I could hardly venture to repeat this story, to which there
is no other witness than my own, but for some letters in my
possession from Mr. Walthall's daughter and friend in which
the writers quote even stronger expressions of his regard.
I heard a great deal of him from Senator Lamar, who loved
him as a brother, and almost worshipped him as a leader. Senator
Lamar told me that he thought Walthall the ablest military
genius of the Confederacy, with the exception of Lee, and,
I think, of Stonewall Jackson. Indeed, I think he expressed
doubt whether either exception could be made. He said that
if anything had happened to Lee, Walthall would have succeeded
to the chief command of the Confederate forces. General Walthall
seemed to me the perfect type of the gentleman in character
and speech. He was modest, courteous and eager to be of service
to his friends or his country. The description of the young
Knight given us by Chaucer, the morning star of English poetry,
still abides as the best definition of the gentleman.
Curteis he was, lowly and serviceable.
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