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him, I will take a good look at him. I studied every feature of his face, and though his countenance was serious and clouded with ombre thought that day, I turned away as he left me with the thought that he was handsome beyond all the men I had ever seen.

Again I saw him when I enlisted in May, 1861, and once or twice in 1862, notably at his headquarters below Richmond, just after the raid of General Stuart around McClellan, on the Chickahominy. He had allowed his beard to grow and it had turned very gray.

I saw him no more until the 2d day of July, 1863, at Gettysburg, nor can I dwell on that view of him further than to speak of carry- ing dispatches from General Stuart there.

At Hagerstown I carried messages to General Lee and found him flying at his headquarters for the first time "The Milk White Ban- ner of the Confederacy," with the battle-flag at its union, which formed the next to the last national flag of our country.

THE GREATEST OF MEN.

With occasional glimpses of him on the march as we entered upon the fall campaign of 1863, I was learning to look upon him as no longer a curiosity. I knew nothing of him personally up to that time.

But in the winter of 1864 I was sent to him frequently and as the aid-de-camp of General Stuart was admitted on occasion to the commanding general's tent. He would speak to me briefly, but with a cordial and gentle deep tone, and would ask after Stuart with good will and kindly interest.

I can recall the deep impression these interviews made upon me. No emperor on his throne, nor prince nor potentate on earth could inspire me with the sense of superiority which I felt General Lee possessed over all mankind. The atmosphere about him was that of the high mountains, rare and invigorating, and the mental vision was treated to a sense of the sublime.

I saw him often as we entered the Wilderness. I saw him rally the troops of Heth's Division that evening near Parker's store. I heard him say to some rushing out from "the firing line," as it is now called, " Steady, men, go back! We need all good men at the front now," and Colonel Venable remonstrated with him for being so close under fire, but "Mars Robert" wouldn't leave until the line was restored.

This was not the incident which occurred (next morning) at the