Goldsboro weekly argus., 1909-02-25
General Lees Adjutant On
That Prize Essay.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM COL. WiL.
TER Il. TAYLOR, OF NORFOLK, In
WHICH he SHeWS FINE
SPIRIT AND WH0LE.
SOME EQUITY.
Norfolk Ledger, Feb. 10.

Col. Walter H. Taylor, president of
the Marine Bank, whose recent book,
General Lee," is regarded highly by
all students of the career of the great
Southern leader, endorses the posi-
tion taken by President Alderman, of
the University of Virginia, in voting
to award a prize to Miss Christine
Boysen for her essay on Lee.
Colonel Taylor was longer and
more closely associated with General
Lee than any other member of his
staff, having been his adjutant-gener-
al from first to last He is the last
survivor of Lees personal staff, and
every member Of the Army of North
ern Virginia knew the signature by
command of Gen. R. E. Lee: W. H.
Taylor, A. A. G."
In discussing the essay and the con-
troyersy which grew out of the award
OF the prize to Miss Boysen, Colonel
Taylor said:
"a merely casual reading of this
essay makes clear the fact that the
author is of the other side The crit
,Ic, therefore, in pronouncing judg
ment upon the excellence of the paper
in a general sense, would make al
1oWance for the point of view of the
writer in the consideration of mat
-ters of historical detail, about which
there has been more or less of con-
zztroversy.
"a careful and critical examination
of the essay, when one considers the
environment, early association and
education of the author, justifes the
prominence that has been given it as
a remarkable tribute to the rectitude
Z, and patriotism of the South and to
the character and achievements CT
General Lee; that the first impress
-sions of this young author, whose
serach after the truth appears to
have been so sincere and intelligent,
have yielded to the present estimate
: OF the South and Of General Lee as
presented in her essay, is most graft
Tying to me as one of the strongest
illustrations 1 have seen of the adage
that the truth is mighty and must pre-
vail, and tends to reasSure our side
concerning the history of our coun-
: try during that crucial period of it's
<-sxistence as it will be ultimately writ
ten. ri:ssss! !-ts~2. iSzls So
Il say this Notwithstanding the fact
= that l recognize that the essay con-
2 tains certain inaccuracies of state
nent of facts and an occasional infe-
Iicity of expression that mar it's ex-
cellence from the Southern point of
: view. -.
There IS some confusion in the
manner il which she presents her
own conclusions in connection with
: sentiments prevailing at the North as
Srese1tted in publications quoted in
the text of the essay; so that it is
g~not always clear whether she makes
an assertion OF fact or whether sht
is stating the public view as set fortl
il in the authorities quoted. AS a re
suit, Injustice has been done tn
young author in some quarters
which, I am confident, will be cor
rected upon more thorough under
standing of what she really did say.
1--WE of the South are especiall
sensitive about the designation G
traitor as applied to our leaders an
soldiers; much more so, for good rea
sons, than we are about the designa
fion of rebel
1--WE read in the essay: He (GeI
aeral Lee) was a traitor in that
sacrificed all to aid the enemies {
his country, but 50 were Geore
Washington and ohm Hampden an
William of Orange &C. r. Adams).'
while I differ with the essayist {
to the charge that General Lee sa
Tifced all to aid the enemies of b
country, Genera1 Ice Bas not a ira
ator in any sense; as appears tn a
sother part Of this essay, the soil
Virginia called him, and to that CO
there could be but one answer it
very clear that the word traitor
the sentence quoted above was n
a1sed in way intended to be oefe
asive, and the author evidently pr
@Bumed that she took the sting fro
@sthe shaft by placing General I
where Charles Francis Adams p1ac
HMM class with Washingto
Hampden and William Of Orange
''It is not fair to construe this
"a bald denunciation of General /
AS traitor"