The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-26

count his chief characteristics No
sophistry can wriggle out of such a
plain statement as this, and Piatt's
attempted explanation is so badly alb
surd and futile that even his subserv-
lent disciple cannot swallow it. and
SO adopts the ''Napolc plan of not
reproducing line of 1t, and contents
himself with characterizing 1t as
stern"
For moro than thirty years England
has been my second home. and 1t is my
good fortune to know English officers
by the score. from field marshals to
captains in marching regiments. and
l put tho question to these old friends
as to what would be thought of any
officer who thus practically suppresses
In a discussion a letter which is the
very core of the matter" and con-
tents himself with calling 1t stern"
when there Is not scintilla of stern
ness In 1t? When l was in the Army
OF Northern Virginia It would have
been adjudged On the language of tho
Army Regulations"D. certainly in the
mess. IL not by court martial. conduct
unbccoming an officer and n gentle
man" Thomas was reared In tho strict
States rights school," favored slavery
(Which Lee did noD. and even his
bioSrapher. Van Horne. allows that he
was more decidedly Southern in his
sentiments than Lee" Up. 3D. Both his
brothers served in the Confederate
army. and so did all his near kinsmen.
both on his fathers and mothers side.
Neither of his sisters. who were great
ly devoted to him. ever spoke to
him again after he turned his back
on his State. and only one OF his
brothers.
AS for General Fitzhugh Lees let
ter. 1 speak "by the card" when I
say that he published 1t reluctantly.
knew him intimately for many years.
and more high sweet-tem-
pered. truthful and valiant gentleman
never breathed. AS a dashing young
ster (second lieutenant in Second Cav
alry) he had greatly distinguished
himself in the campaigns of 80 and
go against the Indians. and his troop
rent the very heavens with their wild
cheers when he slew in single combat
the big chief" of the fierce Camanches
in the sharp melee near Camp Col
orado. Texas. in 1850. In the Con-
federate army he was the ideal beau
sabreur. Stuart's "righ bower" as he
used to call him, and rose to ba
major general before he was twenty
eight. not because he was 1.-THE nephew
of his uncle" (Robert Z. Lee). but be-
cause of sheer skill and valor on
field Of battle After the war he
was-made Governor of Virginia. "In
regard to the letter of Thomass for
mer subordinate, Fitzhugh Lee. OF the
Virginia Dispatch Ono such paper) of
90 April. 1870, Piatt opp. SIS ct seq),
gives the emphatic statement OF Gen.
cral Thomas that 1.-THE letterl is an
entire fabrication. not having an atom
of foundation" etc. Thus the poor
muddie-headed major! How could
Thomas. who died on IS March. 1870.
pronounce as ian entire fabrication"
a letter that did not appear until near
ly a month after he died? If the
major is going to bring in "spooks."
the wee acid OF truth" Is useless. Gem
eral Leo was, as say, reluctant to
publish his letter but tho Northern
papers were loudly asserting that
Thomas had never faltered" when the
crucial test came in 81 and some few
of his intimates urged him to put on
record publicly what he knew to be
the truth. Here is what Fltzhugh
Lee wrote in the Richmond Dispatch
of Esd April. 1870: ''I knew General
Thomas well-was lieutenant in tho
cavalry regiment of which he was
major before the war. and stationed al
the same post in Texas with him. He
was an excellent artillery officer
(served in that arm in Mexico)-an
Indifferent cavalry ohicer-too heavy.
too slow. The New York Tribune,
however. and all the Northern en-
comiums that l have read upon his
name and fame. lay stress on his
being a Virginian who never faltered.
But they would better have left that
part of his record out 1t is IL fact
that when war threatened between
the two sections General Thomas's
feelings were Southern to an almost
bellicose degree. 1t Is a fact that
he told me in New York City in 1861.
as l was on my way from West Point
to Washington to resign my commits
sion as an officer of the United States
Army. that he. too. intended to resign.
1t Is a fact that about this time he
wrote a letter to John Letcher, the
Governor of Virginia, and rendered his
services to the State (Which letter tho
Governor may have now) He was an
upright man and fought we'll. though
against us. Let him rest in peace"
AS to Mrs. Thomas's letter, which
the major copies from Professor Cop
pee's General Thomas" have no de-
sire to make any comment. She. too.
Is dead. and was no doubt very
masterful woman. Years ago, sitting
ct luncheon next to Major General
Reyes. u. g. A.. In charming North
ern country. house. yentured to ask