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Dominion," with its educational jewels and economic settings; or to any extent with the forceful and significant writings in prose and verse of Margaret J. Preston, the estimable wife of the distinguished Military Institute professor, John T. L. Preston, and the sister of the first Mrs. "Stonewall" Jackson, both ladies being daughters of Dr. George Junkin, President of Washington College, 1846-1861, the immediate predecessor of General Lee. Nor did we know much of Gen. Francis H. Smith, Superintendent of the Military Institute since 1840, except to consider him a great man, and to bear the same name as our beloved Professor of Natural Philosophy, the middle letter, however, of the one representing Henney, of the other Henry; nor of General R. E. Rhodes, the noted professor in the Military Institute with "Stonewall" Jackson, both sacrificing lives in the Confederate service; nor of Matthew Fontaine Maury, save through his geographies which were then reaping deserved popularity and praise; nor of General G. W. Custis Lee, a man of such distinguished parts that Mr. Davis would have placed him in command of the Army of Northern Virginia in the event of accident to its great commander-except that he was President of Washington and Lee University, the successor and son of General Robert E. Lee; nor of Rev. William S. White, for years a resident of Albemarle County, where he contributed successfully to the proper development of youths committed to his charge, ministered with self-sacrificing Christian spirit, as did the "Good Shepherd of old," to the betterment of his country mission, acted twice as chaplain to our University, presided over the Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, and then, shifting his field of labor to the Church of similar faith in Lexington, became the religious companion and adviser of "Stonewall" Jackson, preaching his funeral, performing the final solemn rights at the Lexington church and cemetery, and assisting in similar services over General Lee at the College chapel; nor of Rev. William N. Pendleton, the founder of the Episcopal High School, Alexandria, since 1853 rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Lexington-where General Lee held membership and worshipedduring the Civil War a Confederate Brigadier-General, and with three exceptions in every battle fought by the Army of Northern Virginia from first Manassas to Appomattox, where

with Generals John B. Gordon and James Longstreet he was appointed to negotiate the terms of surrender, after which he returned to his Lexington Church, became the social and spiritual companion of General Lee throughout his later years, reading at his funeral the Episcopal service-the only sermon of the occasion—and two years later officiated at the final ceremony of Commodore Maury; nor of Professors Nelson, Joynes, Kirkpatrick, Humphries, White, Johnston and Tucker, save to accept them as standing high at and from homefaithful teachers of Washington and Lee. Even though some of these and other detailed facts came to many of us late in our University career, or not until that had closed, yet none while there, and that from the very beginning, failed to realize a few manifestations of the "fortune of fate" against our University. Of this from our selfish standpoint two notable examples created in our disingenuous youthful minds a certain degree of covetousness, pardonable if not laudable, against the Lexington institutions-the one for her Lee, the other for her Jackson. Indeed, I do not believe there were many of us who failed to appreciate as unfortunate the Board of Visitors letting escape when presented the proffered opportunities of connecting those great men with our University-certainly as "a tide in the affairs of men, omitted." Jackson made no secret of his ambition when he affirmed: "I desire to be transferred to my State University, as I regard it the duty of every man to seek the highest cultivation of his powers, and the widest sphere of activity within his reach."

The untimely death of our gifted professor of mathematics, Edward H. Courtenay, at the University, December 21, 1853, opened, as Jackson thought, a possible vista to his cherished promotion. Professor Alexander L. Nelson, for the past fifty years chief of the mathematical department at Washington and Lee University, then one of our promising Alumni, was selected to take charge temporarily of Professor Courtenay's course for the remainder of the session, June 1854, when the Board of Visitors would elect a permanent successor. The applicants were numerous, and among them Jackson, then thirty years of age, whose application was accompanied with many letters from persons of distinction testifying to his competent scholarship, energy, devotion to duty, courage, etc.

Upon entering the Faculty of the Military Institute, July, 1851, Jackson declared to a friend: "I know war is my true vocation, and my constant desire in life will ever be the career of the soldier, and I am only accepting this scholastic occupation during peace in order to enjoy a continued practical acquaintance with the art of the artillerist." When it became known that he wished to be associated permanently with the University, this same friend said to him: "Have you not departed here from what you told me, upon coming to this Military School, was the purpose of your life?" Whereupon this reply came: "I avow that my views have changed; while I still believe I am adapted specially to the soldier's life, yet my convictions concerning war as a pathway to distinction have greatly been modified, and I would now by no means accept a commission in any war the Government might wage, irrespective of its morality. If my country was assailed in such a way as to justify an appeal to defensive war in God's sight, I should desire to return to military life; but unless this happens I will continue a simple citizen." Jackson's hopes for the University professorship were not realized the appointment falling to Albert Taylor Bledsoe, professor of mathematics in the University of Mississippi-but he repined not the least the failure, rather sanctified the slight disappointment to the better training of a liberal and manly character. Professor Bledsoe only taught seven years at the University, and although the possessor of a powerful intellect, abstract and concrete knowledge, mathematical and otherwise, his mind was more philosophical than practical, so that the latter side of instruction did not appeal to him strongly-that which was just the opposite with Jackson. Mindful of how events have shaped themselves there is little doubt but that Jackson would have given the University an inheritance of greater value—an asset of permanent endurance and perpetual good.

CHAPTER XVIII

INCIDENTS AND COMMENCEMENT OF SESSION 1876-77

General Lee's possible identification and association with the University; deaths of Commodore Maury and Mrs. Lee. Off for Lexington, via Goshen; pleasant midnight reception, and sight-seeing of the next two days. Gen. Hunter's destructive visit in 1864; Baseball game and banquet. Commencement, June, 1877. Address by Maj. John W. Daniel. Final Day and Ball. First regatta at Lynchburg, crowned with accident and defeat, etc.

ALTHOUGH General Lee and his eldest son were graduates of West Point, his second was educated at Harvard, and his third-youngest and namesake, Robert E.—was sent to our University, where he spent two sessions, 1860-61, 1861-62, and from where he entered the Confederate service, a very young man, in the spring of 1862. These facts made the University, with her traditions, influence and faculty, thoroughly known and respected in the Lee family, and by none more so than the General himself.

In the spring and summer of 1865 the University, perforce, went through a process of reorganization and reassembling of its teaching staff preparatory to reopening on the first of October. Only the older members of the faculty had remained at their accustomed posts during the belligerent years, most of them serving the Confederacy at home or abroad in one or another capacity. But now after the restoration of peace it was quite natural that all would incline to return in order to put forth their strongest energies in re-establishing the famous institution along lines that might, perchance, even increase its former greatness and usefulness. It was a crucial period with General Lee, as with thousands of willing hearts and hands who anxiously stood ready to contribute, so far as possible, thought, word and act towards his welfare-him whom they loved, honored, yes, worshiped. To him during these several months a number of more or less tempting opportunities presented themselves, but as it was not the dollar and cent coefficient-material remuneration-that played the strongest

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