, who is regarded by competent judges as standing at the very head of his profession, wrote last December to an accomplished lady of
, now residing in New York, a letter worth preserving in our records as the calm, unpredjudiced estimate of a distinguished foreign soldier.
war office,
London, 8th December, 1883.
.,—I am very grateful for your kind letter and for the valuable autographs it contains.
I have long been collecting the letters of eminent people, but have had much difficulty in obtaining those of the great men on your side of the
Atlantic.
I have only known two heroes in my life, and
General R. E. Lee is one of them, so you can well understand how I value one of his letters.
I believe that when time has calmed down the angry passions of the ‘North,’
General Lee will be accepted in the
United States as the greatest General you have ever had, and second as a patriot only to
Washington himself.
Stonewall Jackson, I only knew slightly, his name will live forever also in American history when that of
Mr. U. S. Grant has been long forgotten, such at least is my humble opinion of these men when viewed by an outside student of military history who has no local prejudice.
I am glad to hear that my much-valued friend,
Mrs. L., is well and happy.
She was one of the brightest and most lovable women I have ever known; please remember me to her affectionately should you soon write to her.
I enclose you a photograph with my great pleasure.
I shall indeed
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be proud that it finds a place in your collection.
I am, also sending one direct to
General Beauregard, with my best thanks for his kindness in letting me have the autograph letters you have so kindly sent me.
That of
General Beauregard is one that I shall always prize.
I am indeed very grateful to you for telling me to keep it.
Again thanking you most sincerely for your kindness to me in this matter, believe me to remain,
Very faithfully yours,
