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diff --git a/2323-0.txt b/2323-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ab151e --- /dev/null +++ b/2323-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14160 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Recollections and Letters of General Robert +E. Lee, by (His Son) Captain Robert E. Lee + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee + +Author: (His Son) Captain Robert E. Lee + +Release Date: September, 2000 [EBook #2323] +Last Updated: November 10, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBERT E. LEE *** + + + + +Produced by Brett Fishburne + + + + + + + +RECOLLECTIONS AND LETTERS OF GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE + +by Captain Robert E. Lee, His Son + + +Detailed Contents + + +Chapter I Services in the United States Army Captain Lee, of the +Engineers, a hero to his child--The family pets--Home from the Mexican +War--Three years in Baltimore--Superintendent of the West Point +Military Academy--Lieutenant-Colonel of Second Cavalry--Supresses +“John Brown Raid” at Harper’s Ferry--Commands the Department of +Taxes.............. 3 + +Chapter II The Confederate General Resigns from Colonelcy of First +United States Cavalry--Motives for this step--Chosen to command Virginia +forces--Anxiety about his wife, family, and possessions--Chief advisor +to President Davis--Battle of Manassas--Military operations in West +Virginia--Letter to State Governor......................... 24 + +Chapter III Letters to Wife and Daughters From Camp on Sewell’s +Mountain--Quotation from Colonel Taylor’s book--From Professor Wm. +P. Trent--From Mr. Davis’s Memorial Address--Defense of Southern +ports--Christmas, 1861--The General visits his father’s grave--Commands, +under the President, all the armies of the Confederate States +................. 48 + +Chapter IV Army Life of Robert the Younger Volunteer in Rockbridge +Artillery--“Four Years with General Lee” quoted--Meeting between father +and son--Personal characteristics of the General--Death of his daughter +Annie--His son Robert raised from the ranks--the horses, “Grace Darling” + and “Traveller”--Fredricksburg--Freeing slaves .................. 69 + +Chapter V The Army of Northern Virginia The General’s sympathy for +his suffering soldiers--Chancellorsville--Death of “Stonewall” + Jackson--General Fitzhugh Lee wounded and captured--Escape of +his brother Robert--Gettysburg--Religious revival--Infantry +review--Unsatisfactory commissariat........................... 91 + +Chapter VI The Winter of 1863-4 The Lee family in Richmond--The +General’s letters to them from Camps Rappahannock and Rapidan--Death +of Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee--Preparations to meet General Grant--The +Wilderness--Spottsylvania Court House--Death of General Stuart--General +Lee’s illness ... 112 + +Chapter VII Fronting the Army of the Potomac Battle of Cold +Harbour--Siege of Petersburg--The General intrusts a mission to his son +Robert--Battle of the Crater--Grant crosses the James River--General +Long’s pen-picture of Lee--Knitting socks for the soldiers--A Christmas +dinner--Incidents of camp life... 128 + +Chapter VIII The Surrender Fort Fisher captured--Lee made +Commander-in-Chief--Battle of Five Forks--The General’s farewell to +his men--His reception in Richmond after the surrender--President Davis +hears the news--Lee’s visitors--His son Robert turns farmer ........... +144 + +Chapter IX A Private Citizen Lee’s conception of the part--His influence +exerted toward the restoration of Virginia--He visits old friends +throughout the country--Receives offers of positions--Compares notes +with the Union General Hunter--Longs for a country home--Finds one at +“Derwent,” near Cartersville................... 162 + +Chapter X President of Washington College Patriotic motives for +acceptance of trust--Condition of college--The General’s arrival +at Lexington--He prepares for the removal of his family to +that city--Advice to Robert Junior--Trip to “Bremo” on private +canal-boat--Mrs. Lee’s invalidism........... 179 + +Chapter XI The Idol of the South Photographs and autographs in +demand--The General’s interest in young people--His happy home +life--Labours at Washington College--He gains financial aid for +it--Worsley’s translation of Homer dedicated to him--Tributes from other +English scholars...... 198 + +Chapter XII Lee’s Opinion upon the Late War His intention to write +the history of his Virginia campaigns--Called before a committee of +Congress--Preaches patience and silence in the South--Shuns controversy +and publicity--Corresponds with an Englishman, Herbert C. Saunders +............. 218 + +Chapter XIII Family Affairs The General writes to his sons--To his wife +at Rockbridge Baths--He joins her there about once a week--Distinguished +and undistinguished callers at his Lexington home--He advocates early +hours--His fondness for animals ................. 235 + +Chapter XIV An Ideal Father Letters to Mildred Lee--To Robert--To +Fitzhugh--Interviewed by Swinton, historian of the Army of the +Potomac--Improvement in grounds and buildings of Washington +College--Punctuality a prominent trait of its President--A strong +supporter of the Y.M.C.A.............................. 252 + +Chapter XV Mountain Rides An incident about “Traveller”--The General’s +love for children--His friendship with Ex-President Davis--A ride with +his daughter to the Peaks of Otter--Mildred Lee’s narrative--Mrs. Lee +at the White Sulphur Springs--The great attention paid her husband +there--His idea of life ..................... 264 + +Chapter XVI An Advisor of Young Men Lee’s policy as college +president--His advice on agricultural matters--His affection for his +prospective daughter-in-law--Fitzhugh’s wedding--The General’s +ovation at Petersburg--his personal interest in the students under his +care......... 280 + +Chapter XVII The Reconstruction Period The General believes in +the enforcement of law and order--His moral influence in the +college--Playful humour shown in his letters--His opinion of negro +labour--Mr. Davis’s trial--Letter to Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee--Intercourse with +Faculty ........... 299 + +Chapter XVIII Mrs. R. E. Lee Goes to Warm Springs for rheumatism--Her +daughter Mildred takes typhoid there--Removes to Hot Springs--Her +husband’s devotion--Visit of Fitzhugh and bride to Lexington--Miss +Jones, a would-be benefactor of Washington College--Fate of Washington +relics belonging to Mrs. Lee’s family.................. 318 + +Chapter XIX Lee’s Letters to His Sons The building of Robert’s +house--The General as a railroad delegate--Lionised in +Baltimore--Calls on President Grant--Visits Alexandria--Declines to +be interviewed--Interested in his grandson--The Washington +portraits................ 339 + +Chapter XX The New Home in Lexington Numerous guests--Further sojourns +at different Baths--Death of the General’s brother, Smith Lee--Visits to +“Ravensworth” and “The White House”--Meetings with interesting people at +White Sulphur Springs--Death of Professor Preston ............... 357 + +Chapter XXI Failing Health The General declines lucrative positions +in New York and Atlanta--He suffers from an obstinate cold--Local +gossip--He is advised to go South in the spring of 1870--Desires to +visit his daughter Annie’s grave .......................... 376 + +Chapter XXII The Southern Trip Letters to Mrs. Lee from Richmond and +Savannah--From Brandon--Agnes Lee’s account of her father’s greetings +from old friends and old soldiers--Wilmington and Norfolk do him +honour--Visits to Fitzhugh and Robert in their homes................ 388 + +Chapter XXIII A Round of Visits Baltimore--Alexandria--A war-talk with +Cousin Cassius Lee--“Ravensworth”--Letter to Doctor Buckler declining +invitation to Europe--To General Cooper--To Mrs. Lee from the Hot +Springs--Tired of public places--Preference for country life .......... +412 + +Chapter XXIV Last Days Letter to his wife--To Mr. Tagart--Obituary +notice in “Personal Reminiscences of General Robert E. Lee”--Mrs. Lee’s +account of his death .............................. 431 + + + + + +Chapter I -- Services in the United States Army + + +Captain Lee, of the Engineers, a hero to his child--The family +pets--Home from the Mexican War--Three years in Baltimore--Superintendent +of the West Point Military Academy--Lieutenant-Colonel of Second +Cavalry--Supresses “John Brown Raid” at Harper’s Ferry--Commands the +Department of Taxes + + +The first vivid recollection I have of my father is his arrival at +Arlington, after his return from the Mexican War. I can remember some +events of which he seemed a part, when we lived at Fort Hamilton, New +York, about 1846, but they are more like dreams, very indistinct and +disconnected--naturally so, for I was at that time about three years +old. But the day of his return to Arlington, after an absence of more +than two years, I have always remembered. I had a frock or blouse of +some light wash material, probably cotton, a blue ground dotted over +with white diamond figures. Of this I was very proud, and wanted to wear +it on this important occasion. Eliza, my “mammy,” objecting, we had +a contest and I won. Clothed in this, my very best, and with my hair +freshly curled in long golden ringlets, I went down into the larger hall +where the whole household was assembled, eagerly greeting my father, who +had just arrived on horseback from Washington, having missed in some way +the carriage which had been sent for him. + +There was visiting us at this time Mrs. Lippitt, a friend of my +mother’s, with her little boy, Armistead, about my age and size, also +with long curls. Whether he wore as handsome a suit as mine I cannot +remember, but he and I were left together in the background, feeling +rather frightened and awed. After a moment’s greeting to those +surrounding him, my father pushed through the crowd, exclaiming: + +“Where is my little boy?” + +He then took up in his arms and kissed--not me, his own child in his +best frock with clean face and well-arranged curls--but my little +playmate, Armistead! I remember nothing more of any circumstances +connected with that time, save that I was shocked and humiliated. I +have no doubt that he was at once informed of his mistake and made ample +amends to me. + +A letter from my father to his brother Captain S. S. Lee, United States +Nave, dated “Arlington, June 30, 1848,” tells of his coming home: + +“Here I am once again, my dear Smith, perfectly surrounded by Mary and +her precious children, who seem to devote themselves to staring at the +furrows in my face and the white hairs in my head. It is not surprising +that I am hardly recognisable to some of the young eyes around me and +perfectly unknown to the youngest. But some of the older ones gaze with +astonishment and wonder at me, and seem at a loss to reconcile what they +see and what was pictured in their imaginations. I find them, too, +much grown, and all well, and I have much cause for thankfulness, and +gratitude to that good God who has once more united us.” + +My next recollection of my father is in Baltimore, while we were on +a visit to his sister, Mrs. Marshall, the wife of Judge Marshall. I +remember being down on the wharves, where my father had taken me to see +the landing of a mustang pony which he had gotten for me in Mexico, and +which had been shipped from Vera Cruz to Baltimore in a sailing vessel. +I was all eyes for the pony, and a very miserable, sad-looking object +he was. From his long voyage, cramped quarters and unavoidable lack of +grooming, he was rather a disappointment to me, but I soon got over +all that. As I grew older, and was able to ride and appreciate him, he +became the joy and pride of my life. I was taught to ride on him by Jim +Connally, the faithful Irish servant of my father, who had been with him +in Mexico. Jim used to tell me, in his quizzical way, that he and “Santa +Anna” (the pony’s name) were the first men on the walls of Chepultepec. +This pony was pure white, five years old and about fourteen hands high. +For his inches, he was as good a horse as I ever have seen. While we +lived in Baltimore, he and “Grace Darling,” my father’s favourite mare, +were members of our family. + +Grace Darling was a chestnut of fine size and of great power, which he +had bought in Texas on his way out to Mexico, her owner having died on +the march out. She was with him during the entire campaign, and was +shot seven times; at least, as a little fellow I used to brag about that +number of bullets being in her, and since I could point out the scars of +each one, I presume it was so. My father was very much attached to her +and proud of her, always petting her and talking to her in a loving way, +when he rode her or went to see her in her stall. Of her he wrote on his +return home: + +“I only arrived yesterday, after a long journey up the Mississippi, +which route I was induced to take, for the better accommodation of +my horse, as I wished to spare her as much annoyance and fatigue as +possible, she already having undergone so much suffering in my service. +I landed her at Wheeling and left her to come over with Jim.” + +Santa Anna was found lying cold and dead in the park at Arlington one +morning in the winter of ‘60-’61. Grace Darling was taken in the spring +of ‘62 from the White House [My brother’s place on the Pamunkey River, +where the mare had been sent for save keeping.”] by some Federal +quartermaster, when McClellan occupied that place as his base of +supplies during his attack on Richmond. When we lived in Baltimore, I +was greatly struck one day by hearing two ladies who were visiting us +saying: + +“Everybody and everything--his family, his friends, his horse, and his +dog--loves Colonel Lee.” + +The dog referred to was a black-and-tan terrier named “Spec,” very +bright and intelligent and really a member of the family, respected and +beloved by ourselves and well known to all who knew us. My father picked +up his mother in the “Narrows” while crossing from Fort Hamilton to +the fortifications opposite on Staten Island. She had doubtless fallen +overboard from some passing vessel and had drifted out of sight before +her absence had been discovered. He rescued her and took her home, where +she was welcomed by his children an made much of. She was a handsome +little thing, with cropped ears and a short tail. My father named her +“Dart.” She was a fine ratter, and with the assistance of a Maltese cat, +also a member of the family, the many rats which infested the house and +stables were driven away or destroyed. She and the cat were fed out of +the same plate, but Dart was not allowed to begin the meal until the cat +had finished. + +Spec was born at Fort Hamilton and was the joy of us children, our +pet and companion. My father would not allow his tail and ears to be +cropped. When he grew up, he accompanied us everywhere and was in the +habit of going into church with the family. As some of the little ones +allowed their devotions to be disturbed by Spec’s presence, my father +determined to leave him at home on those occasions. So the next Sunday +morning, he was sent up to the front room of the second story. After the +family had left for church he contented himself for awhile looking +out of the window, which was open, it being summer time. Presently +impatience overcame his judgement and he jumped to the ground, landed +safely notwithstanding the distance, joined the family just as they +reached the church, and went in with them as usual, much to the joy +of the children. After that he was allowed to go to church whenever he +wished. My father was very fond of him, and loved to talk to him and +about him as if he were really one of us. In a letter to my mother, +dated Fort Hamilton, January 18, 1846, when she and her children were on +a visit to Arlington, he thus speaks of him: + +“...I am very solitary, and my only company is my dogs and cats. But +‘Spec’ has become so jealous now that he will hardly let me look at the +cats. He seems to be afraid that I am going off from him, and never lets +me stir without him. Lies down in the office from eight to four without +moving, and turns himself before the fire as the side from it becomes +cold. I catch him sometimes sitting up looking at me so intently that I +am for a moment startled...” + +In a letter from Mexico written a year later--December 25, ‘46, to my +mother, he says: + +“...Can’t you cure poor ‘Spec.’ Cheer him up--take him to walk with you +and tell the children to cheer him up...” + +In another letter from Mexico to his eldest boy, just after the capture +of Vera Cruz, he sends this message to Spec.... + +“Tell him I wish he was here with me. He would have been of great +service in telling me when I was coming upon the Mexicans. When I +was reconnoitering around Vera Cruz, their dogs frequently told me by +barking when I was approaching them too nearly....” + +When he returned to Arlington from Mexico, Spec was the first to +recognise him, and the extravagance of his demonstrations of delight +left no doubt that he knew at once his kind master and loving friend, +though he had been absent three years. Sometime during our residence in +Baltimore, Spec disappeared, and we never knew his fate. + +From that early time I began to be impressed with my father’s character, +as compared with other men. Every member of the household respected, +revered and loved him as a matter of course, but it began to dawn on +me that every one else with whom I was thrown held him high in their +regard. At forty-five years of age he was active, strong, and as +handsome as he had ever been. I never remember his being ill. I presume +he was indisposed at times; but no impressions of that kind remain. He +was always bright and gay with us little folk, romping, playing, and +joking with us. With the older children, he was just as companionable, +and the have seen him join my elder brothers and their friends when +they would try their powers at a high jump put up in our yard. The two +younger children he petted a great deal, and our greatest treat was to +get into his bed in the morning and lie close to him, listening while +he talked to us in his bright, entertaining way. This custom we kept +up until I was ten years old and over. Although he was so joyous and +familiar with us, he was very firm on all proper occasions, never +indulged us in anything that was not good for us, and exacted the most +implicit obedience. I always knew that it was impossible to disobey my +father. I felt it in me, I never thought why, but was perfectly sure +when he gave an order that it had to be obeyed. My mother I could +sometimes circumvent, and at times took liberties with her orders, +construing them to suit myself; but exact obedience to every mandate of +my father was part of my life and being at that time. He was very +fond of having his hands tickled, and, what was still more curious, it +pleased and delighted him to take off his slippers and place his feet in +our laps in order to have them tickled. Often, as little things, after +romping all day, the enforced sitting would be too much for us, and our +drowsiness would soon show itself in continued nods. Then, to arouse, +us, he had a way of stirring us up with his foot--laughing heartily at +and with us. He would often tell us the most delightful stories, and +then there was no nodding. Sometimes, however, our interest in his +wonderful tales became so engrossing that we would forget to do our +duty--when he would declare, “No tickling, no story!” When we were a +little older, our elder sister told us one winter the ever-delightful +“Lady of the Lake.” Of course, she told it in prose and arranged it to +suit our mental capacity. Our father was generally in his corner by the +fire, most probably with a foot in either the lap of myself or youngest +sister--the tickling going on briskly--and would come in at different +points of the tale and repeat line after line of the poem--much to our +disapproval--but to his great enjoyment. + +In January, 1849, Captain Lee was one of a board of army officers +appointed to examine the coasts of Florida and its defenses and to +recommend locations for new fortifications. In April he was assigned +to the duty of the construction of Fort Carroll, in the Patapsco River +below Baltimore. He was there, I think, for three years, and lived in +a house on Madison Street, three doors above Biddle. I used to go down +with him to the Fort quite often. We went to the wharf in a “bus,” + and there we were met by a boat with two oarsmen, who rowed us down to +Sollers Point, where I was generally left under the care of the people +who lived there, while my father went over to the Fort, a short distance +out in the river. These days were happy ones for me. The wharves, the +shipping, the river, the boat and oarsmen, and the country dinner we had +at the house at Sollers Point, all made a strong impression on me; +but above all I remember my father, his gentle, loving care of me, his +bright talk, his stories, his maxims and teachings. I was very proud of +him and of the evident respect for and trust in him every one showed. +These impressions, obtained at that time, have never left me. He was +a great favourite in Baltimore, as he was everywhere, especially with +ladies and little children. When he and my mother went out in the +evening to some entertainment, we were often allowed to sit up and see +them off; my father, as I remember, always in full uniform, always ready +and waiting for my mother, who was generally late. He would chide her +gently, in a playful way and with a bright smile. He would then bid us +good-bye, and I would go to sleep with this beautiful picture in my +mind, the golden epaulets and all--chiefly the epaulets. + +In Baltimore, I went to my first school, that of a Mr. Rollins on +Mulberry Street, and I remember how interested my father was in my +studies, my failures, and my little triumphs. Indeed, he was so always, +as long as I was at school and college, and I only wish that all of the +kind, sensible, useful letters he wrote me had been preserved. + +My memory as to the move from Baltimore, which occurred in 1852, is very +dim. I think the family went to Arlington to remain until my father had +arranged for our removal to the new home at West Point. + +My recollection of my father as Superintendent of the West Point +Military Academy is much more distinct. He lived in the house which is +still occupied by the Superintendent. It was built of stone, large and +roomy, with gardens, stables, and pasture lots. We, the two youngest +children, enjoyed it all. “Grace Darling” and “Santa Anna” were +there with us, and many a fine ride did I have with my father in the +afternoons, when, released from his office, he would mount his old mare +and, with Santa Anna carrying me by his side, take a five or ten-mile +trot. Though the pony cantered delightfully, he would make me keep him +in a trot, saying playfully that the hammering sustained was good for +me. We rode the dragoon-seat, no posting, and until I became accustomed +to it I used to be very tired by the time I got back. + +My father was the most punctual man I ever knew. He was always ready for +family prayers, for meals, and met every engagement, social or business, +at the moment. He expected all of us to be the same, and taught us the +use and necessity of forming such habits for the convenience of all +concerned. I never knew him late for Sunday service at the Post Chapel. +He used to appear some minutes before the rest of us, in uniform, +jokingly rallying my mother for being late, and for forgetting something +at the last moment. When he could wait no longer for her, he would say +that he was off and would march along to church by himself, or with any +of the children who were ready. There he sat very straight--well up +the middle aisle--and, as I remember, always became very sleepy, and +sometimes even took a little nap during the sermon. At that time, this +drowsiness of my father’s was something awful to me, inexplicable. I +know it was very hard for me to keep awake, and frequently I did not; +but why he, who to my mind could do everything right, without any +effort, should sometimes be overcome, I could not understand, and did +not try to do so. + +It was against the rules that the cadets should go beyond certain limits +without permission. Of course they did go sometimes, and when caught +were given quite a number of “demerits.” My father was riding out one +afternoon with me, and, while rounding a turn in the mountain road with +a deep woody ravine on one side, we came suddenly upon three cadets far +beyond the limits. They immediately leaped over a low wall on the side +of the road and disappeared from our view. + +We rode on for a minute in silence; then my father said: “Did you know +those young men? But no; if you did, don’t say so. I wish boys would do +what was right, it would be so much easier for all parties!” + +He knew he would have to report them, but, not being sure of who they +were, I presume he wished to give them the benefit of the doubt. At any +rate, I never heard any more about it. One of the three asked me the +next day if my father had recognised them, and I told him what had +occurred. + +By this time I had become old enough to have a room to myself, and, to +encourage me in being useful and practical, my father made me attend to +it, just as the cadets had to do with their quarters in barracks and in +camp. He at first even went through the form of inspecting it, to see if +I had performed my duty properly, and I think I enjoyed this until +the novelty wore off. However, I was kept at it, becoming in time very +proficient, and the knowledge so acquired has been of great use to me +all through life. + +My father always encouraged me in every healthy outdoor exercise and +sport. He taught me to ride, constantly giving me minute instructions, +with the reasons for them. He gave me my first sled, and sometimes used +to come out where we boys were coasting to look on. He gave me my first +pair of skates, and placed me in the care of a trustworthy person, +inquiring regularly how I progressed. It was the same with swimming, +which he was very anxious I should learn in a proper manner. Professor +Bailey had a son about my age, now himself a professor at Brown +University, Providence, Rhode Island, who became my great chum. I +took my first lesson in the water with him, under the direction and +supervision of his father. My father inquired constantly how I was +getting along, and made me describe exactly my method and stroke, +explaining to me what he considered the best way to swim, and the +reasons therefor. + +I went to day-school at West Point, and had always a sympathetic helper +in my father; often he would come into the room where I studied at +night, and, sitting down by me, would show me how to overcome a hard +sentence in my Latin reader or a difficult sum in arithmetic, not by +giving me the translation of the troublesome sentence or the answer +to the sum, but by showing me, step by step, the way to the right +solutions. He was very patient, very loving, very good to me, and I +remember trying my best to please him in my studies. When I was able to +bring home a good report from my teacher, he was greatly pleased, and +showed it in his eye and voice, but he always insisted that I should +get the “maximum,” that he would never be perfectly satisfied with less. +That I did sometimes win it, deservedly, I know was due to his judicious +and wise method of exciting my ambition and perseverance. I have +endeavoured to show how fond my father was of his children, and as the +best picture I can offer of his loving, tender devotion to us all, +I give here a letter from him written about this time to one of +his daughters who was staying with our grandmother, Mrs. Custis, at +Arlington: + +“West Point, February 25, 1853 + +“My Precious Annie: I take advantage of your gracious permission to +write to you, and there is no telling how far my feelings might carry +men were I not limited by the conveyance furnished by the Mim’s [His pet +name for my mother] letter, which lies before me, and which must, the +Mim says so, go in this morning’s mail. But my limited time does not +diminish my affection for you, Annie, nor prevent my thinking of you and +wishing for you. I long to see you through the dilatory nights. At dawn +when I rise, and all day, my thoughts revert to you in expressions that +you cannot hear or I repeat. I hope you will always appear to me as you +are now painted on my heart, and that you will endeavor to improve and +so conduct yourself as to make you happy and me joyful all our lives. +Diligent and earnest attention to ALL your duties can only accomplish +this. I am told you are growing very tall, and I hope very straight. I +do not know what the Cadets will say if the Superintendent’s CHILDREN +do not practice what he demands of them. They will naturally say he had +better attend to his own before he corrects other people’s children, and +as he permits his to stoop it is hard he will not allow them. You and +Agnes [His third daughter] must not, therefore, bring me into discredit +with my young friends, or give them reason to think that I require more +of them than of my own. I presume your mother has told all about us, our +neighbors, and our affairs. And indeed she may have done that and not +said much either, so far as I know. But we are all well and have much to +be grateful for. To-morrow we anticipate the pleasure of your brother’s +[His son, Custis] company, which is always a source of pleasure to us. +It is the only time we see him, except when the Corps come under my view +at some of their exercises, when my eye is sure to distinguish him among +his comrades and follow him over the plain. Give much love to your dear +grandmother, grandfather, Agnes, Miss Sue, Lucretia, and all friends, +including the servants. Write sometimes, and think always of your +Affectionate father, R. E. Lee.” + +In a letter to my mother written many years previous to this time, he +says: + +“I pray God to watch over and direct our efforts in guarding our dear +little son....Oh, what pleasure I lose in being separated from my +children! Nothing can compensate me for that....” + +In another letter of about the same time: + +“You do not know how much I have missed you and the children, my dear +Mary. To be alone in a crowd is very solitary. In the woods, I feel +sympathy with the trees and birds, in whose company I take delight, but +experience no pleasure in a strange crowd. I hope you are all well and +will continue so, and, therefore, must again urge you to be very prudent +and careful of those dear children. If I could only get a squeeze at +that little fellow, turning up his sweet mouth to ‘keese baba!’ You +must not let him run wild in my absence, and will have to exercise +firm authority over all of them. This will not require severity or even +strictness, but constant attention and an unwavering course. Mildness +and forbearance will strengthen their affection for you, while it will +maintain your control over them.” + +In a letter to one of his sons he writes as follows: + +“I cannot go to bed, my dear son, without writing you a few lines, +to thank you for your letter, which gave me great pleasure....You and +Custis must take great care of your kind mother and dear sisters when +your father is dead. To do that you must learn to be good. Be true, +kind and generous, and pray earnestly to God to enable you to keep His +Commandments ‘and walk in the same all the days of your life.’ I hope to +come on soon to see that little baby you have got to show me. You must +give her a kiss for me, and one to all the children, to your mother, and +grandmother” + +The expression of such sentiments as these was common to my father all +through his life, and to show that it was all children, and not his own +little folk alone that charmed and fascinated him, I quote from a letter +to my mother: + +“...I saw a number of little girls all dressed up in their white frocks +and pantalets, their hair plaited and tied up with ribbons, running and +chasing each other in all directions. I counted twenty-three nearly the +same size. As I drew up my horse to admire the spectacle, a man appeared +at the door with the twenty-fourth in his arms. + +“‘My friend,’ said I, ‘are all these your children?’ + +“‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and there are nine more in the house, and this is the +youngest.’ + +“Upon further inquiry, however, I found that they were only temporarily +his, and that they were invited to a party at his house. He said, +however, he had been admiring them before I came up, and just wished +that he had a million of dollars, and that they were all his in reality. +I do not think the eldest exceeded seven or eight years old. It was the +prettiest sight I have seen in the west, and, perhaps, in my life....” + +As Superintendent of the Military Academy at West Point my father had +to entertain a good deal, and I remember well how handsome and grand he +looked in uniform, how genial and bright, how considerate of everybody’s +comfort of mind and body. He was always a great favourite with the +ladies, especially the young ones. His fine presence, his gentle, +courteous manners and kindly smile put them at once at ease with him. + +Among the cadets at this time were my eldest brother, Custis, who +graduated first in his class in 1854, and my father’s nephew, Fitz. Lee, +a third classman, besides other relatives and friends. Saturday being a +half-holiday for the cadets, it was the custom for all social events in +which they were to take part to be placed on that afternoon or evening. +Nearly every Saturday a number of these young men were invited to our +house to tea, or supper, for it was a good, substantial meal. The misery +of some of these lads, owing to embarrassment, possibly from awe of the +Superintendent, was pitiable and evident even to me, a boy of ten or +eleven years old. But as soon as my father got command, as it were, of +the situation, one could see how quickly most of them were put at +their ease. He would address himself to the task of making them feel +comfortable and at home, and his genial manner and pleasant ways at once +succeeded. + +In the spring of ‘53 my grandmother, Mrs. Custis, died. This was the +first death in our immediate family. She was very dear to us, and was +admired, esteemed and loved by all who had ever known her. Bishop Meade, +of Virginia, writes of her: + +“Mrs. Mary Custis, of Arlington, the wife of Mr. Washington Custis, +grandson of Mrs. General Washington was the daughter of Mr. William +Fitzhugh, of Chatham. Scarcely is there a Christian lady in our land +more honoured than she was, and none more loved and esteemed. For good +sense, prudence, sincerity, benevolence, unaffected piety, disinterested +zeal in every good work, deep humanity and retiring modesty--for all the +virtues which adorn the wife, the mother, and the friend--I never knew +her superior.” + +In a letter written to my mother soon after this sad event my father +says: + +“May God give you strength to enable you to bear and say, ‘His will +be done.’ She has gone from all trouble, care and sorrow to a holy +immortality, there to rejoice and praise forever the God and Saviour +she so long and truly served. Let that be our comfort and that our +consolation. May our death be like hers, and may we meet in happiness in +Heaven.” + +In another letter about the same time he writes: + +“She was to me all that a mother could be, and I yield to none in +admiration for her character, love for her virtues, and veneration for +her memory.” + +At this time, my father’s family and friends persuaded him to allow R. +S. Weir, Professor of Painting and Drawing at the Academy, to paint +his portrait. As far as I remember, there was only one sitting, and the +artist had to finish it from memory or from the glimpses he obtained as +his subject in the regular course of their daily lives at “The Point.” + This picture shows my father in the undress uniform of a Colonel of +Engineers [His appointment of Superintendent of the Military Academy +carried with it the temporary rank of Colonel of Engineers], and +many think it a very good likeness. To me, the expression of strength +peculiar to his face is wanting, and the mouth fails to portray that +sweetness of disposition so characteristic of his countenance. Still, +it was like him at that time. My father never could bear to have his +picture taken, and there are no likenesses of him that really give his +sweet expression. Sitting for a picture was such a serious business with +him that he never could “look pleasant.” + +In 1855 my father was appointed to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the +Second Cavalry, one of the two regiments just raised. He left West Point +to enter upon his new duties, and his family went to Arlington to live. +During the fall and winter of 1855 and ‘56, the Second Cavalry was +recruited and organised at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, under the +direction of Colonel Lee, and in the following spring was marched to +western Texas, where it was assigned the duty of protecting the settlers +in that wild country. + +I did not see my father again until he came to my mother at Arlington +after the death of her father, G. W. P. Custis, in October 1857. He took +charge of my mother’s estate after her father’s death, and commenced at +once to put it in order--not an easy task, as it consisted of several +plantations and many negroes. I was at a boarding-school, after +the family returned to Arlington, and saw my father only during the +holidays, if he happened to be at home. He was always fond of farming, +and took great interest in the improvements he immediately began at +Arlington relating to the cultivation of the farm, to the buildings, +roads, fences, fields, and stock, so that in a very short time the +appearance of everything on the estate was improved. He often said that +he longed for the time when he could have a farm of his own, where +he could end his days in quiet and peace, interested in the care and +improvement of his own land. This idea was always with him. In a letter +to his son, written in July, ‘65, referring to some proposed indictments +of prominent Confederates, he says: + +“...As soon as I can ascertain their intention toward me, if not +prevented, I shall endeavour to procure some humble, but quiet abode +for your mother and sisters, where I hope they can be happy. As I before +said, I want to get in some grass country where the natural product of +the land will do much for my subsistence....” + +Again in a letter to his son, dated October, 1865, after he had accepted +the presidency of Washington College, Lexington, Virginia: + +“I should have selected a more quiet life and a more retired abode than +Lexington. I should have preferred a small farm, where I could have +earned my daily bread.” + +About this time I was given a gun of my own and was allowed to go +shooting by myself. My father, to give me an incentive, offered a reward +for every crow-scalp I could bring him, and, in order that I might get +to work at once, advanced a small sum with which to buy powder and shot, +this sum to be returned to him out of the first scalps obtained. My +industry and zeal were great, my hopes high, and by good luck I did +succeed in bagging two crows about the second time I went out. I showed +them with great pride to my father, intimating that I should shortly be +able to return him his loan, and that he must be prepared to hand over +to me very soon further rewards for my skill. His eyes twinkled, and his +smile showed that he had strong doubts of my making an income by killing +crows, and he was right, for I never killed another, though I tried hard +and long. + +I saw but little of my father after we left West Point. He went to +Texas, as I have stated, in ‘55 and remained until the fall of ‘57, the +time of my grandfather’s death. He was then at Arlington about a year. +Returning to his regiment, he remained in Texas until the autumn of ‘59, +when he came again to Arlington, having applied for leave in order to +finish the settling of my grandfather’s estate. During this visit he +was selected by the Secretary of War to suppress the famous “John Brown +Raid,” and was sent to Harper’s Ferry in command of the United States +troops. + +From his memorandum book the following entries were taken: + +“October 17, 1859. Received orders from the Secretary of War in person, +to repair in evening train to Harper’s Ferry. + +“Reached Harper’s Ferry at 11 P.M.... Posted marines in the United +States Armory. Waited until daylight, as a number of citizens were held +as hostages, whose lives were threatened. Tuesday about sunrise, +with twelve marines, under Lieutenant Green, broke in the door of the +engine-house, secured the insurgents, and relieved the prisoners unhurt. +All the insurgents killed or mortally wounded, but four, John Brown, +Stevens, Coppie, and Shields.” + +Brown was tried and convicted and sentenced to be hanged on December 2, +1859. Colonel Lee writes as follows to his wife: + +“Harper’s Ferry, December 1, 1859. + +“I arrived here, dearest Mary, yesterday about noon, with four companies +from Fort Monroe, and was busy all the evening and night getting +accommodation for the men, etc., and posting sentinels and piquets to +insure timely notice of the approach of the enemy. The night has passed +off quietly. The feelings of the community seem to be calmed down, and +I have been received with every kindness. Mr. Fry is among the officers +from Old Point. There are several young men, former acquaintances of +ours, as cadets, Mr. Bingham of Custis’s class, Sam Cooper, etc., but +the senior officers I never met before, except Captain Howe, the friend +of our Cousin Harriet R----. + +“I presume we are fixed her till after the 16th. To-morrow will probably +be the last of Captain Brown. There will be less interest for the +others, but still I think the troops will not be withdrawn till they are +similarly disposed of. + +“Custis will have informed you that I had to go to Baltimore the +evening I left you, to make arrangements for the transportation of the +troops.... This morning I was introduced to Mrs. Brown, who, with a Mrs. +Tyndall and a Mr. And Mrs. McKim, all from Philadelphia, had come on to +have a last interview with her husband. As it is a matter over which I +have no control I referred them to General Taliaferro [General William +B. Taliaferro, commanding Virginia troops at Harper’s Ferry]. + +“You must write to me at this place. I hope you are all well. Give love +to everybody. Tell Smith [Sydney Smith Lee, of the United States Navy, +his brother] that no charming women have insisted on taking care of me +as they are always doing of him--I am left to my own resources. I will +write you again soon, and will always be truly and affectionately yours, + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee. R. E. Lee.” + +In February, 1860, he was ordered to take command of the Department of +Texas. There he remained a year. The first months after his arrival +were spent in the vain pursuit of the famous brigand, Cortinez, who was +continually stealing across the Rio Grande, burning the homes, driving +off the stock of the ranchmen, and then retreating into Mexico. The +summer months he spent in San Antonio, and while there interested +himself with the good people of that town in building an Episcopal +church, to which he contributed largely. + + + + + +Chapter II -- The Confederate General + + +Resigns from Colonelcy of First United States Cavalry--Motives for this +step--Chosen to command Virginia forces--Anxiety about his wife, family, +and possessions--Chief advisor to President Davis--Battle of +Manassas--Military operations in West Virginia--Letter to State Governor + + +In February, 1861, after the secession of Texas, my father was ordered +to report to General Scott, the Commander-in-Chief of the United States +Army. He immediately relinquished the command of his regiment, and +departed from Fort Mason, Texas, for Washington. He reached Arlington +March 1st. April 17th, Virginia seceded. On the 18th Colonel Lee had +a long interview with General Scott. On April 20th he tendered his +resignation of his commission in the United States Army. The same day he +wrote to General Scott the following letter: + +“Arlington, Virginia, April 20, 1861. + +“General: Since my interview with you on the 18th inst. I have felt +that I ought no longer to retain my commission in the Army. I +therefore tender my resignation, which I request you will recommend for +acceptance. It would have been presented at once but for the struggle +it has cost me to separate myself from a service to which I have devoted +the best years of my life, and all the ability I possessed. + +“During the whole of that time--more than a quarter of a century--I have +experienced nothing but kindness from my superiors and a most cordial +friendship from my comrades. To no one, General, have I been as much +indebted as to yourself for uniform kindness and consideration, and +it has always been my ardent desire to merit your approbation. I +shall carry tot he grave the most grateful recollections of your kind +consideration, and your name and fame shall always be dear to me. + +“Save in the defense of my native State, I never desire again to draw my +sword. + +“Be pleased to accept my most earnest wishes for the continuance of your +happiness and prosperity, and believe me most truly yours, + +“(Signed) + +“R. E. Lee” + +His resignation was written the same day. + +“Arlington, Washington City P.O., April 20, 1861. + +“Honourable Simon Cameron, Secretary of War. + +“Sir: I have the honour to tender the resignation of my command as +Colonel of the First Regiment of Cavalry. + +“Very respectfully your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee, + +“Colonel First Cavalry.” + +To show further his great feeling in thus having to leave the army with +which he had been associated for so long, I give two more letters, +one to his sister, Mrs. Anne Marshall, of Baltimore, the other to his +brother, Captain Sydney Smith Lee, of the United States Navy: + +“Arlington, Virginia, April 20, 1861. + +“My Dear Sister: I am grieved at my inability to see you.... I have been +waiting for a ‘more convenient season,’ which has brought to many before +me deep and lasting regret. Now we are in a state of war which will +yield to nothing. The whole South is in a state of revolution, into +which Virginia, after a long struggle, has been drawn; and though I +recognise no necessity for this state of things, and would have forborne +and pleaded to the end for redress of grievances, real or supposed, yet +in my own person I had to meet the question whether I should take part +against my native State. + +“With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty +of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise +my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore +resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native +State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed, +I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword. I know you will blame +me; but you must think as kindly of me as you can, and believe that I +have endeavoured to do what I thought right. + +“To show you the feeling and struggle it has cost me, I send you a copy +of my letter of resignation. I have no time for more. May God guard and +protect you and yours, and shower upon you everlasting blessings, is the +prayer of your devoted brother, R. E. Lee.” + +“Arlington, Virginia, April 20, 1860. + +“My Dear Brother Smith: The question which was the subject of my earnest +consultation with you on the 18th inst. has in my own mind been decided. +After the most anxious inquiry as to the correct course for me to +pursue, I concluded to resign, and sent in my resignation this morning. +I wished to wait till the Ordinance of secession should be acted on by +the people of Virginia; but war seems to have commenced, and I am liable +at any time to be ordered on duty which I could not conscientiously +perform. To save me from such a position, and to prevent the necessity +of resigning under orders, I had to act at once, and before I could see +you again on the subject, as I had wished. I am now a private citizen, +and have no other ambition than to remain at home. Save in defense of my +native State, I have no desire ever again to draw my sword. I send you +my warmest love. + +“Your affectionate brother, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +I will give here one of my father’s letters, written after the war, in +which is his account of his resignation from the United States Army: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 25, 1868. + +“Honourable Reverdy Johnson, + +“United States Senate, Washington, D. C. + +“My Dear Sir: My attention has been called to the official report of the +debate in the Senate of the United States, on the 19th instant, in which +you did my the kindness to doubt the correctness of the statement made +by the Honourable Simon Cameron, in regard to myself. I desire that you +may feel certain of my conduct on the occasion referred to, so far as my +individual statement can make you. I never intimated to any one that +I desired the command of the United States Army; nor did I ever have a +conversation with but one gentleman, Mr. Francis Preston Blair, on +the subject, which was at his invitation, and, as I understood, at +the instance of President Lincoln. After listening to his remarks, I +declined the offer that he made me, to take command of the army that was +to be brought into the field; stating, as candidly and courteously as +I could, that, though opposed to secession and deprecating war, I could +take no part in an invasion of the Southern States. I went directly from +the interview with Mr. Blair to the office of General Scott; told him +of the proposition that had been made to me, and my decision. Upon +reflection after returning to my home, I concluded that I ought no +longer to retain the commission I held in the United States Army, and +on the second morning thereafter I forwarded my resignation to General +Scott. At the time, I hoped that peace would have been preserved; that +some way would have been found to save the country from the calamities +of war; and I then had no other intention than to pass the remainder of +my life as a private citizen. Two days afterward, upon the invitation +of the Governor of Virginia, I repaired to Richmond; found that the +Convention then in session had passed the ordinance withdrawing the +State from the Union; and accepted the commission of commander of its +forces, which was tendered me. + +“These are the ample facts of the case, and they show that Mr. Cameron +has been misinformed. + +“I am with great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +My father reached Richmond April 22, 1861. The next day he was +introduced to the Virginia Convention, and offered by them the command +of the military forces of his State. In his reply to Mr. John Janney, +the President, who spoke for the Convention, he said: + +“Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: Deeply impressed +with the solemnity of the occasion on which I appear before you, and +profoundly grateful for the honour conferred upon me, I accept the +position your partiality has assigned me, though I would greatly have +preferred your choice should have fallen on one more capable. + +“Trusting to Almighty God, an approving conscience, and the aid of my +fellow citizens, I will devote myself to the defense and service of my +native State, in whose behalf alone would I have ever drawn my sword.” + +On April 26th, from Richmond, he wrote to his wife: + +“...I am very anxious about you. You have to move and make arrangements +to go to some point of safety, which you must select. The Mount Vernon +plate and pictures ought to be secured. Keep quiet while you remain and +in your preparation. War is inevitable, and there is no telling when +it will burst around you. Virginia, yesterday, I understand, joined the +Confederate States. What policy they may adopt I cannot conjecture. May +God bless and preserve you, and have mercy upon all our people, is the +constant prayer of your affectionate husband, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +On April 30th: + +“On going to my room last night I found my trunk and sword there, and +opening them this morning discovered the package of letters and was very +glad to learn you were all well and as yet peaceful. I fear the latter +state will not continue long.... I think therefore you had better +prepare all things for removal, that is, the plate, pictures, etc., and +be prepared at any moment. Where to go is the difficulty. When the war +commences no place will be exempt, in my opinion, and indeed all the +avenues into the State will be the scenes of military operations. + +“There is no prospect or intention of the Government to propose a truce. +Do not be deceived by it.... May God preserve you all and bring peace to +our distracted country.” + +Again to my mother at Arlington: + +“Richmond, May 2, 1861. + +“My dear Mary: I received last night your letter of the 1st, with +contents. It gave me great pleasure to learn that you are all well +and in peace. You know how pleased I should be to have you and my dear +daughters with me. That I fear can not be. There is no place that I can +expect to be but in the field, and there is no rest for me to look +to, but I want you to be in a place of safety.... We have only to +be resigned to God’s will and pleasure, and do all we can for our +protection.... I have just received Custis’s letter of the 30th, +inclosing the acceptance of my resignation. It is stated that it will +take effect April 25th. I resigned on the 20th, and wished it to take +effect that day. I cannot consent to its running on further, and he +must receive no pay, if they tender it, beyond that day, but return the +whole, if need be....” + +From another letter to my mother, dated May 8th: + +“...I grieve at the necessity that drives you from your home. I can +appreciate your feelings on the occasion, and pray that you may receive +comfort and strength in the difficulties that surround you. When I +reflect upon the calamity impending over the country, my own sorrows +sink into insignificance.... Be content and resigned to God’s will. I +shall be able to write seldom. Write to me, as you letters will be my +greatest comfort. I send a check for $500; it is all I have in bank. Pay +the children’s school expenses....” + +To my mother, still at Arlington: + +“Richmond, May 11, 1861. + +“I have received your letter of the 9th from Arlington. I had supposed +you were at Ravensworth.... I am glad to hear that you are at peace, +and enjoying the sweet weather and beautiful flowers. You had better +complete your arrangements and retire further from the scene of war. It +may burst upon you at any time. It is sad to think of the devastation, +if not ruin, it may bring upon a spot so endeared to us. But God’s +will be done. We must be resigned. May He guard and keep you all, is my +constant prayer.” + +All this time my father was very hard at work organising and equipping +the volunteers who were pouring into Richmond from the Southern States, +but he was in constant correspondence with my mother, helping her all he +could in her arrangements for leaving her home. His letters show that he +thought of everything, even the least, and he gave the most particular +directions about his family, their effects, the servants, the horses, +the farm, pictures, plate, and furniture. Being called to Norfolk +suddenly, before going he wrote to my mother: + +“Richmond, May 16, 1861. + +“My Dear Mary: I am called down to Norfolk and leave this afternoon. I +expect to return Friday, but may be delayed. I write to advise you of my +absence, in case you should not receive answers to any letters that +may arrive. I have not heard from you since I last wrote; nor have I +anything to relate. I heard from my dear little Rob, who had an +attack of chills and fever. He hoped to escape the next paroxysm.... I +witnessed the opening of the convention [The Episcopal Convention of +the Diocese of Virginia] yesterday, and heard the good Bishop’s [Bishop +Meade, of Virginia] sermon, being the 50th anniversary of his ministry. +It was a most impressive scene, and more than once I felt the tears +coming down my cheek. It was from the text, ‘and Pharoh said unto Jacob, +how old art thou?’ It was full of humility and self-reproach. I saw +Mr. Walker, Bishop Johns, Bishop Atkinson, etc. I have not been able +to attend any other services, and presume the session will not be +prolonged. I suppose it may be considered a small attendance. Should +Custis arrive during my absence, I will leave word for him to take my +room at the Spotswood till my return. Smith [His brother, S. S. Lee, C. +S. N.] is well and enjoys a ride in the afternoon with Mrs. Stannard. +The charming women, you know, always find him out. Give much love to +Cousin Anna, Nannie, and dear daughters. When Rob leaves the University +take him with you. + +“Truly and affectionately, R. E. Lee.” + +By this time my mother and all the family had left Arlington. My +brother, Custis, had joined my father in Richmond, the girls had gone to +Fauquier county, to visit relatives, and my mother to Ravensworth, about +ten miles from Arlington towards Fairfax Court House, where her aunt, +Mrs. A. M. Fitzhugh, lived. Always considerate of the happiness +and comfort of others, my father feared that his wife’s presence at +Ravensworth might possibly bring annoyance to “Cousin Anna,” as he +called our aunt, and he wrote to my mother, urging her not to remain +there. He sympathised with her in having to leave her home, which she +never saw again. + +“Richmond, May 25, 1861. + +“I have been trying, dearest Mary, ever since the receipt of your letter +by Custis, to write to you. I sympathise deeply in your feelings at +leaving your dear home. I have experienced them myself, and they are +constantly revived. I fear we have not been grateful enough for the +happiness there within our reach, and our Heavenly Father has found +it necessary to deprive us of what He has given us. I acknowledge my +ingratitude, my transgressions, and my unworthiness, and submit with +resignation to what he thinks proper to inflict upon me. We must trust +all then to him, and I do not think it prudent or right for you to +return there, while the United States troops occupy that country. I have +gone over all this ground before, and have just written Cousin Anna on +the subject. + +“While writing, I received a telegram from Cousin John Goldsborough [a +cousin of Mrs. Fitzhugh], urging your departure ‘South.’ I suppose he is +impressed with the risk of your present position, and in addition to the +possibility, or probability, of personal annoyance to yourself, I fear +your presence may provoke annoyance in Cousin Anna. But unless Cousin +Anna goes with you, I shall be distressed about her being there alone. +If the girls went to ‘Kinloch’ or ‘Eastern View,’ you and Cousin Anna +might take care of yourselves, because you could get in the carriage and +go off in an emergency. But I really am afraid that you may prove more +harm than comfort to her. Mr. Wm. C. Rives has just been in to say that +if you and Cousin Anna will go to his house, he will be very glad for +you to stay as long as you please. That his son has a commodious house +just opposite his, unoccupied, partially furnished; that you could, if +you prefer, take that, bring up servants and what you desire, and remain +there as independent as at home.... I must now leave the matter to you, +and pray that God may guard you. I have no time for more. I know and +feel the discomfort of your position, but it cannot be helped, and we +must bear our trials like Christians.... If you and Cousin Anna choose +to come here, you know how happy we shall be to see you. I shall take +the field as soon now as I can.... + +“Ever yours truly and devotedly, + +“R. E. Lee” + +Three days later he was at Manassas, only a short distance from +Ravensworth, and he sent her this short note: + +“Manassas, May 28, 1861. + +“I reached here, dearest Mary, this afternoon. I am very much occupied +in examining matters, and have to go out to look over the ground. Cousin +John tempts me strongly to go down, but I never visit for many reasons. +If for no other, to prevent compromising the house, for my visit would +certainly be known. + +“I have written to you fully and to Cousin Anna. I am decidedly of the +opinion that it would be better for you to leave, on your account and +Cousin Anna’s. My only objection is the leaving of Cousin Anna alone, +if she will not go with you. If you prefer Richmond, go with Nannie. +Otherwise, go to the upper country, as John indicates. I fear I cannot +be with you anywhere. I do not think Richmond will be permanent. + +“Truly, R.” + +I may as well say here, that “Cousin Anna” never did leave “Ravensworth” + during the war. She remained there, with only a few faithful servants, +and managed to escape any serious molestation. “Nannie” was Mrs. S. S. +Lee, who shortly after this time went to Richmond. + +On May 25th, my father was transferred, with all the Virginia troops, to +the Confederate States Army. He ceased to be a Major-General, and +became a Brigadier. No higher rank having been created as yet in the +Confederate service. Later, when the rank was created, he was made a +full general. + +By the end of May, to quote from General Long, + +“Lee had organised, equipped, and sent to the field more than thirty +thousand men, and various regiments were in a forward state of +preparation.” + +When the Confederate government moved from Montgomery to Richmond, and +President Davis took charge of all military movements, my father was +kept near him as his constant and trusted adviser. His experience as +an engineer was of great service to the young Confederacy, and he was +called upon often for advice for the location of batteries and troops on +our different defensive lines. In a letter to my mother he speaks of one +of these trips to the waters east of Richmond. + +“Richmond, June 9, 1861. + +“...I have just returned from a visit to the batteries and troops on +James and York rivers, etc., where I was some days. I called a few hours +at the White House. Saw Charlotte and Annie. Fitzhugh was away, but got +out of the cars as I got in. Our little boy looked very sweet and seemed +glad to kiss me good-bye. Charlotte said she was going to prepare to +leave for the summer, but had not determined where to go. I could only +see some of the servants about the house and the stables. They were all +well.... You may be aware that the Confederate Government is established +here. Yesterday I turned over to it the command of the military and +naval forces of the State, in accordance with the proclamation of the +Government and the agreement between the State and the Confederate +States. I do not know what my position will be. I should like to retire +to private life, if I could be with you and the children, but if I can +be of any service to the State or her cause I must continue. Mr. Davis +and all his Cabinet are here.... Good-bye. Give much love to kind +friends. May God guard and bless you, them, and our suffering country, +and enable me to perform my duty. I think of you constantly. Write me +what you will do. Direct here. + +“Always yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +To my mother, who was now in Fauquier County, staying at “Kinloch,” Mr. +Edward Turner’s home, he writes on June 24th, from Richmond: + +“...Your future arrangements are the source of much anxiety to me. No +one can say what is in the future, nor is it wise to anticipate evil. +But it is well to prepare for what may reasonably happen and be provided +for the worst. There is no saying when you can return to your home or +what may be its condition when you do return. What, then, can you do in +the meantime? To remain with friends may be incumbent, and where can you +go?... My movements are very uncertain, and I wish to take the field as +soon as certain arrangements can be made. I may go at any moment, and +to any point where it may be necessary.... Many of our old friends are +dropping in. E. P. Alexander is here, Jimmy Hill, Alston, Jenifer, etc., +and I hear that my old colonel, A. S. Johnston, is crossing the plains +from California.... + +“As ever, R. E. Lee.” + +I again quote from a letter to my mother, dated Richmond, July 12, 1861: + +“...I am very anxious to get into the field, but am detained by matters +beyond my control. I have never heard of the appointment, to which you +allude, of Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate States Army, nor have +I any expectation or wish for it. President Davis holds that position. +Since the transfer of the military operations in Virginia to the +authorities of the Confederate States, I have only occupied the position +of a general in that service, with the duties devolved on me by the +President. I have been labouring to prepare and get into the field the +Virginia troops, and to strengthen, by those from the other States, the +threatened commands of Johnston, Beauregard, Huger, Garnett, etc. Where +I shall go I do not know, as that will depend upon President Davis. As +usual in getting through with a thing, I have broken down a little and +had to take my bed last evening, but am at my office this morning and +hope will soon be right again.... My young friend Mr. Vest has just +returned from a search in the city for ‘Dixie,’ and says he has visited +every place in Richmond without finding it. I suppose it is exhausted. +Always yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“The booksellers say ‘Dixie’ is not to be had in Virginia. R. E. L.” + +On July 21st occurred the battle of Manassas. In a letter to my mother +written on the 27th, my father says: + +“...That indeed was a glorious victory and has lightened the pressure +upon our front amazingly. Do not grieve for the brave dead. Sorrow for +those they left behind--friends, relatives, and families. The former are +at rest. The latter must suffer. The battle will be repeated there in +greater force. I hope God will again smile on us and strengthen our +hearts and arms. I wished to partake in the former struggle, and am +mortified at my absence, but the President thought it more important I +should be here. I could not have done as well as has been done, but +I could have helped, and taken part in the struggle for my home and +neighbourhood. So the work is done I care not by whom it is done. I +leave to-morrow for the Northwest Army. I wished to go before, as I +wrote you, and was all prepared, but the indications were so evident of +the coming battle, and in the uncertainty of the result, the President +forbade my departure. Now it is necessary and he consents. I cannot say +for how long, but will write you.... I inclose you a letter from Markie +[Miss Martha Custis Williams--second cousin of my mother, afterward Mrs. +Admiral Carter, U.S.N.]. Write to her if you can and thank her for her +letter to me. I have not time. My whole time is occupied, and all my +thoughts and strength are given to the cause to which my life, be it +long or short, will be devoted. Tell her not to mind the reports she +sees in the papers. They are made to injure and occasion distrust. Those +that know me will not believe them. Those that do not will not care for +them. I laugh at them. Give love to all, and for yourself accept the +constant prayers and love of truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +It was thought best at this time to send General Lee to take command +of military operations in West Virginia. The ordinary difficulties of +a campaign in this country of mountains and bad roads were greatly +increased by incessant rains, sickness of all kinds amongst the new +troops, and the hostility of many of the inhabitants of the Southern +cause. My father’s letters, which I will give here, tell of his trials +and troubles, and describe at the same time the beauty of the scenery +and some of the military movements. + +About August 1st he started for his new command, and he writes to my +mother on his arrival at Huntersville, Pocahontas County, now West +Virginia: + +“Huntersville, August 4, 1861. + +“I reached here yesterday, dearest Mary, to visit this portion of the +army. The day after my arrival at Staunton, I set off for Monterey, +where the army of General Garnett’s command is stationed. Two regiments +and a field-battery occupy the Alleghany Mountains in advance, about +thirty miles, and this division guards the road to Staunton. The +division here guards the road leading to the Warm Springs to Milboro and +Covington. Two regiments are advanced about twenty-eight miles to Middle +Mountain. Fitzhugh [Major W. H. F. Lee--General Lee’s second son] with +his squadron is between that point and this. I have not seen him. I +understand he is well. South of here again is another column of our +enemies, making their way up the Kanawha Valley, and, from General +Wise’s report, are not far from Lewisburgh. Their object seems to be to +get possession of the Virginia Central Railroad and the Virginia and +Tennessee Railroad. By the first they can approach Richmond; by the last +interrupt our reinforcements from the South. The points from which we +can be attacked are numerous, and their means are unlimited. So we must +always be on the alert. My uneasiness on these points brought me out +here. It is so difficult to get our people, unaccustomed to the +necessities of war, to comprehend and promptly execute the measures +required for the occasion. General Jackson of Georgia commands on the +Monterey line, General Loring on this line, and General Wise, supported +by General Floyd, on the Kanawha line. The soldiers everywhere are sick. +The measles are prevalent throughout the whole army, and you know that +disease leaves unpleasant results, attacks on the lungs, typhoid, etc., +especially in camp, where accommodations for the sick are poor. I +travelled from Staunton on horseback. A part of the road, as far as +Buffalo Gap, I passed over in the summer of 1840, on my return to St. +Louis, after bringing you home. If any one had then told me that the +next time I travelled that road would have been on my present errand, I +should have supposed him insane. I enjoyed the mountains, as I rode +along. The views are magnificent--the valleys so beautiful, the scenery +so peaceful. What a glorious world Almighty God has given us. How +thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labour to mar his gifts. I +hope you received my letters from Richmond. Give love to daughter and +Mildred. I did not see Rob as I passed through Charlottesville. He was +at the University and I could not stop.” + +A few days later there is another letter: + +“Camp at Valley Mountain, August 9, 1861. + +“I have been here, dear Mary, three days, coming from Monterey to +Huntersville and thence here. We are on the dividing ridge looking north +down the Tygart’s river valley, whose waters flow into the Monongahela +and South towards the Elk River and Greenbriar, flowing into the +Kanawha. In the valley north of us lie Huttonsville and Beverly, +occupied by our invaders, and the Rich Mountains west, the scene of our +former disaster, and the Cheat Mountains east, their present stronghold, +are in full view. + +“The mountains are beautiful, fertile to the tops, covered with the +richest sward of bluegrass and white clover, the inclosed fields +waving with the natural growth of timothy. The inhabitants are few and +population sparse. This is a magnificent grazing country, and all it +needs is labour to clear the mountain-sides of its great growth of +timber. There surely is no lack of moisture at this time. It has rained, +I believe, some portion of every day since I left Staunton. Now it +is pouring, and the wind, having veered around to every point of the +compass, has settled down to the northeast. What that portends in these +regions I do not know. Colonel Washington [John Augustin Washington, +great-nephew of General Washington, and Mt. Vernon’s last owner bearing +that name], Captain Taylor, and myself are in one tent, which as yet +protects us. I have enjoyed the company of Fitzhugh since I have been +here. He is very well and very active, and as yet the war has not +reduced him much. He dined with me yesterday and preserves his fine +appetite. To-day he is out reconnoitering and has the full benefit of +this rain. I fear he is without his overcoat, as I do not recollect +seeing it on his saddle. I told you he had been promoted to a major in +cavalry, and is the commanding cavalry officer on this line at present. +He is as sanguine, cheerful, and hearty as ever. I sent him some +corn-meal this morning and he sent me some butter--a mutual interchange +of good things. There are but few of your acquaintances in this army. +I find here in the ranks of one company Henry Tiffany. The company is +composed principally of Baltimoreans--George Lemmon and Douglas Mercer +are in it. It is a very fine company, well drilled and well instructed. +I find that our friend, J. J. Reynolds, of West Point memory, is +in command of the troops immediately in front of us. He is a +brigadier-general. You may recollect him as the Assistant Professor +of Philosophy, and lived in the cottage beyond the west gate, with +his little, pale-faced wife, a great friend of Lawrence and Markie. He +resigned on being relieved from West Point, and was made professor of +some college in the West. Fitzhugh was the bearer of a flag the other +day, and he recognised him. He was very polite and made inquiries of us +all. I am told they feel very safe and are very confident of success. +Their numbers are said to be large, ranging from 12,000 to 30,000, but +it is impossible for me to get correct information either as to their +strength or position. Our citizens beyond this are all on their side. +Our movements seem to be rapidly communicated to them, while theirs come +to us slowly and indistinctly. I have two regiments here, with others +coming up. I think we shall shut up this road to the Central Railroad +which they strongly threaten. Our supplies come up slowly. We have +plenty of beef and can get some bread. I hope you are well and are +content. I have heard nothing of you or the children since I left +Richmond. You must write there.... The men are suffering from the +measles, etc., as elsewhere, but are cheerful and light-hearted. The +atmosphere, when it is not raining, is delightful. You must give much +love to daughter and ‘Life’ [Pet names for his two daughters, Mary and +Mildred]. I want to see you all very much, but I know not when that +can be. May God guard and protect you all. In Him alone is our hope. +Remember me to Ned [M. Edward Carter Turner, of Kinloch, my father’s +cousin] and all at ‘Kinloch’ and Avenel [The house of the Berbeleys, in +Fauquier County]. Send word to Miss Lou Washington [Eldest daughter +of John Augustin Washington] that her father is sitting on his blanket +sewing the strap on his haversack. I think she out to be here to do it. +Always yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +In a letter to his two daughters who were in Richmond, he writes: + +“Valley Mountain, August 29, 1861. + +“My Precious Daughters: I have just received your letters of the 24th +and am rejoiced to hear that you are well and enjoying the company of +your friends.... It rains here all the time, literally. There has not +been sunshine enough since my arrival to dry my clothes. Perry [his +servant--had been in the dining-room at Arlington] is my washerman, and +socks and towels suffer. But the worst of the rain is that the ground +has become so saturated with water that the constant travel on the roads +has made them almost impassable, so that I cannot get up sufficient +supplies for the troops to move. It is raining now. Has been all day, +last night, day before, and day before that, etc., etc. But we must be +patient. It is quite cool, too. I have on all my winter clothes and am +writing in my overcoat. All the clouds seem to concentrate over this +ridge of mountains, and by whatever wind they are driven, give us rain. +The mountains are magnificent. The sugar-maples are beginning to turn +already, and the grass is luxuriant. + +“‘Richmond’ [His horse] has not been accustomed to such fare or such +treatment. But he gets along tolerably, complains some, and has not much +superfluous flesh. There has been much sickness among the men--measles, +etc.--and the weather has been unfavourable. I hope their attacks are +nearly over, and that they will come out with the sun. Our party has +kept well.... Although we may be too weak to break through the lines, I +feel well satisfied that the enemy cannot at present reach Richmond by +either of these routes, leading to Staunton, Milborough or Covington. +He must find some other way.... God Bless you, my children, and preserve +you from all harm is the constant prayer of + +“Your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +On account of rheumatism, my mother was anxious to go to the Hot +Springs in Bath County. She was now staying at “Audley,” Clarke County, +Virginia, with Mrs. Lorenzo Lewis, who had just sent her six sons into +the army. Bath County was not very far from the seat of war in western +Virginia, and my father was asked as to the safety of the Hot Springs +from occupation by the enemy. He writes as follows to my mother: + +“Valley Mountain, September 1, 1861. + +“I have received, dearest Mary, your letter of August 18th from Audley, +and am very glad to get news of your whereabouts.... I am very glad you +are enabled to see so many of your friends. I hope you have found all +well in your tour, and am very glad that our cousin Esther bears the +separation from all her sons so bravely. I have no doubt they will +do good service in our Southern cause, and wish they could be placed +according to their fancies.... I fear you have postponed your visit +to the Hot too late. It must be quite cold there now, judging from the +temperature here, and it has been raining in these mountains since July +24th.... I see Fitzhugh quite often, though he is encamped four miles +from me. He is very well and not at all harmed by the campaign. + +“We have a great deal of sickness among the soldiers, and now those +on the sick-list would form an army. The measles is still among them, +though I hope it is dying out. But it is a disease which though light +in childhood is severe in manhood, and prepares the system for other +attacks. The constant cold rains, with no shelter but tents, have +aggravated it. All these drawbacks, with impassable roads, have +paralysed our efforts. Still I think you will be safe at the Hot, for +the present. We are right up to the enemy on three lines, and in the +Kanawha he has been pushed beyond the Gauley.... My poor little Rob I +never hear from scarcely. He is busy, I suppose, and knows not where to +direct.... + +“With much affection, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +From the same camp, to my mother, on September 9th: + +“...I hope from the tone of your letter that you feel better, and wish I +could see you and be with you. I trust we may meet this fall somewhere, +if only for a little time. I have written to Robert telling him if, +after considering what I have previously said to him on the subject of +his joining the company he desires under Major Ross, he still thinks it +best for him to do so, I will not withhold my consent. It seems he will +be eighteen; I thought seventeen. I am unable to judge for him and he +must decide for himself. In reply to a recent letter from him to me on +the same subject, I said to him all I could. I pray God to bring him +to the right conclusion.... For military news, I must refer you to the +papers. You will see there more than ever occurs, and what does occur +the relation must be taken with some allowance. Do not believe anything +you see about me. There has been no battle, only skirmishing with +the outposts, and nothing done of any moment. The weather is still +unfavourable to us. The roads, or rather tracks of mud, are almost +impassable and the number of sick large.... + +“Truly and devotedly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +My mother was at the Hot Springs--I had taken her there and was with +her. I don’t now remember why, but it was decided that I should return +to the University of Virginia, which opened October 1st, and continue my +course there. While at the Springs my mother received this letter from +my father: + +“Valley Mount, September 17, 1861. + +“I received, dear Mary, your letter of the 5th by Beverly Turner [A son +of Mr. Edward Turner, of ‘Kinloch’], who is a nice young soldier. I am +pained to see find young men like him, of education and standing, from +all the old and respectable families in the State, serving in the +ranks. I hope in time they will receive their reward. I met him as I was +returning from an expedition to the enemy’s works, which I had hoped to +have surprised on the morning of the 12th, both at Cheat Mountain and +on Valley River. All the attacking parties with great labour had reached +their destination, over mountains considered impassable to bodies of +troops, notwithstanding a heavy storm that set in the day before and +raged all night, in which they had to stand up till daylight. Their arms +were then unserviceable, and they in poor condition for a fierce assault +against artillery and superior numbers. After waiting till 10 o’clock +for the assault on Cheat Mountain, which did not take place, and which +was to have been the signal for the rest, they were withdrawn, and, +after waiting three days in front of the enemy, hoping he would come out +of his trenches, we returned to our position at this place. I can not +tell you my regret and mortification at the untoward events that caused +the failure of the plan. I had taken every precaution to ensure success +and counted on it, but the Ruler of the Universe willed otherwise and +sent a storm to disconcert a well-laid plan, and to destroy my hopes. +We are no worse off now than before, except the disclosure of our plan, +against which they will guard. We met with one heavy loss which grieves +me deeply: Colonel Washington accompanied Fitzhugh on a reconnoitering +expedition, and I fear they were carried away by their zeal and +approached the enemy’s pickets. The first they knew was a volley from a +concealed party within a few yards of them. Their balls passed through +the Colonel’s body, then struck Fitzhugh’s horse, and the horse of one +of the men was killed. Fitzhugh mounted the Colonel’s horse and brought +him off. I am much grieved. He was always anxious to go on these +expeditions. This was the first day I assented. Since I had been thrown +into such intimate relations with him, I had learned to appreciate him +very highly. Morning and evening have I seen him on his knees praying to +his Maker. + +“‘The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful +men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away +from the evil to come.’ May God have mercy on us all! I suppose you are +at the Hot Springs and will direct to you there. Our poor sick, I know, +suffer much. They bring it on themselves by not doing what they are +told. They are worse than children, for the latter can be forced.... + +“Truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +On the same day he wrote the Governor of Virginia: + +“Valley Mountain, September 17, 1861. + +“My Dear Governor: I received your very kind note of the 5th instant, +just as I was about to accompany General Loring’s command on an +expedition to the enemy’s works in front, or I would have before thanked +you for the interest you take in my welfare, and your too flattering +expressions of my ability. Indeed, you overrate me much, and I feel +humbled when I weigh myself by your standard. I am, however, very +grateful for your confidence, and I can answer for my sincerity in the +earnest endeavour I make to advance the cause I have so much at heart, +though conscious of the slow progress I make. I was very sanguine of +taking the enemy’s works on last Thursday morning. I had considered the +subject well. With great effort the troops intended for the surprise +had reached their destination, having traversed twenty miles of steep, +rugged mountain paths; and the last day through a terrible storm, which +lasted all night, and in which they had to stand drenched to the skin in +cold rain. Still, their spirits were good. When morning broke, I could +see the enemy’s tents on Valley River, at the point on the Huttonsville +road just below me. It was a tempting sight. We waited for the attack on +Cheat Mountain, which was to be the signal. Till 10 A. M. the men were +cleaning their unserviceable arms. But the signal did not come. All +chance for a surprise was gone. The provisions of the men had been +destroyed the preceding day by the storm. They had nothing to eat +that morning, could not hold out another day, and were obliged to be +withdrawn. The party sent to Cheat Mountain to take that in rear had +also to be withdrawn. The attack to come off the east side failed from +the difficulties in the way; the opportunity was lost, and our plan +discovered. It is a grievous disappointment to me, I assure you, but for +the rain-storm, I have no doubt it would have succeeded. This, Governor, +is for your own eye. Please do not speak of it; we must try again. Our +greatest loss is the death of my dear friend, Colonel Washington. He and +my son were reconnoitering the front of the enemy. They came unawares +upon a concealed party, who fired upon them within twenty yards, and +the Colonel fell pierced by three balls. My son’s horse received three +shots, but he escaped on the Colonel’s horse. His zeal for the cause to +which he had devoted himself carried him, I fear, too far. We took some +seventy prisoners, and killed some twenty-five or thirty of the +enemy. Our loss was small besides what I have mentioned. Our greatest +difficulty is the roads. It has been raining in these mountains about +six weeks. It is impossible to get along. It is that which has paralysed +all our efforts. With sincere thanks for your good wishes, + +“I am very truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“His Excellency, Governor John Letcher.” + + + + + +Chapter III -- Letters to Wife and Daughters + + +From Camp on Sewell’s Mountain--Quotation from Colonel Taylor’s +book--From Professor Wm. P. Trent--From Mr. Davis’s Memorial +Address--Defense of Southern ports--Christmas, 1861--The General visits +his father’s grave--Commands, under the President, all the armies of the +Confederate States + + +The season being too far advanced to attempt any further movements away +from our base of supplies, and the same reasons preventing any advance +of the Federal forces, the campaign in this part of Virginia ended for +the winter. In the Kanawha Valley, however, the enemy had been and were +quite active. Large reinforcements under General Rosecrans were sent +there to assist General Cox, the officer in command at that point. +General Loring, leaving a sufficient force to watch the enemy at Cheat +Mountain, moved the rest of his army to join the commands of Generals +Floyd and Wise, who were opposing the advance of Cox. General Lee, about +September 20th, reached General Floyd’s camp, and immediately proceeded +to arrange the lines of defense. Shortly after his arrival there he +wrote to my mother at the Hot Springs: + +“Camp on Sewell’s Mountain, + +“September 26, 1881. + +“I have just received, dear Mary, your letter of the 17th and 19th +instants, with one from Robert. I have but little time for writing +to-night, and will, therefore, write to you.... Having now disposed +of business matters, I will say how glad I am to hear from you, and to +learn that you have reached the Hot in safety, with daughter and Rob. I +pray that its healing waters may benefit you all. I am glad to hear of +Charlotte and the girls, and hope all will go well with them. I infer +you received my letter before leaving Valley Mountain, though you did +not direct your letter ‘via Lewisburg, Greenbrier County,’ and hence its +delay. I told you of the death of Colonel Washington. I grieve for his +loss, though trust him to the mercy of our Heavenly Father. May He have +mercy on us all. + +“It is raining heavily. The men are all exposed on the mountain, with +the enemy opposite to us. We are without tents, and for two nights I +have lain buttoned up in my overcoat. To-day my tent came up and I am in +it. Yet I fear I shall not sleep for thinking of the poor men. I wrote +about socks for myself. I have no doubt the yarn ones you mention will +be very acceptable to the men here or elsewhere. If you can send them +here, I will distribute them to the most needy. Tell Rob I could not +write to him for want of time. My heart is always with you and my +children. May God guard and bless you all is the constant prayer of + +“Your devoted husband, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +To my mother, still at the Hot Springs: + +“Sewell’s Mountain, October 7, 1861. + +“I received, dear Mary, your letter by Doctor Quintard, with the cotton +socks. Both were very acceptable, though the latter I have not yet +tried. At the time of their reception the enemy was threatening an +attack, which was continued till Saturday night, when under cover of +darkness we suddenly withdrew. Your letter of the 2d, with the yarn +socks, four pairs, was handed to me when I was preparing to follow, and +I could not at the time attend to either. But I have since, and as I +found Perry in desperate need, I bestowed a couple of pairs on him, as +a present from you, the others I have put in my trunk and suppose they +will fall to the lot of Meredith [His cook--a servant from the White +House], into the state of whose hose I have not yet inquired. Should any +sick man require them first, he shall have them, but Meredith will +have no one near to supply him but me, and will naturally expect that +attention. I hope, dear Mary, you and daughter, as well as poor little +Rob, have derived some benefit from the sanitary baths of the Hot. What +does daughter intend to do during the winter? And, indeed, what do you? +It is time you were determining. There is no prospect of your returning +to Arlington. I think you had better select some comfortable place in +the Carolinas or Georgia, and all board together. If Mildred goes to +school at Raleigh, why not go there? It is a good opportunity to try a +warmer climate for your rheumatism. If I thought our enemies would not +make a vigorous move against Richmond, I would recommend to rent a house +there. But under these circumstances I would not feel as if you were +permanently located if there. I am ignorant where I shall be. In the +field somewhere, I suspect, so I have little hope of being with you, +though I hope to be able to see you.... I heard from Fitzhugh the other +day. He is well, though his command is greatly reduced by sickness. I +wished much to bring him with me; but there is too much cavalry on this +line now, and I am dismounting them. I could not, therefore, order more. +The weather is almost as bad here as in the mountains I left. There was +a drenching rain yesterday, and as I had left my overcoat in camp I was +thoroughly wet from head to foot. It has been raining ever since and is +now coming down with a will. But I have my clothes out on the bushes and +they will be well washed. + +“The force of the enemy, by a few prisoners captured yesterday and +civilians on the road, is put down from 17,000 to 20,000. Some went as +high as 22,000. General Floyd thinks 18,000. I do not think it exceeds +9,000 or 10,000, though it exceeds ours. I wish he had attacked us, as +I believe he would have been repulsed with great loss. His plan was to +attack us at all points at the same time. The rumbling of his wheels, +etc., was heard by our pickets, but as that was customary at night in +the moving and placing of his cannon, the officer of the day to whom it +was reported paid no particular attention to it, supposing it to be a +preparation for attack in the morning. When day appeared, the bird had +flown, and the misfortune was that the reduced condition of our horses +for want of provender, exposure to cold rains in these mountains, +and want of provisions for the men prevented the vigorous pursuit and +following up that was proper. We can only get up provisions from day to +day--which paralyses our operations. + +“I am sorry, as you say, that the movements of the armies cannot keep +pace with the expectations of the editors of papers. I know they can +regulate matters satisfactorily to themselves on paper. I wish they +could do so in the field. No one wishes them more success than I do and +would be happy to see them have full swing. I hope something will be +done to please them. Give much love to the children and everybody, and +believe me. + +“Always yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Colonel Taylor, in his “Four Years with General Lee,” says: + +“We had now reached the latter days of October. The lateness of the +season and the condition of the roads precluded the idea of earnest, +aggressive operations, and the campaign in western Virginia was +virtually concluded. + +“Judged from its results, it must be confessed that this series of +operations was a failure. At its conclusion, a large portion of the +State was in possession of the Federals, including the rich valleys of +the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, and so remained until the close of the war. +For this, however, General Lee cannot reasonably be held accountable. +Disaster had befallen the Confederate arms, and the worst had been +accomplished before he had reached the theatre of operations; the +Alleghanies there constituted the dividing line between the hostile +forces, and in this network of mountains, sterile and rendered +absolutely impracticable by a prolonged season of rain, Nature had +provided an insurmountable barrier to operations in this transmontane +country.... It was doubtless because of similar embarrassments that the +Federal general retired, in the face of inferior numbers, to a point +near his base of supplies.” + +Professor William P. Trent, in his “Robert E. Lee,” after describing +briefly the movements of the contending armies, writes: + +“There was, then, nothing to do but to acknowledge the campaign a +failure. The Confederate Government withdrew its troops and sent them +elsewhere. Lee, whom the press abused and even former friends began to +regard as overrated, was assigned to command the Department of South +Carolina, Georgia, and Florida; and her western counties were lost to +the Old Dominion forever. It must have been a crushing blow to Lee at +the time, but he bore it uncomplainingly.... And when all is said, no +commander, however great, can succeed against bad roads, bad weather, +sickness of troops, lack of judgement and harmony among subordinates, +and a strong, alert enemy. Yet this is what Lee was expected to do.” + +Mr. Davis, in an address before a memorial meeting at Richmond in 1870, +speaking of General Lee in this campaign, said: + +“He came back, carrying the heavy weight of defeat, and unappreciated by +the people whom he served, for they could not know, as I knew, that, if +his plans and orders had been carried out, the result would have been +victory rather than retreat. You did not know it; for I should not have +known it had he not breathed it in my ear only at my earnest request, +and begging that nothing be said about it. The clamour which then arose +followed him when he went to South Carolina, so that it became necessary +on his departure to write a letter to the Governor of that State, +telling him what manner of man he was. Yet, through all this, with a +magnanimity rarely equalled, he stood in silence, without defending +himself or allowing others to defend him, for he was unwilling to offend +any one who was wearing a sword and striking blows for the Confederacy.” + +After returning to Richmond, my father resumed his position as advisor +and counsellor to Mr. Davis. From there he writes to my mother, who had +left the Hot Springs and gone on to “Shirley,” on James River: + +“Richmond, November 5, 1861. + +“My Dear Mary: I received last night your letter of the 2d, and would +have answered it at once, but was detained with the Secretary till after +11 P. M. I fear now I may miss the mail. Saturday evening I tried to +get down to you to spend Sunday, but could find no government boat going +down, and the passenger boats all go in the morning. I then went to +the stable and got out my horse, but it was near night then and I was +ignorant both of the road and distance and I gave it up. I was obliged +to be here Monday, and as it would have consumed all Sunday to go and +come, I have remained for better times. The President said I could +not go to-day, so I must see what can be done to-morrow. I will come, +however, wherever you are, either Shirley or the White House, as soon as +possible, and if not sooner, Saturday at all events.... I am, as ever, +Yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The day after this letter was written, my father was ordered to South +Carolina for the purpose of directing and supervising the construction +of a line of defense along the southern coast. I give here several +letters to members of his family which tell of his duties and manner of +life: + +“Savannah, November 18, 1861. + +“My Dear Mary: This is the first moment I have had to write to you, +and now am waiting the call to breakfast, on my way to Brunswick, +Fernandina, etc. This is my second visit to Savannah. Night before last, +I returned to Coosawhatchie, South Carolina, from Charleston, where I +have placed my headquarters, and last night came here, arriving after +midnight. I received in Charleston your letter from Shirley. It was a +grievous disappointment to me not to have seen you, but better times +will come, I hope.... You probably have seen the operations of the +enemy’s fleet. Since their first attack they have been quiescent +apparently, confining themselves to Hilton Head, where they are +apparently fortifying. + +“I have no time for more. Love to all. + +“Yours very affectionately and truly, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“Charleston, November 15, 1861. + +“My Precious Daughter: I have received your letter forwarded to Richmond +by Mr. Powell, and I also got, while in the West, the letter sent by B. +Turner. I can write but seldom, but your letters always give me great +pleasure. I am glad you had such a pleasant visit to ‘Kinloch.’ I have +passed a great many pleasant days there myself in my young days. Now +you must labour at your books and gain knowledge and wisdom. Do not mind +what Rob says. I have a beautiful white beard. It is much admired. At +least, much remarked on. You know I have told you not to believe what +the young men tell you. I was unable to see your poor mother when in +Richmond. Before I could get down I was sent off here. Another forlorn +hope expedition. Worse than West Virginia.... I have much to do in this +country. I have been to Savannah and have to go again. The enemy is +quiet after his conquest of Port Royal Harbor and his whole fleet is +lying there. May God guard and protect you, my dear child, prays your + +“Affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The above letter was written to his youngest daughter Mildred, who was +at school in Winchester, Virginia. Two of my sisters were in King George +County, Virginia, at “Clydale,” the summer home of Dr. Richard Stuart, +with whose family we had been a long time intimate. From there they +had driven to “Stratford,” in Westmoreland County, about thirty miles +distant, where my father was born. They had written him of this trip, +and this is his reply: + +“Savannah, November 22, 1861. + +“My Darling Daughters: I have just received your joint letter of October +24th from ‘Clydale.’ It was very cheering to me, and the affection and +sympathy you expressed were very grateful to my feelings. I wish indeed +I could see you, be with you, and never again part from you. God only +can give me that happiness. I pray for it night and day. But my prayers +I know are not worthy to be heard. I received your former letter in +western Virginia, but had no opportunity to reply to it. I enjoyed it, +nevertheless. I am glad you do not wait to hear from me, as that would +deprive me of the pleasure of hearing from you often. I am so pressed +with business. I am much pleased at your description of Stratford and +your visit. It is endeared to me by many recollections, and it has been +always a great desire of my life to be able to purchase it. Now that we +have no other home, and the one we so loved has been foully polluted, +the desire is stronger with me than ever. The horse-chestnut you mention +in the garden was planted by my mother. I am sorry the vault is so +dilapidated. You did not mention the spring, on of the objects of my +earliest recollections. I am very glad, my precious Agnes, that you +have become so early a riser. It is a good habit, and in these times for +mighty works advantage should be taken of every hour. I much regretted +being obliged to come from Richmond without seeing your poor mother.... +This is my second visit to Savannah. I have been down the coast to +Amelia Island to examine the defenses. They are poor indeed, and I have +laid off work enough to employ our people a month. I hope our enemy will +be polite enough to wait for us. It is difficult to get our people to +realise their position.... Good-bye, my dear daughters. + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +To his daughter Annie: + +“Coosawhatchie, South Carolina, December 8, 1861. + +“My Precious Annie: I have taken the only quiet time I have been able to +find on this holy day to thank you for your letter of the 29th ulto. One +of the miseries of war is that there is no Sabbath, and the current of +work and strife has no cessation. How can we be pardoned for all our +offenses! I am glad that you have joined your mamma again and that some +of you are together at last. It would be a great happiness to me were +you all at some quiet place, remote from the vicissitudes of war, +where I could consider you safe. You must have had a pleasant time at +‘Clydale.’ I hope indeed that ‘Cedar Grove’ may be saved from the ruin +and pillage that other places have received at the hands of our enemies, +who are pursuing the same course here as the have practised elsewhere. +Unfortunately, too, the numerous deep estuaries, all accessible to their +ships, expose the multitude of islands to their predatory excursions, +and what they leave is finished by the negroes whose masters have +deserted their plantations, subject to visitations of the enemy. I am +afraid Cousin Julia [Mrs. Richard Stuart] will not be able to defend +her home if attacked by the vandals, for they have little respect for +anybody, and if they catch the Doctor [Doctor Richard Stuart] they +will certainly send him to Fort Warren or La Fayette. I fear, too, the +Yankees will bear off their pretty daughters. I am very glad you visited +‘Chatham’ [the home of the Fitzhughs, where my grandmother Custis was +born]. I was there many years ago, when it was the residence of Judge +Coulter, and some of the avenues of poplar, so dear to your grandmama, +still existed. I presume they have all gone now. The letter that you and +Agnes wrote from ‘Clydale’ I replied to and sent to that place. You know +I never have any news. I am trying to get a force to make headway on our +defenses, but it comes in very slow. The people do not seem to realise +that there is a war. + +“It is very warm here, if that is news, and as an evidence I inclose +some violets I plucked in the yard of a deserted house I occupy. I wish +I could see you and give them in person.... Good-bye, my precious child. +Give much love to everybody, and believe me, + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +From the same place, on December 2d, he writes to my mother: + +“I received last night, dear Mary, your letter of the 12th, and +am delighted to learn that you are all well and so many of you are +together. I am much pleased that Fitzhugh has an opportunity to be with +you all and will not be so far removed from his home in his new field +of action. I hope to see him at the head of a find regiment and that he +will be able to do good service in the cause of his country. If Mary and +Rob get to you Christmas, you will have quite a family party, especially +if Fitzhugh is not obliged to leave his home and sweet wife before that +time. I shall think of you all on that holy day more intensely than +usual, and shall pray to the great God of Heaven to shower His blessings +upon you in this world, and to unite you all in His courts in the world +to come. With a grateful heart I thank Him for His preservation thus +far, and trust to His mercy and kindness for the future. Oh, that I were +more worthy, more thankful for all He has done and continues to do for +me! Perry and Meredith [his two coloured servants] send their respects +to all.... + +“Truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +From the same place, on Christmas Day, he writes to my mother: + +“I cannot let this day of grateful rejoicing pass, dear Mary, without +some communication with you. I am thankful for the many among the past +that I have passed with you, and the remembrance of them fills me with +pleasure. For those on which we have been separated we must not repine. +Now we must be content with the many blessings we receive. If we can +only become sensible of our transgressions, so as to be fully penitent +and forgiven, that this heavy punishment under which we labour may +with justice be removed from us and the whole nation, what a gracious +consummation of all that we have endured it will be! + +“I hope you had a pleasant visit to Richmond.... If you were to see this +place, I think you would have it, too. I am here but little myself. The +days I am not here I visit some point exposed to the enemy, and after +our dinner at early candle-light, am engaged in writing till eleven or +twelve o’clock at night.... AS to our old home, if not destroyed, it +will be difficult ever to be recognised. Even if the enemy had wished +to preserve it, it would almost have been impossible. With the number +of troops encamped around it, the change of officers, etc., the want of +fuel, shelter, etc., and all the dire necessities of war, it is vain +to think of its being in a habitable condition. I fear, too, books, +furniture, and the relics of Mount Vernon will be gone. It is better +to make up our minds to a general loss. They cannot take away the +remembrance of the spot, and the memories of those that to us rendered +it sacred. That will remain to us as long as life will last, and that +we can preserve. In the absence of a home, I wish I could purchase +‘Stratford.’ That is the only other place that I could go to, now +accessible to us, that would inspire me with feelings of pleasure and +local love. You and the girls could remain there in quiet. It is a poor +place, but we could make enough cornbread and bacon for our support, and +the girls could weave us clothes. I wonder if it is for sale and at how +much. Ask Fitzhugh to try to find out, when he gets to Fredericksburg. +You must not build your hopes on peace on account of the United States +going into a war with England [on account of the Trent affair]. She will +be very loath to do that, notwithstanding the bluster of the Northern +papers. Her rulers are not entirely mad, and if they find England is +in earnest, and that war or a restitution of their captives must be the +consequence, they will adopt the latter. We must make up our minds to +fight our battles and win our independence alone. No one will help +us. We require no extraneous aid, if true to ourselves. But we must be +patient. It is not a light achievement and cannot be accomplished at +once.... I wrote a few days since, giving you all the news, and have now +therefore nothing to relate. The enemy is still quiet and increasing in +strength. We grow in size slowly but are working hard. I have had a day +of labour instead of rest, and have written intervals to some of the +children. I hope they are with you, and inclose my letters.... + +“Affectionately and truly, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +In the next letter to my mother he describes a visit to the grave of +his father at Dungeness, on Cumberland Island, Georgia. Dungeness +was presented to General Nathaniel Green by the State of Georgia for +services rendered her in the Revolution. General Henry Lee, returning +from the West Indies, where he had been for some months on account of +his health, landed there, and in a few days died, March 15, 1818. He +was most kindly cared for by the daughter of his old commander, and +was buried there in the garden of Dungeness. At the time of my father’s +visit the place belonged to a great-nephew of General Green, Mr. +Nightingale. + +“Coosawhatchie, South Carolina, January 18, 1862. + +“On my return, day before yesterday, from Florida, dear Mary, I received +your letter of the 1st inst. I am very glad to find that you had a +pleasant family meeting Christmas, and that it was so large. I am truly +grateful for all the mercies we enjoy, notwithstanding the miseries of +war, and join heartily in the wish that the next year may find us +at peace with all the world. I am delighted to hear that our little +grandson [his first grandchild--son of my brother Fitzhugh. He died in +1863] is improving so fast and is becoming such a perfect gentleman. May +his path be strewn with flowers and his life with happiness. I am very +glad to hear also that his dear papa is promoted. It will be gratifying +to him and increase, I hope, his means of usefulness. Robert wrote me he +saw him on his way through Charlottesville with his squadron, and that +he was well. While at Fernandina I went over to Cumberland Island and +walked up to ‘Dungeness,’ the former residence of General Green. It was +my first visit to the house, and I had the gratification at length of +visiting my father’s grave. He died there, you may recollect, on his +way from the West Indies, and was interred in one corner of the family +cemetery. The spot is marked by a plain marble slab, with his name, age, +and her daughter, Mrs. Shaw, and her husband. The place is at present +owned by Mr. Nightingale, nephew of Mrs. Shaw, who married a daughter +of Mr. James King. The family have moved into the interior of Georgia, +leaving only a few servants and a white gardener on the place. The +garden was beautiful, inclosed by the finest hedge I have ever seen. It +was of the wild olive, which, in Mrs. Shaw’s lifetime, during my tour of +duty in Savannah in early life, was so productive, had been destroyed +by an insect that has proved fatal to the orange on the coast of Georgia +and Florida. There was a fine grove of olives, from which, I learn, Mr. +Nightingale procures oil. The garden was filled with roses and beautiful +vines, the names of which I do not know. Among them was the tomato-vine +in full bearing, with the ripe fruit on it. There has yet been no frost +in that region of country this winter. I went in the dining-room and +parlour, in which the furniture still remained.... The house has never +been finished, but is a fine, large one and beautifully located. A +magnificent grove of live-oaks envelops the road from the landing to the +house.... Love to everybody and God bless you all. + +“Truly and faithfully yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +From the same place there is another letter to my mother: + +“Coosawhatchie, South Carolina, January 28, 1862. + +“I have just returned from Charleston, and received your letter of the +14th, dear Mary.... I was called to Charleston by the appearance off the +bar of a fleet of vessels the true character and intent of which could +not be discerned during the continuance of the storm which obscured the +view. Saturday, however, all doubt was dispelled, and from the beach on +Sullivan’s Island the preparations for sinking them were plainly seen. +Twenty-one were visible the first day of my arrival, but at the end +of the storm, Saturday, only seventeen were seen. Five of these were +vessels of war: what became of the other four is not known. The twelve +old merchantmen were being stripped of their spars, masts, etc., and by +sunset seven were prepared apparently for sinking across the mouth of +the Maffitt Channel, they were placed in a line about two hundred yards +apart, about four miles from Fort Moultrie. They will do but little harm +to the channel, I think, but may deter vessels from running out at +night for fear of getting on them. There now seem to be indications of a +movement against Savannah. The enemy’s gunboats are pushing up the creek +to cut off communication between the city and Fort Pulaski on Cockspur +Island. Unless I have better news, I must go there to-day. There are so +many points of attack, and so little means to meet them on the water, +that there is but little rest.... Perry and Meredith are well and send +regards to everybody.... + +“Very truly and sincerely yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +It was most important that the defenses of Charleston and Savannah +should be made as strong as possible. The difficulties in the way were +many and great, but General Lee’s perseverance overcame most of them. +The result was that neither of those cities fell till the close of the +war, and a region of country was preserved to the Confederacy +necessary for the feeding of its armies. Of course all of this was not +accomplished by my father alone in the four months he was there; but the +plans of defense he laid down were successfully followed. + +While in Savannah, he writes to my mother: + +“Savannah, February 8, 1862. + +“I wrote to you, dear Mary, the day I left Coosawhatchie for this place. +I have been here ever since, endeavouring to push forward the work for +the defense of the city, which has lagged terribly and which ought to +have been finished. But it is difficult to arouse ourselves from ease +and comfort to labour and self-denial. + +“Guns are scarce, as well as ammunition, and I shall have to break up +batteries on the coast to provide, I fear, for this city. Our enemies +are endeavouring to work their way through the creeks that traverse +the impassable marshes stretching along the interior of the coast and +communicating with the sounds and sea, through which the Savannah flows, +and thus avoid the entrance of the river commanded by Fort Pulaski. +Their boats require only seven feet of water to float them, and the tide +rises seven feet, so that at high water they can work their way and rest +on the mud at low. They are also provided with dredges and appliances +for removing obstructions through the creeks in question, which cannot +be guarded by batteries. I hope, however, we shall be able to stop them, +and I daily pray to the Giver of all victories to enable us to do so.... +I trust you are all well and doing well, and wish I could do anything to +promote either. I have more here than I can do, and more, I fear, than I +can well accomplish. It is so very hard to get anything done, and while +all wish well and mean well, it is so different to get them to act +energetically and promptly.... The news from Kentucky and Tennessee is +not favourable, but we must make up our minds to meet with reverses and +overcome them. I hope God will at last crown our efforts with success. +But the contest must be long and severe, and the whole country has to go +through much suffering. It is necessary we should be humbled and taught +to be less boastful, less selfish, and more devoted to right and justice +to all the world.... Always yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +To my mother: + +“Savannah, February 23, 1862. + +“I have been wishing, dear Mary, to write to you for more than a week, +but every day and every hour seem so taken up that I have found it +impossible.... The news from Tennessee and North Carolina is not all +cheering, and disasters seem to be thickening around us. It calls for +renewed energies and redoubled strength on our part, and, I hope, will +produce it. I fear our soldiers have not realised the necessity for the +endurance and labour they are called upon to undergo, and that it is +better to sacrifice themselves than our cause. God, I hope, will shield +us and give us success. Here the enemy is progressing slowly in his +designs, and does not seem prepared, or to have determined when or +where to make his attack. His gunboats are pushing up all the creeks and +marshes of the Savannah, and have attained a position so near the river +as to shell the steamers navigating it. None have as yet been struck. I +am engaged in constructing a line of defense at Fort Jackson which, if +time permits and guns can be obtained, I hope will keep them out. They +can bring such overwhelming force in all their movements that it has the +effect to demoralise our new troops. The accounts given in the papers of +the quantity of cotton shipped to New York are, of course, exaggerated. +It is cotton in the seed and dirt, and has to be ginned and cleaned +after its arrival. It is said that the negroes are employed in picking +and collecting it, and are paid a certain amount. But all these things +are gathered from rumour, and can only be believed as they appear +probable, which this seems to be.... I went yesterday to church, being +the day appointed for fasting and prayer. I wish I could have passed it +more devoutly. The bishop (Elliott) gave a most beautiful prayer for the +President, which I hope may be heard and answered.... Here the yellow +jasmine, red-bud, orange-tree, etc., perfume the whole woods, and the +japonicas and azaleas cover the garden. Perry and Meredith are well. May +God bless and keep you always is the constant prayer of your husband, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +To his daughter Annie: + +“Savannah, March 2, 1862. + +“My Precious Annie: It has been a long time since I have written to +you, but you have been constantly in my thoughts. I think of you all, +separately and collectively, in the busy hours of the day and the silent +hours of the night, and the recollection of each and every one whiles +away the long night, in which my anxious thoughts drive away sleep. But +I always feel that you and Agnes at those times are sound asleep, and +that is immaterial to either where the blockaders are or what their +progress is in the river. I hope you are all well, and as happy as +you can be in these perilous times to our country. They look dark at +present, and it is plain we have not suffered enough, laboured enough, +repented enough, to deserve success. But they will brighten after +awhile, and I trust that a merciful God will arouse us to a sense of our +danger, bless our honest efforts, and drive back our enemies to their +homes. Our people have not been earnest enough, have thought too much +of themselves and their ease, and instead of turning out to a man, +have been content to nurse themselves and their dimes, and leave the +protection of themselves and families to others. To satisfy their +consciences, they have been clamorous in criticising what others have +done, and endeavoured to prove that they ought to do nothing. This is +not the way to accomplish our independence. I have been doing all I can +with our small means and slow workmen to defend the cities and coast +here. Against ordinary numbers we are pretty strong, but against the +hosts our enemies seem able to bring everywhere there is no calculating. +But if our men will stand to their work, we shall give them trouble and +damage them yet. They have worked their way across the marshes, with +their dredges, under cover of their gunboats, to the Savannah River, +about Fort Pulaski. I presume they will endeavour to reduce the fort and +thus open a way for their vessels up the river. But we have an interior +line they must force before reaching the city. It is on this line we are +working, slowly to my anxious mind, but as fast as I can drive them.... +Good-bye, my dear child. May God bless you and our poor country. + +“Your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Soon after this letter was written my father was recalled to Richmond, +“and was assigned on the 13th of March, under the direction of the +President, to the conduct of the military operations of all the armies +of the Confederate States” [“Four Years with General Lee”]. My mother +was still at the White House, my brother’s place on the Pamunkey, and +there my father wrote to her: + +“Richmond, March 14, 1862. + +“My Dear Mary: I have been trying all the week to write to you, but have +not been able. I have been placed on duty here to conduct operations +under the direction of the President. It will give me great pleasure to +do anything I can to relieve him and serve the country, but I do not see +either advantage or pleasure in my duties. But I will not complain, but +do my best. I do not see at present either that it will enable me to see +much more of you. In the present condition of affairs no one can foresee +what may happen, nor in my judgement is it advisable for any one to make +arrangements with a view to permanency or pleasure. The presence of some +one at the White House is necessary as long as practicable. How long it +will be practicable for you an Charlotte to remain there I cannot say. +The enemy is pushing us back in all directions, and how far he will be +successful depends much upon our efforts and the mercy of Providence. I +shall, in all human probability, soon have to take the field, so for +the present I think things had better remain as they are. Write me your +views. If you think it best for you to come to Richmond I can soon make +arrangements for your comfort and shall be very glad of your company and +presence. We have experienced a great affliction both in our private and +public relations. Our good and noble Bishop Meade died last night. He +was very anxious to see you, sent you his love and kindest remembrances, +and had I known in time yesterday I should have sent expressly for you +to come up. But I did not know of his wish or condition till after the +departure of the cars yesterday. Between 6 and 7 P. M. yesterday he sent +for me, said he wished to bid me good-bye, and to give me his blessing, +which he did in the most affecting manner. Called me Robert and reverted +to the time I used to say the catechism to him. He invoked the blessing +of God upon me and the country. He spoke with difficulty and pain, but +was perfectly calm and clear. His hand was then cold and pulseless, yet +he shook mine warmly. ‘I ne’er shall look upon his like again.’ He +died during the night. I presume the papers of to-morrow will tell you +all.... + +“Very truly and sincerely, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The next day he again writes to my mother. + +“Richmond, March 15, 1861. + +“My Dear Mary: I wrote you yesterday by mail. On returning to my +quarters last night after 11 P. M. Custis informed me Robert had +arrived and had made up his mind to go into the army. He stayed at +the Spottswood, and this morning I went with him to get his overcoat, +blankets, etc. There is great difficulty in procuring what is good. +They all have to be made, and he has gone to the office of the +adjutant-general of Virginia to engage in the service. God grant it may +be for his good as He has permitted it. I must be resigned. I told him +of the exemption granted by the Secretary of War to the professors and +students of the university, but he expressed no desire to take advantage +of it. It would be useless for him to go, if he did not improve himself, +nor would I wish him to go merely for exemption. As I have done all in +the matter that seems proper and right, I must now leave the rest in the +hands of our merciful God. I hope our son will do his duty and make a +good soldier.... I had expected yesterday to go to North Carolina this +morning, but the President changed his mind. I should like to go to see +you to-morrow, but in the present condition of things do not feel that I +ought to be absent.... I may have to go to North Carolina or Norfolk +yet. New Berne, N. C., has fallen into the hands of the enemy. In +Arkansas our troops under Van Dorn have had a hard battle, but nothing +decisive gained. Four generals killed--McIntosh, McCullogh, Herbert, and +Slack. General Price wounded. Loss on both sides said to be heavy.... + +“Very truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + + + + + +Chapter IV -- Army Life of Robert the Younger + + +Volunteer in Rockbridge Artillery--“Four Years with General Lee” + quoted--Meeting between father and son--Personal characteristics of the +General--Death of his daughter Annie--His son Robert raised from +the ranks--the horses, “Grace Darling” and +“Traveller”--Fredricksburg--Freeing slaves + + +Like all the students at the university, I was wild to go into the army, +and wrote my father that I was afraid the war would be over before I +had a chance to serve. His reply was that I need have no fear of that +contingency, that I must study hard and fit myself to be useful to my +country when I was old enough to be of real service to her; so, very +properly, I was not allowed to have my wish then. In a letter to my +mother written April, ‘61, he says: + +“I wrote to Robert that I could not consent to take boys from their +schools and young men from their colleges and put them in the ranks at +the beginning of a war, when they are not wanted and when there are men +enough for that purpose. The war may last ten years. Where are our ranks +to be filled from then? I was willing for his company to continue at +their studies, to keep up its organisation, and to perfect themselves in +their military exercises, and to perform duty at the college; but NOT +to be called into the field. I therefore wished him to remain. If the +exercises at the college are suspended, he can then come home....” + +But in the spring of ‘62 he allowed me to volunteer, and I having +selected the company I wished to join, the Rockbridge Artillery, he gave +his approval, and wrote me to come to Richmond, where he would give +me my outfit. He was just as sweet and loving to me then as in the old +days. I had seen so little of him during the last six years that I stood +somewhat in awe of him. I soon found, however, that I had no cause for +such a feeling. He took great pains in getting what was necessary for +me. The baggage of a private in a Confederate battery was not extensive. +How little was needed my father, even at that time, did not know, for +though he was very careful in providing me with the least amount he +thought necessary, I soon found by experience that he had given me a +great deal too much. It was characteristic of his consideration for +others and the unselfishness of his nature, that at this time, when +weighed down, harassed and burdened by the cares incident to bringing +the untrained forces of the Confederacy into the field, and preparing +them for a struggle the seriousness of which he knew better than any +one, he should give his time and attention to the minute details of +fitting out his youngest son as a private soldier. I think it worthy of +note that the son of the commanding general enlisting as a private in +his army was not thought to be anything remarkable or unusual. Neither +my mother, my family, my friends nor myself expected any other course, +and I do not suppose it ever occurred to my father to think of giving me +an office, which he could easily have done. I know it never occurred to +me, nor did I ever hear, at that time or afterwards, from anyone, that +I might have been entitled to better rank than that of a private because +of my father’s prominence in Virginia and in the Confederacy. With +the good advice to be obedient to all authority, to do my duty in +everything, great or small, he bade me good-bye, and sent me off to the +Valley of Virginia, where the command in which I was about to enlist +were serving under “Stonewall Jackson.” + +Of my father’s military duties at this time, Colonel Taylor, in his +“Four Years with General Lee,” says: + +“Exercising a constant supervision over the condition of affairs at each +important point, thoroughly informed as to the resources and necessities +of the several commanders of armies in the field, as well as of the +dangers which respectively threatened them, he was enabled to give them +wise counsel, to offer them valuable suggestions, and to respond to +their demands for assistance and support to such extent as the limited +resources of the government would permit. It was in great measure due +to his advice and encouragement that General Magruder so stoutly and +so gallantly held his lines on the Peninsula against General McClellan +until troops could be sent to his relief from General Johnston’s army. +I recollect a telegraphic despatch received by General Lee from General +Magruder, in which he stated that a council of war which he had convened +had unanimously determined that his army should retreat, in reply to +which General Lee urged him to maintain his lines, and to make as bold +a front as possible, and encouraged him with the prospect of being +reinforced. No better illustration of the nature and importance of the +duty performed by General Lee, while in this position, can be given than +the following letter--one of a number of similar import--written by him +to General Jackson, the ‘rough’ or original draft of which is still in +my possession: + +“‘Headquarters, Richmond, Virginia, April 29, 1862. + +“‘Major-General T. J. Jackson, commanding, etc., Swift Run Gap, +Virginia. + +“‘General: I have had the honour to receive your letter of yesterday’s +date. From the reports that reach me that are entitled to credit, the +force of the enemy opposite Fredericksburg is represented as too large +to admit of any diminution whatever of our army in that vicinity at +present, as it might not only invite an attack on Richmond, but jeopard +the safety of the army in the Peninsula. I regret, therefore, that your +request to have five thousand men sent from that army to reinforce you +cannot be complied with. Can you not draw enough from the command of +General Edward Johnson to warrant you in attacking Banks? The last +return received from that army show a present force of upward of +thirty-five hundred, which, it is hoped, has since increased by recruits +and returned furloughs. As he does not appear to be pressed, it is +suggested that a portion of his force might be temporarily removed from +its present position and made available for the movement in question. A +decisive and successful blow at Banks’s column would be fraught with +the happiest results, and I deeply regret my inability to send you the +reinforcements you ask. If, however, you think the combined forces of +Generals Ewell and Johnson, with your own, inadequate for the move, +General Ewell might, with the assistance of General Anderson’s army near +Fredericksburg, strike at McDowell’s army between that city and Acquia, +with much promise of success; provided you feel sufficiently strong +alone to hold Banks in check. + +“‘Very truly yours, + +“‘R. E. Lee.’ + +“The reader will observe that this letter bears the date ‘April 29, +1862.’ On May 5th or 6th, General Jackson formed a junction between his +own command and that of General Edward Johnson; on May 8th, he defeated +Milroy at McDowell. Soon thereafter, the command of General Ewell was +united to that already under Jackson, and on the 25th of the same month +Banks was defeated and put to flight. Other incidents might be cited to +illustrate this branch of the important service rendered at this period +by General Lee. The line of earthworks around the city of Richmond, and +other preparations for resisting an attack, testified to the immense +care and labour bestowed upon the defense of the capital, so seriously +threatened by the army of General McClellan.” + +On May 31st, the battle of Seven Pines was fought, and General Joseph +E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate Army, was severely wounded. The +next day, by order of the President, General Lee took command of the +Army of Northern Virginia. + +The day after the battle of Cold Harbor, during the “Seven Days” + fighting around Richmond, was the first time I met my father after I +had joined General Jackson. The tremendous work Stonewall’s men had +performed, including the rapid march from the Valley of Virginia, the +short rations, the bad water, and the great heat, had begun to tell +upon us, and I was pretty well worn out. On this particular morning, my +battery had not moved from its bivouac ground of the previous night, but +was parked in an open field all ready, waiting orders. Most of the men +were lying down, many sleeping, myself among the latter number. To get +some shade and to be out of the way, I had crawled under a caisson, +and was busy making up many lost hours of rest. Suddenly I was rudely +awakened by a comrade, prodding me with a sponge-staff as I had failed +to be aroused by his call, and was told to get up and come out, that +some one wished to see me. Half awake, I staggered out, and found myself +face to face with General Lee and his staff. Their fresh uniforms, +bright equipments and well-groomed horses contrasted so forcibly with +the war-worn appearance of our command that I was completely dazed. It +took me a moment or two to realise what it all meant, but when I saw my +father’s loving eyes and smile it became clear to me that he had ridden +by to see if I was safe and to ask how I was getting along. I remember +well how curiously those with him gazed at me, and I am sure that it +must have struck them as very odd that such a dirty, ragged, unkempt +youth could have been the son of this grand-looking victorious +commander. + +I was introduced recently to a gentleman, now living in Washington, who, +when he found out my name, said he had met me once before and that it +was on this occasion. At that time he was a member of the Tenth Virginia +Infantry, Jackson’s Division, and was camped near our battery. Seeing +General Lee and staff approach, he, with others, drew near to have a +look at them, and thus witnessed the meeting between father and son. He +also said that he had often told of this incident as illustrating the +peculiar composition of our army. + +After McClellan’s change of base to Harrison’s Landing on James River, +the army lay inactive around Richmond. I had a short furlough on account +of sickness, and saw my father; also my mother and sisters, who were +then living in Richmond. He was the same loving father to us all, as +kind and thoughtful of my mother, who as an invalid, and of us, his +children, as if our comfort and happiness were all he had to care for. +His great victory did not elate him, so far as one could see. In a +letter of July 9th, to my mother, he says: + +“...I have returned to my old quarters and am filled with gratitude +to our Heavenly Father for all the mercies He has extended to us. Our +success has not been so great or complete as we could have desired, but +God knows what is best for us. Our enemy met with a heavy loss, from +which it must take him some time to recover, before he can recommence +his operations....” + +The honourable Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederate +States, says of General Lee: + +“What I had seen General lee to be at first--child-like in simplicity +and unselfish in his character--he remained, unspoiled by praise and by +success.” + +He was the same in victory or defeat, always calm and contained. +Jackson, having had a short rest, was now moved up to Gordonsville. I +rejoined my command and went with him, supplied with new clothes and a +fresh stock of health. In a letter to his three daughters who were in +North Carolina, dated Richmond, July 18, 1862, he writes describing my +condition: + +“Rob came out to see me one afternoon. He had been much worn down by his +marching and fighting, and had gone to his mamma to get a little rest. +He was thin but well, but, not being able to get a clean shirt, has not +gone to see Miss Norvell. He has rejoined his company and gone off with +General Jackson, as good as new again, I hope, inasmuch as your mother +thought, by means of a bath and a profusion of soap, she had cleansed +the outward man considerably, and replenished his lost wardrobe.” + +From Gordonsville we were moved on to Orange County, and then commenced +that series of manoeuvres by the Army of Northern Virginia, beginning +with the battle of Cedar Mountain and ending with second Manassas. + +When I again saw my father, he rode at the head of Longstreet’s men on +the field of Manassas, and we of Jackson’s corps, hard pressed for +two days, welcomed him and the divisions which followed him with great +cheers. Two rifle-guns from our battery had been detached and sent +to join Longstreet’s advance artillery, under General Stephen D. Lee, +moving into action on our right. I was “Number 1” at one of these guns. +We advanced rapidly, from hill to hill, firing as fast as we could, +trying to keep ahead of our gallant comrades, just arrived. As we +were ordered to cease firing from the last position we took, and the +breathless cannoneers were leaning on their guns, General Lee and staff +galloped up, and from this point of vantage scanned the movements of the +enemy and of our forces. The general reined in “Traveller” close by my +gun, not fifteen feet from me. I looked at them all some few minutes, +and then went up and spoke to Captain Mason of the staff, who had +not the slightest idea who I was. When he found me out he was greatly +amused, and introduced me to several others whom I already knew. My +appearance was even less prepossessing that when I had met my father at +Cold Harbour, for I had been marching night and day for four days, with +no opportunity to wash myself or my clothes; my face and hands were +blackened with powder-sweat, and the few garments I had on were ragged +and stained with the red soil of that section. When the General, after +a moment or two, dropped his glass to his side, and turned to his staff, +Captain Mason said: + +“General, here is some one who wants to speak to you.” + +The General, seeing a much-begrimed artillery-man, sponge-staff in hand, +said: + +“Well, my many, what can I do for you?” I replied: + +“Why, General, don’t you know me?” and he, of course, at once recognised +me, and was very much amused at my appearance and most glad to see that +I was safe and well. + +We, of the ranks, used to have our opinions on all subjects. The armies, +their generals, and their manoeuvres were freely discussed. If there was +one point on which the entire army was unanimous--I speak of the rank +and file--it was that we were not in the least afraid of General Pope, +but were perfectly sure of whipping him whenever we could meet him. The +passages I quote here from two of General Lee’s letters indicate that +this feeling may possibly have extended to our officers. In a letter to +my mother, from near Richmond, dated July 28, 1862, he says: + +“...When you write to Rob, tell him to catch Pope for me, and also bring +in his cousin, Louis Marshall, who, I am told, is on his staff. I could +forgive the latter’s fighting against us, but not his joining Pope.” + +And again: + +“...Johnny Lee [his nephew] saw Louis Marshall after Jackson’s last +battle, who asked him kindly after his old uncle, and said his mother +was well. Johnny said Louis looked wretched himself. I am sorry he is in +such bad company, but I suppose he could not help it.” + +As one of the Army of Northern Virginia, I occasionally saw the +commander-in-chief, on the march, or passed the headquarters close +enough to recognise him and members of his staff, but as a private +soldier in Jackson’s corps did not have much time, during that campaign, +for visiting, and until the battle of Sharpsburg I had no opportunity of +speaking to him. On that occasion our battery had been severely handled, +losing many men and horses. Having three guns disabled, we were ordered +to withdraw, and while moving back we passed General Lee and several of +his staff, grouped on a little knoll near the road. Having no definite +orders where to go, our captain, seeing the commanding general, halted +us and rode over to get some instructions. Some others and myself went +along to see and hear. General Lee was dismounted with some of his staff +around him, a courier holding his horse. Captain Poague, commanding our +battery, the Rockbridge Artillery, saluted, reported our condition, +and asked for instructions. The General, listening patiently looked at +us--his eyes passing over me without any sign of recognition--and then +ordered Captain Poague to take the most serviceable horses and men, man +the uninjured gun, send the disabled part of his command back to refit, +and report to the front for duty. As Poague turned to go, I went up to +speak to my father. When he found out who I was, he congratulated me on +being well and unhurt. I then said: + +“General, are you going to send us in again?” + +“Yes, my son,” he replied, with a smile; “you all must do what you can +to help drive these people back.” + +This meeting between General Lee and his son has been told very often +and in many different ways, but the above is what I remember of the +circumstances. + +He was much on foot during this part of the campaign, and moved about +either in an ambulance or on horseback, with a courier leading his +horse. The accident which temporarily disabled him happened before he +left Virginia. He had dismounted, and was sitting on a fallen log, with +the bridle reins hung over his arm. Traveller, becoming frightened at +something, suddenly dashed away, threw him violently to the ground, +spraining both hands and breaking a small bone in one of them. A letter +written some weeks afterward to my mother alludes to this meeting with +his son, and to the condition of his hands: + +“...I have not laid eyes on Rob since I saw him in the battle of +Sharpsburg--going in with a single gun of his for the second time, +after his company had been withdrawn in consequence of three of its guns +having been disabled. Custis has seen him and says he is very well, and +apparently happy and content. My hands are improving slowly, and, with +my left hand, I am able to dress and undress myself, which is a great +comfort. My right is becoming of some assistance, too, thought it is +still swollen and sometimes painful. The bandages have been removed. I +am now able to sign my name. It has been six weeks to-day since I was +injured, and I have at last discarded the sling.” + +After the army recrossed the Potomac into Virginia, we were camped for +some time in the vicinity of Winchester. One beautiful afternoon in +October, a courier from headquarters rode up to our camp, found me +out, and handed me a note from my father. It told me of the death of my +sister Annie. As I have lost this letter to me, I quote from one to my +mother about the same time. It was dated October 26, 1862: + +“...I cannot express the anguish I feel at the death of our sweet Annie. +To know that I shall never see her again on earth, that her place in +our circle, which I always hoped one day to enjoy, is forever vacant, is +agonising in the extreme. But God in this, as in all things, has mingled +mercy with the blow, in selecting that one best prepared to leave us. +May you be able to join me in saying ‘His will be done!’ ...I know how +much you will grieve and how much she will be mourned. I wish I could +give you any comfort, but beyond our hope in the great mercy of God, and +the belief that he takes her at the time and place when it is best for +her to go, there is none. May that same mercy be extended to us all, and +may we be prepared for His summons.” + +In a letter to my sister Mary, one month later, from “Camp near +Fredericksburg”: + +“...The death of my dear Annie was, indeed, to me a bitter pang, but +‘the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away: blessed be the name of the +Lord.’ In the quiet hours of the night, when there is nothing to lighten +the full weight of my grief, I feel as if I should be overwhelmed. I +have always counted, if God should spare me a few days after this Civil +War has ended, that I should have her with me, but year after year my +hopes go out, and I must be resigned....” + +To this daughter whose loss grieved him so he was specially devoted. +She died in North Carolina, at the Warren White Sulphur Springs. At the +close of the war, the citizens of the county erected over her grave +a handsome monument. General lee was invited to be present at the +ceremonies of the unveiling. In his reply, he says: + +“...I have always cherished the intention of visiting the tomb of her +who never gave me aught but pleasure;... Though absent in person, my +heart will be with you, and my sorrow and devotions will be mingled +with yours.... I inclose, according to your request, the date of my +daughter’s birth and the inscription proposed for the monument over her +tomb. The latter are the last lines of the hymn which she asked for just +before her death.” + +A visitor to her grave, some years after the war, thus describes it: + +“In the beautiful and quiet graveyard near the Springs a plain shaft of +native granite marks the grave of this beloved daughter. On one side is +cut in the stone, ‘Annie C. Lee, daughter of General R. E. Lee and Mary +C. Lee’--and on the opposite--‘Born at Arlington, June 18, 1839, and +died at White Sulphur Springs, Warren County, North Carolina, Oct. 20, +1862.’ On another side are the lines selected by her father, + + “‘Perfect and true are all His ways + Whom heaven adores and earth obeys.’” + +That autumn I was offered the position of Lt. and A. D. C. on the staff +of my brother, W. H. F. Lee, just promoted from the colonelcy of the +9th Virginia Cavalry to the command of a brigade in the same arm of the +service. My father had told me when I joined the army to do my whole +duty faithfully, not to be rash about volunteering for any service out +of my regular line, and always to accept promotion. After consulting +him, it was decided that I should take the position offered, and +he presented me with a horse and one of his swords. My promotion +necessitated my having an honourable discharge as a private, from the +ranks, and this I obtained in the proper way from General “Stonewall” + Jackson, commanding the corps of which my company was a part, and was +thus introduced for the first time to that remarkable man. Having served +in his command since my enlistment, I had been seeing him daily. “Old +Jack,” at a distance, was as familiar to me as one of the battery guns, +but I had never met him, and felt much awe at being ushered into his +presence. This feeling, however, was groundless, for he was seemingly +so much embarrassed by the interview that I really felt sorry for him +before he dismissed me with my discharge papers, properly made out and +signed. + +I had received a letter from my father telling me to come to him as soon +as I had gotten my discharge from my company, so I proceeded at once +to his headquarters, which were situated near Orange Court House, on a +wooded hill just east of the village. I found there the horse which he +gave me. She was a daughter of his mare, “Grace Darling,” and, though +not so handsome as her mother, she inherited many of her good qualities +and carried me well until the end of the war and for thirteen years +afterward. She was four years old, a solid bay, and never failed me a +single day during three years’ hard work. The General was on the point +of moving his headquarters down to Fredericksburg, some of the army +having already gone forward to that city. I think the camp was struck +the day after I arrived, and as the General’s hands were not yet +entirely well, he allowed me, as a great favour, to ride his horse +“Traveller.” Amongst the soldiers this horse was as well known as was +his master. He was a handsome iron-gray with black points--mane and tail +very dark--sixteen hands high, and five years old. He was born near the +White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and attracted the notice of my +father when he was in that part of the State in 1861. He was never +known to tire, and, though quiet and sensible in general and afraid +of nothing, yet if not regularly exercised, he fretted a good deal +especially in a crowd of horses. But there can be no better description +of this famous horse than the one given by his master. It was dictated +to his daughter Agnes at Lexington, Virginia, after the war, in response +to some artist who had asked for a description, and was corrected in his +own handwriting: + +“If I were an artist like you I would draw a true picture of +Traveller--representing his fine proportions, muscular figure, deep +chest and short back, strong haunches, flat legs, small head, broad +forehead, delicate ears, quick eye, small feet, and black mane and tail. +Such a picture would inspire a poet, whose genius could then depict his +worth and describe his endurance of toil, hunger, thirst, heat, cold, +and the dangers and sufferings through which he passed. He could dilate +upon his sagacity and affection, and his invariable response to every +wish of his rider. He might even imagine his thoughts, through the long +night marches and days of battle through which he has passed. But I am +no artist; I can only say he is a Confederate gray. I purchased him +in the mountains of Virginia in the autumn of 1861, and he has been +my patient follower ever since--to Georgia, the Carolinas, and back to +Virginia. He carried me through the Seven Days battle around Richmond, +the second Manassas, at Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, the last day at +Chancellorsville, to Pennsylvania, at Gettysburg, and back to the +Rappahannock. From the commencement of the campaign in 1864 at Orange, +till its close around Petersburg, the saddle was scarcely off his back, +as he passed through the fire of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold +Harbour, and across the James River. He was almost in daily requisition +in the winter of 1864-65 on the long line of defenses from Chickahominy, +north of Richmond, to Hatcher’s Run, south of the Appomattox. In the +campaign of 1865, he bore me from Petersburg to the final days at +Appomattox Court House. You must know the comfort he is to me in my +present retirement. He is well supplied with equipments. Two sets have +been sent to him from England, one from the ladies of Baltimore, and one +was made for him in Richmond; but I think his favourite is the American +saddle from St. Louis. Of all his companions in toil, ‘Richmond,’ ‘Brown +Roan,’ ‘Ajax,’ and quiet ‘Lucy Long,’ he is the only one that retained +his vigour. The first two expired under their onerous burden, and the +last two failed. You can, I am sure, from what I have said, paint his +portrait.” + +The general had the strongest affection for Traveller, which he showed +on all occasions, and his allowing me to ride him on this long march +was a great compliment. Possibly he wanted to give me a good hammering +before he turned me over to the cavalry. During my soldier life, so +far, I had been on foot, having backed nothing more lively than a tired +artillery horse; so I mounted with some misgivings, though I was very +proud of my steed. My misgivings were fully realised, for Traveller +would not walk a step. He took a short, high trot--a buck-trot, as +compared with a buck-jump--and kept it up to Fredericksburg, some thirty +miles. Though young, strong, and tough, I was glad when the journey +ended. This was my first introduction to the cavalry service. I think I +am safe in saying that I could have walked the distance with much less +discomfort and fatigue. My father having thus given me a horse and +presented me with one of his swords, also supplied my purse so that I +could get myself an outfit suitable to my new position, and he sent +me on to join my command, stationed not far away on the Rappahannock, +southward from Fredericksburg. + +As an officer in the cavalry on the staff, I had more frequent +opportunities of seeing my father than as a private in the artillery. In +the course of duty, I was sometimes sent to him to report the condition +of affairs at the front, or on the flank of the army, and I also, +occasionally, paid him a visit. At these times, he would take me into +his tent, talk to me about my mother and sisters, about my horse and +myself, or the people and the country where my command happened to be +stationed. I think my presence was very grateful to him, and he seemed +to brighten up when I came. I remember, he always took it as a matter +of course that I must be hungry (and I was for three years), so he +invariably made his mess-steward, Bryan, give me something to eat, if I +did not have time to wait for the regular meal. His headquarters at +this time, just before the battle of Fredericksburg and after, were at +a point on the road between Fredericksburg and Hamilton’s Crossing, +selected on account of its accessibility. Notwithstanding there was +near-by a good house vacant, he lived in his tents. His quarters were +very unpretentious, consisting of three or four “wall-tents” and several +more common ones. They were pitched on the edge of an old pine field, +near a grove of forest trees from which he drew his supply of fire-wood, +while the pines helped to shelter his tents and horses from the cold +winds. Though from the outside they were rather dismal, especially +through the dreary winter time, within they were cheerful, and +the surroundings as neat and comfortable as possible under the +circumstances. + +On November 24, 1862, in a letter to his daughter Mary, he writes: + +“...General Burnside’s whole army is apparently opposite Fredericksburg +and stretches from the Rappahannock to the Potomac. What his intentions +are he has not yet disclosed. I am sorry he is in position to oppress +our friends and citizens of the Northern Neck. He threatens to bombard +Fredericksburg, and the noble spirit displayed by its citizens, +particularly the women and children, has elicited my highest admiration. +They have been abandoning their homes, night and day, during all this +inclement weather, cheerfully and uncomplainingly, with only such +assistance as our wagons and ambulances could afford, women, girls, +children, trudging through the mud and bivouacking in the open fields.” + +How the battle of Fredericksburg was fought and won all the world has +heard, and I shall not attempt to describe it. On December 11th, the day +Burnside commenced his attack, General Lee wrote to my mother: + +“...The enemy, after bombarding the town of Fredericksburg, setting +fire to many houses and knocking down nearly all those along the river, +crossed over a large force about dark, and now occupies the town. We +hold the hills commanding it, and hope we shall be able to damage him +yet. His position and heavy guns command the town entirely.” + +On December 16th, in another letter to my mother, he tells of the +recrossing of the Federals: + +“I had supposed they were just preparing for battle, and was saving our +men for the conflict. Their hosts crown the hill and plain beyond the +river, and their numbers to me are unknown. Still I felt the confidence +we could stand the shock, and was anxious for the blow that is to fall +on some point, and was prepared to meet it here. Yesterday evening I +had my suspicions that they might return during the night, but could not +believe they would relinquish their hopes after all their boasting and +preparation, and when I say that the latter is equal to the former you +will have some idea of the magnitude. This morning they were all safe +on the north side of the Rappahannock. They went as they came--in the +night. They suffered heavily as far as the battle went, but it did not +go far enough to satisfy me. Our loss was comparatively slight, and +I think will not exceed two thousand. The contest will have now to be +renewed, but on what field I cannot say.” + +I did not see my father at any time during the fighting; some days after +it was all over, I saw him, as calm and composed as if nothing unusual +had happened, and he never referred to his great victory, except to +deplore the loss of his brave officers and soldiers or the sufferings of +the sick and wounded. He repeatedly referred to the hardships so bravely +endured by the inhabitants of Fredericksburg, who had been obliged to +flee from the town, the women and children, the old and the feeble, +whose sufferings cut him to the heart. On Christmas Day he writes to his +youngest daughter, Mildred, who was at school in North Carolina: + +“...I cannot tell you how I long to see you when a little quiet occurs. +My thoughts revert to you, your sisters, and your mother; my heart aches +for our reunion. Your brothers I see occasionally. This morning Fitzhugh +rode by with his young aide-de-camp (Rob) at the head of his brigade, +on his way up the Rappahannock. You must study hard, gain knowledge, and +learn your duty to God and your neighbour: that is the great object +of life. I have no news, confined constantly to camp, and my thoughts +occupied with its necessities and duties. I am, however, happy in the +knowledge that General Burnside and army will not eat their promised +Christmas dinner in Richmond to-day.” + +On the next day he writes as follows to his daughter Agnes, who was with +her mother in Richmond: + +“Camp Fredericksburg, December 26, 1862. + +“My Precious Little Agnes: I have not heard of you for a long time. I +wish you were with me, for always solitary, I am sometimes weary, and +long for the reunion of my family once again. But I will not speak of +myself, but of you.... I have seen the ladies in this vicinity only when +flying from the enemy, and it caused me acute grief to witness their +exposure and suffering. But a more noble spirit was never displayed +anywhere. The faces of old and young were wreathed with smiles, and +glowed with happiness at their sacrifices for the good of their country. +Many have lost EVERYTHING. What the fire and shells of the enemy spared, +their pillagers destroyed. But God will shelter them, I know. So much +heroism will not be unregarded. I can only hold oral communication with +your sister [His daughter Mary, in King George county, within the lines +of the enemy], and have forbidden the scouts to bring any writing, and +have taken some back that I had given them for her. If caught, it would +compromise them. They only convey messages. I learn in that way she is +well. + +“Your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +I give another letter he wrote on Christmas Day, besides the one quoted +above, to his daughter, Mildred. It was written to his wife, and is +interesting as giving an insight into his private feelings and views +regarding this great victory: + +“...I will commence this holy day by writing to you. My heart is filled +with gratitude to Almighty God for His unspeakable mercies with which +He has blessed us in this day, for those He has granted us from the +beginning of life, and particularly for those He has vouchsafed us +during the past year. What should have become of us without His crowning +help and protection? Oh, if our people would only recognise it and cease +from vain self-boasting and adulation, how strong would be my belief in +final success and happiness to our country! But what a cruel thing is +war; to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest +joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts +with hatred instead of love for our neighbours, and to devastate the +fair face of this beautiful world! I pray that, on this day when only +peace and good-will are preached to mankind, better thoughts may fill +the hearts of our enemies and turn them to peace. Our army was never +in such good health and condition since I have been attached to it. +I believe they share with me my disappointment that the enemy did not +renew the combat on the 13th. I was holding back all day and husbanding +our strength and ammunition for the great struggle, for which I thought +I was preparing. Had I divined that was to have been his only effort, he +would have had more of it. My heart bleeds at the death of every one of +our gallant men.” + +One marked characteristic of my father was his habit of attending to all +business matters promptly. He was never idle, and what he had to do he +performed with care and precision. Mr. Custis, my grandfather, had made +him executor of his will, wherein it was directed that all the slaves +belonging to the estate should be set free after the expiration of so +many years. The time had now arrived, and notwithstanding the exacting +duties of his position, the care of his suffering soldiers, and +his anxiety about their future, immediate and distant, he proceeded +according to the law of the land to carry out the provisions of the +will, and had delivered to every one of the servants, where it was +possible, their manumission papers. From his letters written at this +time I give a few extracts bearing on this subject: + +“...As regards the liberation of the people, I wish to progress in it as +far as I can. Those hired in Richmond can still find employment there +if they choose. Those in the country can do the same or remain on the +farms. I hope they will all do well and behave themselves. I should +like, if I could, to attend to their wants and see them placed to the +best advantage. But that is impossible. All that choose can leave the +State before the war closes.... + +“...I executed the deed of manumission sent me by Mr. Caskie, and +returned it to him. I perceived that John Sawyer and James’s names, +among the Arlington people, had been omitted, and inserted them. I fear +there are others among the White House lot which I did not discover. As +to the attacks of the Northern papers, I do not mind them, and do not +think it wise to make the publication you suggest. If all the names of +the people at Arlington and on the Pamunkey are not embraced in this +deed I have executed, I should like a supplementary deed to be drawn up, +containing all those omitted. They are entitled to their freedom and I +wish to give it to them. Those that have been carried away, I hope +are free and happy; I cannot get their papers to them, and they do not +require them. I will give them if they ever call for them. It will be +useless to ask their restitution to manumit them....” + + + + + +Chapter V -- The Army of Northern Virginia + + +The General’s sympathy for his suffering +soldiers--Chancellorsville--Death of “Stonewall” Jackson--General +Fitzhugh Lee wounded and captured--Escape of his brother +Robert--Gettysburg--Religious revival--Infantry review--Unsatisfactory +commissariat + + +During this winter, which was a very severe one, the sufferings of +General Lee’s soldiers on account of insufficient shelter and clothing, +the scant rations for man and beast, the increasing destitution +throughout the country, and his inability to better these conditions, +bore heavily upon him. But he was bright and cheerful to those around +him, never complaining of any one nor about anything and often indulging +in his quaint humour, especially with the younger officers, as when +he remarked to one of them, who complained of the tough biscuit at +breakfast: + +“You ought not to mind that; they will stick by you the longer!” + +His headquarters continued all the winter at the same place, and with +stove and fire-places in the tents, the General and his military family +managed to keep fairly comfortable. On February 6, 1863, he wrote to his +daughter, Agnes from this camp: + +“Camp Fredericksburg, February 6, 1863. + +“...I read yesterday, my precious daughter, your letter, and grieved +very much when last in Richmond at not seeing you. My movements are so +uncertain that I cannot be relied on for anything. The only place I am +to be found is in camp, and I am so cross now that I am not worth seeing +anywhere. Here you will have to take me with the three stools--the snow, +the rain, and the mud. The storm of the last twenty-four hours has added +to our stock of all, and we are now in a floating condition. But the sun +and the wind will carry all off in time, and then we shall appreciate +our relief. Our horses and mules suffer the most. They have to bear the +cold and rain, tug through the mud, and suffer all the time with hunger. +The roads are wretched, almost impassable. I heard of Mag lately. One +of our scouts brought me a card of Margaret Stuart’s with a pair of +gauntlets directed to ‘Cousin Robert.’