The late General Gracie.
Headq'rs First Engineer Reg't.
December 3, 1864.
To the Editor of the Richmond Dispatch:
Having received the sad intelligence last night of the death of General Gracie, who was killed yesterday on the lines, I am reminded of an incident, in which he and General Lee were the principal actors.
The following are the facts, as near as I can obtain them; Soon after General Lee returned to Petersburg from the north side, he reviewed the whole line, and whilst on General Gracie's front, he very imprudently thrust his head above the parapet and commenced inspecting the enemy's works.
This is one of the most dangerous portions of the lines — a young man having been killed but a few days previous while looking through a port-hole.
He had received a sixty dayss furlough on account of a severe wound, and previous to starting home he had gone out to see some of his friends on the line.
He bade all his friends good bye, and was just returning to Petersburg, when he suddenly turned around, remarking, in a jovial manner, "I must take a look at my friends over the way before I go." He put his eye to a port-hole near by, and had only done so a few moments, when a bullet came through, killing him almost immediately.
It was near this same spot that General Lee was now so imprudently exposing himself.
His officers stood horrified, expecting every moment to see him killed.
Finding all entreaties to be in vain, General Gracle jumped up and interposed himself between the old General and the enemy.
General Lee remarked immediately, "General Gracie, that is very dangerous; you will certainly be killed." General Gracie mage unanimously replied, "It is better, General, that I should be killed than you; when you get down, I will." The old man smiled and got down, followed by General Gracie.
C. December 3, 1864.
To the Editor of the Richmond Dispatch:
