At the President's, where General Lee breakfasted, a man
named Phelan told General Lee all he ought to do; planned a campaign for him.
General Lee smiled blandly the while, though he did permit himself a mild sneer
at the wise civilians in Congress who refrained from trying the battle-field in
person, but from afar dictated the movements of armies. My husband said that,
to his amazement, General Lee came into his room at the Executive Office to “pay
his respects and have a talk.” “Dear me! Goodness gracious!” said I. “That was
a compliment from the head of the army, the very first man in the world, we
Confederates think.”
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 292
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