... I have no news. General Hooker +is obliged to do something. I do not know what it will be. He is playing +the Chinese game, trying what frightening will do. He runs out his +guns, starts his wagons and troops up and down the river, and creates an +excitement generally. Our men look on in wonder, give a cheer, and all +again subsides in statu quo ante bellum. I wish you were here with me +to-day. You would have to sit by this little stove, look out at +the rain, and keep yourself dry. But here come, in all the wet, the +adjutants-general with the papers. I must stop and go to work. See how +kind God is; we have plenty to do in good weather and bad....” + +“Your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +On February 23d, he writes to Mrs. Lee: + +“Camp Fredericksburg, February 23, 1863. + +“The weather is now very hard upon our poor bushmen. This morning the +whole country is covered with a mantle of snow fully a foot deep. It was +nearly up to my knees as I stepped out this morning, and our poor horses +were enveloped. We have dug them out and opened our avenues a little, +but it will be terrible and the roads impassable. No cars from Richmond +yesterday. I fear our short rations for man and horse will have to be +curtailed. Our enemies have their troubles too. They are very strong +immediately in front, but have withdrawn their troops above and below +us back toward Acquia Creek. I owe Mr. F. J. Hooker [“Fighting Joe” + was Hooker’s most popular sobriquet in the Federal army] no thanks for +keeping me here. He ought to have made up his mind long ago about +what do to--24th. The cars have arrived and brought me a young French +officer, full of vivacity, and ardent for service with me. I think the +appearance of things will cool him. If they do not, the night will, for +he brought no blankets. + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The dreary winter gradually passed away. Toward the last of April, the +two armies, which had been opposite each other for four months, began +to move, and, about the first of May, the greatest of Lee’s battles was +fought. My command was on the extreme left, and, as Hooker crossed the +river, we followed a raiding party of the enemy’s cavalry over toward +the James River above Richmond; so I did not see my father at any +time during the several day’s fighting. The joy of our victory at +Chancellorsville was saddened by the death of “Stonewall” Jackson. His +loss was the heaviest blow the Army of Northern Virginia ever sustained. +To Jackson’s note telling him he was wounded, my father replied: + +“I cannot express my regret at the occurance. Could I have directed +events, I should have chosen for the good of the country to have been +disabled in your stead. I congratulate you on the victory, which is due +to your skill and energy.” + +Jackson said, when this was read to him, + +“Better that ten Jacksons should fall than one Lee.” + +Afterward, when it was reported that Jackson was doing well, General Lee +playfully sent him word: + +“You are better off than I am, for while you have only lost your LEFT, I +have lost my RIGHT arm.” + +Then, hearing that he was worse, he said: + +“Tell him that I am praying for him as I believe I have never prayed for +myself.” + +After his death, General Lee writes to my mother, on May 11th: + +“...In addition to the deaths of officers and friends consequent upon +the late battles, you will see that we have to mourn the loss of the +great and good Jackson. Any victory would be dear at such a price. His +remains go to Richmond to-day. I know not how to replace him. God’s will +be done! I trust He will raise up some one in his place....” + +Jones, in his Memoirs, says: “To one of his officers, after Jackson’s +death, he [General Lee] said: ‘I had such implicit confidence in +Jackson’s skill and energy that I never troubled myself to give him +detailed instructions. The most general suggestions were all that he +needed.’” + +To one of his aides, who came to his tent, April 29th, to inform him +that the enemy had crossed the Rappahannock River in heavy force, +General Lee made the playful reply: + +“Well, I heard firing, and I was beginning to think it was time some of +you lazy young fellows were coming to tell me what it was all about. Say +to General Jackson that he knows just as well what to do with the enemy +as I do.” + +Jackson said of Lee, when it was intimated by some, at the time he first +took command, that he was slow: + +“He is cautious. He ought to be. But he is NOT slow. Lee is a +phenomenon. He is the only man whom I would follow blindfold.” + +As the story of these great men year by year is made plainer to the +world, their love, trust, and respect for each other will be better +understood. As commander and lieutenant they were exactly suited. When +General Lee wanted a movement made and gave Jackson an outline of his +plans and the object to be gained, it was performed promptly, well, and +thoroughly, if it was possible for flesh and blood to do it. + +At the end of May, the Army of Northern Virginia, rested and +strengthened, was ready for active operations. On May 31st General Lee +writes to Mrs. Lee: + +“...General Hooker has been very daring this past week, and quite +active. He has not said what he intends to do, but is giving out by his +movements that he designs crossing the Rappahannock. I hope we may be +able to frustrate his plans, in part, if not in whole.... I pray that +our merciful Father in Heaven may protect and direct us! In that case, I +fear no odds and no numbers.” + +About June 5th most of the army was gathered around Culpeper. Its +efficiency, confidence, and MORALE were never better. On June 7th the +entire cavalry corps was reviewed on the plain near Brandy Station in +Culpeper by General Lee. We had been preparing ourselves for this event +for some days, cleaning, mending and polishing, and I remember were +very proud of our appearance. In fact, it was a grand sight--about +eight thousand well-mounted men riding by their beloved commander, first +passing by him in a walk and then a trot. He writes to my mother next +day--June 8, 1863: + +“...I reviewed the cavalry in this section yesterday. It was a splendid +sight. The men and horses looked well. They have recuperated since last +fall. Stuart [J. E. B. Stuart, commanding cavalry corps.] was in all his +glory. Your sons and nephews [two sons and three nephews] were well +and flourishing. The country here looks very green and pretty, +notwithstanding the ravages of war. What a beautiful world God, in His +loving kindness to His creatures, has given us! What a shame that men +endowed with reason and knowledge of right should mar His gifts....” + +The next day, June 9th, a large force of the enemy’s cavalry, supported +by infantry, crossed the Rappahannock and attacked General Stuart. The +conflict lasted until dark, when “The enemy was compelled to recross the +river, with heavy loss, leaving about five hundred prisoners, three +pieces of artillery, and several colours in our hands.” + +During the engagement, about 3 P. M., my brother, General W. H. F. Lee, +my commanding officer, was severely wounded. In a letter dated the 11th +of the month, my father writes to my mother: + +“...My supplications continue to ascend for you, my children, and my +country. When I last wrote I did not suppose that Fitzhugh would be soon +sent to the rear disabled, and I hope it will be for a short time. I +saw him the night after the battle--indeed, met him on the field as they +were bringing him from the front. He is young and healthy, and I trust +will soon be up again. He seemed to be more concerned about his brave +men and officers, who had fallen in the battle, than about himself....” + +It was decided, the next day, to send my brother to “Hickory Hill,” the +home of Mr. W. F. Wickham, in Hanover County, about twenty miles from +Richmond, and I was put in charge of him to take him there and to be +with him until his wound should heal. Thus it happened that I did not +meet my father again until after Gettysburg had been fought, and the +army had recrossed into Virginia, almost to the same place I had left +it. My father wrote my brother a note the morning after he was wounded, +before he left Culpeper. It shows his consideration and tenderness: + +“My Dear Son: I send you a dispatch, received from C. last night. I hope +you are comfortable this morning. I wish I could see you, but I cannot. +Take care of yourself, and make haste and get well and return. Though I +scarcely ever saw you, it was a great comfort to know that you were near +and with me. I could think of you and hope to see you. May we yet meet +in peace and happiness....” + +In a letter to my brother’s wife, written on the 11th, his love and +concern for both of them are plainly shown: + +“I am so grieved, my dear daughter, to send Fitzhugh to you wounded. But +I am so grateful that his wound is of a character to give us full hope +of a speedy recovery. With his youth and strength to aid him, and your +tender care to nurse him, I trust he will soon be well again. I know +that you will unite with me in thanks to Almighty God, who has so often +sheltered him in the hour of danger, for his recent deliverance, and +lift up your whole heart in praise to Him for sparing a life so dear +to us, while enabling him to do his duty in the station in which he had +placed him. Ask him to join us in supplication that He may always cover +him with the shadow of His almighty arm, and teach him that his only +refuge is in Him, the greatness of whose mercy reacheth unto the +heavens, and His truth unto the clouds. As some good is always mixed +with the evil in this world, you will now have him with you for a time, +and I shall look to you to cure him soon and send him back to me....” + +My brother reached “Hickory Hill” quite comfortably, and his wound +commenced to heal finely. His wife joined him, my mother and sisters +came up from Richmond, and he had all the tender care he could wish. He +occupied “the office” in the yard, while I slept in the room adjoining +and became quite an expert nurse. About two weeks after our arrival, +one lovely morning as we all came out from the breakfast table, stepping +into the front porch with Mrs. Wickham, we were much surprised to hear +to or three shots down in the direction of the outer gate, where there +was a large grove of hickory trees. Mrs. Wickham said some one must be +after her squirrels, as there were many in those woods and she asked +me to run down and stop whoever was shooting them. I got my hat, and at +once started off to do her bidding. I had not gone over a hundred yards +toward the grove, when I saw, coming up at a gallop to the gate I was +making for, five or six Federal cavalrymen. I knew what it meant at +once, so I rushed back to the office and told my brother. He immediately +understood the situation and directed me to get away--said I could do no +good by staying, that the soldiers could not and would not hurt him, and +there was nothing to be gained by my falling into their hands; but that, +on the contrary, I might do a great deal of good by eluding them, making +my way to “North Wales,” a plantation across the Pamunkey River, and +saving our horses. + +So I ran out, got over the fence and behind a thick hedge, just as I +heard the tramp and clank of quite a body of troopers riding up. Behind +this hedge I crept along until I reached a body of woods, were I was +perfectly safe. From a hill near by I ascertained that there was a large +raiding party of Federal cavalry in the main road, and the heavy smoke +ascending from the Court House, about three miles away, told me that +they were burning the railroad buildings at that place. After waiting +until I thought the coast was clear, I worked my way very cautiously +back to the vicinity of the house to find out what was going on. +Fortunately, I took advantage of the luxuriant shrubbery in the old +garden at the rear of the house, and when I looked out from the last +box bush that screened me, about twenty yards from the back porch, I +perceived that I was too soon, for there were standing, sitting and +walking about quite a number of the bluecoats. I jumped back behind the +group of box trees, and, flinging myself flat under a thick fir, crawled +close up to the trunk under the low-hanging branches, and lay there for +some hours. + +I saw my brother brought out from the office on a mattress, and placed +in the “Hickory Hill” carriage, to which was hitched Mr. Wichkam’s +horses, and then saw him driven away, a soldier on the box and a mounted +guard surrounding him. He was carried to the “White House” in this way, +and then sent by water to Fortress Monroe. This party had been sent out +especially to capture him, and he was held as a hostage (for the safety +of some Federal officers we had captured) for nine long, weary months. + +The next day I found out that all the horses but one had been saved by +the faithfulness of our servants. The one lost, my brother’s favourite +and best horse, was ridden straight into the column by Scott, a negro +servant, who had him out for exercise. Before he knew our enemies, he +and the horse were prisoners. Scott watched for his opportunity, and, +not being guarded, soon got away. By crawling through a culvert, under +the road, while the cavalry was passing along, he made his way into a +deep ditch in the adjoining field, thence succeeded in reaching the farm +where the rest of the horses were, and hurried them off to a safe place +in the woods, just as the Federal cavalry rode up to get them. + +In a letter dated Culpeper, July 26th, to my brother’s wife, my father +thus urges resignation: + +“I received, last night, my darling daughter, your letter of the 18th +from ‘Hickory Hill.’... You must not be sick while Fitzhugh is away, or +he will be more restless under his separation. Get strong and hearty by +his return, that he may the more rejoice at the sight of you.... I can +appreciate your distress at Fitzhugh’s situation. I deeply sympathise +with it, and in the lone hours of the night I groan in sorrow at his +captivity and separation from you. But we must bear it, exercise all our +patience, and do nothing to aggravate the evil. This, besides injuring +ourselves, would rejoice our enemies and be sinful in the eyes of +God. In His own good time He will relieve us and make all things work +together for our good, if we give Him our love and place in Him our +trust. I can see no harm that can result from Fitzhugh’s capture, except +his detention. I feel assured that he will be well attended to. He will +be in the hands of old army officers and surgeons, most of whom are men +of principle and humanity. His wound, I understand, has not been injured +by his removal, but is doing well. Nothing would do him more harm than +for him to learn that you were sick and sad. How could he get well? So +cheer up and prove your fortitude and patriotism.... You may think of +Fitzhugh and love him as much as you please, but do not grieve over him +or grow sad.” + +From Williamsport, to my mother, he thus writes of his son’s capture: + +“I have heard with great grief that Fitzhugh has been captured by the +enemy. Had not expected that he would be taken from his bed and carried +off, but we must bear this additional affliction with fortitude and +resignation, and not repine at the will of God. It will eventuate +in some good that we know not of now. We must bear our labours and +hardships manfully. Our noble men are cheerful and confident. I +constantly remember you in my thoughts and prayers.” + +On July 12th, from near Hagerstown, he writes again about him: + +“The consequences of war are horrid enough at best, surrounded by all +the ameliorations of civilisation and Christianity. I am very sorry for +the injuries done the family at Hickory Hill, and particularly that our +dear old Uncle Williams, in his eightieth year, should be subjected to +such treatment. But we cannot help it, and must endure it. You will, +however, learn before this reaches you that our success at Gettysburg +was not so great as reported--in fact, that we failed to drive the enemy +from his position, and that our army withdrew to the Potomac. Had the +river not unexpectedly risen, all would have been well with us; but God, +in His all-wise providence, willed otherwise, and our communications +have been interrupted and almost cut off. The waters have subsided +to about four feet, and, if they continue, by to-morrow, I hope, our +communications will be open. I trust that a merciful God, our only hope +and refuge, will not desert us in this hour of need, and will deliver us +by His almighty hand, that the whole world may recognise His power +and all hearts be lifted up in adoration and praise of His unbounded +loving-kindness. We must, however, submit to His almighty will, whatever +that may be. May God guide and protect us all is my constant prayer.” + +In 1868, in a letter to Major Wm. M. McDonald, of Berryville, Clarke +County, Virginia, who was intending to write a school history, and had +written to my father, asking for information about some of his great +battles, the following statement appears: + +“As to the battle of Gettysburg, I must again refer you to the official +accounts. Its loss was occasioned by a combination of circumstances. It +was commenced in the absence of correct intelligence. It was continued +in the effort to overcome the difficulties by which we were surrounded, +and it would have been gained could one determined and united blow have +been delivered by our whole line. As it was, victory trembled in the +balance for three days, and the battle resulted in the infliction of as +great an amount of injury as was received and in frustrating the Federal +campaign for the season.” + +After my brother’s capture I went to Richmond, taking with me his horses +and servants. After remaining there a short time, I mounted my mare and +started back to the army, which I found at its old camping-ground in +Culpeper. I stopped at first for a few days with my father. He was very +glad to see me and the could tell him all about my mother and sisters, +and many other friends whom I had just left in Richmond. He appeared +to be unchanged in manner and appearance. The disappointment in the +Gettysburg campaign, to which he alludes in his letter to my mother, +was not shown in anything he said or did. He was calm and dignified with +all, at times bright and cheerful, and always had a pleasant word +for those about him. The army lay inactive, along the line of the +Rappahannock and the Rapidan for two months, watching the enemy, who was +in our front. We were very anxious to attack or to be attacked, but each +general desired to fight on ground of his won choosing. + +During this period, and indeed at all times, my father was fully +employed. Besides the care of his own immediate command, he advised with +the President and Secretary of War as to the movements and dispositions +of the other armies in the Confederacy. In looking over his +correspondence one is astonished a the amount of it and at its varied +character. He always answered all letters addressed to him, from +whatever source, if it was possible. During this winter he devoted +himself especially to looking after the welfare of his troops, their +clothing, shoes, and rations, all three of which were becoming very +scarce. Often, indeed, his army had only a few days’ rations in sight. +Here are some letters written to the authorities, showing how he +was hampered in his movements by the deficiencies existing +in the quartermaster’s and commissary departments. To the +Quartermaster-General, at Richmond, he writes, October, 1863, after his +movement around General Meade’s right, to Manassas: + +“...The want of supplies of shoes, clothing and blankets is very great. +Nothing but my unwillingness to expose the men to the hardships that +would have resulted from moving them into Loudoun in their present +condition induced me to return to the Rappahannock. But I was averse to +marching them over the rough roads of that region, at a season, too when +frosts are certain and snow probable, unless they were better +provided to encounter them without suffering. I should, otherwise have +endeavoured to detain General Meade near the Potomac, if I could not +throw him to the north side.” + +In a letter of the same time to the Honourable James A. Seddon, +Secretary of War: + +“...If General Meade is disposed to remain quiet where he is, it was my +intention, provided the army could be supplied with clothing, again to +advance and threaten his position. Nothing prevented my continuing in +his front but the destitute condition of the men, thousands of whom +are barefooted, a greater number partially shod, and nearly all without +overcoats, blankets, or warm clothing. I think the sublimest sight of +war was the cheerfulness and alacrity exhibited by this army in the +pursuit of the enemy under all the trial and privations to which it was +exposed....” + +Later on, in January, when the sever weather commenced, he again writes +to the Quartermaster-General on the same subject: + +“General: The want of shoes and blankets in this army continues to +cause much suffering and to impair its efficiency. In one regiment I +am informed that there are only fifty men with serviceable shoes, and +a brigade that recently went on picket was compelled to leave several +hundred men in camp, who were unable to bear the exposure of duty, being +destitute of shoes and blankets.... The supply, by running the blockade, +has become so precarious that I think we should turn our attention +chiefly to our own resources, and I should like to be informed how +far the latter can be counted upon.... I trust that no efforts will be +spared to develop our own resources of supply, as a further dependence +upon those from abroad can result in nothing but increase of suffering +and want. I am, with great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee, General.” + +There was at this time a great revival of religion in the army. My +father became much interested in it, and did what he could to promote in +his camps all sacred exercises. Reverend J. W. Jones, in his “Personal +Reminiscences of General R. E. Lee,” says: + +“General Lee’s orders and reports always gratefully recognised ‘The Lord +of Hosts’ as the ‘Giver of Victory,’ and expressed an humble dependence +upon and trust in Him.’” + +All his correspondence shows the same devout feeling. + +On August 13, 1863, he issued the following order: + +“Headquarters, Army Northern Virginia, August 13, 1863. + +“The President of the Confederate States has, in the name of the people, +appointed August 21st as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. A +strict observance of the day is enjoined upon the officers and soldiers +of this army. All military duties, except such as are absolutely +necessary, will be suspended. The commanding officers of brigades +and regiments are requested to cause divine services, suitable to the +occasion, to be performed in their respective commands. Soldiers! we +have sinned against Almighty God. We have forgotten His signal mercies, +and have cultivated a revengeful, haughty, and boastful spirit. We have +not remembered that the defenders of a just cause should be pure in His +eyes; that ‘our times are in His hands,’ and we have relied too much on +our own arms for the achievement of our independence. God is our only +refuge and our strength. Let us humble ourselves before Him. Let us +confess our many sins, and beseech Him to give us a higher courage, a +purer patriotism, and more determined will; that He will hasten the time +when war, with its sorrows and sufferings, shall cease, and that He will +give us a name and place among the nations of the earth. + +“R. E. Lee, General.” + +His was a practical, every-day religion, which supported him all through +his life, enabled him to bear with equanimity every reverse of fortune, +and to accept her gifts without undue elation. During this period of +rest, so unusual to the Army of Northern Virginia, several reviews were +held before the commanding general. I remember being present when that +of the Third Army Corps, General A. P. Hill commanding, took place. Some +of us young cavalrymen, then stationed near the Rappahannock, rode over +to Orange Court House to see this grand military pageant. From all parts +of the army, officers and men who could get leave came to look on, and +from all the surrounding country the people, old and young, ladies and +children, came in every pattern of vehicle and on horseback, to see +twenty thousand of that “incomparable infantry” of the Army of Northern +Virginia pass in review before their great commander. + +The General was mounted on Traveller, looking very proud of his master, +who had on sash and sword, which he very rarely wore, a pair of new +cavalry gauntlets, and, I think, a new hat. At any rate, he looked +unusually fine, and sat his horse like a perfect picture of grace and +power. The infantry was drawn up in column by divisions, with their +bright muskets all glittering in the sun, their battle-flags standing +straight out before the breeze, and their bands playing, awaiting the +inspection of the General, before they broke into column by companies +and marched past him in review. When all was ready, General Hill +and staff rode up to General Lee, and the two generals, with their +respective staffs, galloped around front and rear of each of the three +divisions standing motionless on the plain. As the cavalcade reached the +head of each division, its commanding officer joined in and followed +as far as the next division, so that there was a continual infusion +of fresh groups into the original one all along the lines. Traveller +started with a long lope, and never changed his stride. His rider sat +erect and calm, not noticing anything but the gray lines of men whom he +knew so well. The pace was very fast, as there were nine good miles to +go, and the escort began to become less and less, dropping out one by +one from different causes as Traveller raced along without check. When +the General drew up, after this nine-mile gallop, under the standard at +the reviewing-stand, flushed with the exercise as well as with pride +in his brave men, he raised his hat and saluted. Then arose a shout of +applause and admiration from the entire assemblage, the memory of which +to this day moistens the eye of every old soldier. The corps was then +passed in review at a quick-step, company front. It was a most imposing +sight. After it was all over, my father rode up to several carriages +whose occupants he knew and gladdened them by a smile, a word, or a +shake of the hand. He found several of us young officers with some +pretty cousins of his from Richmond, and he was very bright and +cheerful, joking us young people about each other. His letters to my +mother and sister this summer and fall help to give an insight into his +thoughts and feelings. On July 15th, from Bunker Hill, in a letter to +his wife, he says: + +“...The army has returned to Virginia. Its return is rather sooner than +I had originally contemplated, but having accomplished much of what I +proposed on leaving the Rappahannock--namely, relieving the valley of +the presence of the enemy and drawing his army north of the Potomac--I +determined to recross the latter river. The enemy, after centering his +forces in our front, began to fortify himself in his position and +bring up his troops, militia, etc.--and those around Washington and +Alexandria. This gave him enormous odds. It also circumscribed our +limits for procuring subsistence for men and animals, which, with the +uncertain state of the river, rendered it hazardous for us to continue +on the north side. It has been raining a great deal since we first +crossed the Potomac, making the roads horrid and embarrassing our +operations. The night we recrossed it rained terribly, yet we got all +over safe, save such vehicles as broke down on the road from the mud, +rocks, etc. We are all well. I hope we will yet be able to damage our +adversaries when they meet us. That it should be so, we must implore the +forgiveness of God for our sins, and the continuance of His blessings. +There is nothing but His almighty power that can sustain us. God bless +you all....” + +Later, July 26th, he writes from Camp Culpeper: + +“...After crossing the Potomac, finding that the Shenandoah was six feet +above the fording-stage, and, having waited for a week for it to fall, +so that I might cross into Loudoun, fearing that the enemy might take +advantage of our position and move upon Richmond, I determined to ascend +the Valley and cross into Culpeper. Two corps are here with me. The +third passed Thornton’s Gap, and I hope will be in striking distance +to-morrow. The army has laboured hard, endured much, and behaved nobly. +It has accomplished all that could be reasonably expected. It ought not +to have been expected to perform impossibilities, or to have fulfilled +the anticipations of the thoughtless and unreasonable.” + +On August 2d, from the same camp, he again writes to my mother: + +“...I have heard of some doctor having reached Richmond, who had seen +our son at Fortress Monroe. He said that his wound is improving, and +that he himself was well and walking about on crutches. The exchange of +prisoners that had been going on has, for some cause, been suspended, +owing to some crotchet or other, but I hope will soon be resumed, and +that we shall have him back soon. The armies are in such close proximity +that frequent collisions are common along the outposts. Yesterday the +enemy laid down two or three pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock +and crossed his cavalry, with a big force of his infantry. It looked at +first as if it were the advance of his army, and, as I had not intended +to deliver battle, I directed our cavalry to retire slowly before them +and to check their too rapid pursuit. Finding, later in the day, that +their army was not following, I ordered out the infantry and drove them +back to the river. I suppose they intended to push on to Richmond +by this or some other route. I trust, however, they will never reach +there....” + +On August 23d, from the camp near Orange Court House, General Lee writes +to Mrs. Lee: + +“...My camp is near Mr. Erasmus Taylor’s house, who has been very kind +in contributing to our comfort. His wife sends us every day, buttermilk, +loaf bread, ice, and such vegetables as she has. I cannot get her to +desist, thought I have made two special visits to that effect. All the +brides have come on a visit to the army: Mrs. Ewell, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. +Heth, etc. General Meade’s army is north of the Rappahannock along the +Orange and Alexandria Railroad. He is very quiet....” + +“September 4, 1863. + +“...You see I am still here. When I wrote last, the indications were +that the enemy would move against us any day; but this past week he has +been very quiet, and seems at present to continue so. I was out looking +at him yesterday, from Clarke’s Mountain. He has spread himself over a +large surface and looks immense....” + +And on September 18th, from the same camp: + +“...The enemy state that they have heard of a great reduction in our +forces here, and are now going to drive us back to Richmond. I trust +they will not succeed; but our hope and our refuge is in our merciful +Father in Heaven....” + +On October 9th, the Army of Northern Virginia was put in motion, and +wa pushed around Meade’s right. Meade was gradually forced back to a +position near the old battlefield at Manassas. Although we had hard +marching, much skirmishing, and several severe fights between the +cavalry of both armies, nothing permanent was accomplished, and in about +ten days we were back on our old lines. In a letter of October 19, 1863, +to his wife, my father says: + +“...I have returned to the Rappahannock. I did not pursue with the main +army beyond Bristoe or Broad Run. Our advance went as far as Bull +Run, where the enemy was entrenched, extending his right as far as +‘Chantilly,’ in the yard of which he was building a redoubt. I could +have thrown him farther back, but saw no chance of bringing him to +battle, and it would only have served to fatigue our troops by advancing +farther. I should certainly have endeavored to throw them north of the +Potomac; but thousands were barefooted, thousands with fragments of +shoes, and all without overcoats, blankets, or warm clothing. I could +not bear to expose them to certain suffering and an uncertain issue....” + +On October 25th, from “Camp Rappahannock,” he writes again to my mother: + +“...I moved yesterday into a nice pine thicket, and Perry is to-day +engaged in constructing a chimney in front of my tent, which will make +it warm and comfortable. I have no idea when Fitzhugh [his son, Major +General Fitzhugh Lee] will be exchanged. The Federal authorities still +resist all exchanges, because they think it is to our interest to +make them. Any desire expressed on our part for the exchange of any +individual magnifies the difficulty, as they at once think some great +benefit is to result to us from it. His detention is very grievous to +me, and, besides, I want his services. I am glad you have some socks for +the army. Send them to me. They will come safely. Tell the girls [his +daughters] to send all they can. I wish they could make some shoes, too. +We have thousands of barefooted men. There is no news. General Meade, I +believe, is repairing the railroad, and I presume will come on again. +If I could only get some shoes and clothes for the men, I would save him +the trouble....” + +One can see from these letters of my father how deeply he felt for +the sufferings of his soldiers, and how his plans were hindered by +inadequate supplies of food and clothing. I heard him constantly allude +to these troubles; indeed, they seemed never absent from his mind. + + + + + + +Chapter VI -- The Winter of 1863-4 + + +The Lee family in Richmond--The General’s letters to them from Camps +Rappahannock and Rapidan--Death of Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee--Preparations to +meet General Grant--The Wilderness--Spottsylvania Court House--Death of +General Stuart--General Lee’s illness + + +My mother had quite recently rented a house on Clay Street in Richmond +which, though small, gave her a roof of her own, and it also enabled her +at times to entertain some of her many friends. Of this new home, and of +a visit of a soldier’s wife to him, the General thus writes: + +“Camp Rappahannock, November 1, 1863. + +“I received yesterday, dear Mary, your letter of the 29th, and am very +glad to learn that you find your new abode so comfortable and so well +arranged. The only fault I find in it is that it is not large enough for +you all, and that Charlotte, whom I fear requires much attention, is +by herself. Where is ‘Life’ to go, too, for I suppose she is a very big +personage? But you have never told me where it is situated, or how I am +to direct to you. Perhaps that may be the cause of delay in my letters. +I am sorry you find such difficulty in procuring yarn for socks, etc. +I fear my daughters have not taken to the spinning-wheel and loom, as +I have recommended. I shall not be able to recommend them to the brave +soldiers for wives. I had a visit from a soldier’s wife to-day, who was +on a visit with her husband. She was from Abbeville district, S. C. Said +she had not seen her husband for more than two years, and, as he had +written to her for clothes, she herself thought she would bring them on. +It was the first time she had travelled by railroad, but she got along +very well by herself. She brought an entire suit of her own manufacture +for her husband. She spun the yarn and made the clothes herself. She +clad her three young children in the same way, and had on a beautiful +pair of gloves she had made for herself. Her children she had left with +her sister. She said she had been here a week and must return to-morrow, +and thought she could not go back without seeing me. Her husband +accompanied her to my tent, in his nice gray suit. She was very pleasing +in her address and modest in her manner, and was clad in a nice, new +alpaca. I am certain she could not have made that. Ask Misses Agnes +and Sally Warwick what they think of that. They need not ask me for +permission to get married until they can do likewise. She, in fact, was +an admirable woman. Said she was willing to give up everything she had +in the world to attain our independence, and the only complaint she made +of the conduct of our enemies was their arming our servants against us. +Her greatest difficulty was to procure shoes. She made them for herself +and children of cloth with leather soles. She sat with me about ten +minutes and took her leave--another mark of sense--and made no request +for herself or husband. I wrote you about my wants in my former letter. +My rheumatism I hope is a little better, but I have had to-day, and +indeed always have, much pain. I trust it will pass away.... I have just +had a visit from my nephews, Fitz, John, and Henry [General “Fitz” Lee, +and his two brothers, Major John Mason Lee and Captain Henry Carter +Lee]. The former is now on a little expedition. The latter accompanies +him. As soon as I was left alone, I committed them in a fervent prayer +to the care and guidance of our Heavenly Father.... I pray you may be +made whole and happy. + +“Truly and devotedly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Another letter from the same camp is interesting: + +“Camp Rappahannock, November 5, 1863. + +“I received last night, dear Mary, your letter of the 2d.... I am glad +to hear that Charlotte is better. I hope that she will get strong and +well, poor child. The visit of her ‘grandpa’ will cheer her up. I trust, +and I know, he gave her plenty of good advice. Tell Mrs. Atkinson that +her son Nelson is a very good scout and a good soldier. I wish I had +some way of promoting him. I received the bucket of butter she was so +kind as to send me, but have had no opportunity of returning the vessel, +which I hope to be able to do. I am sorry Smith does not like your +house. I have told you my only objection to it, and wish it were large +enough to hold Charlotte. It must have reminded you of old times to +have your brother Carter and Uncle Williams [Mr. Charles Carter Lee, the +General’s brother; Mr. Williams Carter, the General’s uncle] to see you. +I think my rheumatism is better to-day. I have been through a great deal +with comparatively little suffering. I have been wanting to review the +cavalry for some time, and appointed to-day with fear and trembling. I +had not been on horseback for five days previously and feared I should +not get through. The governor was here and told me Mrs. Letcher had seen +you recently. I saw all my nephews looking very handsome, and Rob too. +The latter says he has written to you three times since he crossed the +river. Tell “Chas.” I think F’s old regiment, the 9th, made the best +appearance in review. + +“While on the ground, a man rode up to me and said he was just from +Alexandria and had been requested to give me a box, which he handed +me, but did not know who sent it. It contained a handsome pair of gilt +spurs. Good-night. May a kind heavenly Father guard you all. + +“Truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +When our cavalry was reviewed the preceding summer, it happened that we +engaged the next day, June 9th, the enemy’s entire force of that arm, in +the famous battle of Brandy Station. Since then there had been a sort of +superstition amongst us that if we wanted a fight all that was necessary +was to have a review. We were now on the same ground we had occupied in +June, and the enemy was in force just across the river. As it happened, +the fighting did take place, though the cavalry was not alone engaged. +Not the day after the review, but on November 7th, Meade advanced and +crossed the Rappahannock, while our army fell back and took up our +position on the line of the Rapidan. + +Before the two armies settled down into winter quarters, General Meade +tried once more to get at us, and on the 26th of November, with ten +days’ rations and in light marching order, he crossed the Rapidan and +attempted to turn our right. But he was unable to do anything, being met +at every point by the Army of Northern Virginia, heavily entrenched and +anxious for an attack. Long says: + +“Meade declared that the position could not be carried without the +loss of thirty thousand men. This contingency was too terrible to be +entertained--yet the rations of the men were nearly exhausted, and +nothing remained but retreat. This was safely accomplished on the night +of December 1st....” + +Lee was more surprised at the retreat of Meade than he had been at his +advance, and his men, who had been in high spirits at the prospect of +obliterating the memory of Gettysburg, were sadly disappointed at the +loss of the opportunity. To my mother, General Lee wrote on December +4th, from “Camp Rapidan”: + + +“...You will probably have seen that General Meade has retired to +his old position on the Rappahannock, without giving us battle. I had +expected from his movements, and all that I had heard, that it was his +intention to do so, and after the first day, when I thought it necessary +to skirmish pretty sharply with him, on both flanks, to ascertain his +views, I waited, patiently, his attack. On Tuesday, however, I thought +he had changed his mind, and that night made preparations to move around +his left next morning and attack him. But when day dawned he was nowhere +to be seen. He had commenced to withdraw at dark Tuesday evening. We +pursued to the Rapidan, but he was over. Owing to the nature of the +ground, it was to our advantage to receive rather than to make the +attack. I am greatly disappointed at his getting off with so little +damage, but we do not know what is best for us. I believe a kind God has +ordered all things for our good....” + +About this time the people of the City of Richmond, to show their esteem +for my father, desired to present him with a home. General Lee, on +hearing of it, thus wrote to the President of the Council: + +“...I assure you, sir, that no want of appreciation of the honour +conferred upon me by this resolution--or insensibility to the kind +feelings which prompted it--induces me to ask, as I most respectfully +do, that no further proceedings be taken with reference to the subject. +The house is not necessary for the use of my family, and my own duties +will prevent my residence in Richmond. I should therefore be compelled +to decline the generous offer, and I trust that whatever means the City +Council may have to spare for this purpose may be devoted to the relief +of the families of our soldiers in the field, who are more in want of +assistance, and more deserving it, than myself....” + +My brother was still in prison, and his detention gave my father great +concern. In a letter to my mother, written November 21st, he says: + +“...I see by the papers that our son has been sent to Fort Lafayette. +Any place would be better than Fort Monroe, with Butler in command. His +long confinement is very grievous to me, yet it may all turn out for the +best....” + +To his daughter-in-law my father was devoutedly attached. His love +for her was like that for his own children, and when her husband was +captured and thrown, wounded, into prison, his great tenderness for her +was shown on all occasions. Her death about this time, though expected, +was a great blow to him. When news came to Gen. W. H. F. Lee, at +Fortress Monroe, that his wife Charlotte was dying in Richmond, he made +application to General Butler, commanding that post, that he be allowed +to go to her for 48 hours, his brother Custis Lee, of equal rank with +himself, having formally volunteered in writing to take his place, as a +hostage, was curtly and peremptorily refused. + +In his letter to my mother, of December 27th, my father says: + +“...Custis’s despatch which I received last night demolished all the +hopes, in which I had been indulging during the day, of dear Charlotte’s +recovery. It has pleased God to take from us one exceedingly dear to us, +and we must be resigned to His holy will. She, I trust, will enjoy peace +and happiness forever, while we must patiently struggle on under all the +ills that may be in store for us. What a glorious thought it is that she +has joined her little cherubs and our angel Annie [his second daughter] +in Heaven. Thus is link by link the strong chain broken that binds us to +the earth, and our passage soothed to another world. Oh, that we may be +at last united in that heaven of rest, where trouble and sorrow never +enter, to join in an everlasting chorus of praise and glory to our Lord +and Saviour! I grieve for our lost darling as a father only can grieve +for a daughter, and my sorrow is heightened by the thought of the +anguish her death will cause our dear son and the poignancy it will give +to the bars of his prison. May God in His mercy enable him to bear +the blow He has so suddenly dealt, and sanctify it to his everlasting +happiness!” + +After Meade’s last move, the weather becoming wintry, the troops fixed +up for themselves winter quarters, and the cavalry and artillery were +sent back along the line of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, where forage +could be more easily obtained for their horses. On January 24, 1864, the +General writes to my mother: + +“...I have had to disperse the cavalry as much as possible, to obtain +forage for their horses, and it is that which causes trouble. Provisions +for the men, too, are very scarce, and, with very light diet and +light clothing, I fear they suffer, but still they are cheerful and +uncomplaining. I received a report from one division the other day in +which it stated that over four hundred men were barefooted and over a +thousand without blankets.” + +Lee was the idol of his men. Colonel Charles Marshall, who was his A. +D. C. and military secretary, illustrates this well in the following +incident: + +“While the Army was on the Rapidan, in the winter of 1863-4, it became +necessary, as was often the case, to put the men on very short rations. +Their duty was hard, not only on the outposts during the winter, but +in the construction of roads, to facilitate communication between the +different parts of the army. One day General Lee received a letter from +a private soldier, whose name I do not now remember, informing him +of the work that he had to do, and stating that his rations were not +sufficient to enable him to undergo the fatigue. He said, however, that +if it was absolutely necessary to put him on such short allowance, he +would make the best of it, but that he and his comrades wanted to know +if General Lee was aware that his men were getting so little to eat, +because if he was aware of it he was sure there must be some necessity +for it. General Lee did not reply directly to the letter, but issued a +general order in which he informed the soldiers of his efforts in their +behalf, and that their privation was beyond his means of present relief, +but assured them that he was making every effort to procure sufficient +supplies. After that there was not a murmur in the army, and the hungry +men went cheerfully to their hard work.” + +When I returned to the army in the summer, I reported to my old brigade, +which was gallantly commanded by John R. Chambliss, colonel of the 13th +Virginia Cavalry, the senior officer of the brigade. Later, I had been +assigned to duty with General Fitz Lee and was with him at this time. My +mother was anxious that I should be with my father, thinking, I have no +doubt, that my continued presence would be a comfort to him. She must +have written him to that effect, for in a letter to her, dated February, +1864, he says: + +“...In reference to Rob, his company would be a great pleasure and +comfort to me, and he would be extremely useful in various ways, but +I am opposed to officers surrounding themselves with their sons and +relatives. It is wrong in principle, and in that case selections would +be made from private and social relations, rather than for the public +good. There is the same objection to his going with Fitz Lee. I should +prefer Rob’s being in the line, in an independent position, where he +could rise by his own merit and not through the recommendation of his +relatives. I expect him soon, when I can better see what he himself +thinks. The young men have no fondness for the society of the old +general. He is too heavy and sombre for them....” + +If anything was said to me on this occasion by my father, I do not +remember it. I rather think that something prevented the interview, for +I cannot believe that it could have entirely escaped my memory. At any +rate, I remained with General Fitz Lee until my brother’s return +from prison in April of that year. Fitz Lee’s brigade camped near +Charlottesville, on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, in January, in +order that forage could be more readily obtained. The officers, to amuse +themselves and to return in part the courtesies and kindnesses of the +ladies of the town, gave a ball. It was a grand affair for those times. +Committees were appointed and printed invitations issued. As a member of +the invitation committee, I sent one to the general commanding the army. +Here is his opinion of it, in a letter to me: + +“...I inclose a letter for you, which has been sent to my care. I hope +you are well and all around you are so. Tell Fitz I grieve over the +hardships and sufferings of his men, in their late expedition. I should +have preferred his waiting for more favourable weather. He accomplished +much under the circumstances, but would have done more in better +weather. I am afraid he was anxious to get back to the ball. This is a +bad time for such things. We have too grave subjects on hand to engage +in such trivial amusements. I would rather his officers should entertain +themselves in fattening their horses, healing their men, and recruiting +their regiments. There are too many Lees on the committee. I like all to +be present at the battles, but can excuse them at balls. But the saying +is, ‘Children will be children.’ I think he had better move his camp +farther from Charlottesville, and perhaps he will get more work and less +play. He and I are too old for such assemblies. I want him to write me +how his men are, his horses, and what I can do to full up the ranks....” + +In this winter and spring of 1864, every exertion possible was made +by my father to increase the strength of his army and to improve its +efficiency. He knew full well that the enemy was getting together an +enormous force, and that his vast resources would be put forth to crush +us in the spring. His letters at this time to President Davis and the +Secretary of War show how well he understood the difficulties of his +position. + +“In none of them,” General Long says, “does he show a symptom of despair +or breathe a thought of giving up the contest. To the last, he remained +full of resources, energetic and defiant, and ready to bear upon his +shoulders the whole burden of the conduct of the war.” + +In a letter to President Davis, written March, 1864, he says: + +“Mr. President: Since my former letter on the subject, the indications +that operations in Virginia will be vigorously prosecuted by the enemy +are stronger than they then were. General Grant has returned from the +army in the West. He is, at present, with the Army of the Potomac, which +is being organised and recruited.... Every train brings recruits and it +is stated that every available regiment at the North is added to it.... + +“Their plans are not sufficiently developed to discover them, but I think +we can assume that, if General Grant is to direct operations on this +frontier, he will concentrate a large force on one or more lines, and +prudence dictates that we should make such preparations as are in our +power....” + +On April 6th he again writes to the President: + +“...All the information I receive tends to show that the great effort of +the enemy in this campaign will be made in Virginia.... Reinforcements +are certainly daily arriving to the Army of the Potomac.... The tone +of the Northern papers, as well as the impression prevailing in their +armies, go to show that Grant with a large force is to move against +Richmond.... The movements and reports of the enemy may be intended +to mislead us, and should therefore be carefully observed. But all the +information that reaches me goes to strengthen the belief that General +Grant is preparing to move against Richmond.” + +The question of feeding his army was ever before him. To see his men +hungry and cold, and his horses ill fed, was a great pain to him. To Mr. +Davis he thus writes on this subject: + +“Headquarters, April 12, 1864. + +“Mr. President: My anxiety on the subject of provisions for the army is +so great that I cannot refrain from expressing it to Your Excellency. I +cannot see how we can operate with our present supplies. Any derangement +in their arrival or disaster to the railroad would render it impossible +for me to keep the army together, and might force a retreat to North +Carolina. There is nothing to be had in this section for men or animals. +We have rations for the troops to-day and to-morrow. I hope a new supply +arrived last night, but I have not yet had a report. Every exertion +should be made to supply the depots at Richmond and at other points. +All pleasure travel should cease, and everything be devoted to necessary +wants. + +“I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee, General.” + +In a letter written to our cousin, Margaret Stuart, of whom he was very +fond, dated March 29th, he says: + +“...The indications at present are that we shall have a hard struggle. +General Grant is with the Army of the Potomac. All the officer’s wives, +sick, etc., have been sent to Washington. No ingress into or egress from +the lines is now permitted and no papers are allowed to come out--they +claim to be assembling a large force....” + +Again, April 28th, he writes to this same young cousin: + +“...I dislike to send letters within reach of the enemy, as they might +serve, if captured, to bring distress on others. But you must sometimes +cast your thoughts on the Army of Northern Virginia, and never forget +it in your prayers. It is preparing for a great struggle, but I pray +and trust that the great God, mighty to deliver, will spread over it His +almighty arms, and drive its enemies before it....” + +One perceives from these letters how clearly my father foresaw the storm +that was so soon to burst upon him. He used every means within his power +to increase and strengthen his army to meet it, and he continually urged +the authorities at Richmond to make preparations in the way of supplies +of ammunition, rations, and clothing. + +I shall not attempt to describe any part of this campaign except in a +very general way. It has been well written up by both sides, and what +was done by the Army of Northern Virginia we all know. I saw my father +only once or twice, to speak to him, during the thirty odd days from the +Wilderness to Petersburg, but, in common with all his soldiers, I felt +that he was ever near, that he could be entirely trusted with the +care of us, that he would not fail us, that it would all end well. The +feeling of trust that we had in him was simply sublime. When I say “we,” + I mean the men of my age and standing, officers and privates alike. +Older heads may have begun to see the “beginning of the end” when they +saw that slaughter and defeat did not deter our enemy, but made him the +more determined in his “hammering” process; but it never occurred to me, +and to thousands and thousands like me, that there was any occasion +for uneasiness. We firmly believed that “Marse Robert,” as his soldiers +lovingly called him, would bring us out of this trouble all right. + +When Grant reached Spottsylvania Court House, he sent all of his +cavalry, under Sheridan, to break our communications. They were met at +Yellow Tavern, six miles from Richmond, by General Stuart, with three +brigades of Confederate cavalry, and were attacked so fiercely that +they were held there nearly all day, giving time for the troops around +Richmond to concentrate for the defense of the city. + +In this fight General Stuart fell mortally wounded, and he died the next +day in Richmond. The death of our noted cavalry leader was a great blow +to our cause--a loss second only to that of Jackson. + +Captain W. Gordon McCabe writes me: + +“I was sitting on my horse very near to General Lee, who was talking to +my colonel, William Johnson Pegram, when a courier galloped up with the +despatch announcing that Stuart had been mortally wounded and was dying. +General Lee was evidently greatly affected, and said slowly, as he +folded up the despatch, ‘General Stuart has been mortally wounded: a +most valuable and able officer.’ Then, after a moment, he added in +a voice of deep feeling ‘HE NEVER BROUGHT ME A PIECE OF FALSE +INFORMATION’--turned and looked away. What praise dearer to a soldier’s +heart could fall from the lips of the commanding general touching his +Chief of Cavalry! These simple words of Lee constitute, I think, the +fittest inscription for the monument that is soon to be erected to the +memory of the great cavalry leader of the ‘Army of Northern Virginia.’” + +In a letter from my father to my mother, dated Spottsylvania Court +House, May 16th, he says: + +“...As I write I am expecting the sound of the guns every moment. I +grieve over the loss of our gallant officers and men, and miss their aid +and sympathy. A more zealous, ardent, brave, and devoted soldier +than Stuart the Confederacy cannot have. Praise be to God for having +sustained us so far. I have thought of you very often in these eventful +days. God bless and preserve you.” + +General Lee, in his order announcing the death of Stuart, thus speaks of +him: + +“...Among the gallant soldiers who have fallen in this war, General +Stuart was second to none in valour, in zeal, and in unflinching +devotion to his country. His achievements form a conspicuous part of the +history of this army, with which his name and services will be forever +associated. To military capacity of a high order and to the noble +virtues of the soldier he added the brighter graces of a pure life, +guided and sustained by the Christian’s faith and hope. The mysterious +hand of an all-wise God has removed him from the scene of his usefulness +and fame. His grateful countrymen will mourn his loss and cherish his +memory. To his comrades in arms he has left the proud recollections of +his deeds and the inspiring influence of his example.” + +Speaking of the operations around Spottsylvania Court House, Swinton, +the historian of the Army of the Potomac, says: + +“Before the lines of Spottsylvania, the Army of the Potomac had for +twelve days and nights engaged in a fierce wrestle in which it had +done all that valour may do to carry a position by nature and art +impregnable. In this contest, unparalleled in its continuous fury, and +swelling to the proportions of a campaign, language is inadequate to +convey an impression of the labours, fatigues, and sufferings of the +troops, who fought by day, only to march by night, from point to +point of the long line, and renew the fight on the morrow. Above +forty thousand men had already fallen in the bloody encounters of the +Wilderness and Spottsylvania, and the exhausted army began to lose its +spirits. It was with joy, therefore, that it at length turned its back +upon the lines of Spottsylvania.” + +General Long, in his “Memoirs of General Lee,” speaking of our army at +this time, says: + +“In no previous operations did the Army of Northern Virginia display +higher soldierly qualities. Regardless of numbers, every breach was +filled, and, with unparalleled stubbornness, its lines were maintained. +The soldiers of that army not only gratified their countrymen, but by +their gallantry and vigour won the admiration of their enemies. Whenever +the men in blue appeared they were met by those in gray, and muzzle to +muzzle and point to point they measured their foeman’s strength.” + +When we learned that General Lee was ill--confined for a day or two +to his tent, at the time he was confronting General Grant on the North +Anna--this terrible thought forced itself upon us: Suppose disease +should disable him, even for a time, or, worse, should take him +forever from the front of his men! It could not be! It was too awful to +consider! And we banished any such possibility from our minds. When we +saw him out again, on the lines, riding Traveller as usual, it was as +if some great crushing weight had been suddenly lifted from our hearts. +Colonel Walter H. Taylor, his adjutant-general, says: + +“The indisposition of General Lee...was more serious than was generally +supposed. Those near him were very apprehensive lest he should be +compelled to give up.” + +General Early also writes of this circumstance: + +“One of his three corps commanders [Longstreet] had been disabled by +wounds at the Wilderness, and another was too unwell to command his +corps [A. P. Hill], while he (General Lee) was suffering from a most +annoying and weakening disease. In fact, nothing but his own determined +will enabled him to keep the field at all; and it was then rendered more +manifest than ever that he was the head and front, the very life and +soul of the army.” + + + + + +Chapter VII -- Fronting the Army of the Potomac + + +Battle of Cold Harbour--Siege of Petersburg--The General intrusts a +mission to his son Robert--Battle of the Crater--Grant crosses the +James River--General Long’s pen-picture of Lee--Knitting socks for the +soldiers--A Christmas dinner--Incidents of camp life + + +From the North Anna River the Federal Army moved by its left flank, +seeking to find its adversary unprepared, but the Army of Northern +Virginia steadily confronted it, ever ready to receive any attack. At +Cold Harbour they paused, facing each other, and General Grant, having +received sixteen thousand men from Butler by way of Yorktown on June +1st, made an attack, but found our lines immovable. In his “Memoirs” he +writes: + +“June 2d was spent in getting troops into position for attack on the 3d. +On June 3d, we again assaulted the enemy’s works in the hope of driving +him from his position. In this attempt our loss was heavy, while that of +the enemy, I have reason to believe, was comparatively light.” + +This assault was repelled along the whole line, with the most terrible +slaughter yet recorded in our war. Yet in a few hours these beaten men +were ordered to move up to our lines again. Swinton, the historian of +the Army of the Potomac, thus describes what happened when this order +was sent to the men: + +“The order was issued through these officers” (the corps commanders) “To +their subordinate commanders, and from them descended through the +wonted channels; but no man stirred, and the immobile lines pronounced +a verdict, silent, yet emphatic, against further slaughter. The loss +on the Union side in this sanguinary action was more than thirteen +thousand, while on the part of the Confederates it is doubtful whether +it reached that many hundreds.” + +Colonel Walter H. Taylor, in his “Four Years with General Lee,” says: + +“Soon after this, he (Grant) abandoned his chosen line of operations, +and moved his army to the south side of the James River. The struggle +from Wilderness to this point covers a period of about one month, during +which time there had been an almost daily encounter of hostile arms, +and the Army of Northern Virginia had placed hors de combat of the army +under General Grant a number equal to its entire numerical strength at +the commencement of the campaign, and, notwithstanding its own heavy +losses and the reinforcements received by the enemy, still presented +an impregnable front to its opponent, and constituted and insuperable +barrier to General Grant’s ‘On to Richmond.’” + +Thus after thirty days of marching, starving, fighting, and with a loss +of more than sixty thousand men, General Grant reached the James River, +near Petersburg, which he could have done at any time he so desired +without the loss of a single man. The baffling of our determined foe +so successfully raised the spirits of our rank and file, and their +confidence in their commander knew no bounds. + +The two armies now commenced a contest which could end only one way. If +General Lee had been permitted to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond, to +fall back upon some interior point, nearer supplies for man and +beast and within supporting distance of the remaining forces of the +Confederacy, the surrender would certainly have been put off--possibly +never have taken place--and the result of the war changed. The Army of +the Potomac placed itself on the James, through whose channel it had +easy access to the wide world whence to secure for itself an unlimited +supply of men and munitions of war. General Lee, with a line thirty +miles long to defend and with only 35,000 men to hold it, with no chance +of reinforcements, no reserves with which to fill up the ranks lessened +daily by death in battle and by disease, had to sit still and see his +army, on half rations or less, melt away because it was deemed advisable +by his government, for political and other purposes, to hold Richmond, +the Confederacy’s capital. + +In an article by Lord Wolseley, in “Macmillan’s Magazine,” he says: + +“Lee was opposed to the final defense of Richmond that was urged upon +him for political, not military reasons. It was a great strategic error. +General Grant’s large army of men was easily fed, and its daily losses +easily recruited from a near base; whereas, if it had been drawn into +the interior after the little army with which Lee endeavoured to protect +Richmond, its fighting strength would have been largely reduced by the +detachments required to guard a long line of communications through a +hostile country.” + +During the nine months the siege of Petersburg lasted, I saw my father +but seldom. His headquarters were near the town, my command was on +the extreme right of the army, and during the winter, in order to get +forage, we were moved still further away, close to the border of North +Carolina. During this summer, I had occasion, once or twice, to report +to him at his headquarters, once about July 1st by his special order. I +remember how we all racked our brains to account for this order, which +was for me to report “at once to the commanding general,” and many wild +guesses were made by my young companions as to what was to become of me. +Their surmises extended from my being shot for unlawful foraging to +my being sent on a mission abroad to solicit the recognition of our +independence. I reported at once, and found my father expecting me, with +a bed prepared. It was characteristic of him that he never said a word +about what I was wanted for until he was ready with full instructions. I +was fed at once, for I was still hungry, my bed was shown me, and I was +told to rest and sleep well, as he wanted me in the morning, and that I +would need all my strength. + +The next morning he gave me a letter to General Early, who, with his +command, was at that time in Maryland, threatening Washington. My +mission was to carry this letter to him. As Early had cut loose from his +communications with Virginia, and as there was a chance of any messenger +being caught by raiding parties, my father gave me verbally the contents +of his letter, and told me that if I saw any chance of my capture to +destroy it, then, if I did reach the General, I should be able to tell +him what he had written. He cautioned me to keep my own counsel, and +to say nothing to any one as to my destination. Orders for a relay of +horses from Staunton, where the railroad terminated, to the Potomac +had been telegraphed, and I was to start at once. This I did, seeing my +sisters and mother in Richmond while waiting for the train to Staunton, +and having very great difficulty in keeping from them my destination. +But I did, and, riding night and day, came up with General Early at a +point in Maryland some miles beyond the old battlefield of Sharpsburg. I +delivered the letter to him, returned to Petersburg, and reported to +my father. Much gratified by the evident pleasure of the General at my +diligence and at the news I had brought from Early and his men, after a +night’s rest and two good meals I returned to my command, never telling +my comrades until long afterward what had been done to me by the +commanding general. + +My father’s relations with the citizens of Petersburg were of the +kindest description. The ladies were ever trying to make him more +comfortable, sending him of their scanty fare more than they could well +spare. He always tried to prevent them, and when he could do so without +hurting their feelings he would turn over to the hospitals the dainties +sent him--much to the disgust of his mess-steward, Bryan. Bryan was an +Irishman, perfectly devoted to my father, and, in his opinion, there was +nothing in the eatable line which was too good for the General. He was +an excellent caterer, a good forager, and, but for my father’s frowning +down anything approaching lavishness, the headquarter’s table would have +made a much better show. During this period of the war, Bryan was so +handicapped by the universal scarcity of all sorts of provisions that +his talents were almost entirely hidden. The ladies not only were +anxious to feed the General, but also to clothe him. From Camp +Petersburg he writes to my mother, June 24th: + +“...The ladies of Petersburg have sent me a nice set of shirts. They +were given to me by Mrs. James R. Branch and her mother, Mrs. Thomas +Branch. In fact, they have given me everything, which I fear they cannot +spare--vegetables, bread, milk, ice-cream. To-day one of them sent me a +nice peach--the first one I think I have seen for two years. I sent it +to Mrs. Shippen [an invalid lady, in the yard of whose country place +(“Violet Bank”) Lee’s tents were pitched]. Mr. Platt had services again +to-day under the trees near my camp. We had quite a large congregation +of citizens, ladies and gentlemen, and our usual number of soldiers. +During the services, I constantly heard the shells crashing among the +houses of Petersburg. Tell ‘Life’ [his pet name for my sister Mildred] +I send her a song composed by a French soldier. As she is so learned in +the language, I want he to send my a reply in verse.” + +June 30, 1864, the anniversary of his wedding day, he thus writes to my +mother: + +“...I was very glad to receive your letter yesterday, and to hear that +you were better. I trust that you will continue to improve and soon be +as well as usual. God grant that you may be entirely restored in His own +good time. Do you recollect what a happy day thirty-three years ago this +was? How many hopes and pleasures it gave birth to! God has been very +merciful and kind to us, and how thankless and sinful I have been. I +pray that He may continue His mercies and blessings to us, and give us a +little peace and rest together in this world, and finally gather us +and all He has given us around His throne in the world to come. The +President has just arrived, and I must bring my letter to a close.” + +My mother had been quite ill that summer, and my father’s anxiety for +her comfort and welfare, his desire to be with her to help her, was very +great. The sick in the Confederacy at this period of universal scarcity +suffered for want of the simplest medicines. All that could be had were +given to hospitals. To his youngest daughter the General writes, and +sends to Mrs. Lee what little he could find in the way of fruit: + +“...I received this morning by your brother your note of the 3d, and am +glad to hear that your mother is better. I sent out immediately to try +to find some lemons, but could only procure two, sent to me by a kind +lady, Mrs. Kirkland, in Petersburg. These were gathered from her own +trees. There are none to be purchased. I found one in my valise, dried +up, which I also send, as it may prove of some value. I also put up some +early apples which you can roast for your mother, and one pear. This is +all the fruit I can get. You must go to the market every morning and see +if you cannot find some fruit for her. There are no lemons to be had. +Tell her lemonade is not as palatable or digestible as buttermilk. Try +to get some good buttermilk for her. With ice, it is delicious and very +nutritious.” + +My sister Mildred had a pet squirrel which ran about the house in +Richmond. She had named it “Custis Morgan,” after her brother Custis, +and General John Morgan, the great cavalry leader of the western army. +He ventured out one day to see the city, and never returned. In a letter +to Mildred, July 10th, my father alludes to his escape, and apparently +considers it a blessing: + +“...I was pleased on the arrival of my little courier to learn that you +were better, and that ‘Custis Morgan’ was still among the missing. I +think the farther he gets from you the better you will be. The shells +scattered the poor inhabitants of Petersburg so that many of the +churches are closed. Indeed, they have been visited by the enemy’s +shells. Mr. Platt, pastor of the principal Episcopal church, had +services at my headquarters to-day. The services were under the trees, +and the discourse on the subject of salvation....” + +About this time, the enemy, having been at work on a mine for nearly +a month, exploded it, and attacked our lines with a large force. The +ensuing contest was called the Battle of the Crater. General Lee, having +suspected that a mine was being run under his works, was partly prepared +for it, and the attack was repulsed very quickly with great loss to the +enemy. In the address of Capt. W. Gordon McCabe before the Association +of the Army of Northern Virginia--November 2, 1876--speaking of this +event, he says: + +“From the mysterious paragraphs in the Northern papers, and from reports +of deserters, though those last were vague and contradictory, Lee and +Beauregard suspected that the enemy was mining in front of some one of +the three salients on Beauregard’s front, and the latter officer had in +consequence directed counter-mines to be sunk from all three, meanwhile +constructing gorge-lines in the rear upon which the troops might retire +in case of surprise or disaster.... But the counter-mining on the part +of the Confederates was after a time discontinued, owing to the lack +of proper tools, the inexperience of the troops in such work, and the +arduous nature of their service in the trenches.” + +The mine was sprung July 30th. On the 31st, the General writes: + +“...Yesterday morning the enemy sprung a mine under one of our batteries +on the line and got possession of a portion of our intrenchments. It was +the part defended by General Beauregard’s troops, I sent General +Mahone with two brigades of Hill’s corps, who charged them handsomely, +recapturing the intrenchments and guns, twelve stands of colours, +seventy-three officers, including General Bartlett, his staff, three +colonels, and eight hundred and fifty enlisted men. There were upward of +five hundred of his dead and unburied in the trenches, among them many +officers and blacks. He suffered severely. He has withdrawn his troops +from the north side of the James. I do not know what he will attempt +next. He is mining on other points along our line. I trust he will not +succeed in bettering his last attempt....” + +Grant, by means of a pontoon bridge, permanently established across the +James, was able to move his troops very quickly from one side to the +other, and could attack either flank, while making a feint on the +opposite one. This occurred several times during the summer, but General +Lee seemed always to have anticipated the movement and to be able to +distinguish the feint from the real attack. On August 14th, he speaks of +one of these movements in a letter to my mother: + +“...I have been kept from church to-day by the enemy’s crossing to the +north side of the James River and the necessity of moving troops to meet +him. I do not know what his intentions are. He is said to be cutting a +canal across the Dutch Gap, a point in the river--but I cannot, as yet, +discover it. I was up there yesterday, and saw nothing to indicate it. +We shall ascertain in a day or two. I received to-day a kind letter from +Reverend Mr. Cole, of Culpeper Court House. He is a most excellent man +in all the relations of life. He says there is not a church standing in +all that country, within the lines formerly occupied by the enemy. All +are razed to the ground, and the materials used often for the vilest +purposes. Two of the churches at the Court House barely escaped +destruction. The pews were all taken out to make seats for the theatre. +The fact was reported to the commanding officer by their own men of the +Christian Commission, but he took no steps to rebuke or arrest it. +We must suffer patiently to the end, when all things will be made +right....” + +To oppose this movement (of August 14th), which was in heavy force, +our cavalry division was moved over to the north side, together with +infantry and artillery, and we had a very lively time for several +days. In the engagement on the 15th of August I was shot in the arm and +disabled for about three weeks. The wound was a very simple one--just +severe enough to give me a furlough, which I enjoyed intensely. Time +heals all wounds, it is said. I remember it cured mine all too soon, +for, being on a wounded leave, provided it did not keep one in bed, was +the best luck a soldier could have. I got back the last of September, +and in passing stopped to see my father. I take from General Long a +pen-picture of him at this time, which accords with my own recollection +of his appearance: + +“...General Lee continued in excellent health and bore his many cares +with his usual equanimity. He had aged somewhat in appearance since +the beginning of the war, but had rather gained than lost in physical +vigour, from the severe life he had led. His hair had grown gray, but +his face had the ruddy hue of health, and his eyes were as clear and +bright as ever. His dress was always a plain, gray uniform, with cavalry +boots reaching to his knees, and a broad-brimmed gray felt hat. He +seldom wore a weapon, and his only mark of rank was the stars on his +collar. Though always abstemious in diet, he seemed able to bear any +amount of fatigue, being capable of remaining in his saddle all day and +at his desk half the night.” + +I cannot refrain from further quoting from the same author this +beautiful description of the mutual love, respect, and esteem existing +between my father and his soldiers: + +“No commander was ever more careful, and never had care for the comfort +of an army given rise to greater devotion. He was constantly calling the +attention of the authorities to the wants of his soldiers, making every +effort to provide them with food and clothing. The feeling for him was +one of love, not of awe and dread. They could approach him with the +assurance that they would be received with kindness and consideration, +and that any just complaint would receive proper attention. There was +no condescension in his manner, but he was ever simple, kind, and +sympathetic, and his men, while having unbounded faith in him as a +leader, almost worshipped him as a man. These relations of affection and +mutual confidence between the army and its commander had much to do with +the undaunted bravery displayed by the men, and bore a due share in the +many victories they gained.” + +Colonel Charles Marshall, in his address before the “Association of the +Army of Northern Virginia,” also alludes to this “wonderful influence +over the troops under his command. I can best describe that influence +by saying that such was the love and veneration of the men for him that +they came to look upon the cause as General Lee’s cause, and they fought +for it because they loved him. To them he represented cause, country, +and all.” + +All persons who were ever thrown into close relations with him had +somewhat these same feelings. How could they help it? Here is a letter +to his youngest daughter which shows his beautiful love and tenderness +for us all. Throughout the war, he constantly took the time from his +arduous labours to send to his wife and daughters such evidences of his +affection for them: + +“Camp Petersburg, November 6, 1864. + +“My Precious Life: This is the first day I have had leisure to answer +your letter. I enjoyed it very much at the time of its reception, and +have enjoyed it since, but I have often thought of you in the meantime, +and have seen you besides. Indeed, I may say, you are never out of +my thoughts. I hope you think of me often, and if you could know how +earnestly I desire your true happiness, how ardently I pray you may be +directed to every good and saved from every evil, you would as sincerely +strive for its accomplishment. Now in your youth you must be careful +to discipline your thoughts, words, and actions. Habituate yourself to +useful employment, regular improvement, and to the benefit of all those +around your. You have had some opportunity of learning the rudiments +of your education--not as good as I should have desired, but I am much +cheered by the belief that you availed yourself of it--and I think you +are now prepared by diligence and study to learn whatever you desire. Do +not allow yourself to forget what you have spent so much time and labour +acquiring, but increase it every day by extended application. I hope you +will embrace in your studies all useful acquisitions. I was much pleased +to hear that while at ‘Bremo’ you passed much of your time in reading +and music. All accomplishments will enable you to give pleasure, and +thus exert a wholesome influence. Never neglect the means of making +yourself useful in the world. I think you will not have to complain of +Rob again for neglecting your schoolmates. He has equipped himself with +a new uniform from top to toe, and, with a new and handsome horse, is +cultivating a marvellous beard and preparing for conquest. I went down +on the lines to the right, Friday, beyond Rowanty Creek, and pitched my +camp within six miles of Fitzhugh’s last night. Rob came up and spent +the night with me, and Fitzhugh appeared early in the morning. They rode +with me till late that day. I visited the battlefield in that quarter, +and General Hampton in describing it said there had not been during the +war a more spirited charge than Fitzhugh’s division made that day up the +Boydton plank road, driving cavalry and infantry before him, in which he +was stopped by night. I did not know before that his horse had been shot +under him. Give a great deal of love to your dear mother, and kiss your +sisters for me. Tell them they must keep well, not talk too much, and go +to bed early. + +“Ever your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +He refers in this letter to his coming down near our command, and my +brother’s visit and mine to him. Everything was quiet, and we greatly +enjoyed seeing him and being with him. The weather, too, was fine, and +he seemed to delight in our ride with him along the lines. I didn’t +think I saw him but once more until everything was over and we met in +Richmond. Some time before this, my mother, fearing for his health under +the great amount of exposure and work he had to do, wrote to him and +begged him to take better care of himself. In his reply, he says: + +“...But what care can a man give to himself in the time of war? It is +from no desire for exposure or hazard that I live in a tent, but from +necessity. I must be where I can, speedily, at all times attend to the +duties of my position, and be near or accessible to the officers with +whom I have to act. I have been offered rooms in the houses of our +citizens, but I could not turn the dwellings of my kind hosts into +a barrack where officers, couriers, distressed women, etc., would be +entering day and night....” + +General Fitz Lee, in his life of my father, says of him at this time: + +“Self-possessed and calm, Lee struggled to solve the huge military +problem, and make the sum of smaller numbers equal to that of greater +numbers.... His thoughts ever turned upon the soldiers of his army, the +ragged gallant fellows around him--whose pinched cheeks told hunger was +their portion, and whose shivering forms denoted the absence of proper +clothing.” + +His letters to my mother during the winter tell how much his men were +in need. My mother was an invalid from rheumatism, confined to a +rolling-chair. To help the cause with her own hands as far as she could, +she was constantly occupied in knitting socks for the soldiers, and +induced all around her to do the same. She sent them directly to my +father, and he always acknowledged them. November 30th, he says: + +“...I received yesterday your letter on the 27th and am glad to learn +your supply of socks is so large. If two or three hundred would send +an equal number, we should have a sufficiency. I will endeavour to have +them distributed to the most needy....” + +And on December 17th: + +“...I received day before yesterday the box with hats, gloves, and +socks; also the barrel of apples. You had better have kept the latter, +as it would have been more useful to you than to me, and I should have +enjoyed its consumption by you and the girls more than by me....” + +His friends and admirers were constantly sending him presents; some, +simple mementos of their love and affection; others, substantial and +material comforts for the outer and inner man. The following letter, +from its date, is evidently an acknowledgement of Christmas gifts sent +him: + +“December 30th.... The Lyons furs and fur robe have also arrived safely, +but I can learn nothing of the saddle of mutton. Bryan, of whom I +inquired as to its arrival, is greatly alarmed lest it has been sent to +the soldiers’ dinner. If the soldiers get it, I shall be content. I can +do very well without it. In fact, I should rather they should have it +than I....” + +The soldiers’ “dinner” here referred to was a Christmas dinner, sent by +the entire country, as far as they could, to the poor starving men in +the trenches and camps along the lines. It would not be considered much +now, but when the conditions were such as my father describes when he +wrote the Secretary of War, + +“The struggle now is to keep the army fed and clothed. Only fifty men in +some regiments have shoes, and bacon is only issued once in a few +days,” anything besides the one-quarter of a pound of bacon and musty +corn-bread was a treat of great service, and might be construed as “a +Christmas dinner.” + +I have mentioned before my father’s devotion to children. This sentiment +pervaded his whole nature. At any time the presence of a little child +would bring a brightness to his smile, a tender softness to his glance, +and drive away gloom or care. Here is his account of a visit paid him, +early in January, 1865, by three little women: + +“...Yesterday afternoon three little girls walked into my room, each +with a small basket. The eldest carried some fresh eggs, laid by her +own hens; the second, some pickles made by her mother; the third, some +popcorn grown in her garden. They were accompanied by a young maid with +a block of soap made by her mother. They were the daughters of a +Mrs. Nottingham, a refugee from Northhampton County, who lived near +Eastville, not far from ‘old Arlington.’ The eldest of the girls, whose +age did not exceed eight years, had a small wheel on which she spun for +her mother, who wove all the cloth for her two brothers--boys of twelve +and fourteen years. I have not had so pleasant a visit for a long +time. I fortunately was able to fill their baskets with apples, which +distressed poor Bryan [his mess-steward], and I begged them to bring me +nothing but kisses and to keep the eggs, corn, etc., for themselves. +I pray daily and almost hourly to our Heavenly Father to come to the +relief of you and our afflicted country. I know He will order all things +for our good, and we must be content.” + + + + + +Chapter VIII -- The Surrender + + +Fort Fisher captured--Lee made Commander-in-Chief--Battle of Five +Forks--The General’s farewell to his men--His reception in Richmond +after the surrender--President Davis hears the news--Lee’s visitors--His +son Robert turns farmer + + +The year 1865 had now commenced. The strength of that thin gray line, +drawn out to less than one thousand men to the mile, which had repulsed +every attempt of the enemy to break through it, was daily becoming less. +The capture of Fort Fisher, our last open port, January 15th, cut off +all supplies and munitions from the outside world. Sherman had reached +Savannah in December, from which point he was ready to unite with Grant +at any time. From General Lee’s letters, official and private, one gets +a clear view of the desperateness of his position. He had been made +commander-in-chief of all the military forces in the Confederate States +on February 6th. In his order issued on accepting this command he says: + +“...Deeply impressed with the difficulties and responsibilities of the +position, and humbly invoking the guidance of Almighty God, I rely for +success upon the courage and fortitude of the army, sustained by the +patriotism and firmness of the people, confident that their +united efforts under the blessing of Heaven will secure peace and +independence....” + +General Beauregard, who had so ably defended Petersburg when it was +first attacked, and who had assisted so materially in its subsequent +defense, had been sent to gather troops to try to check Sherman’s +advance through the Carolinas. But Beauregard’s health was now very bad, +and it was feared he would have to abandon the field. In a letter to the +Secretary of War, dated February 21, 1865, my father says: + +“...In the event of the necessity of abandoning our position on James +River, I shall endeavour to unite the corps of the army about Burkeville +[junction of Southside and Danville Railroad], so as to retain +communication with the North and South as long as practicable, and also +with the West, I should think Lynchburg, or some point west, the most +advantageous place to which to remove stores from Richmond. This, +however, is a most difficult point at this time to decide, and the +place may have to be changed by circumstances. It was my intention in +my former letter to apply for General Joseph E. Johnston, that I might +assign him to duty, should circumstances permit. I have had no official +report of the condition of General Beauregard’s health. It is stated +from many sources to be bad. If he should break down entirely, it might +be fatal. In that event, I should have no one with whom to supply his +place. I therefore respectfully request General Johnston may be ordered +to report to me, and that I may be informed where he is.” + +In a letter to the Secretary of War, written the next day: + +“...But you may expect Sheridan to move up the Valley, and Stoneman from +Knoxville, as Sherman draws near Roanoke. What then will become of those +sections of the country? I know of no other troops that could be given +to Beauregard. Bragg will be forced back by Schofield, I fear, and, +until I abandon James River, nothing can be sent from this army. Grant, +I think, is now preparing to draw out by his left with the intent of +enveloping me. He may wait till his other columns approach nearer, or +he may be preparing to anticipate my withdrawal. I cannot tell yet.... +Everything of value should be removed from Richmond. It is of the first +importance to save all powder. The cavalry and artillery of the army +are still scattered for want of provender, and our supply and ammunition +trains, which out to be with the army in case of sudden movement, are +absent collecting provisions and forage--some in western Virginia and +some in North Carolina. You will see to what straits we are reduced; but +I trust to work out.” + +On the same day, in a letter to my mother, he writes: + +“...After sending my note this morning, I received from the express +office a back of socks. You will have to send down your offerings as +soon as you can, and bring your work to a close, for I think General +Grant will move against us soon--within a week, if nothing prevents--and +no man can tell what may be the result; but trusting to a merciful God, +who does not always give the battle to the strong, I pray we may not be +overwhelmed. I shall, however, endeavour to do my duty and fight to the +last. Should it be necessary to abandon our position to prevent being +surrounded, what will you do? You must consider the question, and make +up your mind. It is a fearful condition, and we must rely for guidance +and protection upon a kind Providence....” + +About this time, I saw my father for the last time until after the +surrender. We had been ordered up to the army from our camp nearly +forty miles away, reaching the vicinity of Petersburg the morning of the +attack of General Gordon on Fort Stedman, on March 25th. My brother and +I had ridden ahead of the division to report its presence, when we met +the General riding Traveller, almost alone, back from that part of the +lines opposite the fort. Since then I have often recalled the sadness of +his face, its careworn expression. When he caught sight of his two +sons, a bright smile at once lit up his countenance, and he showed very +plainly his pleasure at seeing us. He thanked my brother for responding +so promptly to his call upon him, and regretted that events had so +shaped themselves that the division would not then be needed, as he had +hoped it would be. + +No good results followed Gordon’s gallant attack. His supports did +not come up a the proper time, and our losses were very heavy, mostly +prisoners. Two days after this, Sheridan, with ten thousand mounted men, +joined Grant, having marched from the Valley of Virginia via Staunton +and Charlottesville. On the 28th, everything being ready, General Grant +commenced to turn our right, and having more than three men to our one, +he had no difficult task. On that very day my father wrote to my mother: + +“...I have received your note with a bag of socks. I return the bag and +receipt. The count is all right this time. I have put in the bag General +Scott’s autobiography, which I thought you might like to read. The +General, of course, stands out prominently, and does not hide his light +under a bushel, but he appears the bold, sagacious, truthful man that he +is. I inclose a note from little Agnes. I shall be very glad to see her +to-morrow, but cannot recommend pleasure trips now....” + +On April 1st the Battle of Five Forks was fought, where about fifty +thousand infantry and cavalry--more men than were in our entire +army--attacked our extreme right and turned it, so that, to save our +communications, we had to abandon our lines at Petersburg, giving up +that city and Richmond. Form that time to April 9th the Army of +Northern Virginia struggled to get back to some position where it could +concentrate its forces and make a stand; but the whole world knows +of that six-days’ retreat. I shall not attempt to describe it in +detail--indeed, I could not if I would, for I was not present all the +time--but will quote from those who have made it a study and who are far +better fitted to record it than I am. General Early, in his address +at Lexington, Virginia, January 19, 1872--General Lee’s +birthday--eloquently and briefly describes these six days as follows: + +“...The retreat from the lines of Richmond and Petersburg began in the +early days of April, and the remnant of the Army of Northern Virginia +fell back, more than one hundred miles, before its overpowering +antagonists, repeatedly presenting front to the latter and giving battle +so as to check his progress. Finally, from mere exhaustion, less than +eight thousand men with arms in their hands, of the noblest army that +ever fought ‘in the tide of time,’ were surrendered at Appomattox to an +army of 150,000 men; the sword of Robert E. Lee, without a blemish +on it, was sheathed forever; and the flag, to which he had added such +luster, was furled, to be, henceforth, embalmed in the affectionate +remembrance of those who remained faithful during all our trials, and +will do so to the end.” + +Colonel Archer Anderson, in his address at the unveiling of the Lee +monument in Richmond, Virginia, May 29, 1890, speaking of the siege of +Petersburg and of the surrender, utters these noble words: + +“...Of the siege of Petersburg, I have only time to say that in it +for nine months the Confederate commander displayed every art by which +genius and courage can make good the lack of numbers and resources. But +the increasing misfortunes of the Confederate arms on other theatres +of the war gradually cut off the supply of men and means. The Army of +Northern Virginia ceased to be recruited, it ceased to be adequately +fed. It lived for months on less than one-third rations. It was +demoralised, not by the enemy in its front, but by the enemy in Georgia +and the Carolinas. It dwindled to 35,000 men, holding a front of +thirty-five miles; but over the enemy it still cast the shadow of +its great name. Again and again, by a bold offensive, it arrested +the Federal movement to fasten on its communications. At last, an +irresistible concentration of forces broke through its long thin line of +battle. Petersburg had to be abandoned. Richmond was evacuated. Trains +bearing supplies were intercepted, and a starving army, harassed +for seven days by incessant attacks on rear and flank, found itself +completely hemmed in by overwhelming masses. Nothing remained to it but +its stainless honour, its unbroken courage. In those last solemn scenes, +when strong men, losing all self-control, broke down and sobbed like +children, Lee stood forth as great as in the days of victory and +triumph. No disaster crushed his spirit, no extremity of danger ruffled +his bearing. In the agony of dissolution now invading that proud army, +which for four years had wrested victory from every peril, in that +blackness of utter darkness, he preserved the serene lucidity of his +mind. He looked the stubborn facts calmly in the face, and when no +military resource remained, when he recognised the impossibility of +making another march or fighting another battle, he bowed his head in +submission to that Power which makes and unmakes nations. The +surrender of the fragments of the Army of Northern Virginia closed the +imperishable record of his military life....” + +From the London “Standard,” at the time of his last illness, I quote +these words relative to this retreat: + +“When the Army of Northern Virginia marched out of the lines around +Petersburg and Richmond, it still numbered some twenty-six thousand men. +After a retreat of six days, in the face of an overwhelming enemy, +with a crushing artillery--a retreat impeded by constant fighting and +harassed by countless hordes of cavalry--eight thousand were given up +by the capitulation at Appomattox Court House. Brilliant as were General +Lee’s earlier triumphs, we believe that he gave higher proofs of genius +in his last campaign, and that hardly any of his victories were so +honourable to himself and his army as that of his six-days’ retreat.” + +Swinton, in his “History of the Army of the Potomac,” after justly +praising its deeds, thus speaks of its great opponent, the Army of +Northern Virginia: + +“Nor can there fail to arise the image of that other army that was the +adversary of the Army of the Potomac, and--who that once looked upon +it can ever forget it?--that array of tattered uniforms and bright +muskets--that body of incomparable infantry, the Army of Northern +Virginia, which, for four years, carried the revolt on its bayonets, +opposing a constant front to the mighty concentration of power brought +against it; which, receiving terrible blows, did not fail to give +the like, and which, vital in all its parts, died only with its +annihilation.” + +General Long, in speaking of its hardships and struggles during the +retreat, thus describes how the army looked up to their commander and +trusted him to bring them through all their troubles: + +“General Lee had never appeared more grandly heroic than on this +occasion. All eyes were raised to him for a deliverance which no human +seemed able to give. He alone was expected to provide food for the +starving army and rescue it from the attacks of a powerful and eager +enemy. Under the accumulation of difficulties, his courage seemed to +expand, and wherever he appeared his presence inspired the weak and +weary with renewed energy to continue the toilsome march. During these +trying scenes his countenance wore its habitual calm, grave expression. +Those who watched his face to catch a glimpse of what was passing in his +mind could gather thence no trace of his inner sentiments.” + +No one can tell what he suffered. He did in all things what he +considered right. Self he absolutely abandoned. As he said, so he +believed, that “human virtue should equal human calamity.” A day or two +before the surrender, he said to General Pendleton: + +“...I have never believed we could, against the gigantic combination +for our subjugation, make good in the long run our independence unless +foreign powers should, directly or indirectly, assist us.... But +such considerations really made with me no difference. We had, I was +satisfied, sacred principles to maintain and rights to defend, for +which we were in duty bound to do our best, even if we perished in the +endeavour.” + +After his last attempt was made with Gordon and Fitz Lee to break +through the lines of the enemy in the early morning of the 9th, and +Colonel Veneble informed him that it was not possible, he said: + +“Then there is nothing left me but to go and see General Grant.” When +some one near him, hearing this, said: + +“Oh, General, what will history say of the surrender of the army in the +field?” he replied: + +“Yes, I know they will say hard things of us; they will not understand +how we were overwhelmed by numbers; but that is not the question, +Colonel; the question is, is it right to surrender this army? If it is +right, then I will take all the responsibility.” + +There had been some correspondence with Grant just before the +conversation with General Pendleton. After Gordon’s attack failed, a +flag of truce was sent out, and, about eleven o’clock, General Lee went +to meet General Grant. The terms of surrender were agreed upon, and then +General Lee called attention to the pressing needs of his men. He said: + +“I have a thousand or more of your men and officers, whom we have +required to march along with us for several days. I shall be glad to +send them to your lines as soon as it can be arranged, for I have no +provisions for them. My own men have been living for the last few days +principally upon parched cord, and we are badly in need of both rations +and forage.” + +Grant said he would at once send him 25,000 rations. General Lee told +him that amount would be ample and a great relief. He then rode back +to his troops. The rations issued then to our army were the supplies +destined for us but captured at Amelia Court House. Had they reached us +in time, they would have given the half-starved troops that were left +strength enough to make a further struggle. General Long graphically +pictures the last scenes: + +“It is impossible to describe the anguish of the troops when it was +known that the surrender of the army was inevitable. Of all their +trials, this was the greatest and hardest to endure. There was no +consciousness of shame; each heart could boast with honest pride that +its duty had been done to the end, and that still unsullied remained its +honour. When, after this interview with General Grant, General Lee again +appeared, a shout of welcome instinctively went up from the army. But +instantly recollecting the sad occasion that brought him before them, +their shouts sank into silence, every hat was raised, and the bronzed +faces of thousands of grim warriors were bathed in tears. As he rode +slowly along the lines, hundreds of his devoted veterans pressed around +the noble chief, trying to take his hand, touch his person, or even +lay their hands upon his horse, thus exhibiting for him their great +affection. The General then with head bare, and tears flowing freely +down his manly cheeks, bade adieu to the army.” + +In a few words: “Men, we have fought through the war together; I have +done my best for you; my heart is too full to say more,” he bade +them good-bye and told them to return to their homes and become good +citizens. The next day he issued his farewell address, the last order +published to the army: + +“Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, April 10, 1865. + +“After four years’ of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and +fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to +overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the survivors of so +many hard-fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that +I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but, feeling +that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate +for the loss that would have attended the continuation of the contest, +I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past +services have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of the +agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain there +until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds +from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly +pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection. +With an increasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to +your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous +consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell. + +“R. E. Lee, General.” + +General Long says that General Meade called on General Lee on the 10th, +and in the course of conversation remarked: + +“Now that the war may be considered over, I hope you will not deem it +improper for me to ask, for my personal information, the strength of +your army during the operations around Richmond and Petersburg.” General +Lee replied: + +“At no time did my force exceed 35,000 men; often it was less.” With a +look of surprise, Meade answered: + +“General, you amaze me; we always estimated your force at about seventy +thousand men.” + +General de Chanal, a French officer, who was present, states that +General Lee, who had been an associate of Meade’s in the engineers in +the “old army,” said to him pleasantly: + +“Meade, years are telling on you; your hair is getting quite gray.” + +“Ah, General Lee,” was Meade’s prompt reply, “it is not the work of +years; YOU are responsible for my gray hairs!” + +“Three days after the surrender,” says Long, “the Army of Northern +Virginia had dispersed in every direction, and three weeks later the +veterans of a hundred battles had exchanged the musket and the sword for +the implements of husbandry. It is worthy of remark that never before +was there an army disbanded with less disorder. Thousands of soldiers +were set adrift on the world without a penny in their pockets to enable +them to reach their homes. Yet none of the scenes of riot that often +follow the disbanding of armies marked their course.” + +A day or two after the surrender, General Lee started for Richmond, +riding Traveller, who had carried him so well all through the war. He +was accompanied by some of his staff. On the way, he stopped at the +house of his eldest brother, Charles Carter Lee, who lived on the Upper +James in Powhatan County. He spent the evening in talking with his +brother, but when bedtime came, though begged by his host to take the +room and bed prepared for him, he insisted on going to his old tent, +pitched by the roadside, and passed the night in the quarters he was +accustomed to. On April 15th he arrived in Richmond. The people there +soon recognised him; men, women, and children crowded around him, +cheering and waving hats and handkerchiefs. It was more like the welcome +to a conqueror than to a defeated prisoner on parole. He raised his hat +in response to their greetings, and rode quietly to his home on Franklin +Street, where my mother and sisters were anxiously awaiting him. Thus he +returned to that private family life for which he had always longed, and +become what he always desired to be--a peaceful citizen in a peaceful +land. + +In attempting to describe these last days of the Army of Northern +Virginia, I have quoted largely from Long, Jones, Taylor, and Fitz Lee, +all of whom have given more or less full accounts of the movements of +both armies. + +It so happened that shortly after we left our lines, April 2d or 3d, in +one of the innumerable contests, my horse was shot, and in getting +him and myself off the field, having no choice of routes, the pursuing +Federal cavalry intervened between men and the rest of our command, so +I had to make my way around the head of Sheridan’s advance squadrons +before I could rejoin our forces. This I did not succeed in +accomplishing until April 9th, the day of the surrender, for my wounded +horse had to be left with a farmer, who kindly gave me one in exchange, +saying I could send him back when I was able, or, if I was prevented, +that I could keep him and he would replace him with mine when he got +well. + +As I was riding toward Appomattox on the 9th, I met a body of our +cavalry with General T. H. Rosser at the head. He told me that General +Lee and his army had surrendered, and that this force had made its +way out, and was marching back to Lynchburg, expecting thence to reach +General Johnston’s army. To say that I was surprised does not express my +feelings. I had never heard the word “surrender” mentioned, nor even +a suggested, in connection with our general or our army. I could not +believe it, and did not until I was positively assured by all my friends +who were with Rosser’s column that it was absolutely so. Very sadly I +turned back and went to Lynchburg along with them. There I found some +wagons from our headquarters which had been sent back, and with them the +horses and servants of the staff. These I got together, not believing +for an instant that our struggle was over, and, with several officers +from our command and others, we made our way to Greensboro, North +Carolina. There I found Mr. Davis and his cabinet and representatives of +the Confederate departments from Richmond. There was a great diversity +of opinion amongst all present as to what we should do. After waiting +a couple of days, looking over the situation from every point of view, +consulting with my uncle, Commodore S. S. Lee, of the Confederate Navy, +and with many others, old friends of my father and staunch adherents of +the Southern cause, it was determined to go back to Virginia to get our +paroles, go home, and go to work. + +While at Greensboro I went to see President Davis, just before he +proceeded on his way further south. He was calm and dignified, and, in +his conversation with several officers of rank who were there, seemed +to think, and so expressed himself, that our cause was not lost, +though sorely stricken, and that we could rally our forces west of the +Mississippi and make good our fight. While I was in the room, Mr. +Davis received the first official communication from General Lee of his +surrender. Colonel John Taylor Woods, his aide-de-camp, had taken me +in to see the President, and he and I were standing by him when the +despatch from General Lee was brought to him. After reading it, he +handed it without comment to us; then, turning away, he silently wept +bitter tears. He seemed quite broken at the moment by this tangible +evidence of the loss of his army and the misfortune of its general. All +of us, respecting his great grief, silently withdrew, leaving him with +Colonel Wood. I never saw him again. + +I started for Richmond, accompanied by several companions, with the +servants and horses belonging to our headquarters. These I had brought +down with me from Lynchburg, where I had found them after the surrender. +After two week of marching and resting, I arrived in Richmond and found +my father there, in the house on Franklin Street, now the rooms of the +“Virginia Historical Society,” and also my mother, brother, and sisters. +They were all much relieved at my reappearance. + +As well as I can recall my father at this time, he appeared to be +very well physically, though he looked older, grayer, more quiet and +reserved. He seemed very tired, and was always glad to talk of any other +subject than that of the war or anything pertaining thereto. We all +tried to cheer and help him. And the people of Richmond and of the +entire South were as kind and considerate as it was possible to be. +Indeed, I think their great kindness tired him. He appreciated it +all, was courteous, grateful, and polite, but he had been under such a +terrible strain for several years that he needed the time and quiet to +get back his strength of heart and mind. All sorts and conditions +of people came to see him: officers and soldiers from both armies, +statesmen, politicians, ministers of the Gospel, mothers and wives to +ask about husbands and sons of whom they had heard nothing. To keep him +from being overtaxed by this incessant stream of visitors, we formed +a sort of guard of the young men in the house, some of whom took it by +turns to keep the door and, if possible, turn strangers away. My father +was gentle, kind, and polite to all, and never willingly, so far as I +know, refused to see any one. + +Dan lee, late of the Confederate States Navy, my first cousin, and +myself, one day had charge of the front door, when at it appeared a +Federal soldier, accompanied by a darkey carrying a large willow basket +filled to the brim with provisions of every kind. The man was Irish all +over, and showed by his uniform and carriage that he was a “regular,” + and not a volunteer. On our asking him what he wanted, he replied that +he wanted to see General Lee, that he had heard down the street the +General and his family were suffering for lack of something to eat, that +he had been with “the Colonel” when he commanded the Second Cavalry, +and, as long as he had a cent, his old colonel should not suffer. My +father, who had stepped into another room as he heard the bell ring, +hearing something of the conversation, came out into the hall. The +old Irishman, as soon as he saw him, drew himself up and saluted, and +repeated to the General, with tears streaming down his cheeks, what +he had just said to us. My father was very much touched, thanked him +heartily for his kindness and generosity, but told him that he did not +need the things he had brought and could not take them. This seemed to +disappoint the old soldier greatly, and he pleaded so hard to be allowed +to present the supplies to his old colonel, whom he believed to be +in want of them, that at last my father said that he would accept the +basket and sent it to the hospital, for the sick and wounded, who were +really in great need. Though he was not satisfied, he submitted to this +compromise, and then to our surprise and dismay, in bidding the General +good-bye, threw his arms around him and was attempting to kiss him, when +“Dan” and I interfered. As he was leaving, he said: + +“Good-bye, Colonel! God bless ye! If I could have got over in time I +would have been with ye!” + +A day or two after that, when “Dan” was doorkeeper, three Federal +officers, a colonel, a major, and a doctor, called and asked to see +General Lee. They were shown into the parlour, presented their cards, +and said they desired to pay their respects as officers of the United +States Army. When Dan went out with the three cards, he was told by some +one that my father was up stairs engaged with some other visitor, so he +returned and told them this and they departed. When my father came down, +was shown the cards and told of the three visitors, he was quite put out +at Dan’s not having brought him the cards at the time and that afternoon +mounted him on one of his horses and sent him over to Manchester, where +they were camped, to look up the three officers and to tell them he +would be glad to see them at any time they might be pleased to call. +However, Dan failed to find them. + +He had another visit at this time which affected him deeply. Two +Confederate soldiers in very dilapidated clothing, worn and emaciated in +body, came to see him. They said they had been selected from about sixty +other fellows, too ragged to come themselves, to offer him a home in the +mountains of Virginia. The home was a good house and farm, and near +by was a defile, in some rugged hills, from which they could defy the +entire Federal Army. They made this offer of a home and their protection +because there was a report that he was about to be indicted for treason. +The General had to decline to go with them, but the tears came into his +eyes at this hearty exhibition of loyalty. + +After being in Richmond a few days, and by the advice of my father +getting my parole from the United States Provost Marshal there, the +question as to what I should do came up. My father told me that I +could go back to college if I desired and prepare myself for some +profession--that he had a little money which he would be willing +and glad to devote to the completion of my education. I think he was +strongly in favour of my going back to college. At the same time he told +me that, if I preferred it, I could take possession of my farm land +in King William County, which I had inherited from my grandfather, Mr. +Custis, and make my home there. As there was little left of the farm +but the land, he thought he could arrange to help me build a house and +purchase stock and machinery. + +My brother, General W. H. F. Lee, had already gone down to his place, +“The White House” in New Kent County, with Major John Lee, our first +cousin, had erected a shanty, and gone to work, breaking up land for +a corn crop, putting their cavalry horses to the plow. As I thought my +father had use for any means he might have in caring for my mother and +sisters, and as I had this property, I determined to become a farmer. +However, I did not decide positively, and in the meantime it was thought +best that I should join my brother and cousin at the White House and +help them make their crop of corn. In returning to Richmond, I had left +at “Hickory Hill,” General Wickham’s place in Hanover County, our horses +and servants, taken with me from Lynchburg to Greensboro and back. So +bidding all my friends and family good-bye, I went by rail to “Hickory +Hill” and started the next day with three servants and about eight +horses for New Kent, stopping the first night at “Pampatike.” The next +day I reached the White House, where the reinforcements I brought with +me were hailed with delight. + +Though I have been a farmer from that day to this, I will say that +the crop of corn which we planted that summer, with ourselves and army +servants as laborers and our old cavalry horses as teams, and which we +did not finish planting until the 9th of June, was the best I ever made. + + + + + +Chapter IX -- A Private Citizen + + +Lee’s conception of the part--His influence exerted toward the +restoration of Virginia--He visits old friends throughout the +country--Receives offers of positions--Compares notes with the Union +General Hunter--Longs for a country home--Finds one at “Derwent,” near +Cartersville + + +My father remained quietly in Richmond with my mother and sisters. He +was now a private citizen for the first time in his life. As he had +always been a good soldier, so now he became a good citizen. My father’s +advice to all his old officers and men was to submit to the authority of +the land and to stay at home, now that their native States needed them +more than ever. His advice and example had great influence with all. In +a letter to Colonel Walter Taylor [his old A. A. G.], he speaks on this +point: + +“...I am sorry to hear that our returned soldiers cannot obtain +employment. Tell them they must all set to work, and if they cannot do +what they prefer, do what they can. Virginia wants all their aid, +all their support, and the presence of all her sons to sustain and +recuperate her. They must therefore put themselves in a position to take +part in her government, and not be deterred by obstacles in their way. +There is much to be done which they only can do....” + +And in a letter, a month later, to an officer asking his opinion about +a decree of the Emperor of Mexico encouraging the emigration from the +South to that country: + +“...I do not know how far their emigration to another land will conduce +to their prosperity. Although prospects may not now be cheering, I +have entertained the opinion that, unless prevented by circumstances or +necessity, it would be better for them and the country if they remained +at their homes and shared the fate of their respective States....” + +Again, in a letter to Governor Letcher [the “War Governor” of Virginia]: + +“...The duty of its citizens, then, appears to me too plain to admit of +doubt. All should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of +the war and to restore the blessing of peace. They should remain, if +possible, in the country; promote harmony and good feeling, qualify +themselves to vote and elect to the State and general legislatures wise +and patriotic men, who will devote their abilities to the interests +of the country and the healing of all dissensions. I have invariably +recommended this course since the cessation of hostilities, and have +endeavoured to practise it myself....” + +Also in a letter of still later date, to Captain Josiah Tatnall, of the +Confederate States Navy, he thus emphasises the same sentiment: + +“...I believe it to be the duty of every one to unite in the restoration +of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony. These +considerations governed be in the counsels I gave to others, and induced +me on the 13th of June to make application to be included in the terms +of the amnesty proclamation....” + +These letters and many more show plainly his conception of what was +right for all to do at this time. I have heard him repeatedly give +similar advice to relatives and friends and to strangers who sought it. +The following letters to General Grant and to President Johnson show how +he gave to the people of the South an example of quiet submission to the +government of the country: + +“Richmond, Virginia, June 13, 1865. + +“Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, Commanding the + +“Armies of the United States. + +“General: Upon reading the President’s proclamation of the 29th ult., I +came to Richmond to ascertain what was proper or required of me to do, +when I learned that, with others, the was to be indicted for treason by +the grand jury at Norfolk. I had supposed that the officers and men of +the Army of Northern Virginia were, by the terms of their surrender, +protected by the United States Government from molestation so long as +they conformed to its conditions. I am ready to meet any charges that +may be preferred against me, and do not wish to avoid trail; but, if I +am correct as to the protection granted by my parole, and am not to be +prosecuted, I desire to comply with the provision of the President’s +proclamation, and, therefore, inclose the required application, which I +request, in that event, may be acted on. I am with great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, R. E. Lee.” + +“Richmond, Virginia, June 13, 1865. + +“His Excellency Andrew Johnson, President of the United States. + +“Sir: Being excluded from the provisions of the amnesty and pardon +contained in the proclamation of the 29th ult., I hereby apply for the +benefits and full restoration of all rights as privileges extended to +those included in its terms. I graduated at the Military Academy at West +Point in June, 1829; resigned from the United States Army, April, 1861; +was a general in the Confederate Army, and included in the surrender of +the Army of Northern Virginia, April 9, 1865. I have the honour to be, +very respectfully, + +“Your obedient servant, R. E. Lee.” + +Of this latter letter, my brother, Custis Lee, writes me: + +“When General Lee requested me to make a copy of this letter, he +remarked it was but right for him to set an example of making a formal +submission to the civil authorities, and that he thought, by do +doing, he might possibly be in a better position to be of use to the +Confederates who were not protected by military paroles, especially Mr. +Davis.” + +Colonel Charles Marshall [a grandson of Chief Justice Marshall, and +Lee’s military secretary] says: + +“...He (General Lee) set to work to use his great influence to reconcile +the people of the South to the hard consequences of their defeat, to +inspire them with hope, to lead them to accept, freely and frankly, the +government that had been established by the result of the war, and +thus relieve them from the military rule.... The advice and example of +General Lee did more to incline the scale in favour of a frank and manly +adoption of that course of conduct which tended to the restoration of +peace and harmony than all the Federal garrisons in all the military +districts.” + +My father was at this time anxious to secure for himself and family a +house somewhere in the country. He had always had a desire to be the +owner of a small farm, where he could end his days in peace and quiet. +The life in Richmond was not suited to him. He wanted quiet and rest, +but could not get it there, for people were too attentive to him. So in +the first days of June he mounted old Traveller and, unattended, rode +down to “Pampatike”--some twenty-five miles--to pay a visit of several +days to his relations there. This is an old Carter property, belonging +then and now to Colonel Thomas H. Carter, who, but lately returned from +Appomattox Court House, was living there with his wife and children. +Colonel Carter, whose father was a first cousin of General Lee’s, +entered the Army of Northern Virginia in the spring of 1861, as captain +of the “King William Battery,” rose grade by grade by his skill and +gallantry, and surrendered in the spring of 1865, as Colonel and Chief +of Artillery of his corps at that time. He was highly esteemed and much +beloved by my father, and our families had been intimate for a long +time. + +“Pampatike” is a large, old-fashioned plantation, lying along the +Pamunkey River, between the Piping Tree and New Castle ferries. Part +of the house is very old, and, from time to time, as more rooms were +needed, additions have been made, giving the whole a very quaint and +picturesque appearance. At the old-fashioned dinner hour of three +o’clock, my father, mounted on Traveller, unannounced, unexpected, and +alone, rode up to the door. The horse and rider were at once recognised +by Colonel Carter, and he was gladly welcomed by his kinsfolk. I am sure +the days passed here were the happiest he had spent for many years. +He was very weary of town, of the incessant unrest incident to his +position, of the crowds of persons of all sorts and conditions striving +to see him; so one can imagine the joy of master and horse when, after a +hot ride of over twenty miles, they reached this quiet resting-place. My +father, Colonel Carter tells me, enjoyed every moment of his stay. There +were three children in the house, the two youngest little girls of five +and three years old. These were his special delight, and he followed +them around, talking baby-talk to them and getting them to talk to him. +Every morning before he was up they went into his room, at his special +request, to pay him a visit. Another great pleasure was to watch +Traveller enjoy himself. He had him turned out on the lawn, where the +June grass was very fine, abundant, and at its prime, and would allow no +cord to be fed to him, saying he had had plenty of that during the last +four years, and that the grass and the liberty were what he needed. He +talked to Colonel Carter much about Mexico, its people and climate; also +about the old families living in that neighbourhood and elsewhere in the +State, with whom both Colonel Carter and himself were connected; but he +said very little about the recent war, and only in answer to some direct +question. + +About six miles from “Pampatike,” on the same river and close to +its banks, is “Chericoke,” another old Virginia homestead, which had +belonged to the Braxtons for generations, and, at that time, was the +home of Corbin Braxton’s widow. General Lee was invited to dine there, +and to meet him my brother, cousin, and I, from the White House, were +asked, besides General Rosser, who was staying in the neighbourhood, +and several others. This old Virginia house had long been noted for its +lavish hospitality and bountiful table. Mrs. Braxton had never realised +that the war should make any change in this respect, and her table was +still spread in those days of desolation as it had been before the war, +when there was plenty in the land. So we sat down to a repast composed +of all the good things for which that country was famous. John and I did +not seem to think there was too much in sight--at any rate, it did +not daunt us, and we did our best to lessen the quantity, consuming, I +think, our share and more! We had been for so many years in the habit of +being hungry that it was not strange we continued to be so awhile yet. +But my father took a different view of the abundance displayed, and, +during his drive back, said to Colonel Carter: + +“Thomas, there was enough dinner to-day for twenty people. All this will +now have to be changed; you cannot afford it; we shall have to practise +economy.” + +In talking with Colonel Carter about the situation of farmers at that +time in the South, and of their prospects for the future, he urged him +to get rid of the negroes left on the farm--some ninety-odd in +number, principally women and children, with a few old men--saying +the government would provide for them, and advised him to secure white +labour. The Colonel told him he had to use, for immediate needs, such +force as he had, being unable at that time to get whites. Whereupon +General Lee remarked: + +“I have always observed that wherever you find the negro, everything +is going down around him, and wherever you find a white man, you see +everything around him improving.” + +He was thinking strongly of taking a house in the country for himself +and family, and asked the Colonel whether he could not suggest some part +of the State that might suit him. Colonel Carter mentioned Clarke County +as representing the natural-grass section of Virginia, and Gloucester +County the salt-water. My father unhesitatingly pronounced in favour +of the grass-growing country. He told Mrs. Carter how pleased he was to +hear that she had received her husband in tears when he returned from +the surrender, as showing the true spirit, for, though glad to see him, +she wept because he could fight no more for the cause. The day after +this dinner he had to turn his back on those dear friends and their +sweet home. + +When Traveller was brought up to the door for him to mount, he walked +all around him, looking carefully at the horse, saddle, and bridle. +Apparently the blanket was not arranged to suit him, for he held the +bridle while “Uncle Henry” took off the saddle. Then he took off the +blanket himself, spread it out on the grass, and, folding it to suit +his own idea of fitness, carefully placed it on Traveller’s back, and +superintended closely the putting on and girthing of the saddle. This +being done, he bade everybody good-bye, and, mounting his horse, rode +away homeward--to Richmond. After crossing the Pamunkey at Newcastle +ferry, he rode into “Ingleside,” about a mile from the river, the lovely +home of Mrs. Mary Braxton. Here he dismounted and paid his respects to +the mistress of the house and her daughters, who were also cousins. +That afternoon he reached Richmond, returning by the same road he had +travelled coming out. After his visit, which he had enjoyed so much, he +began looking about more than ever to find a country home. + +The house he was occupying in Richmond belonged to Mr. John Stewart, of +“Brook Hill,” who was noted for his devotion to the cause of the South +and his kindness to all those who had suffered in the conflict. My +brother Custis had rented it at the time he was appointed on Mr. Davis’s +staff. A mess had been established there by my brother and several other +officers on duty in Richmond. In time, my mother and sister had been +made members of it, and it had been the headquarters of all of the +family during the war, when in town. My father was desirous of making +some settlement with his landlord for its long use, but before he could +take the final steps my mother received the following note from Mr. +Stewart: + +“...I am not presuming on your good opinion, when I feel that you will +believe me, first, that you and yours are heartily welcome to the house +as long as your convenience leads you to stay in Richmond; and, next, +that you owe me nothing, but, if you insist on paying, that the payment +must be in Confederate currency, for which along it was rented to your +son. You do not know how much gratification it is, and will afford me +and my whole family during the remainder of our lives, to reflect that +we have been brought into contact, and to know and to appreciate you and +all that are dear to you.” + +My father had been offered, since the surrender, houses lands, and +money, as well as positions as president of business associations and +chartered corporations. + +“An English nobleman,” Long says, “desired him to accept a mansion and +an estate commensurate with his individual merits and the greatness of +an historic family.” + +He replied: “I am deeply grateful; I cannot desert my native State in +the hour of her adversity. I must abide her fortunes, and share her +fate.” + +Until his death, he was constantly in receipt of such offers, all of +which he thought proper to decline. He wrote to General Long: + +“I am looking for some little, quiet home in the woods, where I can +procure shelter and my daily bread, if permitted by the victor. I wish +to get Mrs. Lee out of the city as soon as practical.” + +It so happened that nearly exactly what he was looking for was just then +offered to him. Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph Cocke, of Cumberland County, +a granddaughter of Edmund Randolph, had on her estate a small cottage +which, with the land attached, she placed at his disposal. The retired +situation of this little home, and the cordial way in which Mrs. Cocke +insisted on his coming, induced my father to accept her invitation. + +Captain Edmund Randolph Cocke [Mrs. Cocke’s second son who lived with +his mother at Oakland] writes me the following: + +“Oakland, Virginia, October 25, 1896. + +“My mother, whose sympathies for everybody and everything connected with +our cause were the greatest and most enlarged of any one I ever knew, +thought it might be agreeable and acceptable to General Lee to have a +retired placed in which to rest. Having this little house unoccupied, +she invited him to accept it as a home as long as he might find it +pleasant to himself. The General came up with your mother and sisters +about the last of June, General Custis Lee having preceded them a day +or two on Traveller. At that time our mode of travel was on the canal +by horse-packet: leaving Richmond at a little before sunset, the boat +reached Pemberton, our landing, about sunrise. General Custis and I went +down to meet them, and we all reached home in time for breakfast. That +night on the boat the Captain had had the most comfortable bed put +up that he could command, which was offered to your father. But he +preferred to sleep on deck, which he did, with his military cloak thrown +over him. No doubt that was the last night he ever spent under the open +sky. After a week spent here, General Lee removed, with his family, +to “Derwent.” There he spent several months of quiet and rest, only +interrupted by the calls of those who came in all honesty and sincerity +to pay their respects to him. Old soldiers, citizens, men and women, all +came without parade or ceremony. During this time he rode on Traveller +daily, taking sometimes long trips--once I recall, going to his +brother’s, Mr. Carter Lee’s, about twenty miles, and at another time to +Bremo, about thirty miles. During the month of August he was visited +by Judge Brockenborough, of Lexington, who, as Rector of the Board of +Trustees of Washington College, tendered him, on behalf of the Board, +the presidency of the college. After considering the matter for several +weeks, he decided to accept this position. + +“...During that summer he was a regular attendant at the various +churches in our neighbourhood, whenever there was a service. I never +heard your father discuss public matters at all, nor did he express +his opinion of public men. On one occasion, I did hear him condemn with +great severity the Secretary of War, Stanton. This was at the time Mrs. +Surratt was condemned and executed. At another time I heard him speak +harshly of General Hunter, who had written to him to get his approval of +his movements, during the Valley Campaign, against General Early. With +these exceptions, I never heard him speak of public men or measures.” + +In this connection I quote the Rev. J. Wm. Jones in his “Personal +Reminiscences of General Robert E. Lee”: + +“Not long after the close of the war, General Lee received a letter +from General David Hunger, of the Federal Army, in which he begged +information on two points: + +“1. His (Hunter’s) campaign in the summer of 1864 was undertaken on +information received at the War Department in Washington that General +Lee was about to detach forty thousand picked troops to send General +Johnston. Did not his (Hunter’s) movements prevent this, and relieve +Sherman to that extent? + +“2. When he (Hunter) found it necessary to retreat from before +Lynchburg, did not he adopt the most feasible line of retreat? + +“General Lee wrote a very courteous reply, in which he said: + +“‘The information upon which your campaign was undertaken was erroneous. +I had NO TROOPS to spare General Johnston and no intention of sending +him any--CERTAINLY NOT FORTY THOUSAND, AS THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ABOUT +ALL I HAD. + +“‘As to the second point--I would say that I am not advised as to the +motives which induced you to adopt the line of retreat which you took, +and am not, perhaps competent to judge of the question, BUT I CERTAINLY +EXPECTED YOU TO RETREAT BY WAY OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY [the emphasis is +Dr. Jones’s], and was gratified at the time that you preferred the route +through the mountains of the Ohio--leaving the valley open for General +Early’s advance into Maryland.’” + +Before leaving Richmond, my father wrote the following letter to Colonel +Ordway, then Provost Marshal: + +“Richmond, Virginia, June 21, 1865. + +“Lt.-Col. Albert Ordway, Provost Marshal, Department of Virginia. + +“Colonel: I propose establishing my family next week in Cumberland +County, Virginia, near Cartersville, on the James River canal. On +announcing my intention to General Patrick, when he was on duty in +Richmond, he stated that no passport for the purpose was necessary. +Should there have been any change in the orders of the Department +rendering passports necessary, I request that I may be furnished with +them. My son, G. W. Custis Lee, a paroled prisoner with myself, will +accompany me. Very respectfully your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The latter part of June, my father, mother, brother Custis, and sisters +went to “Derwent,” the name of the little place which was to be his home +for that summer. They went by canal-boat from Richmond to Cartersville, +and then had a drive of about six miles. Mrs. Cocke lived at “Oakland,” + two miles away, and her generous heart was made glad by the opportunity +of supplying my father and his family with every comfort that it was +possible to get at the time. In his letters to me, still at the White +House busy with our corn, he gives a description of the surroundings: + +“...We are all well, and established in a comfortable but small house, +in a grove of oaks, belonging to Mr. Thomas Cocke [Mrs. Cocke’s eldest +son]. It contains four rooms, and there is a house in the yard which +when fitted up will give us another. Only your mother, Agnes, and +Mildred are with me. Custis, who has had a return of his attack...is at +Mrs. Cocke’s house, about two miles off--is convalescent, I hope. I +have been nowhere as yet. The weather has been excessively hot, but this +morning there is an agreeable change, with some rain. The country here +is poor but healthy, and we are at a long distance from you all. I can +do nothing until I learn what decision in my case is made in Washington. +All unite with me in much love. + +“Very truly, your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The “case” referred to here was the indictment in June by a grand jury +in Norfolk, Virginia, of Mr. Davis, General Lee, and others, for treason +or something like it. + +The Hon. Reverdy Johnson offered his professional services to my father +in this case, but there was no trial, as a letter from General Grant to +the authorities insisted that the parole given by him to the officers +and soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia should be respected. The +following letter explains itself: + +“Near Cartersville, Virginia, July 27, 1865. + +“Hon. Reverdy Johnson, Baltimore, Md. + +“My Dear Sir: I very much regret that I did not see you on your recent +visit to Richmond, that I might have thanked you for the interest you +have shown in my behalf, and you great kindness in offering me your +professional services in the indictment which I now understand is +pending against me. I am very glad, however, that you had an opportunity +of reading a copy of General Grant’s letter of the 20th inst. to me, +which I left with Mr. Macfarland for that purpose, and also that he +might show it to other officers of the Army of Northern Virginia in +my condition. I did not wish to give it greater publicity without the +assent of General Grant, supposing that, if he desired it made public, +he would take steps to have it done. Should he consent to your request +to have it published, I, of course, have no objection. But should +he not, I request that you only use it in the manner I have above +indicated. Again offering you my warmest thanks for your sympathy and +consideration for my welfare, I am, with great respect, + +“Your obedient Servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +In another letter to me he tells of his visit to his brother Charles +Carter Lee in Powhatan County, which was an easy ride from “Derwent.” + He was very fond of making these little excursion, and Traveller, that +summer, was in constant use: + +“Near Cartersville, July 22, 1865. + +“My Dear Rob: I have just returned from a visit to your Uncle Carter, +and, among my letters, find one from some of your comrades to you, +which I inclose. I was happy to discover from the direction that it was +intended for you and not for me. I find Agnes quite sick, and have sent +for the doctor, as I do not know what to do for her. Poor little thing! +she seems quite prostrated. Custis, I am told, is better. He is still at +Mrs. Cocke’s. The rest of us are well. I saw several of your comrades, +Cockes, Kennons and Gilliams, who inquired after you all. Give my love +to F. and Johnny, in which all here unite, and believe me most truly and +affectionately + +“Your father, R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee.” + +In another letter he gives an account of a trip that he and Traveller +had taken across the river into Albemarle County: + +“Near Cartersville, August 21, 1865. + +“My Dear Bertus: I received only a few days ago your letter of the 12th. +I am very sorry to hear of your afflictions, but hope you have shaken +off all of them. You must keep your eyes open, you precious boy, and not +run against noxious vines and fevers. I have just returned from a visit +to Fluvanna. I rode up the gray and extended my peregrinations into +Albemarle, but no further than the Green Mountain neighbourhood. I made +short rides, stopping every evening with some friend, and had a very +pleasant time. I commended you to all the young ladies on the road, but +did not know I was extolling a poisoned beau! You must go up and see +Miss Francis Galt. Tell Fitzhugh I wrote to him before I went away. I +am glad to hear that your corn is so fine, and that you are making +preparations to put in a good crop of wheat. I wish I had a little farm +somewhere, to be at work too. Custis is paying a visit to his friend, +Captain Watkins, in Powhatan. He came up for him last Saturday, and bore +him off. He has got quite well now, and I hope will continue so. Agnes +is also well, though still feeble and thin. Your mother, Life, and +myself as usual. We have not heard for some time from daughter. A report +has reached us of her being at Mr. Burwell’s. Miss Mary Cocke and her +brother John paid us a short visit from Saturday to Monday, and several +of our neighbors have been over to spend the day. We have a quiet time, +which is delightful to me, but I fear not so exhilarating to the girls. +I missed Uncle Carter’s visit. He and his Robert rode up on a pair of +colts while I was in Fluvanna, and spent several days. I wish we were +nearer you boys. I want to see you very much, but do not know when that +can be. I hope Johnny is well. I have heard nothing from his father +since we parted in Richmond, but hear that Fitz has gone to see his +mother. All here send their best love to you, and I pray that every +happiness may attend you. + +“Your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee.” + +“Bertus” was a contraction of Robertus, my father’s pet name for me as +a child. My afflictions were “poison-oak,” chills, and fever. The letter +to my brother Fitzhugh, here referred to, I also give: + +“Near Cartersville, Cumberland County, Virginia, July 29, 1865. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I was very glad to receive, by the last packet from +Richmond, your letter of the 22d. We had all been quite anxious to hear +from you, and were much gratified to learn that you were all well, and +doing well. It is very cheering to me to hear of your good prospects for +corn and your cheerful prospects for the future. God grant they may +be realised, which, I am sure, they will be, if you will unite +sound judgement to your usual energy in your operations. As to the +indictments, I hope you, at last, may not be prosecuted. I see no other +reason for it than for prosecuting ALL who ever engaged in the war. I +think, however, we may expect procrastination in measures of relief, +denunciatory threats, etc. We must be patient, and let them take their +course. As soon as I can ascertain their intention toward me, if not +prevented, I shall endeavour to procure some humble, but quiet, abode +for your mother and sisters, where I hope they can be happy. As I before +said, I want to get in some grass country, where the natural product +of the land will do much for my subsistence.... Our neighbours are very +kind, and do everything in the world to promote our comfort. If Agnes +is well enough, I propose to ride up to ‘Bremo’ next week. I wish I was +near enough to see you. Give much love to Rob and Johnny, the Carters +and Braxtons. All here unite in love and best wishes for you all. + +“Most affectionately, your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + + + + + +Chapter X -- President of Washington College + + +Patriotic motives for acceptance of trust--Condition of college--The +General’s arrival at Lexington--He prepares for the removal of his +family to that city--Advice to Robert Junior--Trip to “Bremo” on private +canal-boat--Mrs. Lee’s invalidism + + +About this time my father received from the Board of Trustees of +Washington College a notification of his election to the presidency of +that institution, at a meeting of the board held in Lexington, Virginia, +on August 4, 1865. The letter apprising him of the action was presented +by Judge John W. Brockenborough, rector of the college. This was +a complete surprise to my father. He had already been offered the +vice-chancellorship of the “University of the South,” at Sewanee, +Tennessee, but declined it on the ground that it was denominational, and +to some suggestions that he should connect himself with the University +of Virginia he objected because it was a State institution. + +Washington College had started as an academy in 1749. It was the first +classical school opened in the Valley of Virginia. After a struggle of +many years, under a succession of principals and with several changes +of site, it at length acquired such a reputation as to attract the +attention of General Washington. He gave it a handsome endowment, +and the institution changed its name from “Liberty Hall Academy” to +Washington College. In the summer of 1865, the college, through the +calamities of civil war, had reached the lowest point of depression it +had ever known. Its buildings, library, and apparatus had suffered from +the sack and plunder of hostile soldiery. Its invested funds, owing to +the general impoverishment throughout the land, were for the time being +rendered unproductive and their ultimate value was most uncertain. Four +professors still remained on duty, and there were about forty +students, mainly from the country around Lexington. It was not a State +institution, nor confined to any one religious denomination, so two +objections which might have been made by my father were removed. But the +college in later years had only a local reputation. It was very poor, +indifferently equipped with buildings, and with no means in sight to +improve its condition. + +“There was a general expectation that he would decline the position as +not sufficiently lucrative, if his purpose was to repair the ruins +of his private fortune resulting from the war; as not lifting him +conspicuously enough in the public gaze, if he was ambitious of office +or further distinction; or as involving too great labour and anxiety, +if he coveted repose after the terrible contest from which he had just +emerged.” [Professor E. S. Joynes] + +He was very reluctant to accept this appointment, but for none of the +above reasons, as the average man might have been. Why he was doubtful +of undertaking the responsibilities of such a position his letter of +acceptance clearly shows. He considered the matter carefully and then +wrote the following letter to the committee: + +“Powhatan County, August 24, 1865. + +“Gentlemen: I have delayed for some days replying to your letter of the +5th inst., informing me of my election by the board of trustees to the +presidency of Washington College, from a desire to give the subject due +consideration. Fully impressed with the responsibilities of the office, +I have feared that I should be unable to discharge its duties to the +satisfaction of the trustees or to the benefit of the country. The +proper education of youth requires not only great ability, but I fear +more strength than I now possess, for I do not feel able to undergo the +labour of conducting classes in regular courses of instruction. I could +not, therefore, undertake more than the general administration and +supervision of the institution. I could not, therefore, undertake more +than the general administration and supervision of the institution. +There is another subject which has caused me some serious reflection, +and is, I think, worthy of the consideration of the board. Being +excluded from the terms of amnesty in the proclamation of the President +of the United States, of the 29th of May last, and an object of +censure to a portion of the country, I have thought it probable that my +occupation of the position of president might draw upon the college +a feeling of hostility; and I should, therefore, cause injury to an +institution which it would be my highest desire to advance. I think it +the duty of every citizen, in the present condition of the country, to +do all in his power to aid in the restoration of peace and harmony, +and in no way to oppose the policy of the State or general government +directed to that object. It is particularly incumbent on those charged +with the instruction of the young to set them an example of submission +to authority, and I could not consent t be the cause of animadversion +upon the college. Should you, however, take a different view, and think +that my services in the position tendered to me by the board will be +advantageous to the college and country, I will yield to your judgement +and accept it; otherwise, I must most respectfully decline the office. +Begging you to express to the trustees of the college my heartfelt +gratitude for the honour conferred upon me, and requesting you to accept +my cordial thanks for the kind manner in which you have communicated +their decision, I am, gentlemen, with great respect, your most obedient +servant, R. E. Lee” + +To present a clearer view of some of the motives influencing my father +in accepting this trust--for such he considered it--I give an extract +from an address on the occasion of his death, by Bishop Wilmer, of +Louisiana, delivered at the University of the South, at Sewanee, +Tennessee: + +“I was seated,” says Bishop Wilmer, “at the close of the day, in my +Virginia home, when I beheld, through the thickening shades of evening, +a horseman entering the yard, whom I soon recognised as General Lee. +The next morning he placed in my hands the correspondence with the +authorities of Washington College at Lexington. He had been invited to +become president of that institution. I confess to a momentary feeling +of chagrin at the proposed change (shall I say revulsion?) in his +history. The institution was one of local interest, and comparatively +unknown to our people. I named others more conspicuous which would +welcome him with ardour at the presiding head. I soon discovered +that his mind towered above these earthly distinctions; that, in his +judgement, the CAUSE gave dignity to the institution, and not the wealth +of its endowment or the renown of its scholars; that this door and +not another was opened to him by Providence, and he only wished to be +assured of his competency to fulfil his trust and this to make his few +remaining years a comfort and blessing to his suffering country. I had +spoken to his human feelings; he had now revealed himself to me as +one ‘whose life was hid with Christ in God.’ My speech was no longer +restrained. I congratulated him that his heart was inclined to this +great cause, and that he was prepared to give to the world this august +testimony to the importance of Christian education. How he listened to +my feeble words; how he beckoned me to his side, as the fulness of heart +found utterance; how his whole countenance glowed with animation as +I spoke of the Holy Ghost as the great Teacher, whose presence was +required to make education a blessing, which otherwise might be the +curse of mankind; how feelingly he responded, how ELOQUENTLY, as I never +heard him speak before--can never be effaced from memory; and nothing +more sacred mingles with my reminiscences of the dead.” + +The board of trustees, on August 31st, adopted and sent to General Lee +resolutions saying that, in spite of his objections, “his connection +with the institution would greatly promote its prosperity and advance +the general interest of education, and urged him to enter upon his +duties as president at his earliest convenience.” + +My father had had nearly four years’ experience in the charge of young +men at West Point. The conditions at that place, to be sure, were very +different from those at the one to which he was now going, but the work +in the main was the same--to train, improve and elevate. I think he was +influenced, in making up his mind to accept this position, by the great +need of education in his State and in the South, and by the opportunity +that he saw at Washington College for starting almost from the +beginning, and for helping, by his experience and example, the youth of +his country to become good and useful citizens. + +In the latter part of September, he mounted Traveller and started alone +for Lexington. He was four days on the journey, stopping with some +friend each night. He rode into Lexington on the afternoon of the +fourth day, no one knowing of his coming until he quietly drew up and +dismounted at the village inn. Professor White, who had just turned into +the main street as the General halted in front of the hotel, said he +knew in a moment that this stately rider on the iron-gray charger must +be General Lee. He, therefore, at once went forward, as two or three +old soldiers gathered around to help the General down, and insisted on +taking him to the home of Colonel Reid, the professor’s father-in-law, +where he had already been invited to stay. My father, with his +usual consideration for others, as it was late in the afternoon, had +determined to remain at the hotel that night and go to Mr. Reid’s in +the morning; but yielding to Captain White’s (he always called him +“Captain,” his Confederate title) assurances that all was made ready for +him, he accompanied him to the home of his kind host. + +The next morning, before breakfast, he wrote the following letter to +my mother announcing his safe arrival. The “Captain Edmund” and “Mr. +Preston” mentioned in it were the sons of our revered friend and +benefactress Mrs. E. R. Cocke. Colonel Preston and Captain Frank were +her brother and nephew: + +“Lexington, September 19, 1865. + +“My Dear Mary: I reached here yesterday about one P.M., and on riding +up to the hotel was met by Professor White, of Washington College, who +brought me up to his father-in-law’s, Colonel Reid, the oldest member +of the trustees of the college, where I am very comfortably quartered. +To-day I will look out for accommodations elsewhere, as the Colonel has +a large family and I fear I am intruding upon his hospitality. I +have not yet visited the college grounds. They seem to be beautifully +located, and the buildings are undergoing repairs. The house assigned +to the president, I am told, has been rented to Dr. Madison (I believe), +who has not been able to procure another residence, and I do not know +when it will be vacated, nor can I tell you more about it. I saw Mrs. +and Colonel Preston, Captain Frank, and his sister. All the family are +well. I shall go after breakfast to inquire after my trunks. I had +a very pleasant journey here. The first two days were very hot, but, +reaching the mountain region the third day, the temperature was much +cooler. I came up in four days’ easy rides, getting to my stopping-place +by one P.M. each day, except the third, when I slept on top of the Blue +Ridge, which I reached at three P.M. The scenery was beautiful all the +way. I am writing before breakfast, and must be short. Last night I +found a blanket and coverlid rather light covering, and this morning I +see a fire in the dining-room. I have thought much of you all since I +left. Give much love to the girls and Custis and remember me to all at +‘Oakland.’ + +“Most affectionately yours, R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +When he first arrived, the family, very naturally, stood a little in awe +of him. This feeling, however, was soon dispelled, for his simple and +unaffected manners in a short while put them at ease. There were some +little children in the house, and they and the General at once became +great friends. With these kind and hospitable friends he stayed several +days. After being present at a meeting of the board of trustees, he rode +Traveller over to the Rockbridge Baths--eleven miles from Lexington--and +from there writes to my mother, on September 25th: + +“...Am very glad to hear of Rob’s arrival. I am sorry that I missed +seeing the latter, but find it was necessary that I should have been +present at the meeting of the board of trustees on the 20th. They +adjourned on the eve of the 21st, and on the morning of the 22d I rode +over here, where I found Annie and Miss Belle [Mrs. Chapman Leigh and +Miss Belle Harrison, of Brandon, both very dear friends and cousins +of my father].... The babies [Mrs. Leigh’s] are well and sweet. I have +taken the baths every day since my arrival, and like them very much. +In fact, they are delightful, and I wish you were all here to enjoy +them.... Annie and Belle go in two, and sometimes three, times a day. +Yesterday I procured some horses and took them up to the top of Jump +Mountain, where we had one of the most beautiful views I ever saw. +To-day I could get but one horse, and Miss Belle and I rode up Hays +Creek Valley, which possessed beauties of a different kind. I shall +return to Lexington on the 29th. I perceive, as yet, no change in my +rheumatic affection.... Tell Custis I am much obliged to him for his +attention to my baggage. All the articles enumerated by him arrived +safely at Colonel Reid’s Thursday morning early. I also received the +package of letters he sent.... I hope he may receive the appointment at +the V. M. I. Everyone interested has expressed a desire he should do so, +and I am more desirous than all of them. If he comes by land, he will +find the route I took very pleasant, and about 108 miles, namely: +‘Bremo’--Dr. Wilmer’s--Waynesboro’--Greenville. He will find me at +the Lexington Hotel.... I wish you were all here with me. I feel very +solitary and miss you all dreadfully. Give much love to the girls and +boys--kind remembrances to Mrs. P., Miss Louisa, and Mrs. Thos. Cocke. I +have no news. Most affectionately, R. E. Lee. + +“P.S.--Annie and Belle send a great deal of love to all. R. E. L.” + +These little excursions and the meeting with old friends and dear +cousins were sources of real enjoyment and grateful rest. The pains of +the past, the worries of the present, and the cares for the future +were, for the time being, banished. My father earnestly desired a quiet, +informal inauguration, and his wish was gratified. On October 2, 1865, +in the presence of the trustees, professors and students, after solemn +and appropriate prayer by the Rev. W. S. White, D. D., the oldest +Christian minister in the town [the father of Professor (or “Captain”) +White], he took the oath of office as required by the laws of the +college, and was thus legally inaugurated as its president. + +On October 3d he wrote my mother: + +“...I am glad to hear that Rob is improving, and hope you had the +pleasure of seeing Mr. Dana [Our old pastor of Christ’s Church, +Alexandria, the trusted friend of my grandmother and mother, who +had baptised all the children at Arlington].... The college opened +yesterday, and a fine set of youths, about fifty, made their appearance +in a body. It is supposed that many more will be coming during the +month. The scarcity of money everywhere embarrasses all proceedings. +General Smith informs me that the Military Institute will commence its +exercises on the 16th inst.; and that Custis was unanimously elected to +the chair of Civil Engineering [The Virginia Military Institute, a State +institution, modelled after the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, +was located in Lexington, and its grounds adjoined those of Washington +College. Since its foundation in 1839, unto this time, General F. H. +Smith had been its superintendent.]