Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/186

 174 Southern Historical Society Papers.

troops, under Custis Lee, taking the field as a skeleton Division in Ewell's skeleton Corps, joined the gaunt remnant of the "Army of Northern Virginia" on the "Retreat," the hope of a successful issue of the desperate venture was, in truth, but the forlornest of "forlorn hopes."

But his constancy shone out as brightly in the gloom as did his daring, and, though it was the irony of fate that his first battle should be his last (and that battle a combat rather than a pitched fight), he fought his Division in the disastrous affair at "Sailor's Creek" with such skill and audacity as drew from Ewell (dear "Old Dick," hero of a hundred fights!), in his of- ficial report, most emphatic and enthusiastic commendation.

There, on April 6th, 1865, just three days before "the Surren- der" at Appomattox C. H., Ewell's force of 3,000 was literally surrounded by about about 30,000 of the enemy's infantry and cavalry, and, after a stubborn resistance, in which the garrison troops behaved with great steadiness, was forced to surrender — Ewell, Custis Lee and four other general officers being among the prisoners.

This ended the military career of the young soldier, who, we must allow, had tasted but bitterly of the meagre "chance" given him by fate, or fortune, or call it what you will.

Of his civil life, it is needless to speak, save in briefest fashion. In the autumn of 1865, he was made "Professor of Civil and Military Engineering and Applied Mathematics" in the Virginia Military Listitute. Here, possessed of notable powers of lucid exposition, he taught successfully for five years, resigning his chair at the beginning of 1871 to accept the Presidency of Washington and Lee University, to which he had been elected on the death of his father in October, 1870. This high position he held for over a quarter of a century, evidencing executive ability of the first order; and when, in 1897, owing to ill health, he resigned the headship of that institution, he carried with him into retirement the profound respect and deep afifection of the whole academic body, professors and students alike.