The Robesonian., 1908-09-03
WAR TIME "REMINISCENCES.

What Manner of Man Fitzhugh
Lee Was-Contrast Between
Lee and Mosby-An Incident
of the War.
By Gen. F. A Bond of Hunters Lodge.
During the winter of 1861-62
the Confederate army of North
ern Virginia occupied canton
ments near Manassas and their
picket line was about Is miles in
front, one of their advanced
posts directly towards Washing
ton being at Fairfax Court House.
At the same time the Union ar
my was in winter quarters near
Washington and their picket line
was about 10 miles nearer us and
in the neighborhood of Falls
church.
The Union army was at this
time very deficient in cavalry, as
their men had to learn to ride as
a preliminary to becoming use
fuI cavalrymen, and their picket
ing was done almost entirely by
infantry; whilst our picketing
and scouting was done by mount
ed men and, in the language of
General Jeb. Stuart, our cavalry
was the "eyes and ears of the
army.
| was at this time a lieutenant
of Maryland company in the
1st. Regiment Va. Cavalry and
our lieutenant was Fitzhugh Lee
our present Consul at Havana. +
Col. Lee is below the medium
height-not more than 5 feet 6
inches, and stoutly built-a splen-
did horseman, and, when well
mounted,a a very conspicuous fig
ure. The pictures one sees Of
him now do not in the least re-
semble him as he was then, as
he wore a full and very heavy
beard Of unusual length. He had
been instructor of cavalry tactics
at West Point and was an ideal
soldier and at that early date the
idol Of the regiment.
One damp day in February, '62,
about 100 men were chosen from
our regiment and under the com
mand of Col. Lee started on {
scout. 1t was rumored we were
, to strike the enemy's pickets anC
capture some prisoners as
means of discovering what theil
y intentions were. The roads were
{ very muddy and after advancing
beyond our lines the command
was halted for a more perfec
formation. Col. Lee selected
i eight men-two sections of fou
and placed them under tn
u command of an officer and di
=, rected him to advance two hun
, dred yards ahead of the mali
body and to keep his eyes open
He then chose eight other men
all of whom were strangers t
me-not being from my compa
+ ny-and placed them under m
, command, and gave me stric
orders to follow the main bod
at a distance of two hundre
yards. We proceeded in this mar
ner probably a mile when an il
= cident occurred that in a yer
- marked manner shows the kline
ness and courtesy of Gener;
Lees disposition and my ow
m egotism and ignorance Of discil
an line at this time.
&c l left my rear-guard and roc
VI up to Col. Lee, who was at tt
head of the main body, and con
- planned of the duty he had a
signed me. l told him did n,
on want to be riding along behir
en- everybody else and that if "
IRE were going to attack the enen
en- l wanted to be up with the a
en- vance. l know now that the
on was scarcely another officer
his rank in the army especial
a West Pointer that would n
have peremptorily ordered n
l back to my place with
u threat to put me under a
rest if | dared to aga
leave my duty for any cause, al
| admit that under the same ci
cumstances, two years later,
> should have acted that way m
4 self. Col. Lee, however, We
A kindly explained to me that
had given me that place as t
''post of honor, that altho'
was farthest from the ener
during the advance 1 would
nearest to them when we retur
ed and that our troubles were r
likely to be many until we ]
Is treated, and he assured me
* would have my full share of
the glory. | returned to my co
. mand in better spirits, but it W
years afterwards before I flu
appreciated his great conside
ton.
After riding silently along
road until within about two mi
y q of Falls church we turned
4 ! the right through heavy TIM
and proceeded very caution
for some distance, wi
suddenly there were seve
~ shots from the front and a ra
Il, advance of the main body. I t.
the gallop and soon got throl
the wood and out in a long o.
valley with quite an exten
view. Nearly half a mile to
front upon a sparcely WOO
Pres eminence was a blotch of CT
er, son with a thin blue smoke ah
- How to Get Strong.