Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-04-06
A SOUTHERN HERO
Geo. r. Vending Analyses the Life
of Robert E. Lee.

The entertainment course of the Y
Nj. c. A. for 190S-'09 came to a close
Wednesday evening, when Geo. r.
Vending of Washington, d. c., sup
piled the last number, lecture on
Robert E. Lee, the Idol of the South"
| The speaker stated that it was cur
ious fact of history that at certain per-
iods and in certain territories. groups of
great men appeared on the worlds
stage. He mentioned about a dozen
men. world renowned philosophers.
statesmen. etc.. all living in Athens
within the life of one man. Groups
have appeared in England, and within
radius of so miles from Culpepper
Court House, Va, another group, fam
Gus in revolutionary times and the per-
iod following, sprang into note. Lin
coin, CLAY, Calhoun, Webster, Grant
and lee formed another group. The
last mentioned is the only Soatherner
whose bust rests in the Temple of Fame.
As boy Lee was left with widowed
invalid mother. The love and kindness
which all through life characterized his
movements, in triumph or adversity,
was manifested at that time. In caring
for his mothers it almost seemed that he
displayed more than a sons love. In
West Point the records show that he
was studious, careful in his habits, and
never once was black mark ehalked
against him for failing in duty or in
traction of rules. In the Mexican war
Gen. Winfield Scott mentioned him in
reports oftener than he did any other
officer. The speaker said that Gen.
Lee had been called rebel, traitor to
his country, an migrate, etc. but that
his actions and after life did not war
rant such names. He quoted from diff
ferent works the words of men, who in
substance said that any state might, at
its will, secede from the union. One of
these books was a text book in West
Point at the time Robert Lee attended
the military academy. From these
books he formed the opinion held by
nearly all southern people, and loving
state and home, he decided to east his
fortune with the southern cause. Let
ters have been preserved which he
wrote to relatives that show the step
taken was painful one for him.
He arose to the command of the
southern forces, and then in quick sue
cession followed series of crushing
defeats for the North, with Mcclellan.
Hooker, Thomas and the best generals
of the North pitted against him. His
military genius was nlarred by only
one mistake-his failure to support
Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. Here
he showed his magnanimity by taking
all the blame upon himself for the loss
of the battle, which was the turning
point of the war. The best officers and
strategy of the North had been his to
contend with, but he proved himself
their superior as a general and a strate
gist. Then, from out the West, came a
man whom it seemed was predestined
to defeat him-Gen. Grant. Grant bad
studied his movements, tactics and
strategy as no other officer had. He
was given sGie reign and at once
worked out plan which succeeded.
He harrassed Lee in Virginia. One of
his armies cut the South in twain by
taking town after town along the Miss
issippi, ending with the fall of Vicks-
burg. Sherman cut swath of desola-
ton from Atlanta to the sea, cutting
the South in twain again, while Sheri-
dan was devastating the beautiful
Shenandoah valley. Then, at the cruc-
ial time Grant assembled all his armies,
followed by the fall of Petersburg and
Richmond and the surrender of Lees
army at Appomatox.
To prove that he was not a traitor to
his country, the speaker said it was
only necessary to remind his audience
that at Appomatox it only needed one
word from Gen. Lee to start guerilla
warfare in the South, which would
have taken twenty years for the North
to subdue. He saw that the southern
cause was lost and he advised his men
to go home and live peaceful lives, and
help rebuild a devastated, impover
ished country.
1t is not Lees military record that
makes him great There have been
other men of equally as good military
genius, but there was something about
him which causes him to be revered
in the South and respected in the
North. 1t was his inner self, his
traits of character, honesty of purpose,
kindness toward others, forgiveness of
wrong, personal magnetism, courteous
manners, in fact all the traits which go
towards making an ideal man.
After the war he devoted his time in
rebuilding the South by spreading en-
lightenment among its people. He was
teacher in a college. One evening he
came home and stood by the supper
table minute, and sank heavily into a
chair. Three days later the hand of
death touched his forehead The for
tunes of war had swept away his re-
sources and the closing years of his life
were spent in penury, but he refused to
accept aid from anyone. An Irish sol
dier, who had fought against Lee,
called at the latter's house one day and
offered him a basket of victuals- Lee,
though in want, refused the offer and
told the Irishman that he would be
pleased if the latter would take the
basket to some military hospital and
give it to son>e sick soldier.
So long as country.plaees the worth
of men above gold, said the speaker,
such meu as Robert f. Lee will receive
just recognition.
Mr.. Wendling gave evidence that he
is all that has been said about him as
an orator. His voice is so clear that he
does not have TO exert himself to be
/ heard in any hall. We believe his topic