. I am living at the Lexington Hotel, +and he must come there if he comes up.... The ladies have furnished me a +very nice room in the college for my office; new carpet from Baltimore, +curtains, etc. They are always doing something kind.... I came up +September 30th from the Baths. Annie and Miss Belle still there and very +well. They expect to be here on the 10th.... You tell me nothing of the +girls. I hope Agnes is getting strong and fat. I wished for them both at +the Baths. Annie and Belle were my only companions. I could not trespass +upon them always. The scenery is beautiful here, but I fear it will +be locked up in winter by the time you come. Nothing could be more +beautiful than the mountains now.... + +“Most affectionately, R. E. Lee.” + +In addition to his duties as college president, my father had to make +all the arrangements for his new home. The house assigned him by the +college was occupied by Dr. Madison, who was to move out as soon as he +could. Carpenters, painters and glaziers had to be put to work to get +it into condition; furniture, carpets, bedding to be provided, a cook +procured, servants and provisions supplied. + +My mother was an invalid and absent, and as my sisters were with +her, everything down to the minutest details was done by my father’s +directions and under his superintendence. He had always been noted for +his care and attention to the little things, and that trait, apparent in +him when a mere lad, practised all through his busy and eventful life, +stood him in good stead now. The difficulties to be overcome were made +greater by the scarcity and inaccessibility of supplies and workmen +and the smallness of his means. In addition, he conducted a large +correspondence, always answering every letter. To every member of his +family he wrote continually, and was interested in all our pursuits, +advising and helping us as no one else could have done. Some of his +letters to my mother at this time show how he looked into every matter, +great or small, which related to her comfort and welfare, and to the +preparation of her new home. For example, on October 9th he writes: + +“...Life is indeed gliding away and I have nothing of good to show for +mine that is past. I pray I may be spared to accomplish something for +the benefit of mankind and the honour of God.... I hope I may be able +to get the house prepared for you in time to reach here before the cold +weather. Dr. Madison has sent me word that he will vacate the house +on the 16th inst., this day week. I will commence to make some outside +repairs this week, so as to get at the inside next, and hope by the 1st +of November it will be ready for you. There is no furniture belonging to +the house, but we shall require but little to commence with. Mr. Green, +of Alexandria, to whom I had written, says that his manufacturing +machinery, etc., has been so much injured that, although it has been +returned to him, he cannot resume operations until next year, but +that he will purchase for us anything we desire. I believe nothing is +manufactured in Richmond--everything comes from the North, and we might +as well write to Baltimore at once for what we want. What do you think? +I believe nothing of consequence is manufactured here. I will see this +week what can be done....” + +And again, a few days later, he writes: + +“...I hope you are all well, and as comfortable as can be. I am +very anxious to get you all here, but have made little progress in +accomplishing it so far. Dr. M. expects to vacate the house this week, +but I fear it is not certain he can do so.... I engaged some carpenters +last week to repair the roof, fences, stable, etc., but for want of +material they could not make a commencement. There is no lumber here at +hand. Everything has to be prepared. I have not been in the house yet, +but I hear there is much to be done. We shall have to be patient. As +soon as it is vacated, I will set to work. I think it will be more +expeditious and cheaper to write to Renwick [of Baltimore] to send what +articles of furniture will be required, and also to order some carpets +from Baltimore....” + +In a postscript, dated the 17th, he says: + +“The carpenters made a beginning on the house yesterday. I hope it may +be vacated this week. I will prepare your room first. The rest of us can +bivouac. Love to all. Most affectionately, R. E. Lee.” + +On October 19th: + +“...I have been over the house we are to occupy. It is in wretched +condition. Mrs. M. has not yet vacated it, but I have some men at work, +though this storm has interrupted their operations and I fear little +will be done this week. I think I can make your room comfortable. The +upstairs is very convenient and the rest of the house sufficiently so. I +think you had better write at once to Brit [the “Brit” mentioned here is +Mrs. Birtannia Kennon, of “Tudor Place,” my mother’s first cousin. She +had saved for us a great many of the household goods from Arlington, +having gotten permission from the Federal authorities to do so, at the +time it was occupied by their forces] to send the curtains you speak of, +and the carpets. It is better to use what we have than to buy others. +Their use where originally intended [Arlington, to that beloved home my +mother still hoped to return] is very uncertain. They have been tossed +about for four years, and may be lost or ruined. They can come by +express to Lynchburg, and then up the canal, or by Richmond. The +merchants say the former is the best way--much more expeditious and but +little more expensive.” + +Spending the summer on the Pamunkey at the White House, exposed all day +in the fields to the sun, and at night to the malaria from the river and +marshes, I became by the last of September one continuous “chill,” so it +was decided that, as the corn was made, the fodder saved, the wheat land +broken up, and hands not so greatly needed, I should get a furlough. +Mounting my mare, I started on a visit to my mother and sisters, hoping +that the change to the upper country would help me to get rid of the +malaria. When I reached “Derwent” my father had gone to Lexington, +but my mother and the rest were there to welcome me and dose me for my +ailments. There was still some discussion among us all as to what was +the best thing for me to do, and I wrote to my father, telling him of +my preference for a farmer’s life and my desire to work my own land. The +following letter, which he wrote me in reply, is, like all I ever got +from him, full of love, tenderness, and good, sensible advice: + +“My Dear Son: I did not receive until yesterday your letter of the 8th +inst. I regret very much having missed seeing you--still more to hear +that you have been suffering from intermittent fever. I think the best +thing you can do is to eradicate the disease from your system, and +unless there is some necessity for your returning to the White House, +you had better accompany your mother here. I have thought very earnestly +as to your future. I do not know to what stage your education has +been carried, or whether it would be advantageous for you to pursue it +further. Of that you can judge. If you do, and will apply yourself so as +to get the worth of your money, I can advance it to you for this year +at least. If you do not, and wish to take possession of your farm, I can +assist you a little in that. As matters now stand, you could raise money +on your farm only by mortgaging it, which would put you in debt at the +beginning of your life, and I fear in the end would swallow up all your +property. As soon as I am restored to civil rights, if I ever am, I will +settle up your grandfather’s estate, and put you in possession of your +share. The land may be responsible for some portion of his debts or +legacies. If so, you will have to assume it. In the meantime, I think it +would be better for you, if you determine to farm your land, to go down +there as you propose and begin on a moderate scale. I can furnish you +means to buy a team, wagon, implements, etc. What will it cost? If you +cannot wait to accompany your mother here, come up to see me and we can +talk it over. You could come up in the packet and return again. If you +do come, ask Agnes for my box of private papers I left with her, and +bring it with you; but do not lose it for your life, or we are all +ruined. Wrap it up with your clothes and put it in a carpet-bag or +valise, so that you can keep it with you or within your sight, and do +not call attention to it. I am glad to hear that Fitzhugh keeps so well, +and that he is prospering in his farming operations. Give him a great +deal of love for me. The first thing you must do is to get well. + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +His letters to his daughters tell, in a playful way, much of his life, +and are full of the quiet humor in which he so often indulged. We were +still at “Derwent,” awaiting the time when the house in Lexington should +be ready. It had been decided that I should remain and accompany my +mother and sisters to Lexington, and that some of us, or all, should go +up the river to “Bremo,” the beautiful seat of Dr. Charles Cocke, and +pay a visit there before proceeding to Lexington. Here is a letter from +my father to his daughter Mildred: + +“Lexington, October 29, 1865. + +“My Precious Life: Your nice letter gave me much pleasure and made me +the more anxious to see you. I think you girls, after your mother is +comfortable at ‘Bremo,’ will have to come up and arrange the house for +her reception. You know I am a poor hand and can do nothing without +your advice. Your brother, too, is wild for the want of admonition. Col. +Blair is now his ‘fidus Achates,’ and as he is almost as gray as your +papa, and wears the same uniform, all gray, he is sometimes taken for +him by the young girls, who consider your brother the most attentive +of sons, and giving good promise of making a desirable husband. He will +find himself married some of these days before he knows it. You had +better be near him. I hope you give attention to Robert. Miss Sallie +will thaw some of the ice from his heart. Tell her she must come up +here, as I want to see her badly. I do not know what you will do with +your chickens, unless you take them to ‘Bremo,’ and thus bring them +here. I suppose Robert would not eat ‘Laura Chilton’ and ‘Don Ella +McKay.’ Still less would he devour his sister ‘Mildred’ [these were +the names of some of my sister’s pet chickens]. I have scarcely gotten +acquainted with the young ladies. They look very nice in the walks, but +I rarely get near them. Traveller is my only companion; I may also say +my pleasure. He and I, whenever practicable, wander out in the mountains +and enjoy sweet confidence. The boys are plucking out his tail, and he +is presenting the appearance of a plucked chicken. Two of the belles of +the neighborhood have recently been married--Miss Mattie Jordan to Dr. +Cameron, and Miss Rose Cameron to Dr. Sherod. The former couple go to +Louisburg, West Virginia, and start to-morrow on horseback, the bride’s +trousseau in a baggage wagon; the latter to Winchester. Miss Sherod, +one of the bridesmaids, said she knew you there. I did not attend the +weddings, but have seen the pairs of doves. Both of the brides are +remarkable in this county of equestrianism for their good riding and +beauty. With true affection, Your fond father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +To his daughter Agnes, about the same time, he writes: + +“Lexington, Virginia, October 26, 1865. + +“My Dear Agnes: I will begin the correspondence of the day by +thanking you for your letter of the 9th. It will, I am sure, be to +me intellectually what my morning’s feast is corporeally. It will +strengthen me for the day, and smooth the rough points which constantly +protrude in my epistles. I am glad Robert is with you. It will be +a great comfort to him, and I hope, in addition, will dissipate his +chills. He can also accompany you in your walks and rides and be that +silent sympathy (for he is a man of few words) which is so soothing. +Though marble to women, he is so only externally, and you will find him +warm and cheering. Tell him I want him to go to see Miss Francis Galt (I +think her smile will awake some sweet music in him), and be careful to +take precautions against the return of the chills, on the 7th, 14th, and +21st days.... I want very much to have you all with me again, and +miss you dreadfully. I hope another month will accomplish it. In +the meantime, you must get very well. This is a beautiful spot +by nature--man has done but little for it. Love to all. Most +affectionately, + +“Your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +About the first week of November we all went by canal-boat to “Bremo,” + some twenty-five miles up the James River, where we remained the guests +of Doctor and Mrs. Charles Cocke until we went to Lexington. My sister +Agnes, while there, was invited to Richmond to assist at the wedding of +a very dear friend, Miss Sally Warwick. She wrote my father asking his +advice and approval, and received this reply, so characteristic of his +playful, humorous mood: + +“Lexington, Virginia, November 16, 1865. + +“My Precious Little Agnes: I have just received your letter of the 13th +and hasten to reply. It is very hard for you to apply to me to advise +you to go away from me. You know how much I want to see you, and how +important you are to me. But in order to help you to make up your mind, +if it will promote your pleasure and Sally’s happiness, I will say +go. You may inform Sally from me, however, that no preparations are +necessary, and if they were no one could help her. She has just got +to wade through it as if it was an attack of measles or anything +else--naturally. As she would not marry Custis, she may marry whom she +chooses. I shall wish her every happiness, just the same, for she knows +nobody loves her as much as I do. I do not think, upon reflection, she +will consider it right to refuse my son and take away my daughter. She +need not tell me whom she is going to marry. I suppose it is some cross +old widower, with a dozen children. She will not be satisfied at her +sacrifice with less, and I should think that would be cross sufficient. +I hope ‘Life’ is not going to desert us too, and when are we to see +you?... I have received your mother’s letter announcing her arrival at +‘Bremo.’... Tell your mother, however, to come when she chooses and when +most to her comfort and convenience. She can come to the hotel where I +am, and stay until the house is ready. There is no difficulty in that, +and she can be very comfortable. My rooms are up on the 3d floor and her +meals can be sent to her. Tell Rob the chills will soon leave him now. +Mrs. Cocke will cure him. Give much love to your mamma, Mildred, Rob, +and all at ‘Bremo.’ + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Agnes Lee.” + +Colonel Ellis, President of the James River and Kanawha Canal Company, +placed at my mother’s disposal his private boat, which enabled her to +reach “Bremo” with great ease and comfort, and when she was ready to go +to Lexington the same boat was again given her. It was well fitted up +with sleeping accommodations, carried a cook, and had a dining-room. It +corresponded to the private car of the present railroad magnate, and, +though not so sumptuous, was more roomy and comfortable. When provisions +became scarce we purchased fresh supplies from any farm-house near the +canal-bank, tied up at night, and made about four miles an hour during +the day. It was slow but sure, and no mode of travel, even at the +present day, could have suited my mother better. She was a great invalid +from rheumatism, and had to be lifted whenever she moved. When put in +her wheel-chair, she could propel herself on a level floor, or could +move about her room very slowly and with great difficulty on her +crutches, but she was always bright, sunny-tempered, and uncomplaining, +constantly occupied with her books, letters, knitting, and painting, for +the last of which she had a great talent. + +On November 20th my father writes to her from Lexington: + +“I was very glad to hear, by your letter of the 11th, of your safe +arrival at ‘Bremo.’ I feel very grateful to Col. Ellis for his +thoughtful consideration in sending you in his boat, as you made the +journey in so much more comfort. It is indeed sad to be removed from our +kind friends at ‘Oakland,’ who seemed never to tire of contributing to +our convenience and pleasure, and who even continue their kindness +at this distance. Just as the room which I had selected for you was +finished, I received the accompanying note from Mrs. Cocke, to which +I responded and thanked her in your name, placing the room at her +disposal. The paint is hardly dry yet, but will be ready this week, +to receive the furniture if completed. I know no more about it than +is contained in her note. I was also informed, last night, that a very +handsome piano had been set up in the house, brought from Baltimore by +the maker as a present from his firm or some friends. I have not seen +it or the maker. This is an article of furniture that we might well +dispense with under present circumstances, though I am equally obliged +to those whose generosity prompted its bestowal. Tell Mildred I shall +now insist on her resuming her music, and, in addition to her other +labours, she must practise SEVEN hours a day on the piano, until she +becomes sufficiently proficient to play agreeably to herself and others, +and promptly and gracefully, whenever invited. I think we should enjoy +all the amenities of life that are within our reach, and which have been +provided for us by our Heavenly Father.... I am sorry Rob has a return +of his chills, but he will soon lose them now. Ask Miss Mary to disperse +them. She is very active and energetic; they cannot stand before her.... +I hope Agnes has received my letter, and that she has made up her mind +to come up to her papa. Tell her there are plenty of weddings here, +if she likes those things. There is to be one Tuesday--Miss Mamie +Williamson to Captain Eoff. Beverley Turner is to be married the same +night, to Miss Rose Skinker, and sweet Margaret will also leave us. If +they go at three a night, there will soon be none of our acquaintances +left. I told Agnes to tell you to come up whenever most convenient to +you. If the house is habitable I will take you there. If not, will bring +you to the hotel.... I wish I could take advantage of this fine weather +to perform the journey....” + + + + + +Chapter XI -- The Idol of the South + + +Photographs and autographs in demand--The General’s interest in young +people--His happy home life--Labours at Washington College--He gains +financial aid for it--Worsley’s translation of Homer dedicated to +him--Tributes from other English scholars + + +The people of Virginia and of the entire South were continually giving +evidence of their intense love for General Lee. From all nations, even +from the Northern States, came to him marks of admiration and respect. +Just at this time he received many applications for his photograph with +autograph attached. I believe there were none of the little things in +life so irksome to him as having his picture taken in any way, but, when +able to comply, he could not refuse to do what was asked of him by those +who were willing and anxious to do so much for him. + +In the following letter the photographs referred to had been sent to him +for his signature, from a supply that my mother generally kept on hand. +She was often asked for them by those who very considerately desired to +save my father the trouble: + +“Lexington, November 21, 1865. + +“My Dear Mary: I have just received your letter of the 17th, and return +the photographs with my signatures. I wrote to you by the boat of +yesterday morning. I also sent you a packet of letters by Captain +Wilkinson [commander of the canal packet], which also ought to have +reached you to-day. I have nothing to add to my former letters, and only +write now that you may receive the photos before you leave. I answered +Agnes’ letter immediately, and inclosed her several letters. I was in +hopes she had made up her mind to eschew weddings and stick to her pap. +I do not think she can help little Sallie. Besides, she will not take +the oath--how can she get married? The wedding party from this place +go down in the boat to-night to Lynchburg--Miss Williamson and Captain +Eoff. They are to be married in church at eight P. M. and embark at +eleven. I wish them a pleasant passage and am glad I am not of the +party. The scenery along the river will no doubt be cheering and +agreeable. I think the repairs of the house will be completed this week; +should the furniture arrive, it will be habitable next. The weather +is still beautiful, which is in our favour. I am glad Caroline is so +promising. I have engaged no servant here yet, nor have I found one to +my liking, we can get some of some kind, and do better when we can. I +have heard nothing of the wedding at ‘Belmead,’ and do not think Preston +will go. Mrs. Cocke is very well, but the furniture she intends for your +room is not yet completed. It will be more comfortable and agreeable to +you to go at once to the house on your arrival. But if there is anything +to make it more desirable for you to come before the house is ready, +you must come to the hotel. If we could only get comfortable weather in +December, it would be better not to go into the house until it is dry, +the paint hard, etc. It will require all this week to get the wood done; +then it must be scoured, etc., and the furniture properly arranged. Tell +Rob he will soon be well. He must cheer up and come and see his papa. +Give my love to Mrs. Cocke, Miss Mary, etc., etc. Tell Agnes, if she +thinks Sallie is IN EXTREMIS, to go to her. I do not want her to pass +away, but it is a great disappointment to me not to have her with me. I +am getting very old and infirm now, and she had better come to her papa +and take care of him. + +“Most affectionately yours, R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +My father was always greatly interested in the love affairs of his +relatives, friends, and acquaintances. His letters during the war show +this in very many ways. One would suppose that the general commanding an +army in active operations could not find the time even to think of such +trifles, much less to write about them; but he knew of very many such +affairs among his officers and even his men, and would on occasion refer +to them before the parties themselves, very much to their surprise and +discomfiture. Bishop Peterkin, of West Virginia, who served on the +staff of General Pendleton, tells me of the following instances, in +illustration of this characteristic: + +“It was in the winter of 1863-4, when we were camped near Orange Court +House, that, meeting the General after I had come back from a short +visit to Richmond, he asked after my father, and then said, ‘Did you see +Miss ----?’ and I replied, ‘No, sir; I did not.’ Then again, ‘Did you +see Miss ----?’ and when I still replied ‘No,’ he added, with a smile, +‘How exceedingly busy you must have been.’ + +“Again--at the cavalry review at Brandy Station, on June 8, 1863--we had +galloped all around the lines, when the General took his post for the +‘march past,’ and all the staff in attendance grouped themselves about +him. There being no special orders about our positions, I got pretty +near the General. I noticed that several times he turned and looked +toward an ambulance near us, filled with young girls. At At last, after +regiments and brigades had gone by, the Horse Artillery came up. The +General turned and, finding me near him, said, ‘Go and tell that young +lady with the blue ribbon in her hat that such-and-such a battery is +coming.’ + +“I rode up and saluted the young lady. There was great surprise shown by +the entire party, as I was not known to any of them, and when I came out +with my message there was a universal shout, while the General looked +on with a merry twinkle in his eye. It was evidently the following up on +his part of some joke which he had with the young lady about an officer +in this battery.” + +My mother had arranged to start for Lexington on November 28th, via +the canal, but for some reason was prevented on that day. In his next +letter, my father, who was most anxious that she should make the journey +before the bad weather set in, expresses his disappointment at not +finding her on the packet on the expected morning. + +“Lexington, Virginia, November 20, 1865. + +“My Dear Mary: I am much disappointed that you did not arrive on the +boat last night, and as you had determined when you wrote Saturday, the +25th, to take the boat as it passed Tuesday, I fear you were prevented +either by the indisposition of yourself or of Robert’s. I shall, +however, hope that it was owing to some less distressing cause. Our +room is all ready and looks remarkably nice. Mrs. Cocke, in her great +kindness, seems to have provided everything for it that you require, and +you will have nothing to do but to take possession. The ladies have also +arranged the other rooms as far as the furniture will allow. They have +put down the carpets in the parlour, dining-room, and two chambers +upstairs, and have put furniture in one room. They have also put up +the curtains in the rooms downstairs, and put a table and chairs in +the dining-room. We have, therefore, everything which is required for +living, as soon as the crockery, etc., arrives from ‘Derwent,’ of which +as yet I have heard nothing. Neither has the furniture from Baltimore +arrived, and the season is so far advanced that we may be deprived of +that all winter. But with what we now have, if we can get that from +‘Derwent,’ we shall do very well. There is some report of the packets +between this place and Lynchburg being withdrawn from the line, which +renders me more uneasy about your journey up. This is a bright and +beautiful morning, and there is no indication of a change of weather, +but the season is very uncertain, and snow and ice may be upon us any +day. I think you had better come now the first opportunity. Do not take +the boat which passes ‘Bremo’ Saturday. It reaches Lynchburg Sunday +morning, arriving here Monday night. You would in that case have to lie +at the wharf at Lynchburg all day Sunday. I have heard of Agnes’ arrival +in Richmond, and shall be happy to have ‘Precious Life’ write me again. +I have engaged a man for the balance of the year, who professes to know +everything. He can at least make up fires, and go on errands, and attend +to the yard and stable. I have heard nothing of Jimmy. Give my kind +regards to all at ‘Bremo.’ Custis is well and went to the boat to meet +you this morning. The boat stops one and one-quarter miles from town. +Remain aboard until we come. + +“Most affectionately yours, R. E. Lee. + +“P.S.--Since writing the foregoing I have received your letter of the +28th. I shall expect you Saturday morning. R. E. L. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +At this time the packet-boat from Lynchburg to Lexington, via the James +River and Kanawha Canal, was the easiest way of reaching Lexington from +the outside world. It was indeed the only way, except by stage from +Goshen, twenty-one miles distant, a station of the Chesapeake & Ohio R. +R. The canal ran from Lynchburg to Richmond, and just after the war did +a large business. The boats were very uncertain in their schedules, and +my father was therefore very particular in his directions to my mother, +to insure her as far as he could a comfortable journey [my father was +not aware, when he wrote such explicit directions about the route, that +Colonel Ellis had again put his boat at my mother’s service]. + +We did get off at last, and after a very comfortable trip arrived at +Lexington on the morning of December 2d. My father, on Traveller, was +there to meet us, and, putting us all in a carriage, escorted us to our +new home. On arriving, we found awaiting us a delicious breakfast sent +by Mrs. Nelson, the wife of Professor Nelson. The house was in good +order--thanks to the ladies of Lexington--but rather bare of furniture, +except my mother’s rooms. Mrs. Cocke had completely furnished them, and +her loving thoughtfulness had not forgotten the smallest detail. Mrs. +Margaret J. Preston, the talented and well-known poetess, had drawn the +designs for the furniture, and a one-armed Confederate soldier had made +it all. A handsomely carved grand piano, presented by Stieff, the famous +maker of Baltimore, stood alone in the parlour. The floors were covered +with the carpets rescued from Arlington--much too large and folded +under to suit the reduced size of the rooms. Some of the bedrooms were +partially furnished, and the dining-room had enough in it to make us +very comfortable. We were all very grateful and happy--glad to get +home--the only one we had had for four long years. + +My father appeared bright and even gay. He was happy in seeing us all, +and in knowing that my mother was comfortably established near to him. +He showed us over the house, and pointed with evident satisfaction to +the goodly array of pickles, preserves, and brandy-peaches which our +kind neighbors had placed in the store-room. Indeed, for days and weeks +afterward supplies came pouring in to my mother from the people in the +town and country, even from the poor mountaineers, who, anxious to +“do something to help General Lee,” brought in hand-bags of walnuts, +potatoes, and game. Such kindness--delicate and considerate always--as +was shown to my father’s family by the people, both of the town and the +country around, not only then but to this day, has never been surpassed +in any community. It was a tribute of love and sympathy from honest and +tender hearts to the man who had done all that he could do for them. + +My father was much interested in all the arrangements of the house, even +to the least thing. He would laugh merrily over the difficulties that +appalled the rest of us. Our servants were few and unskilled, but his +patience and self-control never failed. The silver of the family had +been sent to Lexington for safe-keeping early in the war. When General +Hunger raided the Valley of Virginia and advanced upon Lexington, to +remove temptation out of his way, this silver, in two large chests, +had been intrusted to the care of the old and faithful sergeant at the +Virginia Military Institute, and he had buried it in some safe place +known only to himself. I was sent out with him to dig it up and bring it +in. We found it safe and sound, but black with mould and damp, useless +for the time being, so my father opened his camp-chest and we used +his forks, spoons, plates, etc., while his camp-stools supplied the +deficiency in seats. He often teased my sisters about their experiments +in cookery and household arts, encouraging them to renewed efforts after +lamentable failures. When they succeeded in a dish for the table, or +completed any garment with their own hands, he was lavish with his +praise. He would say: + +“You are all very helpless; I don’t know what you will do when I am +gone,” and “If you want to be missed by your friends--be useful.” + +He at once set to work to improve all around him, laid out a vegetable +garden, planted roses and shrubs, set out fruit and yard trees, made new +walks and repaired the stables, so that in a short time we were quite +comfortable and very happy. He at last had a home of his own, with his +wife and daughters around him, and though it was not the little farm in +the quiet country for which he had so longed, it was very near to it, +and it gave rest to himself and those he loved most dearly. + +His duties as president of Washington College were far from light. His +time was fully occupied, and his new position did not relieve him from +responsibility, care and anxiety. He took pains to become acquainted +with each student personally, to be really his guide and friend. Their +success gratified and pleased him, and their failures, in any degree, +pained and grieved him, and their failures, in any degree, pained and +grieved him. He felt that he was responsible for their well-doing and +progress, and he worked very hard to make them good students and useful +men. + +The grounds and buildings of the college soon began to show his care, +attention, and good taste. In all his life, wherever he happened to +be, he immediately set to work to better his surroundings. The sites +selected for his headquarter camps during the war, if occupied for +more than a day, showed his tasteful touch. When superintendent at West +Point, the improvements suggested and planned by him were going on for +the three years he remained there. Very soon after he assumed charge of +Arlington, the place showed, in its improved condition, the effects of +his energetic industry. The college at Lexington was a splendid field +for the exercise of his abilities in this line. The neighbouring +Virginia Military Institute soon followed the example he had set, and +after a year the municipal authorities of Lexington were aroused to the +necessity of bettering their streets and sidewalks, and its inhabitants +realised the need of improving and beautifying their homes. He managed +a very large correspondence, answering every letter when possible, the +greater proportion with his own hand. To the members of his own family +who were away he wrote regularly, and was their best correspondent on +home matters, telling in his charming way all the sayings and doings of +the household and the neighbours. + +My sister Agnes had gone to the wedding of Miss Warwick direct from +“Bremo,” and was in Richmond when my father sent her two of the first +letters he wrote after the arrival of my mother in Lexington: + +“Lexington, Virginia, December 5, 1865. + +“My Worrying Little Agnes: your letter of the 1st received to-night. I +have autographed the photographs and send a gross of the latter and a +lock of hair. Present my love to the recipients and thank them for their +favours. Sally is going to marry a widower. I think I ought to know, as +she refused my son, and I do not wish to know his name. I wonder if she +knows how many children he has. Tell Mr. Warwick I am sorry for him. I +do not know what he will do without his sweet daughter. Nor do I know +what I will do without her, either. Your mother has written--Mildred, +too--and I presume has told you all domestic news. Custis is promenading +the floor, Rob reading the papers, and Mildred packing her dress. Your +mamma is up to her eyes in news and I am crabbed as usual. I miss you +very much and hope this is the last wedding you will attend. Good-bye. +Love to everybody. + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Agnes Lee.” + +The other is dated nearly a month later, and from this it appears that +the wedding so often referred to is about to take place: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 3, 1866. + +“My Precious Little Agnes: I sat down to give my dear little Sally--for +she is dear to me in the broadest, highest sense of the word--the +benefit of Jeremy Taylor’s opinion on hasty marriages. But, on +reflection, I fear it would be words lost, for your mother says her +experience has taught her that when a young woman makes up her mind to +get married, you might as well let her alone. You must, therefore, just +thank her for the pretty inkstand, and say that I’ll need no reminder +of her, but I do not know when I shall make up my mind to stain it with +ink. I was very glad to receive your letter of the 26th, and to think +that you were mindful of us. I know you do not wish to be away, though +you are striving to get as far away as possible. When you reach Norfolk, +you will be so convenient to New York, whence steamers depart almost +daily for Europe. Let us know when you sail. But I do not write to +restrain your movements, though you know how solitary I am without you. +I inclose...which, with what I gave Mildred, I hope will answer your +purpose. Send me or bring me the photographs I asked for. I like them of +the last edition; they seem to take with the little school-girls, and I +have nothing else to give them. I hope you will have a safe and pleasant +trip. Tell Mr. Warwick I shall sorrow with him to-night--though I +believe Mrs. Lee is right. Remember me to all friends, and believe me, + +“Your devoted father, R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Agnes Lee.” + +The latter part of January my father was sent by the board of trustees +to Richmond to converse with the Committee on Education of the Virginia +Legislature, then in session, as to some funds of the State held by +Washington College. His mission was, I believe, successful, and great +material aid was gained. He remained no long than was absolutely +necessary, and, returning to his duties at Lexington, encountered a +severe snow-storm. The difficulties he had to overcome are described in +the following letter to his daughter Agnes, whom he had met in Richmond, +and who had gone from there to visit some friends in Norfolk: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 29, 1866. + +“My Precious Little Agnes: I have received your letter of the 17th, +transmitting the photographs, for which I am very much obliged. I +returned the one for Miss Laura Lippett, whom I wish I could see once +again. It would be more agreeable to me than any photograph. I had quite +a successful journey up, notwithstanding the storm. The snow increased +as we approached the mountains, and night had set in before we reached +Staunton. The next morning, before sunrise, in spite of the predictions +of the wise ones, I took passage on the single car which was attached to +the locomotive, and arrived at Goshen about 10 A. M., where, after some +little encouragement, the stage-driver attached his horses to the stage, +and we started slowly through the mountains, breaking the track. On +reaching the Baths, the North River was unfordable, but I was ferried +across in a skiff, with all my bundles (I picked up two more in Staunton +and one at Goshen) and packages, and took a stage detained on the +opposite bank for Lexington, where I arrived in good time. I found all +as well as usual, and disappointed at not seeing you with me, though I +was not expected. I told them how anxious you were to come with me, and +how you wanted to see them, but that you looked so wretchedly I could +not encourage you. I hope you are now in Norfolk, and that the fish and +oysters will fatten you and cure your feet!... But get strong and keep +well, and do not wear yourself out in the pursuit of pleasure. I hope +you will soon join us, and that Lexington may prove to you a happy home. +Your mother is a great sufferer, but is as quiet and uncomplaining as +ever. Mildred is active and cheerful, and Custis and I as silent as our +wont. Major Campbell Brown is here on a visit. I am surprised to find +him such a talker. I am very sorry to find that Preston Cocke has been +obliged to leave on account of his health. I have one comfort: my dear +nephew will never injure himself by studying. Do not be alarmed about +him.... Remember me to Colonel Taylor, all his mother’s family, his +wife, the Bakers, Seldens, etc. I know none of the latter but the +Doctor, for whom I have always had a great esteem. Your mother, brother, +and Mildred send their best love and kindest wishes. I am always, + +“Your devoted father, R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Agnes Lee.” + +It was at Dr. Seldon’s house that my sister was visiting. He had been +very kind in offering assistance to my father and mother. I remember +well the supper given me and several of my comrades when we were coming +back from the surrender, and while the Doctor and his family were +refugees at Liberty, now Bedford City, Va. Stopping there one night, +weary and hungry, while looking for quarters for man and beast, I got a +note asking me and my friends to come to their house. An invitation of +that kind was never refused in those days. We went and were treated as +if we had been sons of the house, the young ladies themselves waiting +on us. In the morning, when we were about to start, they filled our +haversacks with rations, and Mrs. Selden, taking me aside, offered me a +handful of gold pieces saying that she had more and that she could not +bear to think of my father’s son being without as long as she possessed +any. + +The love and devotion shown my father by all the people of the South +was deeply appreciated by him. He longed to help them, but was almost +powerless. I think he felt that something could be done in that +direction by teaching and training their youth, and I am sure this +idea greatly influenced him in deciding to accept the presidency of +Washington College. The advantages to the South of a proper education +of her youth were very evident to him. He strongly urged it wherever and +whenever he could. In a letter written at this time to the Reverend G. +W. Leyburn, he speaks very forcibly on the subject: + +“So greatly have those interests [educational] been disturbed at the +South, and so much does its future condition depend upon the rising +generation, that I consider the proper education of its youth one of +the most important objects now to be attained, and one from which the +greatest benefits may be expected. Nothing will compensate us for the +depression of the standard of our moral and intellectual culture, and +each State should take the most energetic measures to revive the +schools and colleges, and, if possible, to increase the facilities for +instruction, and to elevate the standard of learning....” + +Again, in a letter to General John B. Gordon, written December, 1867, he +says: + +“The thorough education of all classes of the people is the most +efficacious means, in my opinion, of promoting the prosperity of the +South. The material interests of its citizens, as well as their moral +and intellectual culture, depend upon its accomplishment. The +text-books of our schools, therefore, should not only be clear, +systematic, and scientific, but they should be acceptable to parents +and pupils in order to enlist the minds of all in the subjects.” + +In a letter to a friend in Baltimore he is equally earnest: + +“I agree with you fully as to the importance of a more practical course +of instruction in our schools and colleges, which, calling forth the +genius and energies of our people, will tend to develop the resources +and promote the interests of the country.” + +In many other letters at this time and later on, especially in one to +Professor Minor, who had been appointed with him upon a board by the +Educational Society of Virginia, did he urge the importance of education +for the present and future safety, welfare, and prosperity of the +country. Among the many tokens of respect and admiration, love, and +sympathy which my father received from all over the world, there was +one that touched him deeply. It was a “Translation of Homer’s Iliad +by Philip Stanhope Worsley, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, +England,” which the talented young poet and author sent him, through the +General’s nephew, Mr. Edward Lee Childe, of Paris, a special friend of +Mr. Worsley. I copy the latter’s letter to Mr. Childe, as it shows some +of the motives influencing him in the dedication of his work: + +“My Dear Friend: You will allow me in dedicating this work to you, to +offer it at the same time as a poor yet not altogether unmeaning tribute +of my reverence for your brave and illustrious uncle, General Lee. He is +the hero, like Hector of the Iliad, of the most glorious cause for which +men fight, and some of the grandest passages in the poem come to me +with yet more affecting power when I remember his lofty character and +undeserved misfortunes. The great names that your country has bequeathed +from its four lurid years of national life as examples to mankind can +never be forgotten, and among these none will be more honoured, while +history endures, by all true hears, than that of your noble relative. +I need not say more, for I know you must be aware how much I feel +the honour of associating my work, however indirectly, with one whose +goodness and genius are alike so admirable. Accept this token of my +deepest sympathy and regard, and believe me, + +“Ever most sincerely yours, + +“P. S. Worsley.” + +On the fly-leaf of the volume he sent my father was written the +following beautiful inscription: + + “To General Lee, + The most stainless of living commanders + and, except in fortune, the greatest, + this volume is presented + with the writer’s earnest sympathy + and respectful admiration + ‘... oios yap epveto Idiov Ektwp.’ + + Iliad VI--403.” + +and just beneath, by the same hand, the following beautiful verses: + + “The grand old bard that never dies, + Receive him in our English tongue! + I send thee, but with weeping eyes, + The story that he sung. + + “Thy Troy is fallen,--thy dear land + Is marred beneath the spoiler’s heel-- + I cannot trust my trembling hand + To write the things I feel. + + “Ah, realm of tears!--but let her bear + This blazon to the end of time: + No nation rose so white and fair, + None fell so pure of crime. + + “The widow’s moan, the orphan’s wail, + Come round thee; but in truth be strong! + Eternal Right, though all else fail, + Can never be made Wrong. + + “An Angel’s heart, an angel’s mouth, + Not Homer’s, could alone for me + Hymn well the great Confederate South-- + Virginia first, and LEE. + + “P. S. W.” + +His letter of thanks, and the one which he wrote later, when he heard +of the ill health of Mr. Worsley--both of which I give here--show very +plainly how much he was pleased: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 10, 1866. + +“Mr. P. S. Worsley. + +“My Dear Sir: I have received the copy of your translation of the Iliad +which you so kindly presented to me. Its perusal has been my evening’s +recreation, and I have never more enjoyed the beauty and grandeur of the +poem than as recited by you. The translation is as truthful as powerful, +and faithfully represents the imagery and rhythm of the bold original. +The undeserved compliment in prose and verse, on the first leaves of the +volume, I received as your tribute to the merit of my countrymen, who +struggled for constitutional government. + +“With great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 14, 1866. + +“My Dear Mr. Worsley: In a letter just received from my nephew, Mr. +Childe, I regret to learn that, at his last accounts from you, you +were greatly indisposed. So great is my interest in your welfare that I +cannot refrain, even at the risk of intruding upon your sickroom, from +expressing my sincere sympathy in your affliction. I trust, however, +that ere this you have recovered and are again in perfect health. Like +many of your tastes and pursuits, I fear you may confine yourself too +closely to your reading. Less mental labour and more of the fresh air +of Heaven might bring to you more comfort, and to your friends more +enjoyment, even in the way in which you now delight them. Should a visit +to this distracted country promise you any recreation, I hope I need not +assure you how happy I should be to see you at Lexington. I can give +you a quiet room, and careful nursing, and a horse that would delight to +carry you over our beautiful mountains. I hope my letter informing you +of the pleasure I derived from the perusal of your translation of +the Iliad, in which I endeavoured to express my thanks for the great +compliment you paid me in its dedication, has informed you of my high +appreciation of the work. + +“Wishing you every happiness in this world, and praying that eternal +peace may be your portion in that to come, I am most truly, Your friend +and servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +That winter, my father was accustomed to read aloud in the long evenings +to my mother and sisters “The Grand Old Bard,” equally to his own and +his listeners’ enjoyment. + +Two or three years after this, Professor George Long, of England, a +distinguished scholar, sent my father a copy of the second edition of +his “Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.” The first edition of this +translation was pirated by a Northern publisher, who dedicated the +book back to Emerson. This made Long very indignant, and he immediately +brought out a second edition with the following prefatory note: + +“...I have never dedicated a book to any man and if I dedicated this, I +should choose the man whose name seemed to me most worthy to be joined +to that of the Roman soldier and philosopher. I might dedicate the book +to the successful general who is now the President of the United States, +with the hope that his integrity and justice will restore peace and +happiness, so far as he can, to those unhappy States which have suffered +so much from war and the unrelenting hostility of wicked men. But as the +Roman poet says, + +“‘Victrix causa deis placuit, sed victa Catoni;’ + +“And if I dedicated this little book to any man, I would dedicate it +to him who led the Confederate armies against the powerful invader, and +retired from an unequal contest defeated, but not dishonoured; to the +noble Virginian soldier whose talents and virtues place him by the +side of the best and wisest man who sat on the throne of the imperial +Caesars.” + +These two nearly similar tributes came from the best cultured thought of +England, and the London Standard, speaking more for the nation at large, +says: + +“A country which has given birth to men like him, and those who followed +him, may look the chivalry of Europe in the face without shame; for +the FATHERLANDS OF SIDNEY AND BAYARD NEVER PRODUCED A NOBLER SOLDIER, +GENTLEMAN, AND CHRISTIAN THAN GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.” + +In a letter to his old friend, Mr. H. Tutweiler, of Virginia, Professor +Long sent the following message to my father, which, however, was never +received by him, it having been sent to my mother only after his death: + +“I did not answer General Lee’s letter [one of thanks for the book, sent +by Professor Long through Mr. Tutweiler], because I thought that he +is probably troubled with many letters. If you should have occasion to +write to him, I beg you will present to him my most respectful regards, +and my hope that he will leave behind him some commentary to be placed +on the same shelf with Caesar’s. I am afraid he is too modest to do +this. I shall always keep General lee’s letter, and will leave it to +somebody who will cherish the remembrance of a great soldier and a good +man. If I were not detained here by circumstances, I would cross the +Atlantic to see the first and noblest man of our days.” + +Another noble English gentleman, who had shown great kindness to the +South and who was a warm admirer of General Lee, was the Honorable A. +W. Beresford Hope. He, I think, was at the head of a number of English +gentlemen who presented the superb statue of “Stonewall” Jackson by +Foley to the State of Virginia. It now stands in the Capitol Square at +Richmond, and is a treasure of which the whole Commonwealth may justly +be proud. Through Mr. Hope, my father received a handsome copy of +the Bible, and, in acknowledgement of Mr. Hope’s letter, he wrote the +following: + +“Lexington, Virginia, April 16, 1866. + +“Honourable A. W. Beresford Hope, Bedgebury Park, Kent, England + +“Sir: I have received within a few days your letter of November 14, +1865, and had hoped that by this time it would have been followed by the +copy of the Holy Scriptures to which you refer, that I might have known +the generous donors, whose names, you state, are inscribed on its pages. +Its failure to reach me will, I fear, deprive me of that pleasure, and +I must ask the favour of you to thank them most heartily for their +kindness in providing me with a book in comparison with which all others +in my eyes are of minor importance, and which in all my perplexities has +never failed to give me light and strength. Your assurance of the esteem +in which I am held by a large portion of the British nation, as well as +by those for whom you speak, is most grateful to my feelings, though I +am aware that I am indebted to their generous natures, and not to my +own merit, for their good opinion. I beg, sir, that you will accept my +sincere thanks for the kind sentiments which you have expressed toward +me, and my unfeigned admiration of your exalted character. I am, with +great respect, + +“Your most obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + + + + + +Chapter XII -- Lee’s Opinion upon the Late War + + +His intention to write the history of his Virginia campaigns--Called +before a committee of Congress--Preaches patience and silence in the +South--Shuns controversy and publicity--Corresponds with an Englishman, +Herbert C. Saunders + + +My father had a strong desire at this time to write a history of his +campaigns. I think, however, he gradually gave it up when he saw the +great difficulties to be overcome and the labour required to produce +anything worthy of the subject, especially as he began to realise that +his strength was slowly failing--a fact which his letters indicate. Just +after the cessation of hostilities, he had taken some preliminary steps +toward acquiring the necessary material. In a circular letter which he +sent out to a great many of his general officers, he wrote: + +“I am desirous that the bravery and devotion of the Army of Northern +Virginia be correctly transmitted to posterity. This is the only tribute +that can now be paid to the worth of its noble officers and soldiers, +and I am anxious to collect the necessary information for the history +of its campaigns, including the operations in the Valley and in Western +Virginia, from its organisation to its final surrender....” + +In a letter to the Honourable W. B. Reid, of Philadelphia, he writes on +the same subject: + +“...I concur with you entirely as to the importance of a true history of +the war, and it is my purpose, unless prevented, to write the history of +the campaigns in Virginia. With this view, I have been engaged since +the cessation of hostilities in endeavouring to procure the necessary +official information. All my records, reports, returns, etc., etc., with +the headquarters of the army, were needlessly destroyed by the clerks +having them in charge on the retreat from Petersburg, and such as had +been forwarded to the War Department in Richmond were either destroyed +in the conflagration or captured at the South in the attempt to save +them. I desire to obtain some vouchers in support of my memory, or I +should otherwise have made some progress in the narrative, they have +not even my letter or order-books to which to refer. I have thought +it possible that some of my official correspondence, which would be of +value to me, might be found among the captured records in Washington, +and that General Grant, who possesses magnanimity as well as ability, +might cause me to be furnished with copies. I have, however, hesitated +to approach him on the subject, as it is one in which he would naturally +feel no interest.” + +In a letter to General Early, written in November, 1865, on the same +subject, he says: + +“...I desire, if not prevented, to write a history of the campaigns in +Virginia.... Your reports of your operations in ‘64 and ‘65 were among +those destroyed. Can not you repeat them, and send me copies of such +letters, orders, etc., of mine (including that last letter, to which +you refer), and particularly give me your recollections of our effective +strength at the principal battles? My only object is to transmit, if +possible, the truth to posterity, and do justice to our brave soldiers.” + +Here is another letter to General Early, written March 16th, containing +references to the same subject, and to two letters of General Early +which had been published in the papers. It is interesting, also, as +showing his moderation in speaking of those who had misrepresented his +words and acts: + +“My Dear General: I am very much obliged to you for the copies of my +letters, forwarded with yours of January 25th. I hope you will be able +to send me reports of the operations of your commands in the campaign, +from the Wilderness to Richmond, at Lynchburg, in the Valley, Maryland, +etc.; all statistics as regards numbers, destruction of private property +by the Federal troops, etc., I should like to have, as I wish my memory +strengthened on these points. It will be difficult to get the world to +understand the odds against which we fought, and the destruction or loss +of all returns of the army embarrass me very much. I read your letter +from Havana to the New York Times, and was pleased with the temper in +which it was written. I have since received the paper containing it, +published in the City of Mexico, and also your letter in reference to +Mr. Davis. I understand and appreciate the motives which prompted both +letters, and think they will be of service in the way you intended. I +have been much pained to see the attempts made to cast odium upon Mr. +Davis, but do not think they will be successful with the reflecting or +informed portion of the country. The accusations against myself I have +not thought proper to notice, or even to correct misrepresentations of +my words or acts. WE SHALL HAVE TO BE PATIENT and suffer for awhile at +least; and all controversy, I think, will only serve to prolong angry +and bitter feeling, and postpone the period when reason and charity +may resume their sway. At present, the public mind is not prepared +to receive the truth. The feelings which influenced you to leave the +country were natural, and, I presume, were uppermost in the breasts of +many. It was a matter which each one had to decide for himself, as +he only could know the reasons which governed him. I was particularly +anxious on your account, as I had the same apprehensions to which you +refer. I am truly glad that you are beyond the reach of annoyance, and +hope you may be able to employ yourself profitably and usefully. Mexico +is a beautiful country, fertile, of vast resources; and, with a stable +government and virtuous population, will rise to greatness. I do not +think that your letters can be construed by your former associates as +reflecting upon them, and I have never heard the least blame cast by +those who have remained upon those who thought it best to leave the +country. I think I stated in a former letter the reasons which governed +me, and will not therefore repeat them. I hope, in time, peace will be +restored to the country, and that the South may enjoy some measure of +prosperity. I fear, however, much suffering is still in store for +her, and that her people must be prepared to exercise fortitude and +forbearance. I must beg you to present my kind regards to the gentlemen +with you, and, with my best wishes for yourself and undiminished esteem, +I am, + +“Most truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +That his purpose had been heard of in the outside world is evident from +this reply to a publisher in Cincinnati: + +“Near Cartersville, Virginia, August 26, 1865. + +“Mr. Joseph Topham, Cincinnati, Ohio. + +“My Dear Sir: I have just received your letter of the 17th inst., +in reference to a history of the late war to be written by myself. +I cannot, at present, undertake such a work, but am endeavouring +to collect certain material to enable me to write a history of the +campaigns in Virginia. Its completion is uncertain, and dependent upon +so many contingencies that I think it useless to speak of arrangements +for its publication at present. Thanking you for your kind proposition, +I am, + +“Very respectfully yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +There were a great many letters of this kind from Northern publishing +houses, and his replies were all of the same character. His failure to +carry out this much cherished wish is greatly to be deplored. How much +we and our children have missed, those who know his truth and honesty of +purpose, his manliness, simplicity, and charity, can best tell. + +During the last days of February he was summoned to Washington to appear +before a committee of Congress which was inquiring into the conditions +of things in the Southern States, with a view to passing some of the +so-called reconstruction measures. His testimony was simple, direct, and +dignified, and is well worth reading by all who wish to hear the plain +truth. It was his first appearance in any city save Richmond since the +war, and being at a time of such political excitement, his visit was an +occasion of absorbing interest to the crowds then in the capital. + +When in Washington, Armanda, one of the house-servants at Arlington, +called on him but failed to see him. In answer to a letter from her, my +father replies as follows: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 9, 1866. + +“Amanda Parks. + +“Amanda: I have received your letter of the 27th ult., and regret +very much that I did not see you when I was in Washington. I heard on +returning to my room, Sunday night, that you had been to see me; and I +was sorry to have missed you, for I wished to learn how you were, and +how all the people from Arlington were getting on in the world. My +interest in them is as great now as it ever was, and I sincerely wish +for their happiness and prosperity. At the period specified in Mr. +Custis’s will--five years from the time of his death--I caused the +liberation of all the people at Arlington, as well as those at the White +House and Romancoke, to be recorded in the Hustings Court at Richmond; +and letters of manumission to be given to those with whom I could +communicate who desired them. In consequence of the war which then +existed, I could do nothing more for them. I do not know why you should +ask if I am angry with you. I am not aware of your having done anything +to give me offense, and I hope you would not say or do what was wrong. +While you lived at Arlington you behaved very well, and were attentive +and faithful to your duties. I hope you will always conduct yourself in +the same manner. Wishing you health, happiness, and success in life, I +am truly, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Shortly after his return to Lexington, he writes to Mrs. Jefferson +Davis. In this letter he expresses such noble sentiments, and is so +moderate and sensible in his views of those who were harassing him and +the South, that all who read it must profit thereby: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 23, 1866. + +“My Dear Mrs. Davis: Your letter of the 12th inst. reached Lexington +during my absence at Washington. I have never seen Mr. Colfax’s speech, +and am, therefore, ignorant of the statements it contained. Had it, +however, come under my notice, I doubt whether I should have thought it +proper to reply. I HAVE THOUGHT, FROM THE TIME OF THE CESSATION OF THE +HOSTILITIES, THAT SILENCE AND PATIENCE ON THE PART OF THE SOUTH WAS THE +TRUE COURSE; and I think so still. CONTROVERSY OF ALL KINDS will, in my +opinion, only serve to continue excitement and passion, and will prevent +the public mind from the acknowledgement and acceptance of the truth. +These considerations have kept me from replying to accusations made +against myself, and induced me to recommend the same to others. As +regards the treatment of the Andersonville prisoners, to which you +allude, I know nothing and can say nothing of my own knowledge. I never +had anything to do with any prisoners, except to send those taken on the +fields, where I was engaged, to the Provost Marshal General at Richmond. +I have felt most keenly the sufferings and imprisonment of your husband, +and have earnestly consulted with friends as to any possible mode of +affording him relief and consolation. He enjoys the sympathy and respect +of all good men; and if, as you state, his trial is now near, the +exhibition of the while truth in his case will, I trust, prove his +defense and justification. With sincere prayers for his health and +speedy restoration to liberty, and earnest supplications to God that +He may take you and yours under His guidance and protection, I am, with +great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +In further illustration of these views, held so strongly by him and +practised so faithfully throughout his life, the following, written to a +gentleman in Baltimore, is given: + +“Lexington, Virginia, April 13, 1866. + +“My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 5th inst., inclosing a slip from the +Baltimore “American,” has been received. The same statement has been +published at the North for several years. The statement is not true; but +I have not thought proper to publish a contradiction, being unwilling to +be drawn into a newspaper discussion, believing that those who know me +would not credit it and those who do not would care nothing about it. I +cannot now depart from the rule I have followed. It is so easy to make +accusations against the people at the South upon similar testimony, +that those so disposed, should one be refuted, will immediately create +another; and thus you would be led into endless controversy. I think +it better to leave their correction to the return of reason and good +feeling. + +“Thanking you for your interest in my behalf, and begging you to +consider my letter as intended only for yourself, I am, + +“Most respectfully your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +In this connection I give the following letter thanking Mr. Burr for a +copy of the “Old Guard” which he had sent him, and showing also what, +in his opinion, the South had fought for, and of what true republicanism +consists: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 5, 1866. + +“Mr. C. Chauncey Burr. + +“My Dear Sir: I am very much obliged to you for your letter of the 27th +ult., and for the number of the ‘Old Guard’ which you kindly sent me. I +am glad to know that the intelligent and respectable people at the North +are true and conservative in their opinions, for I believe by no other +course can the right interests of the country be maintained. All that +the South has ever desired was that the Union, as established by our +forefathers, should be preserved, and that the government as originally +organised should be administered in purity and truth. If such is +the desire of the North, there can be no contention between the two +sections, and all true patriots will unite in advocating that policy +which will soonest restore the country to tranquility and order, and +serve to perpetuate true republicanism. Please accept my thanks for your +advocacy of right and liberty and the kind sentiments which you express +toward myself, and believe me to be, with great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +An interesting view of my father’s desire to keep himself from public +attention is shown by his correspondence with an English gentleman, +Mr. Herbert C. Saunders. The connected interview states his opinions on +several points which are valuable. The copy of these papers was kindly +furnished me by Mr. John Lyle Campbell, the Proctor of Washington and +Lee University: + +“Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, January 19, 1900. + +“Capt. Robert E. Lee, West Point, Virginia. + +“Dear Capt. Lee: I inclose the copy promised you of the papers found in +General Lee’s desk. The paper seems to have had his careful revision, as +there are a good many passages stricken out and a good many insertions +in what seems to me undoubtedly to be his handwriting; and I was +very much interested in the changes that he made, as they were most +characteristic of him--toning everything down, striking out adjectives, +turning phrases from a personal to a general character, and always +adding simplicity and force to the original. It seems to me most likely +that he was a first disposed to allow the publication, but declined at +last, on August 22d, the full limit of time indicated in Mr. Saunders’s +letter. I am Yours truly, + +“(Dict.) Jno. L. Campbell.” + +The papers of which the following are copies were found in General +Robert E. Lee’s desk in the President’s office at Washington and +Lee University. On the envelope in which they were inclosed was the +following indorsement in General Lee’s handwriting: + +“London, July 31, 1866. + +“Herbert C. Sanders asks permission to publish his conversation with me. +August 22d--Refused.” + +“3 Bolton Gardens, South Kensington, London, July 31, 1866. + +“My Dear General Lee: Presuming on the acquaintance with you which I +had the honour and pleasure of making last November at Lexington, +while travelling in Virginia, I venture now to write to you under these +circumstances. You may remember that, at the time I presented to you my +letter of introduction, I told you that two other Englishmen, friends of +mine, who had come with me to America, were then making a tour through +Georgia, the Carolinas, and some other Southern States. One of them, Mr. +Kennaway, was so much interested with all he saw, and the people at +home have appreciated his letters descriptive of it so well, that he is +intending to publish a short account of his visit. Not having, however, +had an introduction to yourself, he is anxious to avail himself of the +somewhat full accounts I wrote home at the time, descriptive of my most +interesting interview with you, and, with this view, he has asked me +to put into the shape of a letter all those more prominent points which +occur to me as gathered from my letters and my recollection, and which +are likely to interest and instruct the English public. I have, after +some hesitation, acceded to the request--a hesitation caused mainly by +the fact that at the time I saw you I neither prepared my notes with a +view to publication nor did I inform you that there was any chance of +what you told me being repeated. I may add that I never until a month or +two ago had the slightest thought of publishing anything, and, in fact, +have constantly resisted the many applications by my friends that I +should let my letters see the light. My object in now writing to you +is to know whether you have any objection to my giving my friend the +inclosed short account of our interview, as it would, I am convinced, +add greatly to the interest of the narrative. If you have no objection +to this, perhaps you would kindly correct any statements put into your +mouth which are not quite accurate, or expunge anything which might +prejudice you with the public either of the North or the South, if +unluckily anything of this nature should have crept in. My letters, +were written a day or two after the conversation, but you had so much of +interest and new to tell me that I do not feel sure that I may not have +confused names of battles, etc., in some instances. It will be necessary +for me to deliver my part of the performance early in September to the +publishers, and, therefore, I should feel much obliged by your sending +me an answer at your earliest convenience. There will be a mail due here +about the first of that month, leaving the United States on Wednesday, +the 22d, and I shall, therefore, wait till its arrival before sending +my letter to Mr. Kennaway; but should I not hear from you then I shall +consider you have no objections to make or alterations to suggest, and +act accordingly. If you have any new facts which you think it desirable +should be known by the public, it will give me much pleasure to be the +medium of their communication. + +“I am sure I need scarcely tell you with what keen interest I have read +all the accounts from your continent of the proceedings in Congress +and elsewhere in connection with the reconstruction of the South. I do +sincerely trust it may be eventually effected in a way satisfactory to +the South, and I most deeply deplore the steps taken by the Radical +side of the House to set the two (North and South) by the ears again. +President Johnson’s policy seems to me to be that which, if pursued, +would be most likely to contribute to the consolidation of the country; +but I am both surprised and pained to find how little power the +Executive has against so strong a faction as the Radicals, who, while +they claim to represent the North, do, in fact, but misrepresent the +country. I am sure you will believe that I say with sincerity that I +always take great interest in anything I hears said or that I read of +yourself, and I am happy to say that, even with all the rancour of the +Northern Radicals against the South, it is little they find of ill to +say of you. + +“Hoping you will not think I am doing wrong in the course I propose +to take, and that your answer may be satisfactory, I remain, my dear +General Lee, + +“Yours very sincerely, Herbert C. Saunders. + +“General Robert E. Lee.” + +“Lexington, Virginia, August 22, 1866. + +“Mr. Herbert C. Saunders, + +“3 Bolton Gardens, South Kensington, London, England. + +“My Dear Mr. Saunders: I received to-day your letter of the 31st ult. +What I stated to you in conversation, during the visit which you did +me the honour to pay me in November last, was entirely for your own +information, and was in no way intended for publication. My only object +was to gratify the interest which you apparently evinced on the several +topics which were introduced, and to point to facts which you might +investigate, if you so desired, in your own way. I have an objection to +the publication of my private conversations, which are never intended +but for those to whom they are addressed. I cannot, therefore, without +an entire disregard of the rule which I have followed in other cases, +and in violation of my own sense of propriety, assent to what you +propose. I hope, therefore, you will excuse me. What you may think +proper to publish I hope will be the result of your own observations and +convictions, and not on my authority. In the hasty perusal which I have +been obliged to give the manuscript inclosed to me, I perceive many +inaccuracies, resulting as much, from my imperfect narrative as from +misapprehension on your part. Though fully appreciating your kind wish +to correct certain erroneous statements as regards myself, I prefer +remaining silent to doing anything that might excite angry discussion at +this time, when strong efforts are being made by conservative men, North +and South, to sustain President Johnson in his policy, which, I think, +offers the only means of healing the lamentable divisions of the +country, and which the result of the late convention at Philadelphia +gives great promise of doing. Thanking you for the opportunity afforded +me of expressing my opinion before executing your purpose, I am, etc., + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The following is Mr. Saunders’ account of the interview: + +“On only one subject would he take at any length about his own conduct, +and that was with reference to the treatment of the Federal prisoners +who had fallen into his hands. He seemed to feel deeply the backhanded +stigma cast upon him by his having been included by name in the first +indictment framed against Wirz, though he was afterward omitted from +the new charges. He explained to me the circumstances under which he had +arranged with McClellan for the exchange of prisoners; how he had, after +the battles of Manassas, Fredericksburg, and (I think) Chancellorsville, +sent all the wounded over to the enemy on the engagement of their +generals to parole them. He also told me that on several occasions his +commissary generals had come to him after a battle and represented +that he had not rations enough both for prisoners and the army when the +former had to be sent several days’ march to their place of confinement, +and he had always given orders that the wants of the prisoners should be +first attended to, as from their position they could not save themselves +from starvation by foraging or otherwise, as the army could when in +straits for provisions. The General also explained how every effort had +always been made by the Confederates to do away with the necessity of +retaining prisoners by offering every facility for exchange, till at +last, when all exchange was refused, they found themselves with 30,000 +prisoners for whom they were quite unable to do as much as they wished +in the way of food. He stated, furthermore, that many of their hardships +arose from the necessity of constantly changing the prisons to prevent +recapture. With the management of the prisons he assured me he had no +more to do than I had, and did not even know that Wirz was in charge of +Andersonville prison (at least, I think he asserted this) till after the +war was over. I could quite sympathise with him in his feeling of pain +under which his generous nature evidently suffered that the +authorities at Washington should have included him and others similarly +circumstanced in this charge of cruelty at the time that letters written +by himself (General Lee), taken in Richmond when captured, complaining +that the troops in his army had actually been for days together on +several occasions without an ounce of meat, were in possession of the +military authorities. + +“When discussing the state of feeling in England with regard to the war, +he assured me that it had all along given him the greatest pleasure to +feel that the Southern cause had the sympathies of so many in the ‘old +country,’ to which he looked as a second home; but, in answer to +my questions, he replied that he had never expected us to give them +material aid, and added that he thought all governments were right in +studying only the interests of their own people and in not going to war +for an ‘idea’ when they had no distinct cause of quarrel. + +“On the subject of slavery, he assured me that he had always been in +favour of the emancipation of the negroes, and that in Virginia the +feeling had been strongly inclining in the same direction, till the +ill-judged enthusiasm (accounting to rancour) of the abolitionists +in the North had turned the southern tide of feeling in the other +direction. In Virginia, about thirty years ago, an ordinance for the +emancipation of the slaves had been rejected by only a small majority, +and every one fully expected at the next convention it would have been +carried, but for the above cause. He went on to say that there was +scarcely a Virginian new who was not glad that the subject had been +definitely settled, though nearly all regretted that they had not been +wise enough to do it themselves the first year of the war. Allusion was +made by him to a conversation he had with a distinguished countryman of +mine. He had been visiting a large slave plantation (Shirley) on the +James River. The Englishman had told him that the working population +were better cared for there than in any country he had ever visited, but +that he must never expect an approval of the institution of slavery +by England, or aid from her in any cause in which that question was +involved. Taking these facts and the well-known antipathy of the mass +of the English to the institution in consideration, he said he had never +expected help from England. The people ‘at the South’ (as the expression +is), in the main, though scarcely unanimously, seem to hold much the +same language as General Lee with reference to our neutrality, and to be +much less bitter than Northerners generally--who, I must confess, in my +own opinion, have much less cause to complain of our interpretation of +the laws of neutrality than the South. I may mention here, by way of +parenthesis, that I was, on two separate occasions (one in Washington +and once in Lexington), told that there were many people in the country +who wished that General Washington had never lived and that they were +still subjects of Queen Victoria; but I should certainly say as a rule +the Americans are much too well satisfied with themselves for this +feeling to be at all common. General Lee, in the course of this to me +most interesting evening’s seance, gave me many details of the war too +long to put on paper, but, with reference to the small result of their +numerous victories, accounted for it in this way: the force which the +Confederates brought to bear was so often inferior in numbers to that +of the Yankees that the more they followed up the victory against one +portion of the enemy’s line the more did they lay themselves open to +being surrounded by the remainder of the enemy. He likened the operation +to a man breasting a wave of the sea, who, as rapidly as he clears a way +before him, is enveloped by the very water he has displaced. He spoke of +the final surrender as inevitable owing to the superiority in numbers +of the enemy. His own army had, during the last few weeks, suffered +materially from defection in its ranks, and, discouraged by failures and +worn out by hardships, had at the time of the surrender only 7,892 +men under arms, and this little army was almost surrounded by one of +100,000. They might, the General said with an air piteous to behold, +have cut their way out as they had done before, but, looking upon +the struggle as hopeless, I was not surprised to hear him say that +he thought it cruel to prolong it. In two other battles he named +(Sharpsburg and Chancellorsville, I think he said), the Confederates +were to the Federals in point of numbers as 35,000 to 120,000 and 45,000 +to 155,000 respectively, so that the mere disparity of numbers was not +sufficient to convince him of the necessity of surrender; but feeling +that his own army was persuaded of the ultimate hopelessness of +the contest as evidenced by their defection, he took the course of +surrendering his army in lieu of reserving it for utter annihilation. + +“Turning to the political bearing of the important question at issue, +the great Southern general gave me, at some length, his feelings with +regard to the abstract right of secession. This right, he told me, was +held as a constitutional maxim at the South. As to its exercise at the +time on the part of the South, he was distinctly opposed, and it was not +until Lincoln issued a proclamation for 75,000 men to invade the South, +which was deemed clearly unconstitutional, that Virginia withdrew from +the United States. + +“We discussed a variety of other topics, and, at eleven o’clock when I +rose to go, he begged me to stay on, as he found the nights full long. +His son, General Custis Lee, who had distinguished himself much during +the war, but whom I had not the good fortune of meeting, is the only one +of his family at present with him at Lexington, where he occupies the +position of a professor in the Military Institute of Virginia. This +college had 250 cadets in it when the war broke out, General ‘Stonewall’ +Jackson being one of the professors. At one moment in the war, when the +Federal were advancing steadily up the Shenandoah Valley, these youths +(from 16 to 22 years of age) were marched to join the Confederate Army, +and did good service. In one battle at Newmarket, of which I shall have +occasion to speak later in my letters, they distinguished themselves in +a conspicuous way under the leadership of Colonel Shipp, who is still +their commandant. By a brilliant charge, they contributed, in a great +measure, to turn the tide of affairs, losing nine of their number killed +and more than forty wounded. General Hunter, on a subsequent occasion, +when occupying Lexington with a body of Federal troops, quartered his +men in the Military Institute for several days, and, on leaving, had the +building--a very handsome and extensive one--fired in numerous places, +completely destroying all but the external walls, which now stand. The +professors’ houses stood in detached positions, and these, too, with the +house of Mr. Letcher, a former governor of the State, he also burnt to +the ground. The Washington college, the presidency of which General Lee +now holds, they also ransacked, destroying everything it contained, and +were preparing it for the flames, to which they were with difficulty +restrained from devoting it by earnest representations of its strictly +educational nature.” + + + + + +Chapter XIII -- Family Affairs + + +The General writes to his sons--To his wife at Rockbridge Baths--He +joins her there about once a week--Distinguished and undistinguished +callers at his Lexington home--He advocates early hours--His fondness +for animals + + +I had before this time gone to my farm in King William County and +started out in life as a farmer. As there was nothing but the land and a +few old buildings left, for several years I had a very up-hill time. My +father encouraged, advised me, and gave me material aid. His letters +to me at this time will show the interest he took in my welfare. In one +written March 16, 1866, after advising me as to steps to be taken in +repairing an old mill on the place, he writes: + +“I am clear for your doing everything to improve your property and make +it remunerative as far as you can. You know my objections to incurring +debt. I cannot overcome it.... I hope you will overcome your chills, and +by next winter you must patch up your house, and get a sweet wife. You +will be more comfortable, and not so lonesome. Let her bring a cow and +a churn. That will be all you will want.... Give my love to Fitzhugh. I +wish he were regularly established. He cannot afford to be idle. He will +be miserable.” + +My brother Fitzhugh, here referred to, was negotiating to rent his farm, +the White House, to some so-called English capitalists, and had not as +yet established himself. In another letter to me, of May 26, 1866, my +father says: + +“...I will state, at the outset, that I desire you to consider Romancoke +with its appurtenances your own; to do with as you consider most to your +interest; to sell, farm, or let; subject, however, to the conditions +imposed by your grandfather’s will, as construed by the decree of the +Court of Appeals of Virginia, which declares, ‘If the legacies are not +paid off by the personal property, hires of slaves, rents, and sale of +the real estate, charged with their payment, at the end of five years, +the portion unpaid remains a charge upon the White House and Romancoke +until paid. The devisees take their estates cum onere.’ + +“The result of the war having deprived the estates of the benefit of +the hire of the slaves and the sale of Smith’s Island, and the personal +property having all been swept off by the Federal armies, there is +nothing left but the land of the two estates named. A court might +make some deduction from the amount of the legacies to be paid in +consideration of these circumstances, and I should think it would be +fair to do so. But of that I cannot say. Now, with this understanding, +make your own arrangements to suit yourself, and as you may determine +most conducive to your interests. In confirming your action, as the +executor or your grandfather, I must, however, take such measures as +may be necessary to carry out the purpose of his will.... If you are +determined to hold the estate, I think you ought to make it profitable. +As to the means of doing so, you must decide for yourself. I am unable +to do it for you, and might lead you astray. Therefore, while always +willing to give you any advice in my power, in whatever you do you must +feel that the whole responsibility rests with you.... I wish, my dear +son, I could be of some advantage to you, but I can only give you my +love and earnest prayers, and commit you to the keeping of that God who +never forgets those who serve Him. May He watch over and preserve you. + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +In another letter, of June 13th, after telling me of the visit of a +cousin of my mother’s and how much gratification it was to have her with +them, he regrets that he son, who brought his mother up to Lexington, +had to hurry home on account of having left his wife and little son: + +“...When you have such pleasing spurs in your flanks, I hope you may be +on the fair road to prosperity. All unite in love to you and Fitzhugh. +Ask the latter if George has yet found a horse to trade with the gray. +We miss him very much [my brother had recently visited Lexington], +and want to see you as badly. You may judge how poorly we are off. The +examination has commenced at Washington College. Three days are over +successfully, and I hope to finish in twelve more. ---- has been up in +two subjects, and not got thrown. He has two more. But, in the meantime, +I am much occupied, and will be confined all day. I have no time for +letters of affection, so must tell you good-bye. + +“Most affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +This was the first final examination at Washington College since my +father became its president. He worked very hard, and was kept busy +attending to all the details and the putting into practice of several +new methods and systems he had introduced. + +That summer he took my mother to the Rockbridge Baths, about eleven +miles from Lexington, to give her the benefit of the waters, which, he +hoped, might give her some relief from the continual pain she suffered. +She did derive benefit, but, unfortunately, had a fall which seriously +impeded the improvement. In reply to a note from my mother telling him +of her misfortune and asking him to send her some medicines, he writes +the following note: + +“Lexington, Virginia, August 10, 1866. + +“My Dear Mary: On receiving your note, yesterday, I had only time to get +the arnica and send it by the stage. I am very sorry that you received +such a fall, and fear it must have been a heavy shock to you. I am, +however, very thankful that you escaped greater injury, and hope it +is no worse than you describe. I will endeavour to get down to see you +to-morrow evening, and trust I may find you somewhat relieved from its +effects. We are pretty well here. Many people are out of town, and I +have not seen those who are in. Love to the girls. + +“Truly and affectionately yours, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +My father was still very busy with his college work, and, after +establishing her there, spent most of the time in Lexington, riding +Traveller over to see her whenever he could get a spare day. Among the +few letters preserved of those written to her at this time, I have a +note of July 16th: + +“My Dear Mary: I am glad to see by your letter of yesterday that you are +recovering so well from your fall. I hope you may soon be well again.... +Caroline [the cook] got back this morning. Left her daughter better. +Says there is a very good girl in Lynchburg, from General Cocke’s +estate, anxious to live with us. I shall have more conversation with her +[Caroline], and, if satisfied, will write for her, by the boat to-night. +Her father is in Lynchburg, and anxious for her to come.... Tell Mrs. +Cabell I am sorry to have missed seeing her. Where is Katie? I wish she +would send her to see me. I will endeavour to find some one to carry +this to you. Love to all. + +“Very affectionately and truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The mails in those days were not very direct, and private messenger was +often the surest and speediest method of letter-carriage. In the absence +of my mother, my father was trying to better the staff of servants. +Their inefficiency was the drawback to our comfort then, as it is now. +Often the recommendation of some was only the name of the estate from +which they came. A few days later, my father writes again: + +“Lexington, Virginia, July 20, 1866. + +“My Dear Mary: I was glad to receive your note this morning, and wish +it could have reported a marked improvement in your health. But that, I +trust, will come in time. It has been impossible for me to return to you +this week, and, indeed, I do not see how I can absent myself at all. I +shall endeavour to go to the Baths Monday, and hope during the week you +may be able to determine whether it would be more advantageous for you +to remain there or go further, as I shall have to return here as soon as +I can. I can accomplish nothing while absent. Custis ahs determined to +accompany Mr. Harris to the White Sulphur Monday, and the girls seem +indifferent about leaving home. They ask, properly, what is to become of +it? Mr. Pierre Chouteau, son of Julia Gratiot and Charles Chouteau, will +hand you this. He will remain over Sunday at the Baths, and can tell you +all about St. Louis. I send such letters as have come for you. I have +no news. The heat seems to extend everywhere, but it will be cool enough +after a time. We are as usual, except that ‘Aunt’ Caroline [the cook] +seems more overcome, and Harriet [the maid] indulges in lighter attire. +I fear Mrs. Myers had an awful time. The Elliotts do not seem in haste +to leave town. They are waiting for a cool day to go to the Natural +Bridge, and do not seem to have decided whether to go to the Baths +or Alum Springs. We had an arrival last night from the latter +place--General Colquit and daughters. They return to-morrow. The +girls will write of domestic matters. I received a letter from Rob at +Romancoke. He is still taking cholagogue, but well. Nothing of interest +has occurred. + +“Affectionately yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Cholagogue was a fever-and-argue remedy of which I partook largely at +that time. After this letter, my sisters joined my mother at the Baths, +my father still spending most of his time in Lexington, but riding over +to see them whenever he could. He was very busy repairing some of +the old buildings of the college and arranging his work for the next +session. Here is another short note to my mother: + +“Lexington, Virginia, August 2, 1866. + +“My Dear Mary: Mr. Campbell has just informed me that Cousins George and +Eleanor Goldsborough are with you. Tell them they must not go till I can +get to the Baths. I think the waters of the latter will do them as much +good as anything they can try, and the sight of them will do me great +benefit. I find here much to do, but will endeavour to be with you +to-morrow evening or Saturday morning. Custis has just come, but finding +me occupied with builders, shook hands, got his dinner, and left for the +Institute. So I do not know where he is from or where he will go next. +Our neighbours are generally well, and inquire for you. Colonel Reid +better. Tell the girls, if I find them improving, I will bring them +something. Remember me to Cousins George and Eleanor and all the ladies. +I have about a bushel of letters to answer and other things to do. + +“Very affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +On one of his visits to my mother, he took advantage of the comparative +quiet and rest there and wrote me a long letter, which I give her in +full: + +“Rockbridge Baths, July 28, 1866. + +“My Dear Robert: I was very glad to see from your letter of the 2d +the progress you are making in your farm. I hope things may move +prosperously with you, but you must not expect this result without +corresponding attention and labour. I should like very much to visit +you, but it will be impossible. I have little time for anything but +my business. I am here with your mother, waiting to see the effects of +these waters upon her disease, before proceeding to the Warm Springs. +She is pleased with the bath, which she finds very agreeable, and it +has reduced the swelling in her feet and ankles, from which she has +been suffering for a long time, and, in fact, from her account, entirely +removed it. This is a great relief in itself, and, I hope, may be +followed by greater. I do not think she moves with more facility, though +I think she walks [on her crutches] oftener and longer than heretofore, +and probably with more confidence. She has been her too short a time to +pronounce positively as to the effects of the water, and will have +to remain three or four weeks before we determine whether she will go +further. I am unwilling for her to lose the whole summer here unless it +promises some advantage, and, after the middle of next week, unless some +marked change takes place, shall take her to the Warm Springs. Custis +has gone to the White Sulphur, but expects to be in Richmond on August +6th to meet Fitzhugh, with the view of going to the Warrenton White +Sulphur Springs in North Carolina, to witness the erection of a monument +over dear Annie, which the kind people of that country have prepared for +the purpose. My attendance on your mother, which is necessary, prevents +my being present. Agnes and Mildred are here. I think the baths have +been beneficial to them already, though they have not been here a week. +I will leave them to describe the place and visitors. I applied the +dressing of salt to the old meadow at Arlington with the view of +renovating the grass. I believe it is equally good for corn. It was +refuse salt--Liverpool--which I bought cheaply in Alexandria from the +sacks having decayed and broken, but I cannot recollect exactly how much +I applied to the acre. I think it was about two or three bushels to the +acre. You had better consult some work on farming as to the quantity. +I would advise you to apply manure of some kind to all your land. I +believe there is nothing better or cheaper for you to begin with than +shell lime. I would prefer cultivating less land manured in some way +than a large amount unassisted. We are always delighted to hear from +you, and I trust with care you may escape the chills. The incentives I +spoke of were a sweet wife and child. God bless you, my dear son. + +“Most affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +My mother continued to improve so much that she did not go that summer +to the Warm Springs. My father spent most of his time in Lexington, but +rode over to the Baths about once a week. There was nothing he enjoyed +more than a good long ride on Traveller. It rested him from the cares +and worries incident to his duties, and gave him renewed energy for his +work. He was often seen that summer along the eleven miles of mountain +road between Lexington and the Baths. He made himself acquainted +with the people living near it, talked to them about their affairs, +encouraged and advised them, and always had a cheery greeting and a +pleasant word for them. The little children along his route soon became +acquainted with the gray horse and his stately rider. College reopened +the last of September and by October he had his wife and daughters +with him again. He write to me on October 18th, trying to help me in my +agricultural perplexities: + +“...Am glad to hear that you are well and progressing favourably. Your +Uncle Smith says, in a letter just received in which he writes of his +difficulties and drawbacks, ‘I must tell you that if you desire to +succeed in any matter relating to agriculture you must personally +superintend and see to everything.’ Perhaps your experience coincides +with his. + +“I hope your wheat will reimburse you for your labour and guano. I think +you are right in improving your land. You will gain by cultivating +less and cultivating that well, and I would endeavour to manure every +crop--as to the kind of manure which will be the most profitable, you +must experiment. Lime acts finely on your land and is more lasting than +guano. If you can, get shells to burn on your land, or, if not, shell +lime from Baltimore. I think you would thereby more certainly and more +cheaply restore your fields. I hope your sale of ship-timber may place +you in funds to make experiments. You will have to attend to your +contractors. They will generally bear great attention, and then +circumvent you.... I hope I shall see you this winter, when we can talk +over the matter. We are pretty well. Your mother is better by her visit +to the Baths. Mildred talks of going to the Eastern Shore of Maryland +next month, and I fear will be absent from us all winter. I must refer +you to your sisters for all news. They are great letter-writers, and +their correspondence extends over the globe. Miss Etta Seldon is with +us. All our summer visitors have gone, and some who, I hoped, would have +visited us have not come.... Good-bye, my dear son. God bless you.... + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“Robert E. Lee, Jr.” + +My uncle, Smith Lee, was farming on the Potomac, and was constantly +sending me messages of condolence through my father. Our experiences +were the same as all others starting to farm under the new order of +things. My father was very hospitable, and it delighted him to have +his relatives and friends come and see him. So many kindnesses had been +shown to himself and family for the last five years that he greatly +enjoyed this, his first opportunity of greeting in his own home those +who had so often offered my mother and sisters the shelter of theirs. +The country around Lexington was most beautiful, and the climate in +the summer and autumn all that could be desired. So, at those seasons, +whenever he was at home, there was generally some one visiting him, +nearly always relatives or old and dear friends. He entertained very +simply, made every one feel at home, and was always considerate and +careful of the amusement and welfare of his guests. + +People came from all over the world to Lexington to see him. Amongst the +visitors from afar were the marquis of Lorne and the Hon. Mr. Cooper, +who were on a tour through the United States. They came to Lexington to +see General Lee. When they called at the house there happened to be no +servant at hand, and my father, meeting them at the door, received +their cards. Not having on his glasses, he could not read the names, but +ushered the strangers into the parlour, and presented them to Mrs. Lee, +without calling their names. My mother thought the tall, slender youth +was a new student, and entered into conversation with him as such. +Struck by his delicate appearance, she cautioned him against the harsh +winter climate of the mountains, and urged him to be careful of his +health. On this, Mr. Cooper explained who his companion was, and there +was much amusement over the mistake. + +The professors and students of the two institutions of learning were +constant visitors, especially in the evenings, when young men came to +see the girls. If his daughters had guests, my father usually sat with +my mother in the dining-room adjoining the drawing-room. When the clock +struck ten he would rise and close the shutters carefully and slowly, +and, if that hint was not taken, he would simply say “Good night, young +gentlemen.” The effect was immediate and lasting, and his wishes in that +matter, finally becoming generally known, were always respected. Captain +W., who had very soon found out the General’s views as to the time of +leaving, was told on one occasion that General Lee had praised him very +much. + +“Do you know why?” said the Captain. “It is because I have never been +caught in the parlour at ten o’clock. I came very near it least night, +but got into the porch before the General shut the first blind. That’s +the reason he calls me ‘a fine young man.’” + +A young friend who was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute called +on my sisters one evening, and remarked, just for something to say: + +“Do you know this is the first civilian’s house I have entered in +Lexington.” + +My father was in the room in the room in his gray Confederate coat, +shorn of the buttons; also my two brothers, Custis and Fitzhugh, both +of whom had been generals in the Confederate Army; so there was quite a +laugh over the term CIVILIAN. I have already mentioned how particular my +father was about answering all letters. It was a great tax on his time, +and some of them must have been a trial to his temper. The following +will explain itself: + +“Lexington, Virginia, September 5, 1866. + +“A. J. Requier, 81 Cedar St., New York. + +“My Dear Sir: I am very much obliged to you for your kind letter of the +22d ult. So many articles formerly belonging to me are scattered over +the country that I fear I have not time to devote to their recovery. +I know no one in Buffalo whom I could ask to reclaim the Bible in +question. If the lady who has it will use it, as I hope she will, +she will herself seek to restore it to the rightful owner. I will, +therefore, leave the decision of the question to her and her conscience. +I have read with great pleasure the poem you sent me, and thank you +sincerely for your interest in my behalf. With great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Here is another one of many of a similar character: + +“Lexington, Virginia, September 26, 1866. + +“Mr. E. A. Pollard, 104 West Baltimore St., Baltimore, Md. + +“Dear Sir: I return you my thanks for the compliment paid me by your +proposition to write a history of my life. It is a hazardous undertaking +to publish the life of any one while living, and there are but few who +would desire to read a true history of themselves. Independently of +the few national events with which mine has been connected, it presents +little to interest the general reader, nor do I know where to refer you +for the necessary materials. All my private, as well as public, records +have been destroyed or lost, except what is to be found in published +documents, and I know of nothing available for the purpose. Should you, +therefore, determine to undertake the work, you must rely upon yourself, +as my time is so fully occupied that I am unable to promise you any +assistance. + +“Very respectfully, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +This autumn my sister Mildred paid a visit to our cousins, Mr. and Mrs. +George Golsborough, living at “Ashby,” near Easton, on the Eastern Shore +of Maryland. She remained away there and elsewhere for several months. +My father’s letters to her, many of which have been preserved, are most +interesting. They show very plainly many beautiful phases of his noble +character and disposition: + +“Lexington, Virginia, December 21, 1866. + +“My Precious Life: I was very glad to receive your letter of the 15th +inst., and to learn that you were well and happy. May you be always as +much so as is consistent with your welfare here and hereafter, is my +daily prayer. I was much pleased, too, that, while enjoying the kindness +of your friends, we were not forgotten. Experience will teach you that, +notwithstanding all appearances to the contrary, you will never receive +such a love as is felt for you by your father and mother. That lives +through absence, difficulties, and times. Your own feelings will teach +you how it should be returned and appreciated. I want to see you very +much, and miss you at every turn, yet am glad of this opportunity for +you to be with those who, I know, will do all in their power to give you +pleasure. I hope you will also find time to read and improve your mind. +Read history, works of truth, not novels and romances. Get correct views +of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable +you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave +without regret. Your friends here inquire constantly after you, and wish +for your return. Mrs. White and Mrs. McElwee particularly regret +your absence, and the former sends especial thanks for your letter of +remembrance. We get on in our usual way. Agnes takes good care of us, +and is very thoughtful and attentive. She has not great velocity, but is +systematic and quiet. After to-day, the mornings will begin to lengthen +a little, and her trials to lessen. It is very cold, the ground is +covered with six inches of snow, and the mountains, as far as the eye +can reach in every direction, elevate their white crests as monuments +of winter. This is the night for the supper for the repairs to +the Episcopal church. Your mother and sisters are busy with their +contributions. It is to take place at the hotel, and your brother, +cousins, and father are to attend. On Monday night (24th), the supper +for the Presbyterian church is to be held at their lecture-room. They +are to have music and every attraction. I hope both may be productive +of good. But you know the Episcopalians are few in numbers and light in +purse, and must be resigned to small returns.... I must leave to your +sisters a description of these feasts, and also an account of the +operation of the Reading Club. As far as I can judge, it is a great +institution for the discussion of apples and chestnuts, but is quite +innocent of the pleasures of literature. It, however, brings the young +people together, and promotes sociability and conversation. Our feline +companions are flourishing. Young Baxter is growing in gracefulness and +favour, and gives cat-like evidences of future worth. He possesses the +fashionable colour of ‘moonlight on the water,’ apparently a dingy hue +of the kitchen, and is strictly aristocratic in appearance and conduct. +Tom, surnamed ‘The Nipper,’ from the manner in which he slaughters our +enemies, the rats and the mice, is admired for his gravity and sobriety, +as well as for his strict attention to the pursuits of his race. They +both feel your absence sorely. Traveller and Custis are both well, and +pursue their usual dignified gait and habits, and are not led away by +the frivolous entertainments of lectures and concerts. All send united +love, and all wish for your return. Remember me most kindly to Cousins +Eleanor and George, John, Mary, Ida, and all at ‘Myrtle Grove,’ and to +other kind friends when you meet them. Mrs. Grady carried yesterday to +Mr. Charles Kerr, in Baltimore, a small package for you. Be careful +of your health, and do not eat more than half the plum-puddings Cousin +Eleanor has prepared for Xmas. I am glad to hear that you are fattening, +and I hope you will reach 125 lbs. Think always of your father, who +loves you dearly. + +“R. E. Lee. + +“P.S., 22d.--Rob arrived last night with ‘Lucy Long.’ He thinks it too +bad you are away. He has not seen you for two years. + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“Baxter” and “Tom, the Nipper” were Mildred’s pets. All of us had a +fondness for cats, inherited from my mother and her father, Mr. Custis. +My father was very fond of them in his way and in their place, and was +kind to them and considerate of their feelings. My father was very +fond of them in his way and in their place, and was kind to them and +considerate of their feelings. My mother told of his hearing one of the +house-pets, possibly Baxter or the Nipper, crying and lamenting under +his window one stormy night. The General got out of bed, opened the +window, and called pussy to come in. The window was so high that the +animal could not jump up to it. My father then stepped softly across the +room, took one of my mother’s crutches, and held it so far out of the +window that he became wet from falling rain; but he persuaded the cat to +climb up along the crutch, and into the window, before he thought of dry +clothing fo himself. “Lucy Long” was my father’s mare, which had been +lost or stolen at the end of the war, and which I had just brought back +to him. I will give in the following letter his account of her: + +“Lexington, Virginia, September 4, 1866. + +“Dr. C. S. Garnett. + +“Dear Sir: I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 23d ult. and +the information it contained. The mare about which my son wrote you +was bred by Mr. Stephen Dandridge, of ‘The Bower,’ Berkeley County, +Virginia, and was purchased from him for me by General J. E. B. Stuart +in the fall of 1862--after the return of the army from Maryland. She is +nine or ten years old, about fifteen hands high, square built, sorrel +(not chestnut) colour, has a fast walk, easy pace, and short canter. +When I parted with her she had a full long mane and tail. I rode her +in conjunction with my gray horse from the fall of ‘62 to the spring of +‘64, when she was sent back for refreshment; and it was in recalling her +in the spring of ‘65 from Mr. Hairston’s, in Henry County, that she got +into Major Paxton’s stables of public horses and went to Danville with +them. I think she might be recognised by any member of the Army of +Northern Virginia, in Essex, unless much changed. I now recollect no +distinctive marks about her except a blaze in her forehead and white +hind-legs. My son, General W. H. F. Lee, residing at the White House, in +New Kent, might recognise her, and also my son Robert, who resides near +West Point, in King William. Captain Hopkins, to whom you refer in your +letter, is dead, but Major Paxton, who had general charge of the public +stables, and to whom I referred you letter, has sent me the accompanying +affidavits of two of the men employed by him. Should their evidence not +be satisfactory, he will procure statements from some of the officers, +which probably may be more definite. I should be obliged to you, if the +mare in question is the one I am seeking for, that you would take steps +to recover her, as I am desirous of reclaiming her in consideration of +the donor, General Stuart. + +“Your obedient servant, R. E. Lee.” + +It was proved to the satisfaction of all parties that the mare in +question was “Lucy Long,” and my father reimbursed the man who had +bought her from some one who had no right to her. She was brought to my +place and I recognised her at once. She stayed with me until I was ready +to pay my Christmas visit to Lexington. She then was put on the train +and sent to Staunton, where I met her. I found there Colonel William +Allan, a professor of Washington College, who had a buggy and no horse, +and as I had a horse and no buggy, we joined forces and I drove him over +to Lexington, “Lucy Long” carrying us with great ease to herself and +comfort to us. My father was glad to get her, as he was very fond of +her. When he heard how she came over, he was really shocked, as +he thought she had never been broken to harness. She lived to be +thirty-three years old, and was then chloroformed, because my brother +thought she had ceased to enjoy life. For the last ten years of her life +she was boarded out in the country, where she did nothing but rest, +and until about a year before her death she seemed in good health and +spirits. + + + + + +Chapter XIV -- An Ideal Father + + +Letters to Mildred Lee--To Robert--To Fitzhugh--Interviewed by Swinton, +historian of the Army of the Potomac--Improvement in grounds and +buildings of Washington College--Punctuality a prominent trait of its +President--A strong supporter of the Y.M.C.A. + + +My sister, after the Christmas holidays, went from “Ashby” to Baltimore, +Cousins George and Eleanor Goldsborough taking her with them to their +town house. I think my father always wanted his daughters with him. When +they were away he missed them, their love, care, and attention. The next +letter I find is to Mildred in Baltimore: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 27, 1867. + +“My Precious Daughter: Your letter to your mother gave us the +satisfactory information of your continued good health, for I feared +that your long silence had been caused by indisposition of body, rather +than that due to writing. I hope you will not let so long an interval +between your letters occur again, for you know I am always longing to +hear from you, when I cannot see you, and a few lines, if only to say +you are well, will prevent unpleasant apprehensions. I am delighted +at your increased bodily dimensions, and your diminished drapery. One +hundred and twenty-eight avoirdupois is approximately a proper standard. +Seven more pounds will make you all right. But I fear before I see you +the unnatural life, which I fear you will lead in Baltimore, will reduce +you to skin and bone. Do not go out to many parties, preserve your +simple tastes and manners, and you will enjoy more pleasure. Plainness +and simplicity of dress, early hours, and rational amusements, I wish +you to practise. You must thank Cousins Eleanor and George for all their +kindness to you, and remember me to all friends. If you see your uncle +Marshall, present my kind regards to him, and my best wishes for his +health and happiness. I hope you will see Robert. I heart that he stayed +at Mr. Edward Dallam’s when in Baltimore, but do not know whether he +will return there from Lynwood. I was sorry to hear that you lost your +purse. Perhaps the finder was more in want than you are, and it may +be of service to him, and you can do without it. A little money is +sometimes useful. You must bear in mind that it will not be becoming +in a Virginia girl now to be fine or fashionable, and that gentility as +well as self-respect requires moderation in dress and gaiety. While +her people are suffering, she should practise self-denial and show her +sympathy in their affliction. We are all pretty well. Your poor mother +suffers more pain than usual during this inclement weather. Your sister +is devoted to the snow and ice, and Agnes is becoming a very good +housekeeper. She has received a letter from a gentleman, whose judgement +she respects, recommending her to acquire that useful knowledge, and +assuring her that it will not only promote domestic happiness, but will +add greatly to connubial bliss. This is a great encouragement to her. +Our young friends, the law students and cadets, all inquire after you +and wish for your return. You know that is my wish and hope, so whenever +you are ready to return you will know that I am waiting to receive you. +I will leave your mother and sisters to give you all domestic news. Tell +Annette I have been looking for her in every stage since her letter +last fall, and that I hope for her arrival daily. Nipper is well, and +endeavors, by stern gravity, to repress the frivolity of Baxter. All +unite in much love, and I am, as ever, + +“Your father, R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Mildred Lee.” + +Just after the intermediate examinations, he writes to Mildred again: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 16, 1867. + +“My Precious Daughter: I have wished to answer your letter of the 2d for +some days, but have not been able. The intermediate examinations which +were in progress when it arrived continued ten entire days, and since +their termination the necessary arrangements for the resumption of +studies, and the reorganisation of the classes, have occupied my time +not devoted to other pressing matters. The students generally passed +very creditable examinations. Many of your friends were distinguished. +The ordeal through which the higher classes passed was as severe as any +I ever witnessed. Colonel Johnston [William Preston Johnston, the son of +General Albert Sidney Johnston, who fell at Shiloh. He had recently been +elected to the chair of History and Literature at Washington College.] +has arrived and entered upon his duties. He is living at the hotel with +his wife and six sweet little children, being unable to procure a house, +and the college being too poor to build one for him. We have other +professors also houseless. Robert has returned to his ‘broken-back +cottage,’ though he confesses to having enjoyed great pleasure during +his visit to Baltimore. He dwells with delight upon his intercourse with +the Misses ----, whom he considers angels upon earth, without wings. His +account of them increases my desire to get them to Virginia. Miss ---- +once promised me to have Fitzhugh. Tell her I will release her from her +engagement if she will take Rob. He was also much gratified at being +able to spend a week with you, and I am getting very anxious for your +return. The winter has passed, the snow and ice have disappeared, and +the birds have returned to their favourite resorts in the yard. We have, +however, a sea of mud around us, through which we have to plunge, but I +hope the pleasant air and sun now visiting us will soon dissipate it. +I am glad you are enjoying yourself among such kind friends, but do not +remain too long, as you may detain Cousins Eleanor and George from the +Eastern Shore. Markie has sent me a likeness of you on porcelain, from +the negative taken by the celebrated Plecker, which she carried with +her to Philadelphia. It is very good, but I prefer the original.... +Everybody seems anxious for your return, and is surprised you can stay +so long from your papa. May God bless and keep you, my dear child, is +the constant prayer of + +“Your devoted father, R. E. Lee.” + +Before Mildred returned to Lexington she received one more letter from +my father, in which he advises her of the two routes to Lexington, and +tells her some college news: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 23, 1867. + +“My Precious Daughter: Agnes wishes you to purchase some articles for +her, and your mother and sister may have some commissions, which I fear +will reduce your purse to an inconvenient collapse. I therefore send a +check for ---- dollars, which I hope will enable you to gratify their +wishes and serve as a reserve for your own wants. I hope you are well +and passing your time profitably as well as pleasantly. The cadets are +under the impression that you are at the Patapsco Institute, and will +expect to find you, on your return, more agreeable than ever. They are +labouring so industriously in mental culture that they believe every +one is similarly engaged. I went last evening to the celebration of the +anniversary of the Washington Society, and was much pleased with the +speeches. It was held in the Methodist church, which was filled +to overflowing. The institute and Ann Smith [Female Academy] were +represented. Your sisters were present, and as they were both absent +from breakfast this morning I fear so much learning made them sleepy. +They were also at a cadet hop on the 21st, and did not get home till +between two and three A. M. on the 22d. I suppose, therefore, they had +‘splendid times’ and very fresh society. We were somewhat surprised the +other morning at Mrs. Grady’s committing matrimony. I missed, at our +chapel exercises, Captain Grady and our acting chaplain, but did not +know at the time what prevented their attendance. I heard afterwards +that they had put the happy pair in the stage and sent them on their way +rejoicing. She is now Mrs. Richard Norris, and has gone to Baltimore. It +will be but fair now that Captain Grady should go to Baltimore and bring +us a young lady from there in return for his mother. If you see Miss +Armistead, ask her to be ready on short notice, as we are a people of +few words in this region, and proceed in all matters in a businesslike +way. Agnes, I suppose, has told you of all matters of gaiety and +fashion. She has, no doubt, too, kept you advised of the progress of +young Baxter and of the deeds of ‘Thomas the Nipper.’ They are both +flourishing, and are much admired.... The roads are so muddy that my +evening rides have been suspended, and I see nobody.... You must write +me when to expect you. The stage from Staunton now crosses during the +night, and, when the roads are favourable, arrives about two A. M. When +the roads are unfavourable, it gets in generally in time for an early +breakfast. The canal-boats have resumed their trips now, so you will +have a choice of routes from Richmond, if you conclude to go there. All +unite with me in much love, and I am, always, + +“Your father, R. E. Lee.” + +From Lexington I had gone to Baltimore for a short visit, and had spent +a week with Mildred at the home of our cousin, Mr. George Washington +Peter, near Ellicott City. Soon after getting back to my farm, I +received the following letter from my father, still trying to help me +along in my work: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 8, 1867. + +“My Dear Son: I was very glad to learn from your letter of the 31st ult. +that you had enjoyed your visit to Baltimore, for I feared when you +left us that you might have a visit from your shaking enemy. I trust, +however, that he has now left you never to return. Still be prudent and +watch his approach closely. I hope you may be able to procure some good +mules in Richmond, as it is a matter of importance to your operations. +If you can get the lime delivered at ten cents, I do not know a more +economical application to your land. I believe you will be repaid by the +first crop, provided it acts as I think it will. Of this you must judge, +and I can only say that if you can accomplish it, and wish to try, I +can send you $300, and will send it by draft to you, or to any one in +Baltimore that you will designate, as soon as I hear from you. I +commend you for not wishing to go in debt, or to proceed faster in your +operations than prudence dictates. I think it economy to improve your +land, and to begin upon the system you prefer as soon as possible. It is +your only chance of success, so let me know. I have to write in haste, +as the examination is in progress, and I have to be present. George +and Robert both came up to-day in the subjects in which they are +respectively weakest, so give them your good wishes. I received +yesterday a letter from Mildred regretting your departure from +Baltimore, and expressing the pleasure she derived from having been with +you even a short week. I hope she will continue well and return to us +soon. We are all about as you left us. The weather has moderated and the +ice disappeared from the river, though the boats have not yet resumed +their trips. Mud predominates now instead of snow.... Wishing you all +happiness, I am, Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee, Jr.” + +The Robert and George mentioned here were two of his nephews whom he +was educating at the college, the sons, respectively, of his brothers, +Sydney Smith Lee and Charles Carter Lee. They were members of his +household and were treated as his own family. + +To my brother Fitzhugh he writes at this time the following, chiding him +for his extravagance in a Christmas gift, and asking for some data of +the movements of his command. It is full of good advice, encouragement, +and affection: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 26, 1867. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: You must not think because I write so seldom that +you are absent from my thoughts. I think of you constantly, and am every +revolving in my mind all that concerns you. I have an ardent desire +to see you re-established at your home and enjoying the pleasure of +prosperity around you. I know this cannot be accomplished at once, but +must come from continuous labour, economy, and industry, and be the +result of years of good management. We have now nothing to do but to +attend to our material interest which collectively will advance the +interests of the State, and to await events. The dominant party cannot +reign forever, and truth and justice will at last prevail. I hope I +shall be able to get down to see you and Rob during the next vacation. +I shall then have a more correct apprehension of existing circumstances, +and can follow your progress more satisfactorily. I was very much +obliged to you for the nice eye-glasses you sent me Xmas, and asked your +mother and the girls to thank you for them, which I hope they did. I +fear they are too nice for my present circumstances, and do not think +you ought to spend anything, except on your farm, until you get that in +a prosperous condition. We have all, now, to confine ourselves strictly +to our necessities.... While you are your own manager you can carry on +cultivation on a large scale with comparatively less expense than on +a small scale, and your profits will of course be greater. I would +commence a system of progressive improvement which would improve your +land and add steadily to your income. I have received, lately, from +Fitz Lee a narrative of the operations of his division of cavalry. I +requested Custis to write to you for a report of your operations during +the winter of 1863-4 down to April 18, 1865. How are you progressing +with it? I know the difficulties of making such a narrative at this +time; still, by correspondence with your officers, and by exerting +your own memory, much can be done, and it will help me greatly in my +undertaking. Make it as full as you can, embracing all circumstances +bearing on the campaigns affecting your operations and illustrating the +conduct of your division. I hope you will be able to get up to see +us this spring or summer. Select the time when you can best absent +yourself, that you may feel the freer and enjoy yourself the more.... +I wish I were nearer to you all.... Your mother is about the same, busy +with her needle and her pen, and as cheerful as ever.... + +“Affectionately your father, R. E. Lee. + +“General Wm. H. F. Lee.” + +His desire for accounts from his officers of the movements of their +commands shows he still intended to attempt to write his campaigns with +the Army of Northern Virginia. Some months later he writes again to my +brother, and in it he alludes to the dark cloud of the “reconstruction” + days, hanging then over the South: + +“Lexington, Virginia, June 8, 1867. + +“My Dear Son: Your letter written on your birthday has been welcomed by +the whole family, and I assure you that we reciprocate your regrets at +the distance which separates us. Although the future is still dark, and +the prospects gloomy, I am confident that, if we all unite in doing our +duty, and earnestly work to extract what good we can out of the evil +that now hangs over our dear land, the time is not distant when the +angry cloud will be lifted from our horizon and the sun in his pristine +brightness again shine forth. I, therefore, can anticipate for you many +years of happiness and prosperity, and in my daily prayers to the God of +mercy and truth I invoke His choicest blessings upon you. May He gather +you under the shadow of His almighty wing, direct you in all your ways, +and give you peace and everlasting life. It would be most pleasant to my +feelings could I again, as you propose, gather you all around me, but I +fear that will not be in this world. Let us all so live that we may be +united in that world where there is no more separation, and where sorrow +and pain never come. I think after next year I will have done all the +good I can for the college, and I should then like, if peace is restored +to the country, to retire to some quiet spot, east of the mountains, +where I might prepare a home for your mother and sisters after my death, +and where I could earn my daily bread. We will talk of it when we meet. +This summer I wish to carry your mother to some of the mineral springs +where she might obtain some relief, but it is hard to know where that +can be found. She seems now to prefer White Sulphur, merely on +the ground, I believe, that she has never tried those waters, and, +therefore, they might be of service to her. If she makes up her mind to +go, I will endeavour to get her there with one of the girls, at least. +Mildred has returned to us, looking very well, and says she has had a +very pleasant tour among her friends, and has received a great deal of +kindness wherever she has been. She seems to be very contented now at +home. I think you did right to defer her visit to us until you had more +leisure. I am glad your prospects for a harvest are so good. Every one +must look to his material interests now, as labour is our only resource. +The completion of the railroad to the Pamunkey will be a great advantage +to you in getting to market what you make, and I hope you will put +everything to account. I hope Robert is doing well. Mary is in Staunton, +where she went a week since to attend Miss Stribling’s wedding.... Miss +Mary Stewart is staying with us, and I believe is to remain until July, +when her sister Belle is to join her. The examination of the students +has been progressing a week and will continue until the 20th. The young +men have, so far, done very well on the whole.... Mr. Swinton has paid +his visit. He seemed to be gentlemanly, but I derive no pleasure from my +interviews with book-makers. I have either to appear uncivil, or run the +risk of being dragged before the public.... I am, + +“Always as ever, your father, R. E. Lee. + +“General Wm. H. Fitzhugh Lee.” + +The Pamunkey was the name of the river on which the White House, my +brother’s estate, was situated. The railroad from Richmond, torn up +during the war, had just been rebuilt to that point. Swinton was the +historian of the Federal Amy of the Potomac. He spent some days in +Lexington, and, I suppose, sought from my father information on points +connected with his history of the movements of General Grant’s army. + +My father, as I have said before, commenced almost as soon as he became +the president of the college to improve the grounds, roads, walks, +fences, etc., and systematically kept up this work up to the time of his +death. The walks about the college grounds were in very bad condition, +and, in wet weather, often ankle-deep in mud. As a first step toward +improving them the president had a quantity of limestone broken up and +spread upon the roads and walks. The rough, jagged surface was most +uninviting, and horsemen and footmen naturally took to the grass. Seeing +Colonel T. L. Preston riding one day across the campus on his way to his +classes at the Virginia Military Institute, my father remarked: + +“Ah, Colonel, I have depended upon you and your big sorrel to help +smooth down my walks!” + +Another day, a student who was walking on the grass saw the General not +far away, and immediately stepped into the middle of the rocks, upon +which he manfully trudged along. A strange lady, going in the same +direction, followed in the student’s footsteps, and when the youth came +within speaking distance, my father, with a twinkle in his eye, thanked +him for setting so good an example, and added, “The ladies do not +generally take kindly to my walks.” + +The buildings also were altered and renovated, so far as funds for +the purpose permitted. He urged the erection as soon as possible of a +chapel, which should be of dimensions suitable for the demands of the +college. There were other objects calling for a far greater outlay of +money than the resources of the college afforded, but he deemed this of +great importance, and succeeded in getting appropriations for it first. +He hastened the selection of the site and the drawing of the plans, the +completion of the work was much retarded owing to the want of funds, +but his interest in its erection never flagged. He gave it his personal +superintendence from first to last, visiting it often two or three times +a day. After it was dedicated, he always attended morning prayers and +all other religious exercises held there, unless prevented by sickness. +Whenever I was there on a visit I always went with him every morning to +chapel. He had a certain seat which he occupied, and you could have kept +your watch regulated by the time he entered the doors. As he thought +well of the young men who left his drawing-room by ten o’clock, so +he placed in a higher estimate those who attended chapel regularly, +especially if they got there in proper time. There was no regular +chaplain, but the ministers of the different denominations who had +churches in the village undertook, by turns, to perform a month’s +service. The hour was forty-five minutes past seven o’clock every +morning, except Sunday, during the session, save in the three winter +months, December, January, and February, when it was one hour later. He +was the earnest friend and strong support of the Young Men’s Christian +Association, and an annual contributor to its funds. Upon one occasion, +at least, he placed in its library a collection of suitable books, +which he had purchased with that intention. In his annual reports to the +trustees, he always made mention of the association, giving an account +of its operations and progress. + + + + + +Chapter XV -- Mountain Rides + + +An incident about “Traveller”--The General’s love for children--His +friendship with Ex-President Davis--A ride with his daughter to the +Peaks of Otter--Mildred Lee’s narrative--Mrs. Lee at the White Sulphur +Springs--The great attention paid her husband there--His idea of life + + +Since the arrival of “Lucy Long” my father was generally accompanied by +one of my sisters in his rides, whenever the weather and the condition +of the roads admitted of their going. It took very severe weather to +keep him in, though often he could not spare the time, for during the +winter months the days were very short. Every Monday afternoon there was +a faculty meeting, and the vestry meetings of his church were held two +or three times a month. Whenever I was in Lexington I rode with him, and +when he was prevented by any of the above-mentioned causes he would ask +me to take Traveller out and give him a gallop, which I was delighted +to do, and I think I had my revenge for his treatment of me on that +ride from Orange to Fredericksburg in the winter of 1862. My father’s +affection for his horses was very deep and strong. In a letter written +from the Springs one summer, to his clerk in Lexington, he says: + +“How is Traveller? Tell him I miss him dreadfully, and have repented of +our separation but once--and that is the whole time since we parted.” + +I think Traveller appreciated his love and sympathy, and returned it +as much as was in a horse’s nature to do. As illustrative of this +bond between them, a very pretty story was told me by Mrs. S. P. Lee +[Daughter of General W. N. Pendleton, Chief of Artillery of the A. N. +Va., and widow of Colonel Edwin Grey Lee, C. S. A.]: + +“One afternoon in July of this year, the General rode down to the +canal-boat landing to put on board a young lady who had been visiting +his daughters and was returning home. He dismounted, tied Traveller to +a post, and was standing on the boat making his adieux, when some one +called out that Traveller was loose. Sure enough, the gallant gray was +making his way up the road, increasing his speed as a number of boys and +men tried to stop him. My father immediately stepped ashore, called to +the crowd to stand still, and advancing a few steps gave a peculiar low +whistle. At the first sound, Traveller stopped and pricked up his ears. +The General whistled a second time, and the horse with a glad whinny +turned and trotted quietly back to his master, who patted and coaxed +him before tying him up again. To a bystander expressing surprise at the +creature’s docility the General observed that he did not see how any +man could ride a horse for any length of time without a perfect +understanding being established between them. My sister Mildred, who +rode with him constantly this summer, tells me of his enjoyment of their +long rides out into the beautiful, restful country. Nothing seemed to +delight him so much. + +“I have often known him to give rein to Traveller and to at full speed +to the top of some long hill, then turn and wait for me jogging along on +Lucy, calling out with merry voice, ‘Come along, Miss Lucy, Miss Lucy, +Lucy Long!’ He would question the country people about the roads, where +they came from, where they led to, and soon knew every farmer’s name and +every homestead in the country. He often said: + +“‘I wish I had a little farm of my own, where we could live in peace to +the end of our days. You girls could attend to the dairy and the cows +and the sheep and wait on your mother and me, for it is time now for us +old people to rest and for the young people to work.’” + +All the children in the country around were devoted to him, and felt no +hesitation in approaching him, after they once knew him. He used to meet +his favourites among the little ones on the street, and would sometimes +lift them up in front of him to give them a ride on Traveller. That was +the greatest treat he could provide. There is a very pretty story told +of Virginia Lee Letcher, his god-daughter, and her baby sister, Fannie, +which is yet remembered among the Lexington people. Jennie had +been followed by her persistent sister, and all the coaxing and the +commanding of the six-year-old failed to make the younger return home. +Fannie had sat down by the roadside to pout, when General Lee came +riding by. Jeannie at once appealed to him: + +“General Lee, won’t you please make this child go home to her mother?” + +The General immediately rode over to where Fannie sat, leaned over +from his saddle and drew her up into his lap. There she sat in royal +contentment, and was thus grandly escorted home. When Mrs. Letcher +inquired of Jennie why she had given General Lee so much trouble, she +received the naive reply: + +“I couldn’t make Fan go home, and I thought HE could do anything.” + [Daughters of Governor John Letcher--the War Governor of Virginia] + +There was a little boy living with his mother, who had come from New +York. His father had been killed in our army. The little fellow, now +Colonel Grier Monroe, of New York city, was much teased at his playmates +calling him “Yankee” when he knew he was not one. One day he marched +into my father’s office in the college, stated his case, and asked for +redress. + +“The next boy that calls you ‘Yankee’ send him to me,” said the General, +which, when reported, struck such terror into the hearts of his small +comrades that the offense was never repeated. + +There was another little boy who was accustomed to clamber up by the +side of my father at the morning chapel exercises, and was so kindly +treated that, whenever he saw his distinguished friend, he straightway +assumed a position beside him. At the college commencement, which was +held in the chapel, the little fellow glided from his mother’s side and +quietly stole up to the platform. Soon he was nestled at the feet of +the dignified president, and, resting his head upon his knees, dropped +asleep. General Lee tenderly remained without moving, preferring to +suffer from the constrained position rather than disturb the innocent +slumberer. This boy is now the Reverend Carter Jones of he Baptist +Church. + +About this time Ex-President Davis was freed from the confinement of his +prison at Fortress Monroe, where he had been for about two years. There +was a warm personal friendship between these two men, dating from the +time they were cadets at West Point together, and as his unjust and +unnecessary imprisonment had pained and distressed none more than my +father, so his release gave him corresponding joy. He at once wrote to +him the following letter, full of feeling and sympathy: + +“Lexington, Virginia, June 1, 1867. + +“Honourable Jefferson Davis. + +“My Dear Mr. Davis: You can conceive better than I can express the +misery which your friends have suffered from your long imprisonment, +and the other afflictions incident thereto. To no one has this been more +painful than to me, and the impossibility of affording relief has added +to my distress. Your release has lifted a load from my heart which I +have not words to tell. My daily prayer to the great Ruler of the world +is that He may shield you from all future harm, guard you from all evil, +and give you that peace which the world cannot take away. That the rest +of your days may be triumphantly happy is the sincere and earnest wish +of + +“Your most obedient, faithful friend and servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Though my father would take no part in the politics of the country, and +rarely expressed his views on questions of that nature then occupying +the minds of all, nevertheless, when he deemed it necessary, and to +the proper person, he very plainly said what he thought. The following +letter to General Longstreet, in answer to one from him written about +this time, illustrates what I have said in this connection, and explains +itself: + +“Lexington, Virginia, October 29, 1867. + +“General J. Longstreet, 21 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La. + +“My Dear General: When I received your letter of the 8th of June, I had +just returned from a short trip to Bedford County, and was preparing for +a more extended visit to the White Sulphur Springs for the benefit of +Mrs. Lee’s health. As I could not write such a letter as you desired, +and as you stated that you would leave New Orleans for Mexico in a week +from the time you wrote, to be absent some months, I determined to delay +my reply till my return. Although I have been here more than a month, +I have been so occupied by necessary business, and so incommoded by the +effects of an attack of illness, from which I have not yet recovered, +that this is the first day that I have been able to write to you. I have +avoided all discussion of political questions since the cessation of +hostilities, and have, in my own conduct, and in my recommendations to +others, endeavoured to conform to existing circumstances. I consider +this the part of wisdom, as well as of duty; but, while I think we +should act under the law and according to the law imposed upon us, I +cannot think the course pursued by the dominant political party the best +for the interests of the country, and therefore cannot say so or give it +my approval. This is the reason why I could not comply with the request +in your letter. I am of the opinion that all who can should vote for +the most intelligent, honest, and conscientious men eligible to office, +irrespective of former party opinions, who will endeavour to make +the new constitutions and the laws passed under them as beneficial as +possible to the true interests, prosperity, and liberty of all classes +and conditions of the people. With my best wishes for your health and +happiness, and my kindest regards to Mrs. Longstreet and your children, +I am, with great regard, and very truly and sincerely yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +This summer my father paid a visit to the Peaks of Otter, a famous +group of mountains in the Blue Ridge range, situated in Bedford County, +Virginia. He rode Traveller, and my sister Mildred accompanied him on +“Lucy Long.” After visiting the Peaks and ascending the summit, which is +4,000 feet in height, he rode on to Liberty, now Bedford City, ten miles +distant, and spent the night at “Avenel,” the home of the Burwells, who +were friends and connections of his. + +From there the riding party went to Captain Bufurd’s, about twelve miles +distant, where they spent the night and the next day. The Captain was +a farmer, a great admirer and a staunch upholder of his native State, +Viriginia, in her fight for constitutional liberty, from ‘61 to ‘65. He +had sent his sons into the army, and had given of his substance freely +to support the troops, as well as the poor and needy, the widow and +orphan, who had been left in want by the death in battle of their +natural protectors and by the ravages of war. In the early years of the +struggle, my mother and sisters, when “refugeeing,” had boarded, as they +thought and intended at the time, at his home. But when they tried to +induce him to accept pay for the shelter and food he had given them for +a month or more, he sternly refused. His was a patriotism that hesitated +at no sacrifice, and was of a kind and character that admitted of no +self-consideration. This trait, so strongly developed in him, attracted +the admiration and respect of my father. The visit he paid him was to +thank him in person for the kindness extended to his wife and daughters, +and also for a very large and handsome horse which he had sent my father +the last year, I think, of the war. My sister Mildred tells me what she +can recollect of this ride. It is a source of endless regret to us that +we cannot recall more. His championship was at all times delightful +to his children, and on an occasion of this kind, invigorated by the +exercise, inspired by the bright skies and relieved of all harassing +cares, he became almost a boy again. + +My sister Mildred says: + +“We started at daybreak one perfect June day, papa on Traveller, I on +Lucy Long, our saddle-bags being our only luggage. He was in the gayest +humour, laughing and joking with me as I paced along by his side on +quiet ‘Miss Lucy.’ Traveller seemed to sympathise with his master, his +springy step, high head, and bright eye clearly showing how happy he was +and how much interest he took in this journey. He had to be constantly +chided for his restlessness, and was told that it would be well for him +to reserve some of his too abundant energy for the latter part of his +trip. At midday we dismounted, and, tying our horses while resting on +the soft grass under a wild-plum hedge by the roadside, ate our lunch. +We then rode on, and soon came to the James River, which was crossed by +a ferry-boat. The ferry-man was an old soldier, who of course recognised +papa, and refused payment; nor could he be induced to take any. Further +on the road, as our horses were climbing a steep rocky ascent, we met +some little children, with very dirty faces, playing on the roadside. +He spoke to them in his gentle, playful way, alluding to their faces +and the desirability of using a little water. They stared at us with +open-eyed astonishment, and then scampered off up the hill; a few +minutes later, in rounding this hill, we passed a little cabin, when +out they all ran with clean faces, fresh aprons, and their hair nicely +brushed, one little girl exclaiming, ‘We know you are General Lee! we +have got your picture!’ + +“That night about nine o’clock we reached the little mountain inn at the +foot of the Peaks, ate a hearty supper, and soon went to bed, tired out +by our thirty-mile ride. Our bedrooms seemed to be a loft, and the beds +were of feathers, but I, at last, slept without turning. Next morning, +at dawn of day, we set out, accompanied by the master of the house, and +rode for a long time up the mountain-side, Lucy following closely behind +Traveller. Finally it became impossible to proceed further on horseback, +so the horses were fastened to some trees and we climbed the rest of the +way to the summit on foot. When the top was reached, we sat for a long +time on a great rock, gazing down on the glorious prospect beneath. Papa +spoke but a few words, and seemed very sad. I have heard there is now a +mark on the rock showing where we sat. The inn-keeper, who accompanied +us all the way, told us that we had ridden nearer the top than any +other persons up to that time. Regaining our horses, we proceeded on +our second day’s journey, which was to end at Liberty, some ten miles +distant. + +“We had not ridden far, when suddenly a black thunder-cloud arose and +in a few minutes a heavy shower broke over us. We galloped back to a log +cabin we had just passed. Papa lifted me off of Lucy and, dripping with +water, I rushed in, while he led the horse under an adjacent shed, the +woman of the house looked dark and glum on seeing the pools of water +forming from my dress on her freshly scoured floor, and when papa came +in with his muddy boots her expression was more forbidding and gloomy. +He asked her permission to wait there until the shower was over, and +praised her nice white floor, regretting that we had marred its beauty. +At this praise, so becomingly bestowed, she was slightly appeased, and +asked us into the best room, which was adorned with colored prints of +Lee, Jackson, Davis, and Johnston. When the shower ceased and papa went +out for the horses I told her who I was. Poor woman! She seemed stunned +and kept on saying: ‘What will Joe say? What will Joe say!’ Joe was her +husband, and had been, like every other man in the country, a soldier in +the ‘Army of Northern Virginia.’ + +“The shower over and the sun shining brightly, we rode along joyously +through the refreshed hills and dust-laid roads arriving at Liberty in +good time, and went to ‘Avenel,’ the pretty home of the Burwells. The +comforts of this sweet old place seemed very delicious to me after my +short experience of roughing it. Papa was much amused when I appeared +in crinoline, my ‘hoops’ having been squeezed into the saddle-bags and +brought with me. We remained here the next day, Sunday, and the day +after rode on some twelve miles to Captain Buford’s. The Captain, in his +shirt-sleeves, received us with open arms, seemed much surprised at my +full growth, and said, ‘Why, General, you called her your ‘little girl,’ +and she is a real chuck of a gal!’ He showed us his fine Jersey cattle, +his rich fields and well-filled barns, and delighted in talking of the +time during the war when mama, Mary, and Agnes paid him a visit. He +overflowed with kindness and hospitality, and his table fairly groaned +with the good things. Papa afterwards constantly quoted his original +sayings, especially one on early rising, which was made on the eve of +our arrival, when he told us good-night. Papa asked him what time he +must be ready for breakfast next morning. + +“‘Well, General,’ said the Captain, ‘as you have been riding hard, and +as you are company, we will not have breakfast to-morrow until sun-up,’ +which meant in those June days somewhere before five o’clock. + +“After a day spent pleasantly here, we started next morning early on +our return. Halting for a short time in Buchanan, we stopped at Colonel +Edmund Pendleton’s who then lived there in an imposing white pillared +edifice, formerly a bank. Mrs. Pendelton gave us some delicious apricots +from her garden, which my father enjoyed greatly. We then proceeded on +the road to Lexington, going by the Natural Bridge, where we had another +short rest, and reached home the same night, about ten o’clock, after a +forty-mile ride. + +“Shortly after this visit Captain Bufurd sent me a fine Jersey cow, on +condition that I would get up early every morning and milk her, and also +send him a part of the butter I made.” + +After my father returned from this trip, he began his arrangements for +taking my mother to the Greenbriar White Sulphur Springs. He hoped that +the waters and the change might be of service to her general health, +even if they should not alleviated the severity of her rheumatic +pains. About the first of July, my mother, sister Agnes and Miss Mary +Pendleton, with my brother Custis in charge, set out for the White +Sulphur Springs. My father, with Professor J. J. White, decided to +make the journey to the same place on horseback. They started a day in +advance and were at Covington when the ladies, travelling by stage-coach +to Goshen, thence by rail, arrived there. After spending the night at +Covington, the passengers were put into as many stage-coaches as were +necessary, and the long, rough drive over the mountains by “Callahan’s” + commenced. + +General Lee on Traveller was at once recognised, and when it was found +out by his fellow-travellers that Mrs. Lee was with him, attentions and +services of all kinds were pressed on her party, and a most enjoyable +lunch was sent to the stage reserved for her. Seeing that the other +stages were much crowded, while the one reserved for his wife had vacant +seats, my father insisted that some of the others should join his party, +which they very gladly did. He and Professor White went ahead of the +stages on their horses. + +At the White Sulphur Springs the “Harrison cottage,” in “Baltimore Row,” + had been put at my father’s disposal, and the entire party was soon +most pleasantly established there. Mr. W. W. Corcoran, of Washington, +Professor White, Miss Mary Pendleton, Agnes and my father and brother +had a table together. Almost every day some special dainty was sent to +this table. My mother, of course, had her meals served in her cottage. +Her faithful and capable servant, Milly Howard, was always most eager +for her to appear her best, and took great pride in dressing her up, so +far as she was allowed, in becoming caps, etc., to receive her numerous +visitors. My father’s usual custom while there was to spend some time in +the morning in the large parlour of the hotel, before taking his ride +on Traveller. After dinner he went again to the parlour, and also after +tea. + +Among the company were many old friends and acquaintances from +Baltimore, who could not sufficiently testify their pleasure in this +renewal of intercourse. Whenever he appeared in the parlour or ballroom +he was the centre of attraction, and in vain the young men tried to +engage the attention of the young ladies when General Lee was present. + +During his visit, a circus came to “Dry Creek,” a neighbouring +settlement, and gave an exhibition. The manager rode over to the +Springs, came to my father’s cottage, and insisted on leaving several +tickets, begging that General Lee would permit him to send carriages for +him and any friends he might like to take to his show. These offers my +father courteously declined, but bought many tickets, which he presented +to his little friends at the Springs. + +During the morning he rode over to “Dry Creek,” where the crowds of +country people, many of them his old soldiers, feasted their eyes on him +to the neglect of the circus. That night a special exhibition was given +by the manager to General Lee’s friends, who were taken to seats draped +with Confederate colors, red, and white. After the return from the +circus, my father invited a large party to his cottage to partake of a +huge watermelon sent him by express from Mobile. It weighed about sixty +pounds, and its producer thought the only fitting way he could dispose +of it was to present it to General Lee. + +Every possible attention that love, admiration, and respect could +prompt was paid my father by the guests at the Springs, each one seeming +anxious to do him homage. My mother and sisters shared it all with him, +for any attention and kindness shown them went straight to his heart. + +After spending three weeks at “the White,” my father’s party went to the +Old Sweet Springs, where they were all made very comfortable, one of +the parlours being turned into a bedroom for my mother, so that in her +wheeled chair she could go out on the verandas and into the ballroom. + +He was taken quite sick there, and, though he rode over from the White +Sulphur Springs, was unable to continue his early rides for some time. +His room was on the first floor, with a window opening on the end of the +building. One morning, when he was very unwell and it was important that +he should not be disturbed, Miss Pendleton found a countryman cautiously +opening the shutters from the outside. She quickly interfered, saying: + +“Go away; that is General Lee’s room.” + +The man dropped back, saying mournfully: + +“I only wanted to see him.” + +On another occasion some country people came to the Springs with plums +and berries for sale. Catching sight of him on the piazza, they put down +their baskets, took off their hats, and hurrahed most lustily for “Marse +Bob”. They were his old soldiers. When he acknowledged their loyalty +by shaking hands with them, they insisted on presenting him with their +fruit. + +About the first week in September my father rode back to Lexington on +Traveller, Custis taking my mother and Agnes back over the same tedious +journey by stage and rail. + +There have been preserved very few letters from him at this time. I +found one to me, full of kindness, wholesome advice, and offers of aid, +in which he sends his thanks to the President of the York River Railroad +for a courtesy tendered him: + +“White Sulphur Springs, Greenbriar County, West Virginia, + +“August 5, 1867. + +“My Dear Son: I received to-day your letter of the 28th ult., inclosing +a free ticket over the Richmond & York River Railroad, from its +president, Mr. Dudley. Please present him my grateful thanks for this +mark of his esteem. I am very glad to hear that the road is completed +to the White House, and that a boat connects it with Norfolk, the +convenience of the community and the interests of the road will be +promoted thereby. It is a difficult undertaking in these times to build +a road, and I hope the company will soon be able to finish it to West +Point. I suppose you have received before this the letter from your +mother and Agnes, announcing our arrival at this place and informing +you of the company. The latter has been much increased, and among the +arrivals are the Daingerfields, Haxalls, Capertons, Miss Belle Harrison, +etc., etc. I told Agnes to tell you how much we wished you were with us, +and as an inducement for you to join us, if you could leave home, if you +would come, I would pay your expenses. I feel very sensibly, in my old +age, the absence of my children, though I recognise the necessity of +every one’s attending to his business, and admire him the more for so +doing. I am very glad that you and Fitzhugh have, so far, escaped the +fever, and hope you may avoid it altogether. Be prudent. I am very sorry +that your harvest promises a poor yield. It will be better next year, +but you must continue systematically the improvement of the land. I know +of no better method than by liming, and if you wish to prosecute it, and +are in need of help, I will aid you to the extent of last year or more. +So make your arrangements, and let me know your wishes. A farmer’s life +is one of labour, but it is also one of pleasure, and the consciousness +of steady improvement, though it may be slow, is very encouraging. I +think you had better also begin to make arrangements to build yourself a +house. If you can do nothing more than prepare a site, lay out a garden, +orchard, etc., and get a small house partly finished, so as to inhabit +it, it will add to your comfort and health. I can help you in that too. +Think about it. Then, too, you must get a nice wife. I do not like you +being so lonely. I fear you will fall in love with celibacy. I have +heard some very pleasing reports of Fitzhugh. I hope that his desires, +if beneficial to his happiness, may be crowned with success. I saw the +lady when I was in Petersburg, and was much pleased with her. I will get +Agnes or your mother to tell you what occurs at the Springs. There are +some 500 people here, very pleasant and kind, but most of my time is +passed alone with Traveller in the mountains. I hope your mother may +derive some benefit from the waters, but I see none now. It will, at +least, afford her some variety, and give her some pleasure, of which +there is a dearth with us now. Give much love to Fitzhugh. All unite in +love to you. God bless you, my son, prays + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Early in September my father sent my mother sister home to Lexington, +while he mounted Traveller and rode back by way of the Hot Springs, +Healing, and Rockbridge Alum. He was detained by indisposition a day +or two at the Healing, and writes to my mother a little note from that +place: + +“Healing Springs, September 12, 1867. + +“My Dear Mary: I arrived here on the 10th, and had expected to resume my +journey this morning, but did not feel able. Should nothing prevent, I +will leave here to-morrow, but I fear I shall not be able to reach the +Rockbridge Alum, which I am told is twenty-nine miles distant. In that +event, I will halt on the road, and arrive there on Saturday, lie over +Sunday, and reach Lexington on Monday. I am very anxious to get to +Lexington, and think nothing on the route will benefit me, as I feel +much concerned about the resumption of the college exercises. Mr. John +Stewart, Misses Mary and Marian, Mr. Price, and his daughters came over +from the Hot yesterday to see me. The Stewarts are there on Miss Belle’s +account. Give much love to everybody. I hope you reached Lexington +safely and comfortably and that all are well. I hope to see you Monday. +Till then, farewell. + +“Very truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +It is to be regretted that we have no accounts of these rides, the +people he met, and what he said to them, where he stayed, and who were +his hosts. He was very fond of horseback journeys, enjoyed the quiet +and rest, the freedom of mind and body, the close sympathy of his old +warhorse, and the beauties of Nature which are to be seen at every turn +in the mountains of Virginia. Ah, if we could only obtain some records +of his thoughts as he rode all alone along the mountain roads, how much +it would help us all in our trials and troubles! He was a man of few +words, very loath to talk about himself, nor do I believe any one ever +knew what that great heart suffered. His idea of life was to do his +duty, at whatever cost, and to try to help others to theirs. + + + + + +Chapter XVI -- An Advisor of Young Men + + +Lee’s policy as college president--His advice on agricultural +matters--His affection for his prospective daughter-in-law--Fitzhugh’s +wedding--The General’s ovation at Petersburg--his personal interest in +the students under his care + + +The college exercises were resumed in the last weeks of September. My +mother and sisters were all back at home. The President’s work, now more +in hand, began to show results. The number of students this session was +largely increased and the outlook of the college was very much brighter. + +“He had from the beginning of his presidency a distinct policy and plan +which he had fully conceived and to which he steadily adhered, so that +all his particular measures of progress were but consistent steps in its +development. His object was nothing less than to establish and perfect +an institution which should meet the highest needs of education in every +department. At once, and without waiting for the means to be provided +in advance, he proceeded to develop this object. Under his advice, new +chairs were created, and professors called to fill them, so that before +the end of the first year the faculty was doubled in numbers. Still +additional chairs were created, and finally a complete system of +‘schools’ was established and brought into full operation. So +admirably was the plan conceived and administered by General lee, that, +heterogeneous as were the students, especially in the early years, each +one found his proper place, and all were kept in line of complete and +systematic study. Under this organisation, and especially under the +inspiration of his central influence, the utmost harmony and utmost +energy pervaded all the departments of the college. The highest powers +of both professors and students were called forth, under the fullest +responsibility. The standards of scholarship were rapidly advanced; and +soon the graduates of Washington College were the acknowledged equals +of those from the best institutions elsewhere, and were eagerly sought +after for the highest positions as teachers in the best schools. The +results...were due directly and immediately, more than to all other +causes, to the personal ability and influence of General Lee as +president of the college.” + +So wrote Professor Edward S. Joynes in an article published soon after +General lee’s death, in the “University Monthly.” All of this had +not been accomplished as yet, but the work was well advanced, and the +results began to be evident. His health had not been strong since the +middle of the summer, but he never ceased in his endeavour to better the +condition of the college, and to improve the minds, morals, and bodies +of the young men committed to his charge. He writes to me about this +time, encouraging me to renewed efforts, telling me how to better my +condition, and advising me not to be cast down by difficulties: + +“Lexington, Viriginia, October 26, 1867. + +“My Dear Rob: Your letter of the 10th did not give me a very favourable +account of yourself or your prospects, but I have no doubt it was true +and therefore commendable. We must not, however, yield to difficulties, +but strive the harder to overcome them. I am sorry for the failure of +your crops, your loneliness and uncomfortableness, and wish it were in +my power to visit you and advise with you. But you must come up this +winter, when convenient, and we will discuss the whole matter. Fitzhugh, +I hope, will be married soon, and then he will have more time to counsel +with you. I hope, between you two, you will devise some mode of relief. +The only way to improve your crop is to improve your land, which +requires time, patience, and good cultivation. Lime, I think, is one of +the chief instruments, and I advise you to apply that systematically +and judiciously. I think, too, you had better purchase another pair of +mules. I can help you in these items, and, if you need, can advance you +$500. Then, as regards a house, I can help you in that too, but you must +first select a site and a plan. The first can only be found on the land, +and the latter might be adopted on the progressive principle, commencing +with the minor members, and finishing with the principal ones as +convenience or necessity might authorise. If no better can be found, how +would the present site answer? If you are going to cultivate the lower +part of the farm, it would at least have the advantage of convenience, +or if you thought it better to divide and sell your farm it would answer +for one of the divisions. I am clear for your marrying, if you select +a good wife; otherwise you had better remain as you are for a time. An +imprudent or uncongenial woman is worse than THE MINKS [I had written to +him that they had destroyed all my hens]. I think, upon the whole, +you are progressing very well and have accomplished the worst part. A +failure in crops will occur occasionally to every farmer, even the +best, with favourable surroundings. It serves a good purpose, inculcates +prudence and economy, and excites energy and perseverance. These +qualities will overcome everything. You are very young still, and if you +are virtuous and laborious you will accomplish all the good you propose +to yourself. Let me know if you want the money. We are pretty well. I am +better and your poor mother more comfortable, I think, than she was last +year. The girls are as usual, and Custis is in far better health than he +was before his visit to the Springs. He seems, however, not happy, and +I presume other people have their troubles as well as farmers. God bless +you, my son, and may He guard, guide, and direct you in all you do. All +would unite in love did they know I was writing. + +“Truly and affectionately, your father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee, Jr.” + +My brother Fitzhugh was to be married that autumn. This event, so soon +to take place, gave my father great pleasure. He was an earnest advocate +of matrimony, and was constantly urging his sons to take to themselves +wives. With his daughters he was less pressing. Though apparently always +willing to have another daughter, he did not seem to long for any more +sons. He thus writes to my brother when his engagement was formally +announced to him: + +“Lexington, Virginia, September 20, 1867. