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8 £l)c Cost Cause. ROBERT EDMUND LEE. “Gee. Lee, the Christian warrior and hero, is dead !” Over the flashing wires of the telegraph come these solemn words - Ad own the corridors of time they are re verberating and re-echobg, startling every ear, and filling every heart with unfeign ed sorrow. The grand old General is “a sleeper in the dust”—his immortal spirit rests ia its eternal home. Glory crowns his memory, and virtue and patriotism weep above his tomb. In him was con centrated all that constitutes true great ness—his life a perpetual virtue—his death a perpetual grandeur—his memory a perpetual existence. In War a tower of strength—in Peace—a model of sub mission to law and order. In War a leader of cncourgagement —in Peace— an example for imitation In War, a host within himself —in Peace, an humble and patriotic Citizen. So, the world ad mires Lee—so, the world sheds a tear for bis loss—so, the world will keep his name and his fame in cherished remem brance. So, down the corridors of Time go reverberating the words, “Gen. Lee, the Christian Warrior and Patriot Hero is dead;” but back re-echoes the grander words, “He is not dead, but sleepeth.” For he who lives in the hearts of the people cannot die; his body may mould er in the dust, but his bettor parts —his greatness and his glory have an undying existence. Glorious Immortality crowns his Spirit—imperishable fame crowns his memory. When the uun clouds of War obscured our Southern sun—and the battle flames lit up our skies instead—his name was the talisman that gave us hone and cour age, and cheered the hearts of those gal “loys in grey,” who followed their no ble Chieftain through all the horrors of that eventful strife. “As while great Jove, in bronze, a Wardee God, Gazed eastward from the Forum where he stood, Rome felt herself secure and free, So Richmond’s safe, we said, while we Beheld a bronzed Hero—God-like Lee, In the land where we were dreaming.” “A warder god” indeed—a guardian hero —and with his soldiers a guerdon of safety to thebeloved and suffering daugh ters of his own dear land. When the flames of war had smoul dered into ashes—and the Sun of Peace once more gave forth its genial rays, he “laid down the, sword,” and walked in the noble paths of Patriotic Citizenship. Hardly knew the world which tG admire most —his grandeur in War, or his great ness in Peace. In both he clothed him self with that true majesty which is born alone of true Republican simplicity—the nobility of genuine manhood. But, alas! how feeble are the words which flow from our pen, compared to the merits of the subject which we have undertaken to commemorate here! To abler hands we commit the grateful task, and invite the aid of those who fought by his side in War ; who walked by his side in Peace —w’ho knew him as a Citizen, a Soldier, and a Patriot. These have wreathed around his memory a garland of immor telles, of flowers of rhetoric, and gems of eloquence, from which we pluck the most beauteous, and gather them here into a bouquet of freshness, to be laid upon the tablet of his fame, a gift of true hearts to the noble Chieftain of a glorious Cause. The Richmond Dispatch, of the loth instant, contained the following biograph ical sketch of cur immortal Lee: “Robert K. Lee was born at Stratford, in ißo<3 His family has been distin guished in Virginia for two hundred years. Two of his grand uncles were signers of the Declaiatiou of Independ ence. His father was the famous ‘Light Horse Harry'of revolutionary fame, who served terms in the Federal Congress and as Governor of Virginia, and whose first wife was also a Lee. BANNER OF THE SOUTH AND PLANTERS’ JOURNAL. Robert E. Lee was of the issue of a second marriage—the second son of Henry Lee and his wife Anne, daughter of Charles Carter, of Shirely. As, how ever, he borrows no greatness from his ancestry, but was himself the ‘greatest of a great line,’ we shall say no more as to his family. “Robert E. Lee entered West Point Academy in 1825, and graduated at the end of the usual term without having had a demerit mark. In 1829 he was appointed brevet second lieutenant, and assigned the corps of topographical en gineers. He served for several years in this corps. In 1832 he was married to Miss Custis, the daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of Gener al Washington. In 1836 he was made first lieutenant, and in 1838 captain. During the Mexican war he was on the staff first of General Wool, and then General Scott, as chief engineer. At the batttle of Cerro Gordo, April 18, 1847, he was brevetted major for gallant ry. At Cbapultepec lie was wounded, September 13, 1847, and was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel. Gen. Scott fre quently spoke of him in his dispatches as remarkable for his gallantry. Colonel Lee was next appointed a member of the Board of Engineers. In 1852 he became Superintendent of West Point Academy. In 1855 he was assigned to service in a cavalry regiment, which took him to the West. In 1859 he was sent to Harper’s Ferry to put down the John Brown raid. March 16, 1861, he was made Colonel of cavalry in the United States army. His resignation of his office in that army was dated April 20, 1861. “Early in 1861 tho Convention of Vir ginia selected Gen. Lee as eommander-in