard against the abolition of
slavery and negro domination.
There are some names of men South
ern born and bred who stand out as
shining examples in contrast with Rob-
ert E. Lee. These men were confronted
with the same problems that he faced,
and the same perplexitics perhaps agi-
tated them. But whether as the result
of most mature reflection or some
innate quality that he and his latest
eulogist did not possess, these men
could not make up their minds to do
what Lee did" George II. Thomas, the
ideal soldier, was born in Southampton
County, Va: his classmates, friends and
relations expected that he would throw
in his fortunes with his State when the
latter seeded. But he was unwaver-
ingls loyal to his. Flag, and nobly said:
Il am an American first and Vir-
ginian next" Col. Henry c. Bankhead,
whose father was a distinguished Cen
eral in the Mexican War, was native
of Fredericksburg, Va. He was at West
Point with Gen. Grant. Altho his fam
fly were ardent Secessionists. the Co..
onel remained loyal to the Government.
A trying incident that came under the
writer's own observation offered a strik-
ing instance of the price that Col. Bank
head was called on to pay for his 10y
atty. The army was in the vicinity of
Fredericksburg, which was held by our
troops. One day Col. Bankhead rode
into the city, and went directly to the
family mansion. He had not seen any
of his immediate relatives since hos
tilities began. He struck the old-fash-
ioned knocker. In a moment someone
opened the door. 1t was his favorite
sister. She stared repellantly at him,
then before he could speak and with
OUT d WOTu, she Nlcltuliy SldHlIleu Ills
door in his face, and he heard the bolt
pushed into place. But even chat harsh
lesson failed to render him capable of
doing what Lee did"
Southern LOyalists.
Gen. Robert Anderson, the heroic
defender of Fort Sumter, who frankly
told the rebel ENJOYS that he sympa-
thized with the South in its contention,
ha nt
betray his trust; Admirals David G.
Farragut and John A. Winslow, the de-
stroyer of the Alabama; Gems. John A.
McClernand and E. o. c. Ord, all
by birth and by the asso-
Citations belonging to their nativity,
took their stand instantly and uncom-
on the side of the Union,
and under similar conditions were
subject to no temptation to do exactly
what Lee did"
Mr.. Adams makes heroic figure of
Robert E. Lee as he withdraws his al
legiance to the United States and ten
ders his resignation to Gen. Scott. This
is how it actually happened:
Lee waited at Washington, drawing
his pay and Communication, trusted and
relied upon by Gen. Scott, whose Chief
of Staff he was, conversant in his con-
fidential capacity with all the plans of
the Government-waited without sign
or word, or resigning as one would
think an honorable soldier would have
done, until word came that Virginia
had voted to secede from the Union.
The rebel leaders depended upon hav
ing and were determined to have Vir,
ginia by hook or crook. It was mani |
festly marked out as the fitting arena |
of the gladiatorial combat. and it was
destined by the fiat of jeff Davis &s Co.
to become the Flanders of the four
years conflict Davis, John 3. Floyd,
Howell Cobb and others of their kidney
at least had the courage of their opin-
ions, They boldly announced their ad-
herence to the Confederacy and de-
family, in open day. proceeded to leave