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I have been anxious for some time to write to you, to +express the pleasure I have felt a the prospects of your marriage with +Miss Bolling; but sickness has prevented, and I am still so feeble that +I cannot attend to the pressing business connected with the college. As +you know how deeply I feel all that concerns you, you may feel assured +of the pleasure I derived from your letter to your mother informing +her of your engagement. I have the most pleasing recollection of ‘Miss +Tabb,’ and of her kindness to me, and now that she has consented to by +my daughter the measure of my gratitude is filled to overflowing. I hope +she will not delay the consummation, for I want to see her very much, +and I fear she will not come to see me until then. You must present +her my warm love, and you both must accept my earnest prayers and most +fervent wishes for your future happiness and prosperity. I am glad that +your house is progressing and that your crops promise well. I hope +that you soon will be able to come and see us. Your mother, I hope, has +derived some benefit from her visit to the Springs. Her general health +is improved, but I see no relaxation in her rheumatic complaint. The +girls are quite well, and all send love.... + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“General William H. F. Lee.” + +The young lady who was so soon to become a member of his family was Miss +Mary Tabb Bolling, the daughter of Mr. G. W. Bolling, of Petersburg, +Virginia. Her father had been very kind to General Lee during the +eventful months of the siege of that town, and his daughter had been +often to see him and was a great favourite of his. My brother was +especially anxious that his father should be present at his wedding, and +had been urging him to make his arrangements to come. The sickness to +which he frequently alludes in his recent letters had been annoying him +since his return from the White Sulphur Springs up to this time, and +he now writes proposing that my brother and bride should come to him +instead of his going to the wedding: + +“Lexington, Virginia, November 15, 1867. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I received this morning your letter of the 13th, and +am glad to hear of your safe arrival and of the favourable condition of +things at your home. I was afraid your house would not be ready at the +time supposed, but I would not delay the wedding on that account--you +can exist without it. We have one here at your service, though a poor +one. I am obliged to you for having arranged about my clothes. Upon +reflection, I think it better not to go to the White House and Romancoke +before the wedding. You and Robert could hardly pay the necessary +attention to business matters with your hands filled with love and +matrimony. I think of catching up Rob and marrying him to some of my +sweethearts while I am down, so as to prevent the necessity from him +to reach Petersburg by the 28th, and we have arranged to commence our +journey on Monday night, 25th inst., at 12 M., so as to reach Richmond +Tuesday evening, remain there the 27th and go to Petersburg the 28th. I +do not think I shall be able to go to the White House at all. I should +not be able to aid you or Rob, my only object, and would put you to much +trouble.... We are all as you left us, and miss you and Mildred very +much. + +“Very affectionately, your father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“General William H. F. Lee.” + +So it was all settled satisfactorily; my brother gained his point, and +my father arranged his affairs so that he could absent himself without +detriment to his work at the college. He left on the appointed day and +hour, and the morning after arriving in Richmond, writes my mother: + +“Exchange Hotel, Richmond, November 26, 1867. + +“My Dear Mary: We reached here yesterday about 4 P. M., after a not +uncomfortable journey, and found Fitzhugh waiting for the important +event. I doubt whether his house will be finished, from his account, +till January, though he thinks it will. His plans, I believe, as far as +he can form them, are to leave Petersburg the morning after the wedding +for Baltimore, where they will probably send a week gathering up their +furniture, etc., and after that all is undetermined. I renewed the +invitation for their visit to us, but he could not decide. Robert is +expected to-morrow. Mildred is well and seems to be perfectly happy, as +she had on, last evening, a dress about two yards longer than Norvell’s. +I saw Mr. Davis, who looks astonishingly well, and is quite cheerful. He +inquired particularly after you all. He is at Judge Ould’s. No one seems +to know what is to be done. Judge Chase had not arrived yesterday, but +it was thought probable he would reach here in the ten o’clock train +last night. I have not heard this morning. I will present myself to the +court this morning, and learn, I hope, what they wish of me. Williams +Wickham is here, and will attend the wedding. Annie will also go. +Fitzhugh is to go out to Hickory Hill this morning, and return this +afternoon, to pay his adieux. Mrs. Caskie was not well last evening. +The rest as usual, and send much love. Custis is well, and I have +my clothes. I left my sleeve-buttons in my shirt hanging up in my +dressing-room. Ask Cornelia to take care of them. Mr. Alexander said he +would send you up some turkeys, and Colonel Johnston, that he would help +you revise the manuscript. It is time I should get my breakfast, as I +wish to transact some business before going to court. Give much love to +the girls and everybody. I hope you are well and will want for nothing +while I am away. Most truly yours, + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee. R. E. Lee.” + +General Lee was summoned this time as a witness in the trial of Mr. +Davis, but after some delay a nolle prosequi was filed. General Lee +after the war was asked by a lady his opinion of the position and part +Mr. Davis had taken and acted during the war was asked by a lady of his +opinion of the position and part Mr. Davis had taken and acted during +the war. He replied: + +“If my opinion is worth anything, you can ALWAYS say that few people +could have done better than Mr. Davis. I knew of none that could have +done as well.” + +On the morning after the wedding he writes to my mother: + +“Petersburg, November 29, 1867. + +“My Dear Mary: Our son was married last night and shone in his +happiness. The bride looked lovely and was, in every way, captivating. +The church was crowded to its utmost capacity, and the streets thronged. +Everything went off well, and I will enter into details when I see you. +Mr. Wickham and Annie, Mr. Fry, John Wood, and others were present. +Mr. Davis was prevented from attending by the death of Mrs. Howell. The +Misses Haxall, Miss Enders, Miss Giles, etc., came down from Richmond. +Fitzhugh lee was one of the groomsmen, Custis very composed, and Rob +suffering from chills. Many of my acquaintances were present, and +everybody was very kind. Regrets were often expressed that you, Mary, +and Agnes were not present. I believe the plan was for the bride and +groom to start on their travels this morning, but I doubt whether it +will be carried out, as I thought I saw indications of a change of +purpose before I left, which I had no doubt would be strengthened by +the reflections of this morning. I shall remain to-day and return to +Richmond to-morrow. I wish to go to Brandon Monday, but do not know that +I can accomplish it. Until leaving Richmond, my whole time was taken up +by the august court, so that I could do nothing nor see anybody there. +Mildred was all life, in white and curls. I am staying at General +Mahone’s and have got hold of one of his needlepens, with which I can do +nothing. Excuse illegibility. No one has descended to breakfast yet. I +received, on arriving here yesterday, at 3 P. M., a kind note from +our daughter asking me to come and see her as soon after my arrival +as convenient, which I did and carried over the necklace, which she +pronounced very pretty. Give my love to all. Most truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +A special car carried General Lee and the other wedding guests from +Richmond to Petersburg. He did not enter into the gay conversation of +the young people, but appeared sad and depressed, and seemed to dread +seeing the town of Petersburg and meeting its people. This feeling was +dispelled by the enthusiastic welcome given him by every one there. +General Mahone, whose guest he was to be, met him at the depot with a +carriage and four white horses. Many of the citizens tried to take +out the horses and pull the carriage into the town, but the General +protested, declaring, if they did so, he would have to get out and help +them. The morning after the wedding he drove out to “Turnbull’s” to see +an old woman who had been very kind to him, sending him eggs, butter, +etc., when he had had his headquarters near by during the siege. On his +return he took lunch at Mr. Bolling’s, and held an impromptu reception, +everybody coming in to speak to him. + +That night he went to an entertainment given to the bride at Mr. +Johnson’s. He enjoyed the evening very much and expressed his feeling of +relief at seeing every one so bright and cheerful. He was delighted to +find the people so prosperous, and to observe that they had it in their +hearts to be gay and happy. The next morning he returned to Richmond. He +was escorted to the train in the same way in which he had been received. +All the people turned out to see him leave, and he departed amid +tremendous cheering. + +My father enjoyed this visit. It had been a success in every way. His +old friends and soldiers called on him in great numbers, all eager to +look on his face and clasp his hand again. The night of the wedding, the +streets were filled with crowds anxious to see him once more, and +many to look on him for the first time. Where ever he was seen, he was +treated with the greatest love, admiration, and respect. It was with +devotion, deep, sincere, and true, mixed with awe and sadness, that they +beheld their old commander, on foot, in citizen’s dress, grayer than +three years ago, but still the same, passing along the ways where he had +so often ridden on Traveller, with the noise of battle all around. What +a change for him; what a difference to them! But their trust and faith +in him were as unshaken as ever. A glimpse of his feelings at this time +is shown in one of his letters written a few weeks later, which I will +give in its proper place. The day after his return to Richmond he write +to my mother: + +“Richmond, December 1, 1867. + +“My Dear Mary: I returned here yesterday with Custis, Robert and Fitz. +Lee. We left Fitzhugh and his bride in Petersburg. Mildred is with +them. In consequence of being told that the new couple were to leave +Petersburg the morning after the wedding, I had made my arrangements to +return here Saturday. If I had known that they would remain till Monday, +as is now their intention, I should have made my arrangements to stay. +Mildred will come up with them on Monday and go to Mrs. Caskie’s. I +proposed to Custis, Rob, and Fitz to remain in Petersburg till that +time, but they preferred coming with me. I shall go to Brandon to-morrow +morning, and will take Custis and Robert with me. I propose to return +here Tuesday, finish my business Wednesday, spend Thursday at Hickory +Hill, take passage for Lexington Friday, where I hope to arrive +Saturday. As far as I could judge, our new daughter will go to Baltimore +December 2d and probably return here the following Monday. Fitzhugh will +go down to the White House during the week and make arrangements for +their sojourn there. He can go down in the morning and return in the +evening. I repeated our invitation to her to visit us on their return +from Baltimore, but she said Fitzhugh thought it better fo them to defer +it till the spring, but she would write to let us know. I do not think +she will come at this time, for she is in that happy state which causes +her to take pleasure in doing what she thinks he prefers, and he, I +think, would like to go to the White House and arrange for winter. I +went up to Caskie’s last evening. Saw Norvell, but Mr. and Mrs. Caskie +were both sick upstairs. The latter is better than when I last wrote, +and free from pain. I paid several visits yesterday evening, and took +Rob with me. Mrs. Triplett’s, Mrs. Peebles’, Mrs. Brander’s, Mrs. J. R. +Anderson’s. At the latter place I met Mrs. Robert Stannard, who looked, +I thought, remarkably well. She is living with Hugh (her son), on his +farm. I also went to Mrs. Dunlop’s and saw there General and Miss Jennie +Cooper. The latter looked remarkably well, but the former is very thin. +They will remain here some weeks. I have not seen Colonel Allan since my +return from Petersburg, but am told that he is better. You must give a +great deal of love to all with you. I am very anxious to get back, and +I hope that you are all well. It is very cold here this morning, and ice +is abundant. Good-bye. + +“Truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The people mentioned here as those he called on were all friends living +in Richmond, with whom my mother had become well acquainted during her +stay there, in war times. There were many others he went to see, for +I remember going with him. He sat only a few minutes at each +place--“called just to shake hands,” he would say. All were delighted to +see him. From some places where he had been well known he could hardly +get away. He had a kind word for all, and his excuse for hurrying on was +that he must try to see so and so, as Mrs. Lee had told him to be sure +to do so. He was bright and cheerful, and was pleased with the great +affection shown him on all sides. + +On the day he had appointed--Monday, the 2d of December--we started in +the morning for “Brandon.” We took the steamer down James River, passing +through much of the country where he had opposed McClellan in ‘62 and +Grant in ‘64. Custis and I were with him. He said very little, as I +remember--nothing about the war--but was interested in all the old +homesteads along the route, many of which he had visited in the days +long ago and whose owners had been his relatives and friends. He +expressed great regret at not being able to stop at “Shirley,” which was +the birthplace and home of his mother before she married. He stayed at +“Brandon” one night only, taking the same boat as it returned next day +to Richmond. They were all glad to see him and sorry to let him go, +but his plans had been formed before-hand, according to his invariable +custom, and he carried them out without any change. Spending one day +in Richmond, he went from there to “Hickory Hill,” thence to Lexington, +arriving there the Saturday he had fixed on. I bade him and my brother +Custis good-bye in Richmond, and returned to my home. To my brother, +Fitzhugh, after his return from his wedding trip, he writes: + +“Lexington, Virginia, December 21, 1867. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I was very glad last night to receive your letter of +the 18th announcing your return to Richmond. I did not like my daughter +to be so far away. I am glad, however, that you had so pleasant a visit, +which has no doubt prepared you for the enjoyments of home, and will +make the repose of Xmas week in Petersburg doubly agreeable. I had a +very pleasant visit to Brandon after parting with you, which Custis and +Robert seemed equally to enjoy, and I regretted that I could only spend +one night. I passed Shirley both going and returning with regret, from +my inability to stop; but Custis and I spent a day at Hickory Hill +on our way up very agreeably. My visit to Petersburg was extremely +pleasant. Besides the pleasure of seeing my daughter and being with +you, which was very great, I was gratified in seeing many friends. In +addition, when our armies were in front of Petersburg I suffered so much +in body and mind on account of the good townspeople, especially on +that gloomy night when I was forced to abandon them, that I have always +reverted to them in sadness and sorrow. My old feelings returned to +me, as I passed well-remembered spots and recalled the ravages of the +hostile shells. But when I saw the cheerfulness with which the people +were working to restore their condition, and witnessed the comforts with +which they were surrounded, a load of sorrow which had been pressing +upon me for years was lifted from my heart. This is bad weather for +completing your house, but it will soon pass away, and your sweet +helpmate will make everything go smoothly. When the spring opens and the +mocking-birds resume their song you will have much to do. So you must +prepare in time. You must give a great deal of love for me to all at Mr. +Bolling’s, to General and Mrs. Mahone, and other friends. We shall be +very glad when you can bring our daughter to see us. Select the time +most convenient to you, and do not let it be long distant. Tell her I +wish to see her very much, as do also her mama and sisters. Your mother +regrets that you did not receive her letter in answer to yours from +Baltimore. She wrote the day of its reception, and addressed it to New +York, as you directed. The box about which you inquired arrived safely +and was much enjoyed. Mary is in Baltimore, where she will probably +spend the winter. As I am so far from Mildred, it will be difficult for +her to make up her mind when to return, so that the whole care of the +household devolves upon Agnes, who is occupied all the morning, teaching +our niece, Mildred.... God bless you all is the prayer of Your devoted +father, R. E. Lee. + +“General Wm. H. F. Lee.” + +The Christmas of 1867 I spent, as usual, in Lexington with my father. He +had been president of the college now a little more than two years. The +number of professors and students had largely increased. The chapel had +been build, many improvements made to the lecture-rooms and halls, +the grounds improved by the laying out of new roads and walks, the +inclosures renewed, the grass restored to the campus, and new shade +trees set out over the college grounds. The increase in the number of +professors demanded more houses for them. As a move in this direction, +the trustees decided to build a new house for the president, so that the +one he now occupied could be used for one of the faculty. Accordingly, +the appropriations of a sum was made, and my father was authorised to +build according to a plan of his own selection. He took a keen interest +in this matter, and at once commenced designing a new “President’s +House” on the lot which had previously been occupied by an old building +devoted to the same purpose. This was completed in the summer of 1869. + +The endowment fund of the college had been increased by liberal +contributions from several philanthropic persons, and also by a better +investment of the resources already belonging to the institution. +The fees from the greater number of students also added much to its +prosperity, his interest in the student individually and collectively +was untiring. By the system of reports made weekly to the president, +and monthly to the parent or guardian, he knew well how each one of +his charges was getting on, whether or not he was progressing, or even +holding his own. If the report was unsatisfactory, the student was +sent for and remonstrated with. If that had no effect, the parents +were advised, and requested to urge the son to try to do better. If the +student still persisted in wasting his time and money, his parents were +asked to call him home. + +As illustrating how well the president was acquainted with the student, +and how accurate was his remembrance of their individuality, it is +related that on one occasion a name was read out in faculty meeting +which was unfamiliar to him. He asked that it be read out again, and +repeated the name to himself, adding in a tone of self-reproach: + +“I have no recollection of a student of that name. It is very strange +that I have forgotten him. I thought I knew every one in college. How +long has he been here?” + +An investigation proved that the student had recently entered during his +absence, and that he had never seen him. He won the confidence of the +students, and very soon their affections. He regarded a mass of petty +regulations as being only vexatious, and yet by his tact and firmness +his discipline became most effective. Very seldom was there any breaking +of the laws. He was so honoured and loved that they tried to please +him in all things. Of course, there were exceptions. I give here some +letters written to parents and guardians which will show how he tried to +induce these triflers to become men: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 25, 1866. + +“My Dear Sir: I am very glad to learn from your letter of the 13th +inst. that you have written your son in reference to his neglect of his +studies. I am sure your letter and the kind admonition of his mother +will have a beneficial effect upon him. I have myself told him as +plainly but as kindly as I could that it was necessary for him to change +his course, or that he would be obliged to return home. He had promised +me that he would henceforth be diligent and attentive, and endeavour in +all things to perform his duty. I hope that he may succeed, for I think +he is able to do well if he really makes the effort. Will you be so kind +as to inform Mrs. W. that I have received her letter of the 19th? It +will give me great pleasure at all times to aid her son in every way I +can, but if he desires no benefit from his connection with the college +it will be to his interest to return home. + +“Very truly your obedient servant, R. E. Lee.” + +Here is another letter showing the patience and forbearance of the +president and his earnest desire to help on in life the young men +committed to his charge: + +“Washington College, Lexington Virginia, April 20, 1868. + +“My Dear Sir: I regret to see, from your letter of the 29th ult., to +the clerk of the faculty, that you have misunderstood their action in +reference to your son. He was not dismissed, as you suppose, from the +college, but every means having been tried by the faculty to induce him +to attend faithfully and regularly to his studies without effect, and +great forbearance having been practised, it was thought best for him, +and just to you, that he should return home. The action of the faculty +was purposely designed, not to prevent his being received into any other +college, or to return to this, should you so desire. The monthly reports +are intended to advise parents of the progress of their sons, and it was +supposed you would have seen the little advancement made by yours in +his studies, and that no further notice was required. The action of the +faculty was caused by no immorality on his part, but by a systematic +neglect of his duties, which no counsel on the part of his professors, +or my own, could correct. In compliance, however, with your wishes, and +on the positive promise of amendment on the part of your son, he has +been received into college, and I sincerely hope that he will apply +himself diligently to his studies, and make an earnest effort to +retrieve the time he has lost. With great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, R. E. Lee.” + +This letter, too, shows his fatherly interest: + +“Washington College, Lexington, Virginia, March 19, 1868. + +“My Dear Sir: Before this you have learned the affecting death of your +son. I can say nothing to mitigate your grief or to relieve your sorrow; +but if the sincere sympathy of his comrades and friends and of the +entire community can bring you any consolation, I can assure you that +you possess it in its fullest extent. When one, in the pureness and +freshness of youth, before having been contaminated by sin or afflicted +by misery, is called to the presence of his Merciful Creator, it must +be solely for his good. As difficult as this may be for you now to +recognise, I hope you will keep it constantly in your memory and take +it to your comfort; and I pray that He who in His wise Providence has +permitted this crushing sorrow may sanctify it to the happiness of all. +Your son and his friend, Mr. Birely, often passed their leisure hours +in rowing on the river, and, on last Saturday afternoon, the 4th inst., +attempted what they had more than once been cautioned against--to +approach the foot of the dam, at the public bridge. Unfortunately, their +boat was caught by the return-current, struck by the falling water, and +was immediately upset. Their perilous position was at once seen from the +shore, and aid was hurried to their relief, but before it could reach +them both had perished. Efforts to restore your son’s life, though long +continued, were unavailing. Mr. Birely’s body was not found until the +next morning. Their remains were, yesterday, Sunday, conveyed to the +Episcopal church in this city, where the sacred ceremony for the dead +were performed, by the Reverend Dr. Pendleton, who nineteen years ago, +at the far-off home of their infancy, placed upon them their baptismal +vows. After the service a long procession of the professors and students +of the college, the officers and cadets of the Virginia Military +Academy, and the citizens of Lexington accompanied their bodies to the +packet-boat for Lynchburg, where they were place in charge of Messrs. +Wheeler & Baker to convey them to Frederick City. + +“With great regard and sincere sympathy, I am, + +“Most respectfully, R. E. Lee.” + + + + + +Chapter XVII -- The Reconstruction Period + + +The General believes in the enforcement of law and order--His moral +influence in the college--Playful humour shown in his letters--His +opinion of negro labour--Mr. Davis’s trial--Letter to Mrs. Fitzhugh +Lee--Intercourse with Faculty + + +Virginia was at this time still under military rule. The +“reconstruction” days were not over. My father had himself accepted the +political situation after the war, and had advised every one who had +sought his advice to do the same. The following incident and letters +will show his acquiescence in the law of the land, and ready submission +to the authorities. In a street disturbance that spring a student had +been shot by a negro, and it was reported that, in case of the +young man’s death, the murderer would be summarily dealt with by his +college-mates. Captain Wagner, the military commissioner, wrote to +General Lee informing him of these reports. He received the following +reply: + +“Washington College, Lexington, Virginia, May 4, 1868. + +“Captain Wagner, Commissioner District, Lexington, Virginia. + +“Sir: Upon investigation of the reports which you communicated to me +yesterday afternoon, I can find no foundation for the apprehension that +the students of Washington college contemplate any attack upon the man +confined in jail for shooting Mr. ---- Friday night. On the contrary, I +have been assured by members of the faculty and individual students that +they have heard no suggestion of the kind, and they believe that no such +intention has been entertained or now exists. I think, therefore, the +reports made to you are groundless. + +“Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +However, in order to take all precautions and provide against any +disturbance, he wrote as follows to the president of the Young Men’s +Christian Association, whom he knew well and trusted, and who was a man +of much influence with his fellow-students: + +“Mr. G. B. Strickler, + +“President Young Men’s Christian Association, Washington College. + +“I have just been informed by Captain Wagner, Military Commissioner of +this district, that from information received by him, he had reason to +apprehend that, should the wound received by Mr. ---- Friday night prove +fatal, the students of Washington College contemplate taking from the +jail the man who shot him and inflicting upon him summary punishment. I +cannot believe that any such act is intended or would be allowed by +the students of Washington College, thought it is possible that such +an intention may have been spoken of amongst them. I think it only +necessary to call the attention of the students to the report to prevent +such an occurrence. I feel convinced that none would countenance such +outrage against law and order, but that all will cheerfully submit to +the administration of justice by the legal authorities. As the readiest +way of communicating with the students, at this hour, on Sunday, I have +concluded to address you this letter that through the members of the +Young Men’s Christian Association the students generally may be informed +of the apprehension entertained by the military authorities; and I +earnestly invoke the students to abstain from an violation of law, and +to unite in preserving quiet and order on this and every occasion. + +“Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The young man recovered, there was no disturbance of any kind, nor +was it believed that there would have been, after this appeal from the +president, even if the wound had proved fatal. + +“Nor was it a moral influence alone that he exerted in the college. +He was equally careful of the intellectual interests. He watched the +progress of every class, attended all the examinations, and strove +constantly to stimulate both professors and students to the highest +attainments. The whole college, in a word, felt his influence as an +ever-present motive, and his character was quietly but irresistibly +impressed upon it, not only in the general working of all its +departments, but in all the details of each. Of this influence General +Lee, modest as he was, was perfectly aware, and, like a prudent ruler, +he husbanded it with wise economy. He preferred to confine his direct +interposition to purely personal acts, and rarely--and then only on +critical occasions--did he step forward to present himself before the +whole body of students in the full dignity of his presidential office. +On these occasions, which in the latter years hardly ever occurred, he +would quietly post an address to the students, in which, appealing only +to the highest principals of conduct, he sought to dissuade them +from threatened evil. The addresses, which the boys designated as his +‘general orders,’ were always of immediate efficacy. No single case ever +occurred in which they failed of instant and complete effect; and no +student would have been tolerated by his fellow-students who would have +dared to disregard such an appeal from General Lee.” [Professor Joynes +in “University Monthly”.] + +My father had recovered form the spell of sickness of the previous +summer at the Old Sweet Springs, which had weakened and depressed him +until about the time he attended my brother’s wedding. That marriage +had been a great joy to him. His trip there and back, and his visits to +“Brandon” and “Hickory Hill,” the change of climate and scene, seeing +old friends and new places, had all contributed to benefit his health +and spirits. I remember this Christmas of 1867 he seemed particularly +bright and cheerful. I give a letter he wrote me after I had left for my +home which reflects his playful humour and good spirits: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 23, 1868. + +“My Dear Robert: I inclose a letter which has just arrived in the +mail. It seems to be from a nice young lady, judging from the style +and address. I hope she is the right one and that her response is +favourable. Put in a good crop, and recollect you may have two to feed +after the harvest. We are doing what we can in this region to supply the +springs and streams that form the lowland rivers. It is still raining, +though the snow and ice have not left us. After your departure, Mr. +Gordon brought to me a letter from Fitzhugh to your mother which had +come in the Sunday mail and was overlooked among the papers. I am sorry +it had not been found before you left, as you would have known their +plans. Tell them I am sorry not to have seen them. We miss you very +much. ‘Life’ has it all her own way now, and expends her energy in +regulating her brother and putting your mother’s drawers and presses to +rights. It’s her only vent, and furnishes exercise for body and mind. +There is to be a great fete in your mother’s room to-day. The Grace +Church Sewing Society is to meet there at 10 A. M.--that is, if the +members are impervious to water. I charged the two Mildreds to be seated +with their white aprons on and with scissors and thimbles in hand. I +hope they may have a refreshing time. Good-bye. + +“Your father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee.” + +The second Mildred mentioned here was my father’s niece, daughter of +Charles Carter Lee. She was living with my father at this time, going to +school, and was, like her cousin the other Mildred, not very fond of her +needle. His nickname for her was “Powhattie,” derived, I presume, from +her native County of Powhatan. He was very fond of teasing her in his +playful way. Indeed, we all enjoyed that attention from him. He never +teased any one whom he did not especially like. + +To his new daughter I find the following letter, written at this time, +in which he shows his affection and admiration for her: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 10, 1868. + +“My Beautiful Daughter: I have been wishing to write to you for a long +time, but have supposed that you would be so engrossed with my sons, +with their plans and their projects, that you could not lend an ear to +your papa. But now I must tell you how much I have thought of you, how +much I want to see you, and how greatly I was disappointed at your not +getting to see us at the time you proposed. You must not postpone your +visit too long, or you may not find us here. Our winter, which has been +long and cold, I hope now is over. The gardeners are busy, the grass is +growing green, and the atmosphere warm and inspiring. I presume under +its genial influence you and Fitzhugh are busy improving your new home. +I hope everything is agreeable, and that you are becoming more and more +interested in making those around you happy. That is the true way to +secure your own happiness for which my poor prayers are daily offered to +the throne of the Most High. I have been summoned to Richmond the third +Thursday in this month, as a witness in the trial against Mr. Davis; and +though that will be a painful errand for me, I hope that it will give me +the pleasure of seeing you. I will endeavour to get down some day to +the White House, if it is only to spend Sunday with you. I hope that you +will be able to pay some attention to your poor brother Robert. Do not +let his elder brother monopolise you altogether. You will have to take +care of both till you can find some one like yourself to take Romancoke +in hand. Do you think Miss Anne Banister will consent? Mildred, you +know, is the only one of the girls who has been with us this winter. She +has consequently had her hands full, and considers herself now a great +character. She rules her brother and my nephews with an iron rod, and +scatters her advice broadcast among the young men of the college. I hope +that it may yield an abundant harvest. The young mothers of Lexington +ought to be extremely grateful to her for her suggestions to them as +to the proper mode of rearing their children, and though she finds +many unable to appreciate her system, she is nothing daunted by the +obtuseness of vision, but takes advantage of every opportunity +to enlighten them as to its benefits. Mary and Agnes are still in +Baltimore, and are now at the house of Mrs. Charles Howard. Agnes +expects, I believe, to return to the Peters near Ellicott City, and then +go over to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to visit the Goldsboroughs and +other friends. I hardly think either of them will get back before June. +I have recently received a very pretty picture from a young lady of +Baltimore, Miss Mary Jones, whom I met last summer at the White Sulphur +Springs. In one of my morning rides to the Beaver-dam Falls, near the +Sweet Springs, I found her at the foot of the falls making a sketch of +the scene, and on her return home she finished it and has sent it to me. +It is beautifully painted and is a faithful representation of the Falls. +I think you will be pleased with it when you come up, and agree with me +in the opinion that it is the principal ornament of our parlour. I am +sorry to inform you that your poor mama ahs been suffering more than +usual lately from her rheumatic pains. She took cold in some way, which +produced a recurrence of her former pangs, though she is in a measure +now relieved. We often wish for you and Fitzhugh. My only pleasure is in +my solitary evening rides, which give me abundant opportunity for quiet +thought. With a great deal of love to your husband, I am your sincerely +attached father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“Mrs. William H. Fitzhugh Lee.” + +The next letter I find is a reply to one of mine, in which I evidently +had been confiding to him my agricultural woes: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 12, 1868. + +“My Dear Rob: I am sorry to learn from your letter of the 1st that the +winter has been so hard on your wheat. I hope, however, the present good +weather is shedding its influence upon it, and that it will turn out +better than it promises. You must, however, take a lesson from the last +season. What you do cultivate, do well. Improve and prepare the land in +the best manner; your labour will be less, and your profits more. Your +flat lands were always uncertain in wet winters. The uplands were more +sure. Is it not possible that some unbidden guest may have been feasting +on your corn? Six hundred bushels are are a large deficit in casting up +your account for the year. But you must make it up by economy and good +management. A farmer’s motto should be TOIL AND TRUST. I am glad that +you have got your lime and sown your oats and clover. Do you use the +drill or sow broadcast? I shall try to get down to see you if I go to +Richmond, for I am anxious to know how you are progressing and to see if +in any way I can aid you. Whenever I can, you must let me know. You must +still think about your house and make up your mind as to the site and +kind, and collect the material. I can help you to any kind of plan, and +with some ready money to pay the mechanics. I have presently had a visit +from Dr. Oliver, of Scotland, who is examining lands for immigrants +from his country. He seems to be a sensible and judicious man. From his +account, I do not think the Scotch and English would suit your part of +the country. It would require time from them to become acclimated, and +they would probably get dissatisfied, especially as there is so much +mountainous region where they could be accommodated. I think you will +have to look to the Germans; perhaps the Hollanders, as a class, would +be the most useful. When the railroad shall have been completed to West +Point, I think there will be no difficulty in getting the whites among +you. I would try to get some of our own young men in your employ. I rode +out the other day to Mr. Andrew Cameron’s and went into the field where +he was plowing. I took great pleasure in following the plows around the +circuit. He had four in operation. Three of them were held by his former +comrades in the army, who are regularly employed by him, and, he says, +much to his satisfaction and profit. People have got to work now. It is +creditable to them to do so; their bodies and their minds are benefited +by it, and those who can and will work will be advanced by it. You will +never prosper with blacks, and it is abhorrent to a reflecting mind to +be supporting and cherishing those who are plotting and working for your +injury, and all of whose sympathies and associations are antagonistic to +yours. I wish them no evil in the world--on the contrary, will do them +every good in my power, and know that they are misled by those to +whom they have given their confidence; but our material, social, and +political interests are naturally with the whites. Mr. Davis’ trial +was fixed for the last of this month. If Judge Chase’s presence is +essential, I do not see how it can take place, unless that of Mr. +Johnson is to be postponed. I suppose that will be decided to-day or +to-morrow, and then I shall know what to expect. I shall not go to +Richmond unless necessary, as it is always inconvenient for me to leave +home, and I am not at all well. Your poor mother is also more ailing +than she is ordinarily, in consequence of a cold she has taken. But it +is passing away, I trust. I must leave you to her and Mildred for all +local and domestic news. Custis and the boys are well, and ‘Powhattie,’ +I hope has got rid of the chills. We hear regularly from Mary and +Agnes, who seem to be enjoying themselves, and I do not think from their +programme that they will get back to us till summer. All unite in much +love, and I am always, Your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +This same month he writes a long letter to his daughter Agnes, who +was visiting friends in Baltimore. The Annette, Mildred, and Mary he +mentions in this letter were the daughters of Charles Henry Carter, of +“Goodwood,” Maryland, a first cousin of my father: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 28, 1868. + +“My Precious Agnes: I was so glad to receive your letter, to learn that +you were well and enjoying yourself among pleasant friends. I hope that +you will soon get through all your visits and come home. Your uncle +Smith says you girls ought to marry his sons, as you both find it so +agreeable to be from home, and you could then live a true Bohemian life +and have a happy time generally. But I do not agree with him; I shall +not give my consent, so you must choose elsewhere. I have written to +Annette telling her of my alarm for her. Now that Mildred is engaged, +and she sees how much Mary is in love, I fear she will pick up an Adonis +next, so that she had better run away to the mountains at once. I +am glad that you saw Mr. Davis. It is a terrible thing to have this +prosecution hanging over him, and to be unable to fix his thoughts on +a course of life or apply his hands to the support of his family. But I +hope a kind Providence will shield and guide him. You must remember me +to all my friends, the Taggarts, Glenns, McKims, Marshalls, etc.... As +to the young ladies you mention, you must tell them that I want to see +them very much, and hope that they will all come to the mountains this +summer, and not pass us by in Lexington. When you go to ‘Goodwood’ and +the Eastern Shore, do the same there for me, and present me to all by +name. Tell sweet Sallie Warwick I think she ought to come to Lexington, +if only to show those babies; but in truth the want to see her more +than them, so she may leave them with Major Poor [her husband], if she +chooses. You must see everybody you wish and enjoy yourself as much as +you can, and then come home. I told Mildred to tell you if you wanted +any funds you must let me know and where to send them. I do not know +whether she delivered my message. She has become very imperious, and may +not think you require any. She has been much exercised of late on the +score of servants, but hopes to get some relief on the 1st proximo from +the promised change of Miss Mary Dixon to Miss Eliza Cyrus. I hope her +expectations may be realised. Little Mildred has had a return of her +chills. It has been a sharp attack, and thought it has been arrested, +when I left her this morning I feared she might have a relapse, as this +is her regular day. She was looking remarkably well before it came on, +better than she had ever done, but every cold terminates in this way, +however slight it may be. Colds have been quite prevalent, and there +have been two deaths among the cadets from pneumonia. Fortunately so far +the students have escaped. I am relieved of mine I hope, and your poor +mother is, I hope, better. The storm seems to have subsided, and I trust +the bright weather may ameliorate her pains. Custis, Mildred, and the +boys are well, as are most of our friends in Lexington.... Fitzhugh +writes that everything is blooming at the ‘White House,’ and that his +wheat is splendid. I am in hopes that it is all due to the presence +of my fair daughter. Rob says that things at Romancoke are not so +prosperous--you see, there is no Mrs. R. E. Lee, Jr., there, and that +may make the difference. Cannot you persuade some of those pretty girls +in Baltimore to take compassion on a poor bachelor? I will give them a +plan for a house if they will build it.... All would unite with me in +love if they knew I was writing. You ought to be here to enjoy the birds +Captain O. C. H. sends us. With much love for yourself, and my poor +prayers for your happiness, I am, Your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +A few days afterward he writes to his son Fitzhugh, who was now +established very happily in his new house, and warns him not to depend +entirely on sentiment, but to arrange for something material. He +also speaks of Mr. Davis and his trial, which was continually being +postponed, and in the end was dismissed, and gives him some good advice +about importing cattle: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 30, 1868. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I was very glad to receive your letter of the 19th, +and as you are aware of the order of the court postponing Mr. Davis’s +trial till the 14th proximo, I presume that you have not been expecting +me down. I see it stated in the Washington ‘Star’ that the trial is +again postponed till May 4th, but I have seen as yet no order from the +court. Mr. and Mrs. Davis went from Baltimore to New York on Tuesday +last, and were to go on to Canada. He said that he did not know what he +should do or what he could turn his hand to for support. As long as this +trial is hanging over him, of course, he can do nothing. He can apply +his mind to nothing, nor could he acquire the confidence of the business +community in anything he might undertake, from the apprehension of his +being interrupted in the midst of it. Agnes and Mary saw them as they +passed through Baltimore. They say Mr. Davis was well, though he had +changed a great deal since they saw him last. I am very glad that you +are so pleased with your house. I think it must be my daughter that +gives it such a charm. I am sure that she will make everything look +bright to me. It is a good thing that the wheat is doing so well, for I +am not sure ‘that the flame you are so rich in will light a fire in the +kitchen, nor the little god turn the spit, spit, spit.’ Some material +element is necessary to make it burn brightly and furnish some good +dishes for the table. Shad are good in their way, but they do not run +up the Pamunkey all the year. I am glad that you are making arrangements +for some cows, and think you are right in getting those of the best +breed. It used to be thought that cows from the North would not prosper +in that lower country, and indeed cows from the upper part of Virginia +did not succeed well, but were apt to become sick and die; and that the +surest process to improve the stock was to purchase calves of good breed +and cross on the native stock. You must, therefore, be careful and +not invest too much. We have had a cold winter, and March has been +particularly harsh. Still, vegetation is progressing and the wheat +around Lexington looks beautiful. My garden is advancing in a small way. +Pease, spinach, and onions look promising, but my hot-bed plants are +poor. The new house, about which you inquire, is in statu quo before +winter. I believe the money is wanting and the workmen cannot proceed. +We require some of that latter article here, as elsewhere, and have but +little.... I heard of you in Richmond the other day, but did not learn +whether my daughter was with you. I wish you would send her up to her +papa when you go away. With much love, + +“Your devoted father, R. E. Lee.” + +A month later he writes me, telling me that he expects to be in Richmond +the following week, and will try to get down to see us; also telling of +his garden, and horse, and, as he always did, encouraging, cheering me, +and offering help: + +“Lexington, Virginia, April 25, 1868. + +“My Dear Rob: Your letter of the 21st is just received. I am very glad +that your wheat is improving in appearance, and hope that at harvest it +will yield a fair return for your care and labour. Your corn I am sure +will be more remunerative than the crop of last year, and I trust that +at the end of the year you will find you have advanced in the field of +agriculture. Your mule and provender was a heavy loss. You must make it +up. Replace the first by a good one and I will pay for it. I hope the +warm sun will bring forward the grass to supply the latter. Should I go +to Richmond, next week, as I now expect, I will be prepared to pay for +the mule, and if I do not I will send you a check for the amount. I +am sorry to hear that you have not been well. You must get out of that +too.... You must refresh yourself when you can by going up to the White +House to see your brother and sister. Take a good look at the latter for +me.... In our garden nothing is up but the hardy plans, pease, potatoes, +spinach, onions, etc.... Beets, carrots, salsify, etc., have been sown a +long time, but are not up, and I cannot put in the beans, squash, etc., +or set out the hot-bed plants. But we can wait. I have not been as well +this winter as usual, and have been confined of late. I have taken up +Traveller, however, who is as rough as a bear, and have had two or +three rides on him, in the mud, which I think has benefited me. Mildred +sometimes accompanies me. Your mother, I am glad to say, is better. +She has less pain than when I last wrote, and is more active on her +crutches.... Good-bye, my dear son. If I go to Richmond I will try to +get to see you. + +“Affectionately your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“R. E. Lee, Jr.” + +My father came to Richmond, summoned to attend the trial of Mr. Davis, +but when he arrived he found that it was again postponed. So he went +to the White House and spent several days. I came up from Romancoke and +stayed with him till he left. It was a great pleasure to him to meet his +sons and to see his new daughter in her new home. After his return to +Lexington he wrote to her this letter: + +“Lexington, Viriginia, May 29, 1868. + +“My Dear Daughter: I have been enjoying the memory, ever since my +return, my visit to the Pamunkey, and whenever I have thought of +writing to you the pleasure I experienced in your company and in that of +Fitzhugh and Robert absorbed the moment I could devote to a letter, and +other calls made me postpone it. But I have thought of you often, and +always with renewed pleasure; and I rejoice at your having around +you more comforts and within your reach more pleasures than I had +anticipated. I pray that both may be increased and be long continued. +There is one thing I regret--that you are so far from us. I know the +difficulty of farmers and their wives leaving home. Their success, and +in a measure their pleasure, depend upon their daily attention to their +affairs, and it is almost an impossibility for us old people to get to +you. Yet I trust we may meet this summer some time, and whenever you +can you must come and see us. Our small house will never be so full that +there will not be room for you, or so empty that you will not be most +cordially welcome. Letters received from Mary and Agnes report them +still on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where they were detained by +the sickness of Agnes. They expected, however, to be able to return to +Baltimore last Tuesday, 26th, where, after a few days’ sojourn, they +were to go to Mrs. Washington Peter’s. I fear, however, that Agnes might +not have been well enough, as she had had an attack of bilious fever +and was much prostrated. Should you find yourself in danger of becoming +sick, you must come right up to your papa. I know you will pine, but +I would rather you should suffer in that way than burn with fever, and +while on that subject I will tell you something that may be of comfort: +you may reasonably expect Fitzhugh soon to follow, so you will not +suffer long. I wish to take your mama to the Warm Springs, and to the +Hot or Healing, if she will go, to try to obtain for her some relief; +but we will not leave home till the last of June or first of July. I am +so much occupied that I feel that I ought never to go away, and every +absence accumulates my work. I had a pleasant visit of three days, +to Lynchburg, attending the Episcopal Convention, and I have not yet +brought up my correspondence, etc. I fear, too, I shall have to go to +Richmond next week, as everything seems to portend the certainty of Mr. +Davis’s trial. God grant that, like the impeachment of Mr. Johnson, it +may be dismissed. If I do go, I fear I shall have no time to visit +you. The examinations of the senior classes of the college are now +in progress, and after their completion the examination of the +undergraduates will commence, and will not terminate till the 15th of +June, and the commencement exercises them begin and end on the 18th. +So you see how necessary it is for me to be here and that I shall be +obliged to hasten back as soon as permitted. I wanted, if possible, to +pass one day at ‘Shirley’--I have not been there for ten years. It was +the loved home of my mother, and a spot where I have passed many happy +days in early life, and one that probably I may never visit again. But +I do not know that I shall be able. We are all as usual, and all would +send much love if they knew I was writing. Mildred is very happing in +the company of Miss Charlotte Haxall, and Custis retains his serenity of +character. Our young members of the family are looking forward to their +return to Powhatan as soon as the college exercises close, which I hope +will bring some relief to me also. I see that you have been much visited +of late, but you know that no one wants to see you as much as I do. Tell +Fitzhugh that his old friend, Miss Helen Peters, has come to Lexington, +from New York, to pass the summer. She is now Mrs. Taylor and has +brought with her two babies. She is as cordial and affectionate as ever. +Give much love to Fitzhugh and Rob, and believe me always your devoted +father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. Wm. H. Fitzhugh Lee.” + +My father was back at the college in full time for the “final +examinations.” He always made it a point to be present, and took his +full share of sitting in the rooms while the students were working on +their papers. When occasion offered, somewhat to the surprise of the +learned faculty, he showed himself thoroughly conversant with each and +every department. Even with Greek he seems somewhat familiar, and would +question the students as to their knowledge of this language, much to +their astonishment. + +The commencement exercises of the college began about June 1st and +lasted a week. At this time, the town was crowded with visitors, and +my father had his house full, generally of young girls, friends of my +sisters who came to assist at the “final ball,” the great social event +connected with this college exercise. He seemed to enjoy their society +as much as the young men did, though he could not devote so much time to +them as the boys did, and I know that the girls enjoyed his society +more than they did that of their college adorers. On the occasion of an +entertainment at his house, in going amongst his guests, he approached +a young lady, a great belle, completely surrounded by her +admirers--students, cadets, and some old “Confeds.” He stopped and began +to rally her on her conquests, saying: + +“You can do as you please to these other young gentlemen, but you must +not treat any of my OLD SOLDIERS badly.” + +Those who have never known him cannot imagine the charm of his manner, +the brightness of his smile, and the pleasant way he had of speaking, +especially to young people and little children. His rebukes to the young +were administered in the kindest, gentlest way, almost persuasively, but +he could be stern when the occasion demanded. Colonel William Preston +Johnston, a member of his faculty and a very dear and trusted friend, +says: + +“In his intercourse with his faculty he was courteous, kind, and often +rather playful in manner. We all thought he deferred entirely too much +to the expression of opinion on the part of the faculty, when we would +have preferred that he should simply indicate his own views or desire. +One characteristic of General Lee I noted then and have often recalled: +I never saw him take an ungraceful posture. No matter how long or +fatiguing a faculty meeting might be, he always preserved an attitude in +which dignity, decorum, and grace were united. He was a very well built +man, with rounded body and limbs, and seemed without the slightest +affectation of effort to sit or stand or walk just as a gentleman +should. He was never in a hurry, and all his gestures were easy and +significant. He was always an agreeable companion. There was a good +deal of bonhomie and pleasantry in his conversation. He was not +exactly witty, nor was he very humorous, though he gave a light turn to +table-talk and enjoyed exceedingly any pleasantry or fun, even. He +often made a quaint or slightly caustic remark, but he took care that it +should not be too trenchant. On reading his letters one discovers this +playful spirit in many of them, as, for instance, in his letter to the +spiritualist who asked his opinion of Von Moltke and the French war. +He wrote in reply a most courteous letter in which he said that ‘the +question was one about which military critics would differ, that his own +judgement about such matters was poor at best, and that inasmuch as +they had the power to consult (through their mediums) Caesar, Alexander, +Napoleon, Wellington, and all of the other great captains who had ever +lived, he could not think of obtruding his opinion in such company.’ +General Lee did not talk politics, but he felt very deeply the condition +of the country, and expressed to me several times in strong terms his +disapproval of the course of the dominant party.” + +There is a story told of my father which points to his playful manner +here alluded to. At a certain faculty meeting they were joking Mr. +Harris, who so long and so ably filled the chair of Latin, about his +walking up the aisle of the Presbyterian church with the stem of his +pipe protruding from his pocket. Mr. Harris took out the offending +stem and began cutting it shorter. My father, who had been enjoying the +incident, said: + +“No, Mr. Harris, don’t do that; next time leave it at home.” + +Sometimes he deemed it advisable to be a little stern. One of the +young professors went off for a few days without asking the president’s +permission. On his return the General met him very stiffly, saying: + +“Mr. ----, I congratulate you on your return to your friends and duties. +I was not aware of your absence until I heard it by chance.” + +Mr. ---- told this on himself, and added that it was the last time he +ever went away without a formal leave of absence. His particularity +in little things has often been commented on. He applied it to all his +affairs. Dr. Kirkpatrick, Professor of Moral Philosophy, came into the +president’s office and asked for a certain paper. My father told him +where it could be found. After a while, turning to the doctor he said: + +“Did you find the paper?” + +“Yes, General,” replied the Doctor. + +“Did you return it to the place where you found it?” + +“Yes, General.” + +At another time he asked Professor Harris to look at a catalogue on the +table. The Professor took up a new one, wrapped ready for the mail, and +was about to tear the cover off, when my father, hastily handing him one +already opened, said: + +“Take this, if you please.” + +My mother used to say that he could go, in the dar, and lay his hand on +any article of his clothing, or upon any particular paper, after he had +once arranged them, provided they had not been disturbed. One of his +“quaint or slightly caustic remarks,” alluded to by Colonel Johnston, +I recall as told to me. He met a lady friend down in the town, who +bitterly complained that she could get nothing to eat in Lexington +suitable for Lent--no fish, no oysters, etc. + +“Mrs. ----,” the General replied, “I would not trouble myself so much +about special dishes; I suppose if we try to abstain from SPECIAL SINS +that is all that will be expected of us.” + + + + + +Chapter XVIII -- Mrs. R. E. Lee + + +Goes to Warm Springs for rheumatism--Her daughter Mildred takes typhoid +there--Removes to Hot Springs--Her husband’s devotion--Visit of Fitzhugh +and bride to Lexington--Miss Jones, a would-be benefactor of Washington +College--Fate of Washington relics belonging to Mrs. Lee’s family + + +That summer my father determined to take my mother to the Warm Springs, +in Bath County, Virginia, hoping that the baths there might be of +service to her, and purposing, if she was not benefited, to go to +the Hot Springs, five miles distant. He was most anxious that his new +daughter should join her there and go with him to any place she might +select and come back with them to Lexington. In the following letter to +his son he tells of his plans for the summer: + +“Lexington, Virginia, July 1, 1868. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I received yesterday your letter of the 28th ultimo, +and regret very much to learn of Tabb’s indisposition. I hope that +she will soon be well, and I wish very much she would join us in the +mountains and return here with us. In my letter to her about the time +when she went to her sister’s wedding, which I hope she got, I told her +of my wishes on the subject, and believe gave her our general plans. I +can now say with more distinctness that, unless something now unforeseen +should prevent, I will take your mother to the Warm Sprints, from the +10th to the 15th inst., and after trying the water there about two +weeks, if not favourable, will take her over to the Hot. After seeing +her comfortably established, I will then go anywhere Tabb desires--to +the Healing or the White Sulphur or Sweet. I intend to go myself to the +White Sulphur for about a fortnight, to drink the water, and will take +Mildred with me. Agnes, having gone last summer, will not care to go, I +presume, and can remain with her mother. Mildred has been quite sick +for the past week, but is now much better, and in a week will be strong +enough for the journey, I think. If not, we shall have to delay our +departure a little. Agnes was also sick on the Eastern Shore of Maryland +about three weeks, and, I am told, looks badly. She is now at the +University of Virginia, and will be home in a few days and go with us +to the Springs. You must arrange your plans to suit your interests and +convenience, coming to us when you can and staying as long as you can. +You know the interest I take in your prosperity and advancement, which +cannot be assured without earnest attention to your business on your +part, and therefore I never urge you to act contrary to your own +judgement in reference to them. As to my daughter, Tabb, tell her if she +will trust herself to her papa she shall never want anything he can do +for her, and I think she will find the prediction in my letter to her +verified. She might join us at Goshen and go with us, or come here. Why +did she not come up with her father? I went to see him last evening, but +he was out. Your mother, I presume, has told you of home affairs. She +has become nervous of late, and broods over her troubles so much that +I fear it increases her sufferings. I am therefore the more anxious +to give her new scenes and new thoughts. It is the principal good I +anticipate. Love to Rob. Custis still talks of visiting you, but I have +not heard of his having fixed the day of his departure. He is quite +well. With my best love to my daughter T---- and the same to yourself, I +am, + +“Most affectionately your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The morning he left Lexington he, while waiting for the stage, writes as +follows to a great favourite of his, a friend of Mildred’s, who had been +on a visit to her that summer: + +“Lexington, Virginia, July 14, 1868. + +“...The stage is at the door to carry us to Goshen, and if Mrs. Lee’s +strength permits, we hope to reach the Warm Springs to-night. After +two or three week’s trial of its waters we shall go to the Hot, where, +leaving Agnes to take care of her mother, I shall take Mildred to the +White Sulphur, and hope to meet you at Covington and carry you along. +Will you not come?... Mildred is quite well again and is flying about +this morning with great activity. Agnes is following with slower steps, +Mrs. Lee is giving her last injunctions to Sam and Eliza. Letitia [my +mother’s maid] is looking on with wonder at the preparations, and trying +to get a right conception of the place to which she is going, which +she seems to think is something between a steel-trap and a spring-gun. +Custis is waiting to help his mother into the stage, and you see how +patient I am. To add interest to the scene, Dr. Barton has arrived to +bid adieu and to give Mildred an opportunity of looking her best. I +believe he is the last rose of summer. The others, with their fragrance +and thorns, have all departed....” + +A few days after their arrival at the Warm Springs Mildred was taken ill +with typhoid fever, and during many anxious weeks my father and Agnes +were her only nurses. My mother’s room was on the first floor of the +“Brockenborough Cottage,” my sister’s in the second, so she could not +get upstairs to her room. Mildred was very fanciful--would not have no +one but my father to nurse her, and could not sleep unless she had his +hand in hers. Night after night he sat by her side, watching over her +and attending to every want with gentleness and patience. He writes to +the same young lady, at Mildred’s request: + +“Warm Springs, Virginia, July 30, 1868. + +“...She [Mildred] has been so anxious to write to you, and so uneasy at +her inability to do so, that I hope you will permit me to tell you the +reason. She has been quite sick and is so still--confined to her bed +with low fever, which retains its hold very pertinaciously. She took +cold a few days after our arrival, from some imprudence, and she is very +much enfeebled. She has been more comfortable the last day or two, and I +hope is better, but I presume he recovery will necessarily be slow. You +know she is very fanciful, and as she seems to be more accessible to +reason from me, I have come be her chief nurse and am now writing in her +room, while she is sleeping.... This is a beautiful valley, and we have +quite a pleasant company--Mr. and Mrs. Chapman and their three daughters +from Alabama; Mrs. Coleman and her two daughters from Baltimore; +some ladies from Richmond, Washington, Kentucky, Iowa, etc., and an +ever-changing scene of faces. As soon as Mildred is strong enough, we +will go to the Hot, after which, if she desires it, I will take her to +the White. Mrs. Lee and Agnes are improving slightly, I am glad to say. +We hear of many friends at the Hot, Healing, and White, and hope we +shall reach these respective waters before they depart.... The Harrisons +have written me that they will be here on the 14th proximo, but unless +Mildred’s recovery is much retarded it will be too late for me to see +them. The Caskies will be at the Hot about the same time.... I am, + +“Your most sincerely, + +“R. E. Lee.” On August 3d from the same place, he writes to my brother +Fitzhugh: + +“...this was the day I had appointed to go to the Hot, but Mildred is +too sick to move. She was taken more than a fortnight since,...and her +attack seems to have partaken of a typhoid character. She has had since +a low and persistent fever, which retains its hold. She is very feeble, +but, in the doctor’s opinion, somewhat better. I myself see little +change, except that she is now free from pain. I cannot speak of our +future movements. I fear I shall have to abandon my visit to the White. +Your mother and Agnes are better than when they arrived. The former +bathes freely, eats generously, and sleeps sweetly. Agnes, though +feeble, is stronger. I am the same, and can see no effects of the waters +upon myself. Give much love to my sweet daughter and dear sons. All +unite with me in this message.... I am, as ever and always, + +“Your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Another letter to my brother, Fitzhugh, from the Warm Springs, tells +of his daughter’s convalescence. Smith’s Island, of which he writes, +belonged to my grandfather’s estate, of which my father was executor. +He was trying to make some disposition of it, so that it might yield a +revenue. It is situated on the Atlantic just east of Cape Charles, in +Northampton County, Virginia. + +“Warm Springs, Virginia, August 14, 1868. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I received, yesterday, your letter of the 9th, and, +as your mother informed you of Mildred’s condition, I deferred replying +to it until to-day. I am glad to inform you that she is better, and +that the doctor pronounces her convalescent this morning. He says her +progress must necessarily be slow, but with care and prudence he sees +nothing to prevent her recovery, unless something unforeseen occurs. I +hope, therefore, we may dismiss our anxiety. As regards Smith’s Island, +I should be very glad if you could go over and see it, and, if you +think proper, make such disposition of it as you and Robert think most +advantageous. See Mr. Hamilton S. Neale (Eastville, Northampton County, +Virginia) and consult with him on the subject and let me know your +determination. I think you will find him kind and intelligent. I have +visited the island twice in my life, a long while ago, and thought that, +if a person lived on it, he might, by grazing, planting and fishing, +make a comfortable living. You and Robert might, if you choose, buy the +island from the estate. I fear the timber, etc., has been cut from it. +I never thought it as valuable as your grandfather did. You will have +to go to Norfolk, take the steamer to Cherrystone, where, I suppose, you +can find a conveyance to Eastville. You know Cobb’s Island has been +a fashionable bathing-place. John Lewis wrote that the beach was +delightful and fare excellent, and that they had sail-vessels there +at the disposal of visitors. But Mr. Neale and Mr. John Simpkins, the +present agent, can put you in the way of visiting the island, and you +might carry my sweet daughter, Tabb, over and give her a surf bath. But +do not let the mosquitoes annoy her. Give her much love from me. I am +writing in Mildred’s room, who is very grateful for your interest in her +behalf. She is too weak to speak. I hope Rob had a pleasant trip. Tell +me Custis’s plans. I have not heard from him. Your mother and Agnes +unite in love to you, Rob, and Tabb. I have a fan in one hand, while +I wield a pen with the other, so excuse brevity. Most affectionately +yours, R. E. Lee. + +“P.S.--George and Eleanor Goldsborough and Miss Mary G---- express +themselves as much pleased with Cobb’s Island. I do not know how far it +is east of Smith’s Island. R. E. Lee.” + +His daughter being convalescent, he carried out his plan, and went over +to the White Sulphur Springs, after he had placed my mother and sisters +at the Hot Springs. In a letter from there, on August 28th, he writes: + +“...The place looks beautiful--the belles very handsome, and the beaux +very happy. All are gay, and only I solitary. I am all alone. There +was a grand fancy masked ball last night. The room was overflowing, the +music good, as much spring in the boards as in the conversation, and the +german continued till two o’clock this morning. I return to the Hot next +week, and the following to Lexington. Mildred is much better, but says +she has forgotten how to write. I hope that she will be strong enough to +return with me.... I am, Truly and affectionately yours, R. E. Lee.” + +They all returned to Lexington early in September, in time for the +opening of the college. Mildred was still weak and nervous, nor did +she recover her normal strength for several months. She was always my +father’s pet as a little girl, and during this illness and convalescence +he had been very tender with her, humoring as far as he could all of her +fancies. Not long before that Christmas, she enumerated, just in fun, +all the present she wished--a long list. To her great surprise, when +Christmas morning came she found each article at her place a the +breakfast-table--not one omitted. + +His sympathy with all who were suffering, ill, and afflicted was warm +and sincere. Colonel Shipp, now superintendent of the Virginia +Military Institute, was the commandant of cadets when my father came to +Lexington. He tells me that the he was ill for some weeks, laid up in +his room, which was next to that of my brother Custis. He hardly knew +General Lee, and had spoken to him only a few times, but my father went +to see him quite often, would sit by him, talk to him, and seemed much +interested in his getting well. He said that he would consult Mrs. Lee +(“who is a great doctor”), and he finally brought a bottle of something +in which sudor-berries were the chief ingredient. Colonel Shipp found +out afterward that the sudor-berries had been sent from the White House, +and that my mother had concocted the medicine. + +On one occasion, calling at Colonel Preston’s, he missed two little boys +in the family circle, who were great favourites of his, and on asking +for them he was told that they were confined to the nursery by croup. +The next day, though the weather was of the worst description, he went +trudging in great storm-boots back to their house, carrying in one hand +a basket of pecan nuts and in the other a toy, which he left for his +little sick friends. + +To my mother, who was a great invalid from rheumatism for more than ten +years, he was the most faithful attendant and tender nurse. Every +want of hers that he could supply he anticipated. His considerate +fore-thought saved her from much pain and trouble. During the war he +constantly wrote to her, even when on the march and amidst the most +pressing duties. Every summer of their life in Lexington he arranged +that she should spend several months at one of the many medicinal +springs in the neighbouring mountains, as much that she might be +surrounded by new scenes and faces, as for the benefit of the waters. +Whenever he was in the room, the privilege of pushing her wheeled chair +into the dining-room and out on the verandas or elsewhere about the +house was yielded to him. He sat with her daily, entertaining her with +accounts of what was doing in the college, and the news of the village, +and would often read to her in the evening. For her his love and care +never ceased, his gentleness and patience never ended. + +This tenderness for the sick and helpless was developed in him when +he was a mere lad. His mother was an invalid, and he was her constant +nurse. In her last illness he mixed every dose of medicine she took, and +was with her night and day. If he left the room, she kept her eyes on +the door till he returned. He never left her but for a short time. After +her death the health of their faithful servant, Nat, became very bad. My +father, then just graduated from West Point, took him to the South, had +the best medical advice, a comfortable room, and everything that could +be done to restore him, and attended to him himself. + +I can find few family letters written by my father at this time. Those +which have been preserved are to my brother Fitzhugh, and are mostly +about Smith’s Island and the settling up of my grandfather’s estate. The +last of September he writes: + +“Lexington, Virginia, September 28, 1868. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: Your report of the condition of Smith’s Island +corresponds with my own impressions, based upon my knowledge of the +island and the reports of others. I think it would be advantageous, +under present circumstances, to make sale of the island as soon as a +fair price can be obtained, and I have so instructed Mr. Hamilton S. +Neale, who has consented to act as my agent.... I should like this while +matter arranged as soon as possible, for my life is very uncertain, and +its settlement now may avoid future difficulties. I am very glad to hear +that you and Rob have continued well, and that my daughter is improving. +Give my love to them both. The loss of your fine cows is a serious one, +and I believe you will have to procure them in your vicinity and improve +them. Get some calves this fall of a good breed. We hope that we shall +see you this fall. Your mother is as comfortable as usual, and Mildred +is improving. Custis, Mary, and Agnes are well, and all would send love, +did they know I was writing. + +“Very affectionately your father, R. E. Lee.” + +This autumn he had a visit from his nephew, Edward Lee Childe. Edward +lived in Paris, and had crossed over in the summer to see my father and +mother. He made a very pleasant impression on everybody, and was much +pleased with his visit. Here is a letter written by my father to my +brother just after Edward left: + +“Lexington, Virginia, October 14, 1868. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I have returned to Mr. Hamilton S. Neale the +advertisement of the sale of Smith’s Island, with my approval, and have +requested him to advertise in the Northern and Richmond papers, etc., +and to send out such other notices as he deems best calculated to +attract attention to the property, and to take every measure to enhance +the value of the island and to procure for your grandfather’s estate +the full benefit of the sale.... I have heard from Mr. Compton that my +daughter Tabb has returned to the White House in improved health, which +I am very glad of. I hope that you will soon be able to bring her up +to see us. Do not wait until the weather becomes too cold. Our mountain +atmosphere in winter is very harsh. So far, the weather has been +delightful. Your cousin Edward left us last Thursday evening on his way +to see you. We enjoyed his visit greatly. Agnes and I rode down to the +Baths last Saturday to see the Harrisons, and returned Sunday evening. +They were well, and somewhat benefited by their visit. Mr. George +Ritchie’s death no doubt threw a shade of sadness over the whole party +on Mrs. Harrison’s account, though all were charming and Miss Belle +very sweet. We are about the same--your poor mother comfortable, Mildred +improving. All would unite in love to you and yours, did they know I was +writing. Give much love to my dear daughter, Tabb, and tell her that I +want to see her very much. + +“Truly and affectionately your father, + +“General W. H. Fitzhugh Lee. R. E. Lee.” + +In a few days, he writes again, still about Smith’s Island, but adds +much about the family and friends: + +“Lexington, Virginia, October 19, 1868. