Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-23

World and Brooklyn Eagle. An event
occurred which he did not report IN
his dispatches, and which has not got
into the history books or biographies.
He now, tells OF it in his Brooklyn
newspaper.
Virginia was about to elect q gov
e.nor under the reconstruction act.
The Conservative candidate was Col
onel Gilbert c. Walker, Union SOL
der; the Republican candidate was
the States military governor. Fl. II.
Wells. The Conservatives feared that
Wells would use the troops lin a
way TO assure his own election. 1t
occurred to Mrs Myra Gaines, wild
ow of the distinguished major gen
eral, that it might be a great thing
for Virginia to have the situation eN-
planned across a table by Robert h.
Lee to Ulysses S. Grant. She gave
Nick elway letter to General Lee,
and he set out for Georgetown (whcre
the general was then sojourning) on
his GRAND. 1t was a Sunday. he re-
members, and an uncommonly stormy
one. He says in his Eagle story:
The general had the correspond
ent's carriage and horse taken to the
stable and himself spent the entire das
with the correspondent questioning
him about Northern opinion and an
swcring the correspondent inquiries
with fullness and candor. Over al
period of time SO long as that which
has elapsed since the conversation
between the general and the cores
pondent. the memory Of the latter
concerning impressions is more clear
than concerning details. The cores
pondcnt can say that he never saw Il
uan more commanding and impress
sivc or more digniGcd yet natural III
manner than Robert f.. Lee. Nor
did he ever sec a man whose bodily
and intellectual resemblance TO Gen.
Washington. as the latter has bcch
by historians and artists,
was more striking. No notes. OF
course, were taken of what General
Lee said at that time, but the effect OF
the personality OF the general him !
self has never been lost, and is made
only stronger by the flight OF years.
On his return Mckclway was able
TO report that General Lee would be
glad TO go TO the White House on
he mission suggested. President
Grant said he would be glad TO see
him; through the Secretary OF War. i
Gen. Rawlins. he invited him TO The
White House. Lee asked and got
cave TO take General Jubal +. Early
md ex-senator Il. NJ. I. Hunter along.
Grant and Lee had not seen each 9th
n since AppomattoX. The three Nlr-
,inians put the situation in their
State before the President. and told
lin that all they asked for was
air election. He said they should
lavc it. Gle gave and enforced that
said Mckelway. "Welis
vas defeated and Walker was elect
ed. Eirginia's resumption of cleo
tive government was prospcrouSly
and peacefully effected under Walk
crs four-ycar govcrnorship. The
State escaped the worse conditions
hat had befallcn Florida, South Car
,lina, Georgia, Mississippi. Louisiana.
Alabama and Texas, and which
peaceful revolution within the Union
vas required to throw of"
The fact that the three Nirginlans
lad called at the White House got
nto the papers. but no hint Of what
.ook them there. or Of the promise
hey tok away with them. Both
Grant and Lee asked Alckclway 10
keep mum. and, of course. he did so.
Ic thinks that 1.-THE lapse of time
md the course of history justify
linn now in telling the story. He feels
sure that it will be news to Dr. Thcs.
Nelson Page, Lees latest bograph"r.