Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-02
GENERAL LEE AS A MAN.
His Characteristics Described by John
s. Wise, n Confidential Messenger
between Davis and Lee.

|
between Davis and Lee.
The Circle for January contains an ar
ticle of great historical value in the per-
sonal "reminiscences of John s. Wise,
who was confidential messenger between
| President Davis and Gen Robert r. Lee,
| following are interesting extracts:
| Sister Ann never watched more anx-
! iously, from Buebeard's tower, for the
| dust down the road that was to be tho
signal OF deliverance than did the Vir-
ginlans, at the outbreak ,of the Civil War,
| for the sign that General Lee was com
| ing. He was deliberate about deciding
| and many of the Southerners were I'M
| patient and deeply concerned Mt the delay.
| True he was Nirginian. and by birth
| and marriage identified with the oldest
and best of the State, but his life
| had been spent in the federal
service, to which he was deeply At
tached, and the communicable of
the Union army loved him as a father
loves his dutiful son. Old "Furs and
Feathers" as General Scott was called,
had few attachments In Virginia, and
| unhesitatingly proclaimed his purpose to
adhere to the Union cause. He brought
to bear on Colonel Lee every influence
| In his power to induce him to remain on
the Union side Lee heartily rociprDcated
| the affection Of General Scott and Tay-
| Tor and had little to expect from the JEFF
paws coterie. which had been at feu1
| with Scott for years In the old con-
troversy between Generals Scott and Tay
lor. a controversy which began In Mexico
between the commander of the army and
the acknowledgements office and con
tnued through the day. when Jefferson
! Davis was secretary of war and IN the
Confederate and Union armies during the
Civil war and after the war n the
Union army until the general staff was
created.
| He was man of deep feelings and
strong alta ELEMENTS He came Of a breed
that was not namby- pamby. but was full
OF the old Adam. and anybody who knew
General Lee we'll was aware that he had
a high temper. It was easy for any one
thrown into close association with him
| 10 see that without the habitual scf-re-
straint and mastery Of his ''rosser nature,
, to which he had severity schooled him
self, General Lee might easily have been
q very different man from what he was,
There was in him, one side, the dash
ing devil may-care blood OF "1AghtHorse
Harry" and. on the other, the luxurious
ness Of self-indulgencc g the Carriers. His
own life had been orderly, systematic,
regular. He not only had none 90 the
brilliancy and eccentricty OF genius him
self. but, from long training, if no. by
ra tllre he did not believe in the efficacy
of such lie had no more ina ginat'on than
an engine. outside Of his religious faith
His mental processes were mathematical
In after years | heard from an eye
witness, the late General Lewis Merrill
lof philadelphia, description Of what
Lee was doing while III" exuhorant South
erners were seeding. paradng. shouting
defiance to the North, and calling upon
him to Join them. Until then he had taken
no part in the angry political discussions
which were eliminating in war. After oc-
cupyng sundry positions of high trust.
he was then attached TO Genera! SCOTS
STAFF at the war departnont. with his
residence Mt Arlington. his wife's inherit
tance from her father. George Washing
ton parke Curtis. The handsome mansion
is one Of the most conspicuous objects
from Washington looking toward the
Virginia side Of the Potomac.
Gen Merrill. who was tn him until
a late hour the night before Colonel Leo
reached his final decision, told me he
never Witnessed a more Impressive strug-
gle; that the pros and cons were so near
~ evenly balanced In Lees mind that
he felt sure Colonel Lee had reached
no conclusion when they parted, but that
while the decision was against hi adj
vice and persuasion. he was certain that
he believed he was right In the conclu-
sion ultimately reached His final doclar-
alton for us was hailed with great ac-
claim in the South and was correspond
ingly denounced Mt the North.
At Richmond General Lee received a
| great ovation. Contrary to his own wish
es ne was induced to appear before the
convention, His cpeech tenderinG his ccr-
vices to the state was very brief and
very modest. IT was about this time that
I first saw him, He was indeed hand
some mantle most striking human be-
ing ! ever saw. He was vail erect. COM
nanding His form was full but had
not lost proportion His hair had not
then turned white. but was n dark
chestnut-brown, slightly tinged with
gray, and he wore a wcll-trmmed milf
tary mustache, Wis complexion was ex-
cellent pink and rudy with the glow Of
health and good care His eye was dark,
large. clear. kindly. and penetrating
There was an expression OF strength and
purity and sweetness about his mouth.
There was nothing sad IN the bearing Of
General Lee when I first saw him in
the spring Of 1851. He r~-med to mo NE
perfect expression of manly beauty and
modesty. coupled with conscious strength
and the hereditary ease and courtesy Of
n born gentleman. He was receiving adu-
lauon enough to turn the head of any
man. but. so far as could discover. II
had no effect upon him. He had been
made n ma r-Generai in Virginia's SER
vice, and was busily employed about his
new duties. but could not avoid the
swarm OF friends. male and female
which gathered about him whenever he
appeared. General Lee was full OF the
JOY OF living. without indulging in fri
volities he enjoyed society and had many
personal friends. Many OF these were his
connections, for he had a strong family
feeling. Many were his associates in
church work; for he was a zcalous de-
voted and prominent Epis opalian; and
many were those drawn to him by his
very loyal and affectionatc social nature
| He was always Interested In young peo-
pie. He seemed to draw inspiration from
the buoyancy OF youth. without being