position, encourage and reanimate his somewhat dispirited troops, and magnanimously take upon his own shoulders the whole weight of the repulse. It was impossible to look at him, or to listen to him, without feeling the strongest admiration."

The effect of his conduct on the troops was electrical: the broken commands were rallied, and his army soon presented such a determined front, that General Meade did not deem it prudent to attack.

When General Lee reached Hagerstown in his retrograde movement, the Potomac was past fording. Meade's army was close upon his rear; the Northern press were clamorous for the capture of "Lee's beaten, dispirited ragamuffins," and another battle seemed imminent. The following stirring

order was issued:

"General Order No. 16.

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, July 11, 1863.

"After the long and trying marches, endured with the fortitude that has ever characterized the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, you have penetrated to the country of our enemies, and recalled to the defense of their own soil those who were engaged in the invasion of ours. You have fought a fierce and sanguinary battle, which, if not attended with the success that has hitherto crowned your efforts, was marked by the same heroic spirit that has commanded the respect of your enemies, the gratitude of your country, and the admiration of mankind.

Once more you are called upon to meet the enemy from whom you have torn so many fields-names that will never die. Once more the eyes of your countrymen are turned upon you, and again do wives and sisters, fathers and mothers, and helpless children, lean for defense on your strong arms and brave hearts. Let every soldier remember that on his courage and fidelity depends all that makes life worth having, the freedom of his country, the honor of his people, and the security of his home. Let each heart grow strong in the remembrance of our glorious past, and in the thought of the inestimable blessings for which.

we contend; and, invoking the assistance of that heavenly Power which has so signally blessed our former efforts, let us go forth in confidence to secure the peace and safety of cur country. Soldiers! your old enemy is before you. Win from him honor worthy of your right cause, worthy of your comrades dead on so many illustrious fields.

"R. E. LEE, General commanding."

This address was received with the greatest enthusiasm. That army was never more eager to fight, or more confident of victory, than it was that day, and General Meade showed his able generalship in not making the attack.

In the winter of 1864 the following incident went the rounds of the Southern press :

"One very cold morning a young soldier on the cars to Petersburg was making fruitless efforts to put on his overcoat, with his arm in a sling. His teeth, as well as his sound arm, were brought into use to effect the object; but in the midst of his efforts an officer rose from his seat, advanced to him, and very carefully and tenderly assisted him, drawing the coat gently over his wounded arm, and buttoning it comfortably; then, with a few kind and pleasant words, returned to his seat.

"Now the officer in question was not clad in gorgeous uniform, with a brilliant wreath upon the collar, and a multitude of gilt lines upon the sleeves, resembling the famous labyrinth of Crete, but he was clad in 'a simple suit of gray,' distinguished from the garb of a civilian only by the three stars which every Confederate colonel is, by the regulations, entitled to wear. And yet he was no other than our chief general, Robert E. Lee, who is not braver than he is good and modest."

It is related that during the seven days' battle he was quietly sitting under a tree, the approaching shades of evening concealing even his stars, and none of his aides or couriers being present, when an impetuous surgeon galloped up and

abruptly said: "Old man, I have chosen that tree for my field-hospital, and I want you to get out of the way."

"I will cheerfully give place when the wounded come, doctor, but in the mean time there is a plenty of room for both of us," was the meek rejoinder. The irate surgeon was about to make some harsh reply, when to his utter consternation a staff-officer rode up and addressed his "old man" as General Lee. To his profuse apologies and explanations, the general quietly replied: "It is no matter, doctor; there is plenty of room for both of us until your wounded are brought."

The following was found in his own handwriting on one of the loose sheets in the satchel to which I have before referred:

"The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman.

"The power which the strong have over the weak, the magistrate over the citizen, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly-the forbearing or inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light. The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others."

The following incident is from the Norfolk Virginian of October, 1870:

"Some years ago we stood, in company with General Lee, watching a fire in the mountains, which blazed out with a baleful glare on the darkness of a winter's night. The scene was as picturesque as any Salvator ever painted, and