I could make no reply. The words of this singular man and profound thinker, affected me dolefully.
“Yes, colonel,” he went on, “the three or four months which have passed since your last visit, have cleared away all mists from my eyes at least, and put an end to all my dreams—among others, to that project which I spoke of—the purchase and restoration of the family estate of Stafford. It will never be restored by me. Like Randolph, I am the last of my line.”
And with eyes full of a profound melancholy, the speaker gazed into the fire.
“I am passing away with the country,” he added. “The cause is going to fail. I give it three months to end in, and have sent for a prominent senator, who may be able to do something. I intend to say to him, ‘The time has come to make the best terms possible with the enemy,’ and I shall place the columns of the Examiner newspaper at his disposal to advocate that policy."{1}
{Footnote 1: This, I learned afterward, from the Hon. Mr. ——-, was duly done by Mr. Daniel. But it was too late.}
“Is it possible!” I said. “Frankly, I do not think things are so desperate.”
“You are a soldier, and hopeful, colonel. The smoke blinds you.”
“And yet General Lee is said to repudiate negotiations with scorn. He is said to have lately replied to a gentleman who advised them, ‘For myself, I intend to die sword in hand!’”
“General Lee is a soldier—and you know what the song says: ‘A soldier’s business, boys, is to die!’”
I could find no reply to the grim words.