chief of the forces of this State, her for tunes not having at the time been for mally united with those of her Southern sisters. When the State joined the Con federacy he became a Confederate offi cer. After the defeat of General Gar nett by McClellan, and his subsequent death, General Lee was sent to Northwest Virginia, where he did not distinguish himself. He was recalled by Mr. Davis, and, on account of his great skill as an engineer, he was sent to examine the de fences on the Atlantic coast. In May, 1862, McClellan marched up the penin sula. The battle of Seven Pines took place, in which Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was wounded, and Gen. Lee was put in his stead in command of the Confederate forces. Soon followed the great battles before Richmond, from Mechanic*villc to Malvern Hill, in which Gen. Lee’s name bocame famous the world over. In these battles more than ten thousand prisoners were taken, 52 pieces of ar tillery, and upwards of 35,000 stand of small arms. From this time forth the hopes of the people of the South were centred in Gen. Lee. The whole army was placed in his hands. lie it was that ordered all its movements and was enti tled to the credit for the strategy employ ed. He ordered the movements which re sulted in the famous battles of the follow ing August—Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Ac. On the 3d of Septem ber his army crossed the Potomac, and on the 17th was fought the grand battle of Sharpsburg. Gen. Lee always claim ed this as a victory. His army, however, returned to Virginia at once. “On the 13th of December, 1862, oc curred the battle of Fredericksburg, one of the most complete successes of the war. In 1863, May 2d, the battle of the Wilderness was fought. The success here, too, was complete, but Jackson fell. Here, too, Gen. Lee showed the great ness of his heart, in that celebrated let ter to the dying chieftain, in which he said that for his country’s sake lie could wish it had been himself instead of Jackson that had been wounded. On the 4th of May the battle was renewed, and resulted in the defeat of the Federal army and its retreat with a loss of 17,000 killed, wounded and prisoners, 14 pieces of artillery, and 30,000 stand of arms. This was called the battle of Chancellorsville. “Gen. Lee again marched northwards. He went into Pennsylvania with his little army, and there on the 2d and 3d of July, 1863, fought the bloody battles which, though rather drawn battles than victories for either side, much more se riously damaged that army whose losses could not be repaired. “In May, 1864, occurred the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Ac., Ac. General Grant was con stantly repulsed, but as constantly re newed his flank movement until he land ed upon the banks of the James. There were many battles of more or less im portance during 1864 and the beginning of 1865. April 2d, 1865, occurred the evacuation of Richmond, and began the retreat of General Lee’s army from Pe tersburg April 9, he surrendered a skeleton of an army to overwhelming numbers. And thus ended his military career. “In August, 1865, General Lee was made President of Washington College. His name and fame soon made that a popular institution. He continued to hold the position until death.” Such is a brief biographical sketch furnished by one who knew him well. Next we have the following extract from a speech delivered in Charleston, S. C s by Gen. R. H. Anderson, a gallant sol dier who served the Confederate Cause under the great Chieftain whose virtues he here extols: “Whence springs this universal ex pression of grief? How is it that there is so deep a siLcerity in our lamentations? Was he who has just passed away from amongst us great and prosperous—rich and powerful, in the common acceptation of those terms ? Has he loaded us with benefits ? Has he increased our store of wealth or of knowledge ? Has he minis tered to our wants or to our pleasures, that we love his name and lament his loss so much ? No, my friends; it is not from any of these causes that our hearts are burdened to-day with an overpower ing sense of loss and deprivation. In many respects, the very contrary of these conditions atttended the life and the ca reer of our dead chieftain. Why then, do we so dearly love and cherish his memory? It is because of his spotless and blameless character, because of his purity, his piety’ - and benevolence, be cause of his truth, and magnanimity, and because of his moderation in pros perity, and his fortitude in adversity, that we so love and revere him. Since the days of the Father of our country no man has arisen whose fame, and whose deeds have shed so splendid a lustre upon the land of his nativity. “Personally handsome and graceful, with a face wonderfully attractive through its manly beauty, its indication of rare intelligence, and its expression of digni fied self-possesion and gentle courtesy, he was animated by a soul of matchless symmetry and excellence, and approach ed as nearly as possible to the perfect man. ‘‘His was the form and the character which we love to look upon and admire as representative of our Southern race. The land which gave birth to such a man need not be ashamed. “Adversity and oppression may keep it back for a time, poverty and anxiety may depress it, but with