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antagonists, higher praise could scarcely be awarded. That he was equally great in offensive operations, when opportunity offered, is evident by a careful review of the manoeuvres before Richmond, which resulted in driving back an army of invasion of superior numbers, and sending it, broken and dispirited, under the shelter of its gunboats, with its ranks shattered, and its leader's power destroyed. The closing campaign, lost to the South from the persistency and exhaustless resources of the North, is without parallel in the military history of the world. By alternate skilful retreat and audacious attack, by the careful management of few men and scanty means, and by a consummate generalship, he inflicted a loss upon Grant beyond the numbers of his own command, drove his antagonist from the line upon which he had declared he would fight all summer, threw him off in a tangent from every point of the circle, and finally forced him to sit down before the earthworks of Petersburg, where he kept his masses at bay so long as there remained under his command any show of force. We do not detract from the merits of the soldiers on either side when we say that no other man, with the same means and the same resources, could have waged the unequal fight so long and so well.

As a man, Lee deserved all the respect and affection with which he was regarded. The popular esteem was won by none of the arts for acquiring popularity. It came from his well-balanced character. All men admitted his high sense of honor, his unostentatious practice of all the Christian virtues, his true religious feeling, his calm endurance of untoward results, and his quiet observance of the duties of life. Indeed, the key to his action is to be found in the letter to his son, where he says-"Duty is the sublimest word in our language." No one doubted his purity of motive. In manner, quiet, courteous, and dignified; in morals, irreproachable; in intellect, strong, clear, and self-poised; a gentleman by habit, instinct, and descent; a Christian, not only exact in the observances of his church, but illustrating his faith by his daily doing, he was one of the few marked men of his time-one of those who are beloved while living, and venerated when dead.

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