Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/117

 tf Ti-ilmte to Genrriil I!. A'. 1st. 1 1 1

II looked through his glasses, and then said slowly: "You are right; l>ut what are they doing there?" It was an unexpected ap- pearance, and indicated a closer pursuit than lu- had anticipated, and soon !) r.dc auav to the High Bridge, only to learn that his son had been captured, Custis Lee's Division annihilated and Ewcll's troops eliminated from further action.

LEE AT APPOMATTOX.

I saw him last at Appomattox, but not after the surrender. It was just before he moved out against Sheridan and Ord's troops and his manner was in no wise different from what it had always been.

You, who witnessed his majestic bearing when all was over, can tell your children and all the generations to come, that "Human fortitude has equalled human calamity."

A few weeks after Appomattox, I was seated in his parlor on Franklin street, Richmond, talking with his daughter, when the General entered the room. Never can I forget his gentle manner as he extended his hand, and put me at my ease with a few cordial words of welcome, which he so well knew how to speak to a young and embarrassed visitor.

This was my last view of him. I saw him no more; he visited this city not long before he died, when in feeble health, and received the hospitality and homage of the people of Norfolk.

FAITH PERFECT IN LOVE.

Many weary years have passed since his death, October I2th, 1870, but the men who were with Lee have not forgotten. You who were with him cannot forget. Shall I praise you for that ? Faith in him has become perfect in love. The works that you have wrought in his name, they shall testify of you to the end of time. The natural state of man is war, but how different seem the wars of this genera- tion from our war.

The men of Lee, though few and feeble, and fading, like the last leaf, into the grave, can smile at the toy soldiers of the day, as they see the fighters, with the new-fangled cat-rifles, smokeless powder and dum-dum bullets, cut down ten officers and 270 men out of sev- eral thousand engaged and call it " the bloodest battle in the history of the world."

The beautiful long-range, amphibious navy breech-loader, with a time lock attachment and a telephonic range finder, warranted equal