Year: 1879

scene


An AnecdOte of the General.


"H. Z. H. sends the Boston Herald
the following incidents, as related to him
by gentleman who was attached to the
headquarters of General Lee in the ca
pacity of Chief Medical Purveyor of the
Army of Northern Virginia:


The remnant of the once proud army
of Northern Virginia, worn out with the
incessant fatigue and privatiOns incl
dental to their late retreat from Peters.
burg, lay resting under the shade of the
trees in the neighbOrhood of the now
famous Appomatox Courthouse anxious
" awaiting the return of their much
loved chieftain, who, some hours pre-
viOusly, had gone over to the headquar-
ters of the Union army to arrange with
General Grant for capitulation of the
Southern forces under his command
There they lay, the heroes of many a
hard-fought battle, thinking over the
momentous events of the past few years,
realizing that their labor had been in
vain, that their sufferings and sacrifices
were to count as naught, and looking
with blank dismay into the unpromising
future. A shout is heard, the {" rebel
YELL rings out once more and for
the last time; the crowd rush
es to the roadside to welcome
back their venerable commander. They
call upon him for speech. Slowly and
sadly turning toward them he replies,
Z" l have not to-day the heart to make
you a speech. / have turned over the
army to General Grant. You will all
be allowed to return to your homes, and
L hope you will be happy there" Dis
mounting from his horse he remained
for some time standing under neigh
boring tree. His officers, intermingled
with men from the ranks, grouped them
selves around him. Some of these were
gray-haired men, others mere boys.
One youth apparently not more than 10,
a courier attached to one of the head
quarters, with eyes intently fixed upon
his aged commander, had sunk upon one
knee, to rest himself, and thus uncon-
sciously assumed an attitude of silent
alteration, the whole forming a pic
turesque group. Few words were
spoken. Silently they looked upon the
man whom they had learned to love and
venerate, and with whom they were soon
to part forever. The moment was sad
and solemn. Few eyes were dry. The
setting sun shOne full upon them, linger-
ing, as it were, to bid farewell to the he
roic army it had lighted through so many
a hard-fOught field, and upon which the
fates had decreed that it should never
shine again.


The following anecdOte illustrates the
dislike with which General Lee always
regarded any departure from the rigid
simplicity which characterized the life
at his headquarters. One of his inspect
or-generals, Col. Murray, was quite ad-
vanced in life, and some friend, wishing
to Contribute to his comfort, had present.
ed him with cushioned camp-chair
Tents had been struck, and the baggage
all packed in the wagons, preparatory
to starting on the days march; all ex-
cept the cushioned-chair, in which the
Colonel sat, waiting to join the General
as he passed. A few moments later,
Gen. Lee rode up, regarded the Colonel
for moment, and then quietly remark
ed: q Col. Murray, would advise you,
the next time we start on campaign,
to bring your center-table with you" 1t
is needless to say that that chair was
never again seen at the army headquar
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