"General," she said, "we have come to see you about a young gentleman, our friend, Captain Wharton. He is in prison, and we suppose the cause of his arrest was imprudent speech. He has been ill for some time, and is too feeble to bear with safety the hardships and confinement of prison life. If we can secure his release, we will make ourselves responsible for his conduct." She finished her little speech breathless. She saw the glimmer of a smile way down in his eyes. "I know nothing about the case," he said kindly. "Of course, I can not know personally of all that transpires. But I will inquire into this matter, and see what can be done for this young gentleman." Soon after, Captain Wharton called on Matoaca. She could hardly have left General Patrick's presence before an orderly was dispatched for his release. Friction resulted from efforts to ram the oath down everybody's throat at once. I recite this instance because of the part General Lee took and duplicated in multitudes of cases. Captain George Wise was called before the Provost to take the oath. "Why must I take it?" asked he. "My parole covers the ground. I will not." "You fought under General Lee, did you not?" "Yes. And surrendered with him, and gave my parole. To require this oath of me is to put an indignity upon me and my general." "I will make a bargain with you, Captain. Consult General Lee and abide by his decision." The captain went to the Lee residence, where he was received by Mrs. Lee, who informed him that her husband was ill, but would see him. The general was lying on a lounge, pale, weary-looking, but fully dressed, in his gray uniform, the three stars on his collar; the three stars--to which any Confederate colonel was entitled--was the only insignia of rank he ever wore. "They want me to take this thing, General," said the captain, extending a copy of the oath. "My parole covers it, and I do not think it should be required of me. What would you advise?" "I would advise you to take it," he said quietly. "It is absurd that it should be required of my soldiers, for, as you say, the parole practically covers it. Nevertheless, take it, I should say." "General, I feel that this is submission to an indignity. If I must continue to swear the same thing over at every street corner, I will seek another country where I can at least preserve my self-respect." General Lee was silent for a few minutes. Then he said, quietly as before, a deep touch of sadness in his voice: "Do not leave Virginia. Our country needs her young men now." When the captain told Henry A. Wise that he had taken the oath, the ex-governor said: "You have disgraced the family!" "General Lee advised me to do it." "Oh, that alters the case. Whatever General Lee says is all right, I don't care what it is."