The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-01-30


lousy kept.
Nor did he forget the great duty
Of love to his fellow creatures. To
his mother he was most devoted.
She at one time said to one of her
friends: How can spare Robert.
He is both a son and a daughter to
me-" When quite boy he was
separated from his father who had
to go to the West Indies on account
Of his health. So upon his mother
he bestowed love that might have
been given to both parents. He
was ever at her side, and seemed to
take especial delight in preparing
for her those comforts that boys
seldom think of. To her, to his
wife, to his family, he was all that
son, or husband, or father could be.
In his letters home we see a tender
ness and a love that the stirring
events of camp life could not smoth-
er. Separation from them was en-
forced by the stern requirements of
the soldiers life, but his tender
heart never ceased to yearn for
them. The only thing that could
keep him away was his devotion to
duty; for to him duty was the Sub
imest word in the English language.
General Lee was great in his love.
He did not circumscribe it by the
family circle, nor limit it to a few.
He loved the South and every one
in it. Most of all he loved little
children and his soldiers. "One day
during the war a number of little
girls were rolling hoops on the side
walks in Richmond when General
Lee came riding towards them.
They stopped playing to gaze at so
great a man. To their surprise he
threw his rein to his courier, dis
mounted and kissed every one of
them. Then mounting, he rode
away with a sunny smile of child
hood in his heart and plans Of great
battles in his mind" In many ways
did his love for his soldiers appear.
1t was his custom to be with them
and encourage them on the field Of
battle, to visit them in the hospitals
and as near as possible to fare in
every way as they did. In 1862, an
English officer wrote this report Of
Lees headquarters, Lees head
quarters, | found, were only seven
or eight pole tents with their backs
to a stake fence, while little stream
of good water flowed close by. In
front of the tents were three wagons,
and number of horses roamed over
the fields. No guards were seen
near, and no crowds Of aids swarm
ed about. A large farm house stood
close by which would have made a
good home for the General, but Lee
does not let his men rob or disturb
the people and likes to set them a
good example," During the latter
part of the war ON one occasion
when General Lee had been invited
to an elegant dinner, he refused the
fine dishes set before him, saying to
his hostess, 81 cannot consent to be
fea5ting while my poor men are
nearly starving" Such love for his
soldiers could not go unreturned.
Never was a general more univer-
sally beloved than he was. 1t was
on the second day OF the Battle Of
the Wilderness that General Lee
placing himself at the head of some
Texans ordered them to charge, but
they shouted, "Lee to the rearn' and
a gray-haired soldier rushing out
from their midst, seized his horse by
the bride saying, General, if you
do not go back. we will not so for
ward" He reined his horse back
ward and joined General Longstreet
who was upon a knoll near by. The
Texans swept onward to victory and
death. Upon another occasion when
a column under command Of Gener-
al Jno. B. Gordon was forming to
make charge, General Lee rode up,
took off his hat, and pointed u the
captured line as if lie would lead
them. General Gordon said to him,
These are Virginians and Georgians
who have never failed. Go to the
rear, General Lee" Then turning
to his men he asked them, 'Is it
necessary for General Lee to lead
this charged" ''No! MOI they
exclaimed. '1f General Lee will go
to the rear, we will drive them
back" In the charge that followed
the lost line was recaptured.
1t was during the latter part OF
the war, during the seige of Peter
burg that one day General Lee came
into the trenches and walking up to
one of the larger guns asked those
in charge of it to fire. The officer
o,cuuorad with tears in his ewes,