such a model before it, virtue, faith and fortitude will win the race at last, and place it amongst the foremost and most favored nations of the earth. “I have spoken of the well balanced elements of Gen. Lee’s mind and soul. He possessed great talents without vani ty, courage without rashness, generosity without weakness, piety and charity with out ostentation, as an enemy he was with out hate, as a foe he was without malice, as a friend lie was without deceit or guile. Such was the man whose death we de plore. General Anderson was followed by Ilou. C. G. Memminger, late Secretary of the Confederate Treasury, who said: Since the days of Gustavus Adolphus no great military chieftain has been pre sented to mankind who united so many virtues with so much genius. Amidst all the engagements of his great office, he never overlooked any of the duties of private life. .Devoted to the interests of his country, he was in patriotism one of the great heroes of history, and was ready, like Epaminondas, or Xenophon, to lay down his life for its welfare.— Equally careful in his conduct as a man, the duties of husband, father and friend, never failed to command his attention. It was a beautiful exhibition to sec a great military chief upon whose word irmies were dependent, giving heed to the gentle voices of children, and never omitting to accept and return their kind ly attentions. Many are the hearts through our country which are now mourning with sad memories over words or acts of kindness received at his hauls in the days of his glory and renown. If General Lee was so mindful of the lowliest objects of his attention, how much more nobly did he exhibit the qualities which adorned him when brought in contact with those whom lie loved and esteemed. A radiant goodness beamed through all his actions; and while strict integrity and unblending firm ness marked out his path, a never failing kindness shed its sun shine around him. It lighted up all his actions, and, whether in the field, at the council board, or in the drawing-room, no one left him with out the conviction that there was a man who sought to follow the example of the author of all goodness. Can anything in history be pointed out more noble than this conduct since the war. In an instant he put aside (it' be ever had them) all those ieelings which attend defeat, and in giving lip his sword he laid down at the footstool of his coun try’s welfare every resentful feeling. His immediate counsels led his country men by precept and example to accept events as the determination of Providence and to conform their conduct to them. With admirable self-control this com mander of armies brought himself to the new task of disciplining the mind of the young and teaching them by bis exam ple the great lesson of fortitude in adversi ty. He showed them that the noblest type of human nature was not that which repined at suffering, but that which battled with difficulties and con verted them into stepping stones. It was this great example which has led the South thus far through the mire of the past and has placed it upon the foundations of the present, to look for ward to a better hope in the future. He has taught us that patient industry aud honest perseverance are certain sources of national recovery, and that dishonor cau only attach to wrong. But he has taught us a still higher and nobler lesson. In the height of his glory, and in the depths of adversity, General Lee was a true Christian. He exulted not in the one, nor was he over come by the other. At all times and in all places he recognized the presence of his God, sought and submitted himself to His guidance. At the head of armies, amid the din of battle—in the solitude of his tent—or at his post in a college, he knew that the Lord saw him, and more than that, that as his faithful servant, that same Lord promised to watch over him and take care of him, and he believ ed His word. This gave to him a calm ness in the hour of danger, which never deserted him; a confidence in adversity which always encouraged him, and a hope ia death, which disarms the future of every terror. He descended to the grave as a warrior to his rest, and has now received that true crown of glory, with which the Great Master wreathes the brows of all Ilis faithful servants. Major Henry E. Young, of Gen. Lee's Staff, paid this tribute to his leader : Grand in his extreme simplicity, and sure of the love of those whom with a word he could hurl to their deaths, there was no ostentatious guards at head quarters. Barely enough men for abso lute necessity were kept there, and seldom was even the one sentinel seen on his beat to keep him from interruption when specially busy. An early riser, he de voted his early hours to bis maps and other study. Then came the various and incessant duties ot the day. And then, as the evening shades closed in, and work was over, those camp fires, which will never be forgotten—camp fires around which were seen not only his staff but also many of his heroes. He, the grand central figure, his sternness laid aside, seldom laughing, it is true, but with a countenance lit up with that smile which once seen can never be forgotten on ac count of its peculiar sweetness. There would meet the sturdy “Old War Horse” of the Army of Northern Virginia— Longstreet, with his strong common