Describing Lee’s appointment to the command of the State Militia, he says:
General Lee’s presence commanded respect, even from strangers, by a calm, self-possessed dignity, the like of which I have never seen in other men. Naturally of strong passions, he kept them under perfect control by that iron and determined will of which his expression and his face gave evidence. As this tall, handsome soldier stood before his countrymen he was the picture of the ideal patriot, unconscious and self-possessed in his strength.... There was in his face and about his expression that placid resolve which bespoke great confidence in self, and which in his case, one knows not how, quickly communicated its magnetic influence to others.
Comparing Lee with the Duke of Marlborough, he says:
They were gifted with the same military instinct, the same genius for war. The power of fascinating those with whom they were associated, the spell which they cast over their soldiers, ... their contempt of danger, their daring courage, constitute a parallel that it is difficult to equal between any two other great men of modern times.
He repeats the following pleasantry overheard between two Confederates, after Pope’s dismissal:
Have you heard the news? Lee has resigned!
Good God! What for?
Because he says he cannot feed and supply his army any longer, now that his commissary, General Pope, has been removed.
A characteristic anecdote of Lincoln is also given. He was asked how many rebels were in arms and replied that he knew the number to be one million, “for,” said he, “whenever one of our generals engages a rebel army he reports that he has engaged a force of twice his strength; now I know we have half a million soldiers in the field, so I am bound to believe the rebels have twice that number.” General Wolseley justly criticises the lack of concerted action among our regiments.
No fair estimate of Lee as a general can be made by a simple comparison of what he achieved with that which Napoleon, Wellington or Von Moltke accomplished, unless due allowance is made for the difference in the nature of the American armies and of the armies commanded and encountered by those great leaders. They were at the head of perfectly organized, thoroughly trained and well disciplined troops, while Lee’s soldiers, though gallant and daring to a fault, lacked the military cohesion and efficiency, the trained company leaders ... which are only to be found in a regular army of long standing.