A Word Portrait

A WORD PORTRAIT For British readers in 1863 the Richmond correspondent of The Illustrated London News wrote the following description. "General Lee is, I believe, between fifty and sixty years of age, butwears his years well, and strikes you as the incarnation of health and endurance as he rears his erect soldierlike form from his seat by the fireside to greet courteously the stranger. His manner is calm and stately, his presence impressive and imposing; his dark brown eyes are remarkably direct and honest as they meet you fully and firmly, inspiring great confidence. The shape and type of head a little resemble Garibaldi's, and the features are those of a much handsomer man. On the rare occasions when he smiles, and on the still rarer occasions when he laughs heartily, disclosing a fine unbroken row of white firm-set teeth, the confidence and sympathy which he inspires are irresistible. A child thrown among a knot of strangers would be inevitably drawn to General Lee first in the company, and would run to claim his protection. His voice is fine and deep, but slightly monotonous in its tone. Altogether, the most winning attribute of the General is his unaffected childlike guilelessness. It is very rare that a man of his age, conversant with important events, and thrown to the surface of mighty convulsions , retains the impress of a simple ingenuous nature to so eminent a degree. It is impossible to converse with him for ten minutes without perceiving how deeply he has meditated upon all the possible eventualities of the campaign in Virginia, and how sound and well-considered are the positions which he advances. It is obvious that the most entire and trusting confidence is placed in General Lee by his subordinate officers, whose respect and affection he seems thoroughly to have won." The Illustrated London News, February 14, 1863 384 ...