sense; great in council, great on the bat tle-field; slow at jokes, but enjoying them heartily with his deep, low laugh. Jack son—Stonewall Jackson—with the ab sorbed gaze of the man wrapt only in the cause, saying little. Impetuous Hill, cheerful and chatting always; dear to all. Old Ewell, keen ot eye, great listener, speaking seldom. Rugged Early, bent double with pain and disease, yet with burning eye, vast and ceaseless energy and biting sarcasm. Georgia’s fiery Gordon. Alabama’s knightly Rodes. Our own “fighting Dick” Anderson— the “noble, brave soldier,” neither silent nor talking much, always retiring, with merit unknown only to himself. Hamp ton, type ot all that is high, manly and courteous. Time fails me to speak of Pender, the hoped for successor to Jack son; Ramseur and the hosts of other? who have given their lives willing sacrifices for our cause. Last and oftenest there, another peerless son of Virginia, Lee’s favorite pupil at West Point, between whom ami his great preceptor there was a father’s and son's love; with life and character as pure and spotless as the bright sword he knew so well to use the gallant Stuart—“Jeb Stuart” of o ;r army; enlivening all, especially the “Old Tycoon,” when depressed and worn, and sick, with his bright joyous nature, his cheery laugh. Memories like these crowd upon me, and as these figures pass before me, the lofty central figure of them looms up greater than ever. The life and spirit, the moving power of that grand old army—an army worthy of its leader—a leader worthy of his army. Need I tell you of the love that army bore for him ? How, at his bidding, they went cheering to do or die ? How, no private soldier, doing his duty, ever heard a harsh word from him ? His unceasing kindness and gentleness to all. He suf fered what they suffered, and made it a rule not only to indulge himself in no luxurious ease, but also to discourage it in all others. When he assumed com mand of the army, it was common for general officers, with their staffs, to oc cupy neighboring houses. Lee immedi ately refused all offers pressed upon him, and established his headquarters in tents. The example soon had its effect; there were very few officers who were not very shortly found in tents near their men. Even when disease was sappino - his strength, he refused, except when'actu ally ill, to occupy a house, and the ut most his staff' could effect was to procure him a more comfortable tent than usual His men knew all this, and loved him without stint. You have ail heard the story, how, when at the Wilderness, a part of our line faltered for a moment, under the immense mass thrown against it, he put himself at the bead of the Texas Brigade—the remnants of Hood’s gallant men—to lead them into the fight. The whole Brigade halted, and a private, tall and gaunt, a hardy veteran, stepped from the ranks, and taking his horse by the bridle, led him back, telling him that they would obey him in all things save this. His life was too dear. The line should be re-established, but be must stay where he was. Tears streamed from these old soldiers, both General and privates. The General obeyed, and the promise of these brave men was fulfilled in a few moments. At the meeting in Baltimore, Hon. John A. Campbell, said of him : I second the adoption of the resolutions. They refer to two distinct times in the life of General Lee, which aie full of interest to every member of this country. The first is that period of his life whicti preceded the termination ci the war, and the second that which followed and ter minated with his death. It is forty years since my acquaintance with Gen. Lee commenced, and it has continued in the relation cf instructor and pupil. For nearly twelve months I met him day by day and received lessons from him.— There are many who will say that the same qualities of his early life remained with him to the close. He was interested in all, and compassionate, assisting the weak and instructing those that were strong. At the Military Academy he took a distinguished part, and there was but one who was his peer. He was de tailed at the end of the year to instruct a class, which he did, and at the same time maintained himself in his own class. In each of the four classes he had the* highest grade, and after he graduated he was assigned to the corps of engineers A long peace followed. When the war with Mexico begun, and General Scott was placed in command. Lis eyes at once turned to General Lee. I once asked General Scott why he attempted to march to the City of Mexico with the material he had. He replied that he was obliged to do so, as the yellow fever was in Vera Cruz He said he took two young met in a room and made the plan of tLa: campaign, and one cf those men was General Lee. All the reports of Generel Scott were full of encomiums of General Lee. After his return he was promoted. I have seen something in the papers in relation to the capture of John Brown. I was in the Cabinet meeting when a message was sent to General Lee to know what had been done, and he replied, giv ing the facts as they occurred, lie ha ! been sent to Harper’s Ferry in comman I of a company of marines, and on!\ did h:s duty T . That Cabinet meeting decal 1 that the United States should not inter fere, but should be left to Virginia. To ' CONCLUDED OX PAGE SIX.