The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-29
"BURY YOUR DEAD"
A Lesson in Preparedness From the
LlpS Of Robert r. Lee.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sfr: or
all the Incidents narrated OF tine civii
war. one Of the most dramatic wat told
at my Christmas fireside years ago In
Retrospective conversation between
two Confederate veterans.
General X. was observed to have a
broken wrist, and was questioned about
It BY Captain q. The General was a man
Of great reserve and little speech. but
the recollection Of tho cause OF his mis-
hap unloosed his tongue. What he SAID
I will give as nearly rs I can In his
own words.
"s.," he said, IT got that hurt in ar
attack. the reason for which will al
ways remain a mystery. Like the
charge Of the Light Brigade. some.
body blundered.' My brigade occupied
a thickly wooded piece OF ground oppo.
site the enemy. who. In superior num-
bers. were strongly intrenched behind a
railway embankment about a quarter
Of a milo away. The intervening space
was . ploushed field.
W were awaiting developments as
the battle proceeded on our right. Sud-
denly a courier rode up to me with a
despatch from General H.. my superior
In command. when I read II ] could
scarcely credit my eyes. It was an
order for me to 'dlslodge the enemy OPP
pOb1UB IuS, u UO WuiCu ~ NcS
sary that I expose my command to n
murdcrous fire as II charged across a
quarter Of a mile OF %ploushed ground
without a vestige Of cover. You know
what that must have meant. as I did.
." hesitated to act. At this moment
General Il. rode up I showed him the
situation and my orders. and asked him
what No would do. He replied. grimly
enough. I would obey orders Well. I
did We charged ~
At this. Captain 8. who was greatly
moved. asked excitedly. General. how
did you get out7" by God. sir, we
we're shot out replied the General.
Put" he went on. what followed
made me forget for a ome my wound
and my losses. Content with what
had been done. and being needed else
where. the forces opposing mo had been
transferred. As I was assembling the
remnants Of my command General Lee
rode up. accompanied by General H."
who had Issued the fatal order. Seeing
me, Genera Lee asked, General. where
are our men,"
Here General X. repeated his reply.
waving his arm as he did when he
answered Lee:
There. General. where YOU see that
line Of dead"
Asked rs 70 why they we're there
General X. referred to General II. He.
realizing his biunder. was overcome
with confusion as he undertook TO ex-
plain. General Lee interrupted him by
silently raising his hand. and turned to
General X.
General. bury YOU dead he said.
General X. said lie had never wit
messed so whitening n rebuke' or one ad-
minis,ered with such majestic dignity.
The recital OF this tragic AFFAIR was
deeply impressive. and recalling 1t at
this time brings me in touch with the
vital question Of preparedness. which Is
presently agitatlng the country.
For what he was called upon 10 do
General *. was unprepared. fatally so.
4 condition that had to be met was
thrust upon him. and many a Southern
mothers heart was stricken that day.
General r. had blundered In one way.
realizing the fact all too late and as
he wlthered under that stern though
silent rebuke. The pacifsts Of the pres
ent day would IN their way make the
blunder OF having their country totter
upon the brink OF the awful crater OF
unpreparedness.
God grant that the time may never
come when they will he called upon by
an unrrepared and outra ged nation for
an accounting. and to be si!enced as
they utter faltering excuses through
their intolerable and irsis;ent mouth
piece with those stern and rateful
words, Bury your dead"
r.. s. NASH.
NEW York. December %