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I received your letter of the 12th the day I last +wrote to you. I am glad we agree that $---- should be the minimum limit +for the price of Smith’s Island. You will see by my letter referred to +that it has been so fixed. December 22d is the day proposed by Mr. Neale +as the time of public sale, which was approved by me, though I feared +the notice might be too short. Still there are good reasons for the +sale being made without unnecessary delay. I think November, which you +suggest, would not afford sufficient notice. I would recommend that you +and Robert attend the sale, and be governed by circumstances in what you +do. I would go myself, but it would be a long, hard journey for me at +that season of the year, and I do not see any material good that I can +do. Mr. Neale kindly offered to meet me at Cherrystone landing and take +me to his house, but I shall decline in your favour. I am sorry that +Edward did not get down to see you, for I wanted him to see my daughter, +Tabb. I am sure he has seen none like her in Paris. He left here with +the purpose of visiting you and his uncle Smith, and I do not know what +made him change his mind. I hope that you will get in a good crop of +wheat, and get it in well. The latter is very important and unless +accomplished may deprive you of the whole benefit of your labour and +expense. We shall look anxiously for your visit. Do not put it off too +late or the weather may be unfavourable. Our mountain country is not the +most pleasant in cold weather, but we will try and make you warm. Give +my love to Tabb, and tell her I am wanting to see her all the time. All +unite in love to her and you. Your mother is about the same, very busy, +and full of work. Mildred is steadily improving, and is able to ride on +horseback, which she is beginning to enjoy. Mary and Agnes very well. We +see but little of Custis. He has joined the mess at the institute, +which he finds very comfortable, so that he rarely comes to our table +to breakfast now. The rest of the time he seems to be occupied with +his classes and studies. Remember me to Rob. I hear of a great many +weddings, but his has not been announced yet. He must not forget his +house. I have not, and am going to take up the plan very soon. Mildred +says a good house is an effective card in the matrimonial game. She is +building a castle in the air. The Harrisons propose leaving the Baths +to-morrow. George arrived a week ago. I did not get down Saturday to +see them as I wished. I hope the health of the whole party has been +improved. I wish I could spend this month with you. That lower country +is delightful to me at this season, and I long to be on the water again, +but it cannot be. With much love, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“General Wm. H. Fitzhugh Lee.” + +The last of October he went to Staunton on some business. He rode +Traveller, and Colonel Wm. Allan rode with him. It was the time of the +Augusta Agricultural Fair, and while there he visited the exhibition +and was received by the people with great demonstrations of delight. A +student standing by remarked dryly: + +“I don’t see why the Staunton people make all this to do over General +Lee; why, in Lexington, he SENDS for me to come to see him!” + +In a letter of November 2d he mentions this little journey: + +“...I have recently paid a visit to Staunton and saw the young people +there. They seemed very happy in their fair, and the beaux with their +belles. I rode over on Traveller and was accompanied by Colonel Allan. +The former was delighted at the length of the road, and the latter +relieved from an obstinate cold from which he was suffering. On the +second morning, just as the knights were being marshalled to prove their +prowess and devotion, we commenced our journey back to Lexington, which +we reached before nine P. M., under the light of a beautiful moon.” + +At this time his son Fitzhugh and his new daughter paid their +long-promised visit, which he enjoyed immensely. My mother and sisters were +charmed with her, and the entire community vied in paying her attention. +My father was proud of his daughter-in-law and much gratified at his +son’s marriage. He was delighted with the manner in which she adapted +herself to the ways of all her new relations, with her sweet attention +to my mother, and, above all, with her punctuality. She had been warned +beforehand by her husband that, to please his father, she must be always +ready for family prayers, which were read every morning by him just +before breakfast. This she succeeded in doing, never failing once to be +on time. As breakfast was at seven o’clock, it was no small feat for one +not accustomed to such early hours. She said afterward that she did +not believe that General Lee would have an entirely high opinion of any +person, even General Washington, if he could return to earth, if he +were not ready for prayers! After a delightful visit of three weeks my +brother and his wife returned home. Just as the latter was packing, my +father came into her room and filled all the space in the top of her +trunk with pecan nuts, which some friends had sent him from the South. + +The hour fixed for the service in the college chapel was, as I have +said, a quarter to eight o’clock every morning except Sunday. In the +three winter months, December, January, and February, it was one hour +later. As the president never failed to attend, when not prevented by +sickness or absence, it was necessary to have an early breakfast. +After chapel he went to his office and was seated at his desk by eight +o’clock, where he remained, unless called out by public business, till +two P.M. This room was open to all in the college who had business with +him. The new students were required to report to him here in person, and +from their first interviews we obtained a knowledge of the young men +of which he availed himself in their future career in the college. As +president, he was always disposed to be lenient with students who were +reported for disorderly conduct or for failure in their studies or +duties. He would say to the faculty, when they seemed to think it +necessary to send a student home: + +“Don’t you think it would be better to bear with him a little longer? +Perhaps we may do him some good.” + +Being sent for to this office was anything but pleasant to the students. +Lewis, one of the janitors, went around with the names of those the +president wanted to see, written by his own hand on a long slip of +paper. He carried the paper in one hand, a pencil in the other, and +when he could find the one he wanted in a crowd of his comrades, he took +special pleasure in serving his notice, and would say in his solemn, +sepulchral voice: + +“Mr. ----, the president wants to see you at the office.” + +Then Mr. ---- took the pencil and made a cross-mark opposite his name, +which was evidence of his having received his summons. What transpired +at these interviews was seldom known, except as the student himself +might reveal it; for unless it became necessary to summon the delinquent +a second time, the president never alluded to the subject. An old +student writes me the following account of his experience in the +president’s office: + +“I was a frolicsome chap at college, and, having been absent from class +an unreasonable number of times, was finally summoned to the General’s +office. Abject terror took possession of me in the presence of such wise +and quiet dignity; the reasons I had carefully prepared to give for my +absence stood on their heads, or toppled over. In reply to General Lee’s +grave but perfectly polite question, I stammered out a story about +a violent illness, and the conscious that I was at that moment the +picture of health, I hastened on with something about leaving my boots +at the cobbler’s, when General Lee interrupted me: ‘Stop, Mr. M----,’ +he said; ‘stop, sir! ONE GOOD REASON IS ENOUGH.’ But I could not be +mistaken about the twinkle in the old hero’s eyes!” + +Only a few cases required more than one summons to appear at the +office. No instance is known where a student complained of injustice or +harshness, and the effect on his mind was that of greater respect and +admiration for the president. + +The new house was approaching completion, and my father was much +interested in the work, going there very often and discussing with the +workmen their methods. That Christmas I spent two weeks in Lexington, +and many times my father took me all over the new building, explaining +all the details of his plan. All of his family were here together this +Christmas except Fitzhugh and his wife, an occurrence rather rare of +late years. My father’s health was unusually good, and he was bright and +almost gay. He rode out often, taking me with him, as it was too cold +for the girls. He also took me around with him visiting, and in the mild +festivities of the neighbours he joined with evident pleasure. My visit +ended all too soon, and the first week of January I started back to the +“low country.” Soon after my departure, he forwarded a letter to me with +the accompanying one of his own: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 14, 1869. + +“My Dear Rob: The accompanying letter was inclosed to me by Lawrence +Butler [The grandson of Nellie Custis, my grandfather’s sister, who +married Lawrence Lewis, the favourite nephew of Washington] with the +request that I would forward it, as he did not know your address, and +urge you to be present at his wedding. I do not know that I can say +more, except to inform you that he says he has the very girl for you if +you will come on. You must therefore decide the question according to +your best judgment. General Hoke, from North Carolina, has also sent you +his wedding-cards. We have missed you very much since your departure, +and wished you back. I hope you got home comfortably and found all well. +Drive all your work with judgment and energy, and when you have decided +about the house, let me know. Tell Fitzhugh I have signed the insurance +policy and sent it to Mr. Wickham for his signature, with the request +that he forward it to Grubb & Williams. The weather still continues +pleasant, and I fear we shall suffer for it by the late spring. There +has so far been a great lack of snow, and consequently the wheat is +exposed to the great changes of temperature. We are all as you left us. +Custis, I think, looks better. No news. Mail heavy this morning. Love to +F---- and T----. With great affection, + +“Your father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“R. E. Lee, Jr.” + +Some one wrote to General Lee suggesting that General Grant, then +president of the United States, should be invited to Washington College. +His reply was as follows: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 8, 1869. + +“My Dear Sir: I am much obliged to you for you letter of the 29th ult., +which I am sure has been prompted by the best motives. I should be glad +if General Grant would visit Washington College, and I should endeavour +to treat him with the courtesy and respect due the President of the +United States; but if I were to invite him to do so, it might not be +agreeable to him, and I fear my motives might be misunderstood at this +time, both by himself and others, and that evil would result instead +of good. I will, however, bear your suggestion in mind, and should a +favourable opportunity offer I shall be glad to take advantage of it. +Wishing you happiness and prosperity, I am, Very respectfully, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +A lady living in New York wrote to General Lee in 1867, asking for a +catalogue of Washington College and a copy of its charter and laws. She +wished also to know whether or not the college was sectarian, and, +if so, of what denomination. She intimated that she desired to make a +donation to some institution of learning, and was rather inclined to +select the Episcopal Theological Seminary, near Alexandria, Virginia. +The president sent her the following reply to her letter: + +“Lexington, Virginia, June 24, 1867. + +“Miss Ann Upshur Jones, No. 156 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. + +“My Dear Madam: I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 17th +inst., and I send to your address a catalogue of Washington College +and a copy of its charter and laws. On the thirty-seventh page of the +former, and the eleventh of the latter, you will find what is prescribed +on the subject of religion. I do not know that it ever has been +sectarian in its character since it was chartered as a college; but +it certainly is not so now. Located in a Presbyterian community, it +is natural that most of its trustees and faculty should be of that +denomination, though the rector, president, and several of the +professors are members of the Episcopal Church. It is furthest from my +wish to divert any donation from the Theological Seminary at Alexandria, +for I am well acquainted with the merits of that institution, have +a high respect for its professors, and am an earnest advocate of its +object. I only give you the information you desire, and wish you to +follow your own preferences in the matter. With great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +In 1869 she wrote again, stating that she proposed breaking up +housekeeping, that she had no family to whom to give her books, +furniture, and silver, that she did not wish to sell them nor store +them away, and had therefore determined to present them to the “greatest +living man,” and she begged him to accept them, or, if his house was +already furnished, to make use of them in his college. To this letter he +replied: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 13, 1869. + +“My Dear Miss Jones: After long and diligent inquiry I only this moment +learned your address, and have been during this time greatly mortified +at my inability to acknowledge the receipt and disposition of your +valuable and interesting donation to Washington College. The books +were arranged in the library on their arrival, the globes in the +philosophical department, while the furniture, carpets, sofas, +chairs, etc., have been applied to the furnishing of the dais of the +audience-room of the new chapel, to the comfort and ornament of which +they are a great addition. I have yet made no disposition of the plate +and tableware, and they are still in the boxes in which they came. I +inclose the resolution of thanks passed by the Board of Trustees of +the College at their annual meeting, to which I beg to add my personal +acknowledgments and grateful sense of your favour and kindness to +this institution. It would give me great pleasure if you would visit +Lexington at the commencement in June next, the third Thursday, that I +might then show you the successful operation of the college. Mrs. Lee +joins me in sentiments of esteem and regard, praying that the great and +merciful God may throw around you His protecting care and love. I am, +with great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Ann Upshur Jones, No. 38 Union Square, New York.” + +The plate, tableware, and a curious old work-table, for which no +place could be found in the college, valuable only on account of their +antiquity and quaintness, he finally allowed to be called his own. + +When my mother hurriedly left her home in the spring of 1861, she found +it impossible to carry away the valuable relics of General Washington +which her father had inherited from Mount Vernon, and which had been +objects of great interest at Arlington for more than fifty years. After +the Federal authorities took possession of the place, the most valuable +of these Mount Vernon relics were conveyed to Washington City and placed +in the Patent Office, where they remained on exhibition for many years +labelled “Captured from Arlington.” They were then removed to the +“National Museum,” where they are now, but the card has been taken off. +In 1869, a member of Congress suggested to my mother that she should +apply to President Johnson to have them restored to her. In a letter +from my father to this same gentleman, this bit of quiet humour occurs: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 12, 1869. + +“...Mrs. Lee has determined to act upon your suggestion and apply to +President Johnson for such of the relics from Arlington as are in the +Patent Office. From what I have learned, a great many things formerly +belonging to General Washington, bequeathed to her by her father, in +the shape of books, furniture, camp equipage, etc., were carried away by +individuals and are now scattered over the land. I hope the possessors +appreciate them and may imitate the example of their original owners, +whose conduct must at times be brought to their recollection by +these silent monitors. In this way they will accomplish good to the +country....” + +He refers to this same subject in a letter to the honourable George W. +Jones, Dubuque, Iowa: + +“...In reference to certain articles which were taken from Arlington, +about which you inquire, Mrs. Lee is indebted to our old friend Captain +James May for the order from the present administration forbidding +their return. They were valuable to her as having belonged to her +great-grandmother (Mrs. General Washington), and having been bequeathed +to her by her father. But as the country desires them, she must +give them up. I hope their presence at the capital will keep in +the remembrance of all Americans the principles and virtues of +Washington....” + +To the Honourable Thomas Lawrence Jones, who endeavoured to have the +order to restore the relics to Mrs. Lee executed, the following letter +of thanks was written: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 29, 1869. + +“Honourable Thomas Lawrence Jones, + +“Washington City, District of Columbia. + +“My Dear Sir: I beg to be allowed to tender you my sincere thanks for +your efforts to have restored to Mrs. Lee certain family relics in the +Patent Office in Washington. The facts related in your speech in the +House of Representatives on the 3d inst., so far as known to me, are +correct, and had I conceived the view taken of the matter by Congress I +should have endeavoured to dissuade Mrs. Lee from applying for them. It +may be a question with some whether the retention of these articles is +more ‘an insult,’ in the language of the Committee on Public Buildings, +‘to the loyal people of the United States,’ than their restoration; but +of this I am willing that they should be the judge, and since Congress +has decided to keep them, she must submit. However, her thanks to you, +sir, are not the less fervent for your kind intercession in her behalf, +and with highest regards, I am, with great respect, + +“Your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Washington’s opinion of this transaction, if it could be obtained, would +be of interest to many Americans! [These relics were restored to the +family in 1903 by the order of President McKinley.] + + + + + +Chapter XIX -- Lee’s Letters to His Sons + + +The building of Robert’s house--The General as a railroad +delegate--Lionised in Baltimore--Calls on President Grant--Visits +Alexandria--Declines to be interviewed--Interested in his grandson--The +Washington portraits + + +My father, being very anxious that I should build a good house on my +farm, had agreed to supply the necessary means, and was interested in my +plans and estimates. In a letter of February 18th, after a long and full +explanation of the arrangements for the purchase of Smith’s Island by +Fitzhugh and myself, he writes: + +“...I am glad that you are considering the construction of your house +and taking steps in the matter. Let me know how you advance, the amount +of its cost, etc., and when I can help you.... The fine weather we have +had this winter must have enabled you to advance in your farm work and +put you ahead in that, so you will come out square, I hope. We are as +usual, your poor mother about the same, the girls well, and I tolerable. +All unite in much love. + +“Truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +A week later he writes to me on the same subject: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 27, 1869. + +“My Dear Son: I am glad you have obtained a good pair of oxen. Try to +get another pair to work with them. I will make good the deficit in my +contribution. Your fences will be a great advantage to you, and I am +delighted at the good appearance of your wheat. I hope it will continue +to maturity. It is very probable, as you say, however, that it may fail +in the grain. Should you find it so, would it not be well next year to +experiment with phosphates? That must be the quality the land lacks. +Have you yet heard from Mr. West about your house? What are the +estimates? Let me know. The difficulty I fear now will be that the +burning of the bricks may draw you away from your crops. You must try +not to neglect them. What would the bricks cost if purchased? Ask F---- +to cut the lumber for you. I will furnish the funds to pay for it. I +hope the break in the mill will not prove serious, and that you may +be able to make up your delay in plowing occasioned by the necessary +hauling. I am very glad to hear that you and F---- can visit each other +so easily. It will be advantageous to communicate with each other, as +well as a pleasure. I suppose Tabb has not returned to the White House +yet. I am delighted to hear that she and her boy are so well. They will +make everything on the Pamunkey shine. We are all as usual. + +“General Breckenridge [General John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, +ex-secretary of War of the Confederate South, had two sons at Washington +College at this time. One of them was since United States Minister a the +Court of St. Petersburg.] is on a visit to his sons and has been with +us to-day. He will return to Baltimore Monday. He looks well, seems +cheerful, and talks hopefully. All unite in love to you, and your +acquaintances inquire regularly after you. I think of you very often, +and wish I were nearer and could assist you. Custis is in better health +this winter than he has been, and seems content, though his sisters look +after him very closely. I have no news and never have. General B---- saw +Fitzhugh Lee in Alexandria. He told him he was a great farmer now, and +when he was away, his father, who had now taken to the land, showed +uncommon signs of management. Good-bye, my dear son. May you enjoy every +happiness prays your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee, Jr.” + +The completion of the railroad from the “White House” to “West Point” + made communication between Fitzhugh and myself very easy. On February +11th, my father had become the proud and happy possessor of a grandson, +which event gave him great joy. Mr. West, an architect of Richmond, had +drawn me up plans and estimates for a house. My father had also sent me +a plan drawn by himself. These plans I had submitted to several builders +and sent their bids to him to examine and consider. In the following +letter, he gives me his opinion: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 21, 1869. + +“My Dear Rob: I have received your two letters of the 3d and 9th insts., +and would have answered the former before, but had written a few days +before its date, and as our letters had been crossing each other, I +determined to let them get right. + +“First, as to Smith’s Island, I merely want to fulfil the conditions of +the sale as prescribed in the published notice. I should have required +them of any other purchasers, and must require them of you.... + +“Now as for the house: The estimates of your bidders are higher than I +anticipated, and I think too high by at least $1,000. You see, there is +about $1,000 difference between the highest and lowest of their offers +you sent me. What does F---- say about it? I am confident that the could +build that house here for but little over $2,000, including materials, +and I could to it there, if I could get two good workmen. But you are +unaccustomed to building, and I would not advise you to undertake it, +unless you could engage a proper foreman. If, therefore, I were in +your place, I should reject all the offers, unless the one you had not +received when you wrote suited better. I would not, however, give up my +house, but procure the bricks either by purchase or by making them on +the ground, as was most advantageous, and the shingles in the same +way, and get all the lumber and flooring prepared. While preparing the +necessary materials, I would see the builder that made the lowest offer, +or any other that I preferred, and get him to revise his estimate and +cut it down, leaving him a margin for profit; and when satisfied with +his offer, accept it and set him to work. + +“Now as for the means: I understood when you were here that you could +manage the materials--that is, make arrangements for procuring the +bricks, lumber, shingles, and flooring. Indeed, you might also get the +lime and sand cheaper, perhaps, than the builder, and make a deduction +on his bill. I can let you have funds to pay your contractor. If I +did not understand you rightly--that is, if you cannot procure the +materials, I can help you in them too. In fact, if you desire so much, +I can let you have the whole amount, $3,500. you can have the use of it +without interest, and return it to me when I require it, or sooner if +you are able, as I take it from the fund I was saving for a homestead +for your mother. At present, I cannot use it, and it is of no advantage +to me, except its possession. Will that suit you? If it does not, let +me know what will, and you shall have that, too. You must feel that it +gives me pleasure to do anything I can for you, and if I had only myself +to consider, you should have it unconditionally, but I must consider one +person above all. I want you to do, therefore just as you prefer. I want +you to have the comfort of a house, but I do not wish to force one upon +you, against your will or against your judgement. I merely wish you +to feel that you can procure one without inconveniencing me. The only +hesitation I have on the subject is that I think you ought to get a +better house for $3,500 than I fear you will get. The house according to +the first plan, in my opinion, ought not to cost more than that sum. But +if you think the estimate is a fair one, and are satisfied, accept it +and set to work. But consult Fitzhugh, and let me know when you want the +money, and in what sums. Now that is plain, I hope, so keep this letter +for reference, as I have not time to take a copy. + +“We are all pretty well. Your mother has been troubled by a cold, but +is over it I hope. The girls are well, and have as many opinions with as +few acts as ever; and Custis is so-so. We have had accounts of Lawrence +Butler’s wedding, and all were as gay as a flock of snow-birds. They +regretted your absence. I will ask your mother to send you reports. I am +tolerable and wish I could get down to see you. I had hoped to go down +this spring, but I fear the dilatoriness of the workmen in finishing +the house, and the necessity of my attending to it, getting the ground +inclosed and preparing the garden, will prevent me. I shall also have to +superintend the moving. In fact, it never seems convenient for me to go +away. Give much love to F----, my daughter Tabb, and grandson. I wonder +what he will think of his grandpa. All unite in love, and I am, as +always, + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee, Jr.” + +In April, there are two letters written on the same day, to each of his +sons, Fitzhugh and myself. I had determined for many reasons to postpone +building my house for the present, which decision my father regrets. In +the matter of Smith’s Island, the arrangements proposed by my brother +and myself for its purchase was agreed to by him: + +“Lexington, Virginia, April 17, 1869. + +“My Dear Rob: I have written to Fitzhugh, informing him of my agreement +to al the propositions in your joint letter, which I hope will be +satisfactory to you. You can read my letter to him, so I will not +repeat. I am sorry that you have concluded not to build, but if, in your +judgment that is the best course, I must be content. I do not wish you +to hamper yourself with obligations, but to my mind building in the way +proposed would not be onerous to you and would have given you the use of +a house some years prior to the time that you may be able to erect one, +and thus have added to your comfort, health, and probable ability to +increase your resources from your farm. But I hoe you have decided +wisely, and should circumstances occur to cause you to change your +views, you must not fail to let me know; for I shall at all times stand +ready to help you to the extent of my ability, which I am now obliged to +husband, lest I may become a burden to others. I am very glad to learn +that your farm is promising better in the second cultivation of the +fields, and feel assured that if treated judiciously it will recover +its fertility and be remunerative. If you can perceive that you are +progressing, though with a slow and regular step, you have cause for +congratulation and encouragement; for there are many, I am sorry to say, +that are worse off now than when they commenced at the end of the war, +and have to begin again. Industry with economy must prevail in the end. +There seems to be a necessity for my going to Baltimore next Tuesday, +but I feel so poorly now that I do not know that I shall be able. If I +do go, it will interfere materially with my proposed visit to you and +Fitzhugh this spring, and I fear will put an end to it. I shall be +obliged to spend some days in Alexandria on my return, and could not +then delay my return here. I hope to see you both some time this summer, +and, if I cannot get to you, you must come to me. I have been confined +to this house for more than a week with a bad cold, the effects of which +still cling to me, and thought I am better this morning, I am suffering. +Your mother, too, I am sorry to say, has been suffering from the same +cause, and has had to resort to medicine, as well as myself. You know +that is bad for old people. Agnes has not been well, but Mildred is +herself, and surrounded by her two fresh broods of kittens she would not +call the king her uncle...God bless you, my dear son, prays + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“R. E. Lee, Jr.” + +The letter to his son Fitzhugh is mostly upon business, but some of it +relates to more interesting matters: + +“Lexington, Virginia, April 17, 1869. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I expect to go to Baltimore next Tuesday, if well +enough. The Valley Railroad Company are very anxious for me to accompany +their delegation to that city with a view of obtaining from the mayor or +council a subscription for their road, and, though I believe I can be of +no service to them, they have made such a point of it that it would look +ill-mannered and unkind to refuse. I wish I could promise myself the +pleasure of returning by the ‘White House,’ but I cannot. If I go to +Baltimore, I must take time to pay certain visits and must stop a while +in Alexandria. I shall, therefore, from there be obliged to return here. +If I could stop there on my way to Baltimore, which I cannot for want of +time, I would then return by the ‘White House.’ I shall hope, however, +to see you and Rob during the summer, if I have to go down immediately +after commencement. But it is so inconvenient for me to leave home now +that I cannot say.... Poor little Agnes also has been visited by Doctor +Barton of late, but she is on the mend. ‘Life’ holds her own. Both of +her cats have fresh broods of kittens, and the world wags cheerily with +her. Custis is well, and Mary is still in New York, and all unite with +me in much love to you and my daughter Tabb and my grandson. I hope the +latter has not formed the acquaintance of his father in the same manner +as Warrington Carter’s child. + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“General Wm. H. Fitzhugh Lee.” + +In order to induce the city of Baltimore to aid them in building +their railroad from Staunton to Salem, the Valley Railroad Company +got together a large delegation from the counties through which it was +proposed the line should pass, and sent it to that city to lay the +plans before the mayor and council and request assistance. Among those +selected from Rockbridge County was General Lee. Lexington at this time +was one of the most inaccessible points in Virginia. Fifty miles of +canal, or twenty-three of staging over a rough mountain road, were the +only routes in existence. The one from Lynchburg consumed twelve hours, +the other, from Goshen (a station on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad), +from seven to eleven. On one occasion, a gentleman during his first +visit to Lexington called on General Lee and on bidding him good-bye +asked him the best way to get back to Washington. + +“It makes but little difference,” replied the General, “for whichever +route you select, you will wish you had taken the other.” + +It was, therefore, the desire of all interested in the welfare of the +two institutions of learning located in Lexington that this road should +be built. My father’s previous habits of life, his nature and his tastes +made him averse to engaging in affairs of this character; but because of +the great advantage tot he college, should it be carried through, and a +the earnest request of many friends of his and of the road, he consented +to act. General John Echols, from Staunton, Colonel Pendleton, from +Buchanan, Judge McLaughlin, from Lexington, were amongst those who went +with him. While in Baltimore he stayed at the house of Mr. and Mrs. +Samuel Tagart, whom he had met several summers at the White Sulphur +Springs. + +The delegation was invited to the floor of the Corn and Flour Exchange, +to meet the business men of the city. My father, for the same reasons +given above, earnestly desired to be excused from this part of the +programme, and asked some of his friends to see Mr. John W. Garrett, the +president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, who had the delegation in +charge, and try to have it so arranged. Mr. Garrett, however, was very +positive. + +“General Lee is a most interesting man; I think he had better come,” was +the message brought back to him. + +As he appeared on the floor, which was filled with a great crowd, he was +greeted with deafening cheers, and was soon surrounded by the thousands +who had assembled there to see him. Everywhere that he appeared in the +city he received an ovation. Sunday intervening, he attended services in +the morning at St. Paul’s church on Charles Street. When it became known +that General Lee was there, large numbers collected to see him come out, +waiting patiently and quietly until the congregation was dismissed. As +he appeared at the door, all heads were uncovered and kept so until he +had passed through the long lines extending down the street. + +A reception was given by Mr. Tagart in his honour. There his friends +crowded to see him, and the greatest affection and deference were shown +him. He had lived in Baltimore about twenty years before this time, and +many of his old friends were still there; besides, Baltimore had sent to +the Army of Northern Virginia a large body of her noble sons, who were +only too glad to greet once more their former commander. That he was +still “a prisoner on parole,” disfranchised from all civil rights, made +their love for him stronger and their welcome the more hearty. On his +return to Lexington, he was asked how he enjoyed his visit. With a sad +smile, he said: + +“Very much; but they would make too much fuss over the old rebel.” + +A few days after he came home, when one of his daughters remonstrated +with him about the hat he was wearing, he replied: + +“You don’t like this hat? Why, I have seen a whole cityful come out to +admire it!” + +There is only a short note to my mother that I can find written during +this trip: + +“Baltimore, April 27, 1869. + +“My Dear Mary: I am still at Mr. Tagart’s, but propose going to-morrow +to Ella’s, and thence to Washington’s, which will consume Wednesday and +Thursday. If not obliged to return here, which I cannot tell till this +evening or to-morrow morning, I will then go to Washington, where I +shall be obliged to spend a day or two, and thence to Alexandria, so +I shall not be able to return to Lexington till the last of next week. +What has become of little Agnes? I have seen many of our old friends, of +whom I will tell you on my return. I have bought you a little carriage, +the best I could find, which I hope will enable you to take some +pleasant rides. All send love. Give mine to Mildred, and Custis, and all +friends. I am just about starting to Mrs. Baker’s. + +“Truly and affectionately, R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +The “Ella” mentioned was Mrs. Sam George, of Baltimore, who as a girl +had always been a pet and favourite of my father. She was a daughter of +his first cousin, Mr. Charles Henry Carter, of “Goodwood,” Prince George +County, Maryland, and a schoolmate of my sister Mary. Their country +place was near Ellicott City. He went there to see her, and from there +to “Lynwood,” near by, the seat of Washington Peter, my mother’s first +cousin and an intimate friend of us all. + +On Saturday, my father, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Tagart, went to +Washington on an early train. They drove immediately to the Executive +Mansion and called on the President. This meeting was of no political +significance whatever, but simply a call of courtesy. It had been +intimated to General Lee that it would be most agreeable to General +Grant to receive him. Mr. and Mrs. Tagart went with him, and they met +there Mr. Motley, the newly appointed Minister of England. The interview +lasted about fifteen minutes, and neither General Lee nor the President +spoke a word on political matters. While in Washington my father was the +guest of Mrs. Kennon, of Tudor Place, Georgetown Heights. On Sunday he +dined with Mrs. Podestad and her husband, the Secretary of the Spanish +Legation, who were old friends and relatives. + +After leaving Washington, he stopped in Alexandria for several days, +as the guest of Mrs. A. M. Fitzhugh. It was at her country place, +“Ravensworth,” about ten miles from town, that his mother had died, and +there, in the old ivy-covered graveyard, she was buried. Mrs. Fitzhugh +was the wife of my mother’s uncle, Mr. William Henry Fitzhugh, who, +having no children, had made my mother his heir. The intimacy between +“Arlington” and “Ravensworth” was very close. Since Mr. Fitzhugh’s +death, which occurred some thirty years prior to this time, my father +and mother and their children had been thrown a great deal with his +widow, and “Aunt Maria,” as we called her, became almost a member of the +family. She had the greatest love and admiration for “Robert,” sought +his advice in the management of her estate, and trusted him implicitly. +His brother, Admiral Sidney Smith lee, came up from “Richland,” his +home on the Potomac near Acquia Creek, to meet him, and he found at Mrs. +Fitzhugh’s “Aunt Nannie” [Mrs. S. S. Lee] and her son Fitz. Lee. This +was the first time they had met each other since their parting in +Richmond just after the war. + +On his arrival in Alexandria my father had walked up from the wharf to +“Aunt Maria’s.” He was recognised by a number of citizens, who showed +him the greatest deference and respect. So many of his friends called +upon him at Mrs. Fitzhugh’s that it was arranged to have a reception for +him at the Mansion House. For three hours a constant stream of visitors +poured into the parlours. The reception was the greatest ovation that +any individual had received from the people of Alexandria since the days +of Washington. The next day, in Bishop Johns’ carriage, he drove out to +Seminary Hill to the home of Mr. Cassius F. Lee, his first cousin, where +he spent the night. In the afternoon he went to see the bishop and his +family--General Cooper and the Reverend Dr. Packard. The next morning, +with Uncle Smith, he attended Ascension-Day services at Christ church, +and was afterward entertained at a dinner-party given by Mr. John B. +Daingerfield. Before he left Alexandria he called on Mr. John Janney, +who was president of the Virginia Convention in 1861, when, as Colonel +Lee, he appeared before it and accepted the command of the Virginia +forces, organised and to be organised. + +One evening a correspondent of the New York “Herald” paid him a visit +for the purpose of securing an interview. The General was courteous +and polite, but very firm. He stood during the interview, and finally +dismissed the reporter, saying: + +“I shall be glad to see you as a friend, but request that the visit may +not be made in your professional capacity.” + +The same correspondent had tried to interview him, for his paper, while +he was in Baltimore, but had failed. + +My father was much amused at an occurance that took place during this +visit. Late one afternoon a visitor was announced. As the General was +very tired, Uncle Smith Lee volunteered to relieve him. The visitor was +found to be an Irishwoman, very stout and unprepossessing, who asked if +she could see the General. The Admiral bowed, intimating that he was the +desired person, when she said: + +“My boy was with you in the war, honey, and I must kiss you for his +sake.” And with that she gave the Admiral an embrace and a kiss. Mr. +Cassius Lee, to whom he told this, suggested that he should take General +Fitz. Lee along to put forward in such emergencies. + +My father’s first letter after his return to Lexington was the +following: + +“Lexington, Virginia, May 11, 1869. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I reached here last Saturday, bringing Agnes and Miss +Peyton with me from Staunton. Found everybody well and Custis better. I +had, upon, the whole, a pleasant visit, and was particularly glad to see +again our old friends and neighbours in Alexandria and vicinity; though +should have preferred to enjoy their company in a more quiet way. Your +Uncle Smith came up to meet me, and your Aunt Nannie and Fitz. were +there. I had not seen them since I parted from them in Richmond after +the war. I wish I could have visited you and Rob and have seen my +daughter and grandson; but that pleasure, I trust, is preserved for a +future day. How is the little fellow? I was much relieved after parting +from you to hear from the doctors that it was the best time for him to +have the whooping-cough, in which opinion the ‘Mim’ concurs. I hope that +he is doing well. Bishop Whittle will be here Friday next and is invited +to stay with us. There are to be a great many preparatory religious +exercises this week. A great feeling of religion pervades the young in +the community, especially at the Virginia Military Institute. All send +love. + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Since his establishment in Lexington, General Lee had been a member of +the vestry of Grace (Episcopal) church. At the council of 1868, which +met at Lynchburg, he had been sent as a delegate, and spent three days +there. This year the council was to meet in Fredericksburg, and he was +again elected to represent his church. This was a busy time with him. +The examinations were commencing, his new home was about ready to move +into, and the preparations for the commencement exercises had to be +made; yet he accepted the trust imposed upon him by his church and took +a week out of his valuable time to perform it. In his next letter to his +son, after writing on some Smith’s Island business, he tells him of his +proposed journey to Fredericksburg and of his regret at not being able +to visit him as he had intended: + +“Lexington, Virginia, May 22, 1869. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: The weather here has been very hard on the +corn-fields, and I hear of many having to be replanted. The wheat, so far, +is very promising, and I am glad to hear that yours and Rob’s is equally +so. I have been elected by our little church to represent it at +the coming convention, and have concluded to go. I shall leave for +Fredericksburg Tuesday, June 1st, and shall endeavour while there to +spend a night with your Uncle Smith, the only visit I shall be able to +make him. It is very inconvenient for me to be absent at this time. The +examination of the senior classes is in progress, and I must hasten +back to attend as many as I can. The new house is about finished. The +contractors say they will deliver the keys on Monday, the 31st inst. I +will make arrangements to have it cleaned out during the week, so as to +be able to move in on my return. The commencement, a busy time with me, +is approaching, and we must try to be prepared; I shall not, therefore, +be able to pay you a visit at this time, but hope Custis and I will be +able to do so after the close of the session. I met Bishop Whittle at +Lynchburg last convention, and was much pleased with him. My favourable +impressions were much strengthened and increased by this visit here. + +“I am so glad to learn that my little grandson is getting on so well +with his whooping-cough. You must kiss him and his mother for me. We are +all about the same. Your mother is becoming interested in her painting +again, and is employing her brush for the benefit of our little +church, which is very poor. She yet awhile confines herself to coloring +photographs, and principally to those of General and Mrs. Washington, +which are sold very readily. The girls are well, and have Miss Peyton +with them still. Custis, I hope, is better. He is getting over some of +his confinement with his classes now, which I hope will be of benefit to +him. Give my love to Robert and tell my daughter Tabb I long to see her. +All unite with me in affectionate love. I am, + +“Truly your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +These photographs that were being coloured by my mother were from the +original portraits of General Washington by Peale and of Mrs. Washington +by W----. These paintings hung at Mt. Vernon until the death of Mrs. +Washington, and were then inherited by my grandfather, Mr. Custis. They +were at “Arlington” till ‘61, when they were removed to “Ravensworth,” + where they remained until the end of the war. When they were being sent +to Lexington, the boat carrying them on the canal between Lynchburg and +Lexington sank. These pictures, with many others belonging to my mother, +were very much injured and had to be sent to a restorer in Baltimore, +who made them as good as ever, and they were finally safely hung in +the president’s house in Lexington, and are now in the library of the +university. My mother coloured the photographs of these originals, and +sold a great many, on account of their association rather than their +merit. + +There must have been some change of date in my father’s plans, for +though he said he would start on June 1st for Fredericksburg, his first +and only letter from there was written on May 28th: + +“Fredericksburg, May 28, 1869. + +“My Dear Mary: I reached here Tuesday night, the night after the morning +I left you, about twelve o’clock and found Major Barton at the depot, +who conducted me to his house. The town seems very full of strangers, +and I have met many acquaintances. I have seen no one yet from ‘Cedar +Grove,’ and cannot learn whether any of them are coming. They are no +doubt in distress there, for you may have heard of the death of Charles +Stuart, on his way from Arkansas. He died at Lynchburg of congestive +chills. Harriott Cazenove (his sister) went on to see him, but he died +before her arrival. Rosalie, I heard, was at ‘Cedar Grove,’ Turbeville +in Essex. I have delivered all your packages but Margaret’s. Cassius Lee +and all from the seminary are here. Sally came up from Gloucester, and +also Mrs. Taliaferro. But I must tell you of all occurrences upon +my return, and of all whom I have met. All friends inquire very +particularly and affectionately after you, particularly your cousin, +Mrs. ----, who turns up every day at all assemblies, corners, and +places, with some anxious question on her mind upon which some +mighty--thought to me hidden--importance depends. Fitz. Lee arrived +to-day, though I have not seen him yet. If I can accomplish it, I will +go to ‘Richland’ to-morrow, Saturday, and spend Sunday, and take up my +line of march Monday, in which event I hope to reach Lexington Wednesday +morning, or rather Tuesday night, in the stage from Goshen. I may not be +able to get away from the council before Monday. In that case, I shall +not arrive before Wednesday night. Tell the girls there are quantities +of young girls here and people of all kinds. I hope that you are all +well, and that everything will be ready to move into our new house upon +my arrival. I am obliged to stop. I am also so much interrupted and +occupied that, though I have tried to write ever since my arrival, I +have been unable. Love to all. + +“Very affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +“Cedar Grove” was the plantation of Dr. Richard Stuart, in King George +County, some fifty miles from Fredericksburg. His wife, a Miss Calvert, +of “Riversdale,” Maryland, was a near cousin of my mother, had been her +bridesmaid, and the two families had been intimate all their lives. All +the persons mentioned by my father were cousins and friends, several of +them old neighbours from Alexandria and the Theological Seminary near +by. + +From Fredericksburg, after the completion of his duties at the council, +he went to “Richland” on the Potomac, near Acquia Creek, where his +brother Smith was then living. This meeting was a great pleasure to them +both, for two brothers were never more devoted. This was the last time +they saw one another alive, as Smith died two months afterward. + + + + + +Chapter XX -- The New Home in Lexington + + +Numerous guests--Further sojourns at different Baths--Death of the +General’s brother, Smith Lee--Visits to “Ravensworth” and “The White +House”--Meetings with interesting people at White Sulphur Springs--Death +of Professor Preston + + +On my father’s return to Lexington the new house was ready. It adjoined +the one he had been occupying, so the distance was not great and +the transfer was easily accomplished. It was much larger and more +comfortable than the one given up. My mother’s room was on the first +floor and opened out on the veranda, extending three sides of the house, +where she could she could be rolled in her chair. This she enjoyed +intensely, for she was very fond of the open air, and one could see her +there every bright day, with Mrs. “Ruffner,” a much petted cat, sitting +on her shoulder or cradled in her lap. My father’s favourite seat was +in a deep window of the dining-room, from which his eyes could rest +on rolling fields of grass and grain, bounded by the ever-changing +mountains. After his early and simple dinner, he usually took a nap of +a few minutes, sitting upright in his chair, his hand held and rubbed +by one of his daughters. There was a new stable, warm and sunny, for +Traveller and his companion, “Lucy Long,” a cow-house, wood-shed, +garden, and yard, all planned, laid out, and built by my father. The +increased room enabled him to invite a great number to visit him, and +this summer the house was full. + +In answer to a letter from me on business, which reached him during +commencement week, he writes: + +“Lexington, Viriginia, June 19, 1869. + +“My Dear Son: I have just receive your letter of the 10th, and have only +time for a word.... I hope all things are going well with you both. +With the improvement of your farm, proceeds will increase, and, with +experience, judgment, and economy, will augment greatly. You will +have to get married if you wish to prosper, and must therefore make +arrangements to build your house this fall. If I live through this +coming week, I wish to pay you and F---- a visit the week following, +about July 1st. I am trying to persuade Custis to accompany me, but +he has not yet responded. I am very much occupied with examinations, +visitors, arrangements, etc. + +“All are well, and would send love if accessible. Mildred is full of +housekeeping and dresses, and the house is full of young ladies--Misses +Jones, Albert, Burwell, Fairfax, and Wickham; others in expectation. +Good-bye, + +“Affectionately your father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Robert E. Lee, Jr. + +Ten days later, he writes to his son, Fitzhugh, giving up his proposed +visit to him at this time, expressing his regrets at the necessity, and +telling his reasons for so doing: + +“Lexington, Viriginia, June 30, 1869. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: This is the day that I had proposed to visit you, but +I find it impossible to get away. I find a great deal to do in closing +up the past session and in preparing for the new. In addition, our +college officers have all been changed--proctor, clerk, treasurer, +librarian--and the new incumbents enter upon their duties to-morrow. I +shall have to be with them some days to initiate and install them. +That would only delay me, but then on the 15th proximo the Educational +Association of Virginia will meet here, and I should not be able to +return in time. As I have never attended any of their meetings when +elsewhere, if I were to go away when appointed here it would look as +if I wished to avoid them, which is not the case. After that is over, I +must locate your poor mother at the Baths [Rockbridge Baths], which she +has made up her mind to visit, and prepare to go myself to the White +Sulphur, the waters of which I want to drink for three or four weeks. So +I do not see how I could get to the Pamunkey before fall. I want to get +there very much to see you all, and, as far as my personal predilections +are concerned, would rather go there than to the White; but the doctors +think it would not be so beneficial to me, and I am obliged now to +consider my health. I propose, therefore, that you bring Tabb and the +baby up to the mountains and leave them either at the Baths with ‘the +Mim’ or with me, if you cannot remain. Tell Rob, if he can, he must +also come and see us. If he were here, now, he would find very pleasant +company, Misses Jones, Albert, Kirkland, Burwell, Fairfax, and Wickham, +all in the house, with others out of it. They are so much engaged with +the collegiates that Custis and I see but little of them, but he could +compete with the YEARLINGS, which we cannot. Tell my daughter Tabb, her +father is here, very well, and dined with us yesterday. Give my much +love to grandson. He must not forget me. I have a puppy and a kitten for +him to play with. All send love. + +“Truly your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“General William H. Fitzhugh Lee.” + +In a letter dated Lexington, Viriginia, July 9th, he gives a further +account of his plans for the summer: + +“...I have delivered your letter to Mildred, who has just returned +from a visit to the University of Virginia, where she saw a great many +persons and met with a great deal of pleasure. She ought to be, and +I believe is, satisfied with commencements for this year, having +participated in three. I am sorry to tell you that I cannot go down to +the Pamunkey this summer as I had intended;... I had hoped to be +able, after the conclusion of the commencement exercises of Washington +College, to visit the Pamunkey, and to return by the 15th inst. so as +to be present at the Convention of the Teachers of Virginia, which +assembles here on that day; but I was detained here so long that I found +I would be unable to accomplish what I desired. Custis, who was to have +accompanied me, will go down in a day or two.... + +“About the 20th of this month I shall go to the Rockbridge Baths with +Mrs. Lee, who wishes to try the waters again, and after seeing her +comfortably located, if nothing prevents, I shall go with Mildred and +Agnes to the White Sulphur for a few weeks.... It is delightfully quiet +here now. Both institutions have closed, and all are off enjoying their +holiday. I should like to remain, if I could. Colonels Shipp and +Harding have gone to get married, report says. Colonel Lyle and Captain +Henderson, it is said, will not return. Captain Preston having been +appointed professor at William and Mary, we shall necessarily lose him, +but Colonel Allen will be back, and all the rest. We are as well as +you left us. The girls had several friends at commencement. All have +departed except Miss Fairfax and Miss Wickham. The election is over and +the town tranquil.” + +The quiet and rest which he so much desired, and which he was enjoying +when he wrote, did not long remain his. He had just gotten my mother +comfortably settled at the Baths, when he received the news of the +sudden death of his brother Smith. He went at once to Alexandria, hoping +to be in time for the burial. From there he writes my mother: + +“Alexandria, July 25, 1869. + +“My Dear Mary: I arrived here last evening, too late to attend the +burial of my dear brother, an account of which I have clipped from the +Alexandria Gazette and inclose to you. I wish you would preserve it. +Fitz. and Mary went up to ‘Ravensworth’ the evening of the funeral +services, Friday, 23d, so that I have not seen them, but my nephew Smith +is here, and from him I have learned all particulars. The attack of his +father was short, and his death apparently unexpected until a short time +before it occurred. Mary [General Lee’s eldest daughter] was present, +and I hope of some comfort to her uncle and assistance to her aunt. +Fitz. came here the afternoon of his father’s death, Thursday, 22d, made +all arrangements for the funeral, went out to ‘Ravensworth’ to announce +the intelligence to our aunt. He carried down, Friday morning, on the +steamer, Mrs. Cooper and Jennie, to stay with his mother, and returned +that afternoon with his father’s remains, which were committed to earth +as you will see described. + +“John returned the next morning, yesterday, in the mail-boat, to his +mother, with whom Dan stayed. Robert arrived this morning and has gone +to ‘Ravensworth’ to announce my arrival. I shall remain here until I see +or hear from Fitz., for, as you will see by the Gazette’s account, the +last resting-place of the body has not been determined upon. Fitz., +I understand, wishes it interred at Hollywood, Richmond; Nannie a the +cemetery here, where her father, mother, and daughter are buried; +and Mrs. Fitzhugh at ‘Ravensworth.’ I think Nannie’s wishes should be +consulted. I shall probably leave to-day or to-morrow, and, after seeing +all that remains to us of our dear brother deposited in its last earthly +home, and mingling my sorrow for a brief season with that of his dear +wife and children, I shall return to you. Please send the letter after +perusal to Agnes and Mildred, as I shall be unable to write to them. I +am staying at the Mansion House. Our Aunt Maria did not come down to the +funeral services, prevented, I fear, by her rheumatic attack. May God +bless us all and preserve us for the time when we, too, must part, the +one from the other, which is now close at hand, and may we all meet +again at the foot-stool of our merciful God, to be joined by His eternal +love never more to separate. + +“Most truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +The loss of his brother was a great sorrow to him. They were devoted +to each other, having always kept warm their boyish love. Smith’s +admiration for and trust in my father were unbounded, and it was +delightful to see them together and listen to the stories of the happy +long ago they would tell about each other. No one could be near my Uncle +Smith without feeling his joyful influence. My sister Mary, who knew him +long and well, and who was much attached to him, thus writes: + +“No one who ever saw him can forget his beautiful face, charming +personality, and grace of manner which, joined to a nobility of +character and goodness of heart, attracted all who came in contact with +him, and made him the most generally beloved and popular of men. This +was especially so with women, to whom his conduct was that of a preux +chevalier, the most chivalric and courteous; and, having no daughters of +his own, he turned with the tenderest affection to the daughters of his +brother Robert.” + +After all the arrangements connected with this sad event had been +completed, my father went up to “Ravensworth” to see “Aunt Maria,” who +had always been a second mother to his brother. There, amid the cool +shades of this lovely old home, he rested for a day or two from the +fatigues of travel and the intense heat. During this visit, as he passed +the room in which his mother had died, he lingered near the door and +said to one present: + +“Forty years ago, I stood in this room by my mother’s death-bed! It +seems now but yesterday!” + +While here he determined to go back to Lexington via Richmond, and to +run down thence to the “White House” to see his grandson. He arrived +there on Friday, July 30th. On Sunday he wrote to my mother: + +“White House, New Kent, August 1, 1869. + +“My Dear Mary: I arrived here on Friday last and found them all well. +Our daughter Tabb has not been altogether well, and shows its effects. +Her baby, I think, would also be improved by mountain air. I have +therefore persuaded her to accompany me and join you at the Baths. We +shall leave Richmond, if nothing prevents, on Tuesday morning, 3d inst., +and hope to reach the Baths that evening in the stage from Goshen. I +have written to Mr. Peyton, requesting him to prepare a good room for +Tabb and her little family as near you as convenient, and trust we may +reach there in health and comfort at the time appointed. I hope I shall +find you well and comfortable, and Markie in the enjoyment of every +good. How are the poor little children? My previous letters will have +informed you of everything important. I will supply all omissions when I +see you. Custis is here, much improved. I have not yet seen Rob. +Farmers here are threshing out their wheat, which occupies them closely. +Fitzhugh’s is turning out well, and he hopes to gather a fair crop. +Robert came up last Wednesday with his friend Mr. Dallam, and went down +Thursday. He was very well. Custis arrived Saturday week. Mr. Kepler is +here and will preach at St. Peter’s this morning. I hope to attend. +Mr. Kepler says his health is much improved. Fitzhugh doses him with +cholagogue. Good-bye. Affectionately yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +St. Peter’s was the old Colonial church a few miles away, in which +General Washington and Mrs. Custis were married about one hundred years +prior to this time. Mr. Kepler, the pastor, preached there twice a +month. He lived in Richmond, and, to keep him free from fever-and-ague, +my brother dosed him freely with cholagogue whenever he came down into +the malarial country. I came up from Romancoke Sunday morning, arriving +in time to be present at the christening of my nephew, which ceremony +was decided on rather hurriedly in order that the grandfather might +stand as godfather. After returning from the morning service at St. +Peter’s, where we all went, it was decided that the mother and +child should go to the mountains with my father. As there were some +preparations for the summer to be made, his daughter and her baby went +to Petersburg that afternoon, agreeing to meet the General in Richmond +Monday night and start for the Rockbridge Baths Tuesday morning. On +Monday, he writes to a friend, with whom he had intended to stop for a +day on his way back to Lexington: + +“White House, New Kent County, August 1, 1869. + +“...I had promised myself the pleasure of seeing you on my way to +Lexington, of spending with you one short day to cheer and refresh me; +but I shall travel up in a capacity that I have not undertaken for many +years--as escort to a young mother and her infant, and it will require +the concentration of all my faculties to perform my duties even with +tolerable comfort to my charge.... I go up with my daughter, I may say +this time, too, my youngest daughter [his daughter-in-law, Mrs. W. H. F. +Lee], to place her with her mama at the Rockbridge Baths, the waters +of which I hope will invigorate both mother and child, who have been +wearied and weakened by the long attack of whooping-cough from which the +latter has suffered. I came down from Richmond to spend Sunday and was +fortunate enough to find here my three sons, but I am sorry to say but +one daughter.... Most truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +Monday night was spent in Richmond. It was soon known that General Lee +was at the Exchange Hotel, and great numbers came to call upon him, +so that he was compelled to hold an informal reception in the large +parlours. The next day, with his “new daughter” and her baby, he +started for the Baths, where they arrived safely the same night. Then he +proceeded to carry out his original plan for the summer, and went with +his two daughters to the White Sulphur Springs. From there he writes to +his wife: + +“White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, + +“August 10, 1869. + +“My Dear Mary: I received this morning your addenda to Annie Wickham’s +letter inclosing Custis’s. I also received by same mail a letter from +Mr. Richardson, reiterating his request to insert my portrait in my +father’s Memoirs, saying that it was by the desire ‘of many mutual +friends’ on the ground of its ‘giving additional interest to the work, +and increasing its sale.’ That may or may not be so; at any rate, I +differ from them. Besides, there is no good portrait accessible to him, +and the engraving in the ‘Lee Family’ I think would be an injury to any +book. His recent proposition of inserting my portrait where the family +history is given takes from it a part of my obligation, and if it were +believed that such an addition would add to the interest of the book, +I should assent. I have so told him, and that I would write to you for +your suggestions, and to ask whether you could send him a portrait worth +inserting. What do you think? + +“There is to be a grand concert her to-night for the benefit of our +church in Lexington. It is gotten up by Miss Mary Jones and other kind +people here, and the proposition is so favourably received that I hope a +handsome sum will be realised. + +“The girls are well. I do not know how long they will continue so. +They seem to be foot-free. A great many visitors were turned off last +night--no room for them! A grand ball in honour of Mr. Peabody is +to come off to-morrow, after which it is supposed there will be more +breathing-space. I have seen Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ridgely of ‘Hampton’ +since I wrote, also numerous other acquaintances. I should prefer more +quiet. How is my daughter Tabb? Mother and son are improving, I trust. I +hope you and Markie are also doing well. No change in myself as yet. The +girls would send love if I could find them. Affectionately yours, + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee. R. E. Lee.” + +A few days later he writes: + +“White Sulphur Springs, August 14, 1869. + +“My Dear Mary: I received last night your letter of the 13th--very +prompt delivery--and ma very glad to learn of the well-doing of all with +you. I am particularly pleased to hear that our daughter and grandson +are improving, and should you find them not benefiting I wish you would +urge them to try some other springs, for I have it greatly to heart that +they should receive all possible advantage from their summer trip. I +hope Markie will be benefited by the Red Sweet. The water is considered +a great tonic, but I fear none will be warm enough for her but the HOT. +If I cannot get over to see her, I will notify her of our departure from +here, which will be in about two weeks. I have received a letter from +Fitz. Lee, saying that Mary would leave ‘Richlands’ last Tuesday, 10th +inst., for ‘Ravensworth,’ which I presume she did, as his letter was +postmarked that day at Acquia Creek, and was probably mailed by him, or +one of the boys, on putting her aboard the mail-boat. You will be glad +to learn that the proceeds of the concert for our church at Lexington +netted $605, which has been subsequently increased to $805 by Messrs. +Corcoran and Peabody with a donation of $100 from each. For all of this +I am extremely grateful. + +“As regards the portrait for Mr. Richardson, you must do as you please. +I shall not write to him any more on the subject. Unless the portrait is +good and pleasing, I think it will be an injury to the book. I have had +a visit since commencing this letter from a Mr. William BATH, of New +Orleans, who showed me a wreath, made in part, she says, of my, your and +Mildred’s hair, sent her by you more than two years ago. She says +she sent you a similar one at the time, but of this I could tell her +nothing, for I recollect nothing about it. She says her necessities +now compel her to put her wreath up to raffle, and she desired to know +whether I had any objection to her scheme, and whether I would head the +list. All this, as you may imagine, is extremely agreeable to me, but I +had to decline her offer of taking a chance in her raffle. + +“Miss Mary Jones has gone to the Sweet. Tell Miss Belle I wish she +were coming here. I shall be glad to see Mrs. Caskie. Mildred has her +picture. The girls are always busy at something, but never ready. The +Stuarts have arrived. Mrs. Julia is improving perceptibly. Love to all. + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The “Markie” referred to in each of the above letters was Martha Custis +Williams, a great-niece of my grandfather, Mr. Custis, who had for many +years lived at Arlington with her uncle. The “little children” were her +motherless nieces, whom she had brought that summer to the mountains for +their health. General Lee had been engaged for some time in bringing +out a third edition of his father’s “Memoirs of the War of ‘76 in +the Southern States.” It was now in the hands of his publisher, Mr. +Richardson, of New York. To this edition he had added a sketch of +the famous “Light Horse Harry,” written by himself. It was to his +publisher’s proposition of placing his portrait in the “Introduction” + to the new work that he at first objected, and then agreed, as stated +in the two letters just given. The season of ‘69 is still noted in the +annals of the White Sulphur as having had in its unusually large company +so many noted and distinguished men. Mr. George Peabody and Mr. W. W. +Corcoran, the two great philanthropists, were among them and helped +to enlarge the receipts of the concert for the benefit of the little +Episcopal church in Lexington, of which General Lee was a member and a +vestryman. + +by the last of August he was back again in Lexington, making +arrangements for the home-coming of his wife and her party from the +Baths. Here is part of another letter written soon after his arrival +home, some lines of which (apparently relating to the servants) have +been partially obliterated by time: + +“Lexington, Virginia, August 31, 1869. + +“My Dear Mary: I received this evening your note by Miss Mays. You had +better come up whenever agreeable to your party...we can only try them +and make the best of them. Alice, when she gets well, will return if +wanted. If Cousin Julia [Mrs. Richard Stuart, of ‘Cedar Grove’] will +return with you, you can see her here as well as there, and we can all +have that pleasure. If she will not, you had better remain with her as +long as she will stay. Mrs. Pratt died to-day at 12:30 P. M. + +“I received a letter to-day from Edward Childe saying that he and +Blanche would leave Liverpool in the ‘Fava’ on September 4th, and after +spending a few days in the North, would come to Lexington. He will +probably reach Boston about September 15th, so that they may be expected +here from the 20th to the 30th of September. I am anxious for them to +see our daughter and grandson and all our sons. Give my best love to all +with you. The girls would send love, but a ‘yearling’ and a ‘leader of +the herd’ [“Yearling” was a term that originated with us just after the +war (when many of the students were ex-soldiers), to distinguish the +real boys from the “Confeds.” From that expression, a professor came to +be called a “leader of the herd.” It was a form of speech that we had +kept up amongst ourselves.] occupy them. Affectionately yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + + +This session of Washington College opened with very favourable +prospects. The number of students was larger than ever before, every +southern, and some northern States being represented. The new chairs of +instruction which had been instituted were now in good working order, +their professors were comfortably established, and the entire machinery +of the institution was running well and smoothly. The president +commenced to see some of the results of his untiring energy and steady +work. He had many plans which lack of funds prevented him from carrying +out. One of them was a School of Commerce in which a student, while +following the branches which would discipline and cultivate the mind, +might also receive special instruction and systematic training in +whatever pertained to business in the largest sense of the term. Another +was a School of Medicine, the plan for which, with full details, was +drawn up under his eye, and kept in readiness until the funds of the +institution should permit of its being carried into effect. + +His meeting with Mr. Peabody at the White Sulphur Springs attracted that +gentleman’s attention to the college and to his work as its president. +To a request for his photograph to be placed in the Peabody Institute +among the friends of its founder, he sends with the likeness the +following note: + +“Washington College, Virginia, September 25, 1869. + +“F. Poole, Secretary Peabody Institute, Peabody, Massachusetts. + +“Dear Sir: In compliance with your request, I send a photograph of +myself, the last that has been taken, and shall fell honoured in its +being placed among the ‘friends’ of Mr. Peabody, for, though they can be +numbered by millions, yet all can appreciate the man who was illustrated +his age by his munificent charities during his life, and by his wise +provisions for promoting the happiness of his fellow-creatures. + +“Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +My father’s family was now comfortably established in their new home, +and had the usual number of friends visiting them this autumn. In due +time Edward Childe, Blanche, and “Duckie,” their little dog, arrived and +remained for a week or two. The last-named member of the party was of +great interest. He was very minute, very helpless, and received more +attention than the average baby. He had crossed the Atlantic in fear +and trembling, and did not apparently enjoy the new world. His utter +helplessness and the great care taken of him by his mistress, his +ill-health and the unutterable woe of his countenance greatly excited my +father’s pity. After he went away, he often spoke of him, and referred +to him, I find, in one of his letters. During this trip to America, +Edward and his wife, carrying the wretched “Duckie” with them, paid +their visit to the “White House.” + +This autumn the “little carriage” my father mentioned having purchased +for my mother in Baltimore was put into use. He frequently drove out in +it with my mother, his new daughter, and grandson. “Lucy Long,” under +his guidance, carefully carried them over the beautiful hills around +Lexington. One afternoon, while paying a visit with his daughter, Tabb, +to Colonel William Preston Johnston, who lived two miles down the river, +in pulling up a steep ascent to the front door, “Lucy” fell, choked into +unconsciousness by too tight a collar. My father jumped out, hastily got +off the harness, and on perceiving the cause of the accident reproached +himself vehemently for his carelessness and thoughtlessness. He was +very much distressed at this accident, petted his mare, saying to her in +soothing tones that he was ashamed of himself for having caused her all +this pain after she had been so faithful to him. + +His rides on Traveller in which he delighted so much were not so +frequent now. He was not so strong as he had been through the spring +and summer, and, indeed, during November he had a very severe attack of +cold, from which he did not recover for several weeks. However, during +the beautiful days of October he was often seen out in the afternoons on +his old gray. His favourite route was the road leading to the Rockbridge +Baths. A year previous to this time, he would sometimes go as far as the +Baths and return in an afternoon, a trip of twenty miles. A part of this +road led through a dense forest. One afternoon, as he told the story +himself, he met a plain old soldier in the midst of these woods, who, +recognising the General, reined in his horse and said: + +“General Lee, I am powerful glad to see you, and I feel like cheering +you.” + +The General replied that this would not do, as they were all alone, only +two of them, and there would be no object whatever in cheering. But the +old soldier insisted that he must, and, waving his hat about his head, +cried out: + +“Hurrah for General Lee!” and kept repeating it. As the General rode +away he continued to hear the cheers until he was out of sight. + +On another afternoon, as Professors White and Nelson, taking a horseback +ride, approached the summit of a long hill, they heard behind them the +sound of a horse’s feet running rapidly. In a few moments General Lee +appeared on Traveller at full speed. On joining his friends he reined up +and said: + +“I thought a little run would be good for Traveller.” + +He often gave his horse a “breather,” as he called it. The animal was +so strong and powerful that he chafed at restraint, and, unless ridden +regularly and hard, had a very disagreeable, fretful trot. After a good +gallop up one of the long Rockbridge hills he would proceed at a quiet +walk. + +The tenderness in my father’s heart for children I have already often +remarked upon. One afternoon two little girls, the daughters of two of +his professors, were riding on a gentle old horse up and down one of the +back streets of the town, fearing to go too far from home. The General, +starting out on his afternoon ride, came up with them, and knowing them +well, said gaily: + +“Come with me, little girls, and I will show you a beautiful ride.” + +Only too delighted, they consented to go. He took them out beyond the +fair-grounds, from which point there is one of the grandest stretches +of mountain scenery in the world. One of the little maidens had her face +tied up, as she was just recovering from the mumps. He pretended that +he was much alarmed lest his horse should catch them from her, and kept +saying: + +“I hope you won’t give Traveller the mumps!” and “What shall I do if +Traveller gets the mumps?” + +An hour later, this party was seen returning, the two little girls in +sun-bonnets on the one old, sleepy horse, and General Lee by their side +on Traveller, who was stepping very proudly, as if in scorn of his +lowly companion. My father took the children to their homes, helped +them dismount, took a kiss from each, and, waving a parting salute, rode +away. It was such simple acts of kindness and consideration that made +all children confide in him and love him. + +Soon after the attack of cold mentioned above, he writes to his son +Fitzhugh, then at the “White House” with his family: + +“Lexington, Virginia, December 2, 1869. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh:... Your letters to Custis told us of your well-doing. +I want to see you all very much, and think the sight of my daughter and +grandson would do me good. I have had a wretched cold, the effects of +which have not left me, but I am better. The doctors still have me in +hand, but I fear can do no good. The present mild weather I hope will be +beneficial, enabling me to ride and be in the open air. But Traveller’s +trot is harder to me than it used to be and fatigues me. We are all as +usual--the women of the family very fierce and the men very mild. Custis +has been a little unwell, but is well regulated by his sisters. Neither +gaiety nor extravagance prevails amongst us, and the town is quiet. Our +community has been greatly grieved at the death of Mr. Frank Preston, to +whom I was much attached and for whom I had a high esteem. Give my love +to Bertus. Tell him I hope Mrs. Taylor will retain one of her little +daughters for him. She always reserves the youngest of the flock from +Custis, as he is not particular as to an early date. + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“General William H. F. Lee.” + +Frank Preston, at the time of his death, was professor of Greek at +William and Mary College. He had been, prior to his appointment to that +position, an assistant professor at Washington College. He was a native +of Lexington, a son of Colonel Thomas L. Preston, who was for so long a +time professor at the Virginia Military Institute. A brilliant scholar, +trained in the best German universities, and a gentleman in the highest +sense of the word. Frank had served his State in the late war, and +had left an arm on the heights of Winchester. On hearing of his death, +President Lee issued the following announcement: + +“Washington College, November 23, 1869. + +“The death of Professor Frank Preston, a distinguished graduate, and +late Associate Professor of Greek in this college, has caused the +deepest sorrow in the hearts of the institution. + +“Endowed with a mind of rare capacity, which had been enriched by +diligent study and careful cultivation, he stood among the first in the +State in his pursuit in life. + +“We who so long and so intimately possessed his acquaintance, and so +fully enjoyed the privilege of his companionship, feel especially his +loss, and grieve profoundly at his death; and we heartily sympathise +with his parents and relations in their great affliction, and truly +participate in the deep sorrow that has befallen them. + +“With the view of testifying the esteem felt for his character and the +respect due to his memory, all academic exercises will be suspended for +the day, and the faculty and students are requested to attend in their +respective bodies his funeral services at the Presbyterian church, at +eleven o’clock, to pay the last sad tribute of respect to his earthly +remains, while cherishing in their hearts his many virtues. + +“R. E. Lee, President.” + + + + + +Chapter XXI -- Failing Health + + +The General declines lucrative positions in New York and Atlanta--He +suffers from an obstinate cold--Local gossip--He is advised to go South +in the spring of 1870--Desires to visit his daughter Annie’s grave + + +After General Lee had accepted the presidency of Washington College, he +determined to devote himself entirely to the interest and improvement of +that institution. From this resolution he never wavered. An offer that +he should be a the head of a large house to represent southern commerce, +that he should reside in New York, and have placed at his disposal an +immense sum of money, he declined, saying: + +“I am grateful, but I have a self-imposed task which I must accomplish. +I have led the young men of the South in battle; I have seen many of +them die on the field; I shall devote my remaining energies to training +young men to do their duty in life.” + +To a request from some of his old officers that he should associate +himself with a business enterprise in the South, as its president, he +replied with the following letter: + +“Lexington, Virginia, December 14, 1869. + +“General J. B. Gordon, President, “Southern Life Insurance Company, +Atlanta, Georgia. + +“My Dear General: I have received your letter of the 3d inst., and am +duly sensible of the kind feelings which prompted your proposal. It +would be a great pleasure to me to be associated with you, Hampton, +B. H. Hill, and the other good men whose names I see on your list of +directors, but I feel that I ought not to abandon the position I hold +at Washington College at this time, or as long as I can be of service +to it. Thanking you for your kind consideration, for which I know I am +alone indebted for your proposition to become president of the Southern +Life Insurance Company, and with kindest regards to Mrs. Gordon and my +best wishes for yourself, I am, + +“Very truly yours, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +His correspondence shows that many like positions were made to him. + +The Christmas of ‘69, neither my brother nor myself was with him. +Knowing of our plans in that respect, he wrote before the holidays to +Fitzhugh, wishing us both the compliments of the season and a pleasant +time in the visits we were going to make: + +“Lexington, Virginia, December 18, 1869. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I must begin by wishing you a pleasant Christmas and +many, many Happy New Years, and may each succeeding year bring to you +and yours increasing happiness. I shall think of you and my daughter +and my grandson very often during the season when families are generally +united, and though absent from you in person, you will always be present +in mind, and my poor prayers and best wishes will accompany you all +wherever you are. Bertus will also be remembered, and I hope that the +festivities of ‘Brandon’ will not drive from his memory the homely board +at Lexington. I trust that he will enjoy himself and find some on +to fill that void in his heart as completely as he will the one in +his--system. Tell Tabb that no one in Petersburg wants to see her half +as much as her papa, and now that her little boy has his mouth full of +teeth, he would not appear so LONESOME as he did in the summer. If she +should find in the ‘Burg’ a ‘Duckie’ to take his place, I beg that she +will send him up to me. + +“I duly received your letter previous to the 12th inst., and requested +some of the family who were writing about that time to inform you. When +I last wrote, I could not find it on my table and did not refer to it. +‘The Mim’ says you excel her in counting, if you do not in writing, but +she does not think she is in your debt. I agree with you in your views +about Smith’s Island, and see no advantage in leasing it, but wish you +could sell it to advantage. I hope the prospects may be better in the +spring. Political affairs will be better, I think, and people will be +more sanguine and hopeful. You must be on the alert. I wish I could go +down to see you, but think it better for me to remain here. To leave +home now and return during the winter would be worse for me. It is too +cold for your mother to travel now. She says she will go down in the +spring, but you know what an exertion it is for her to leave home, and +the inconvenience if not the suffering, is great. The anticipation, +however, is pleasing to her and encourages hope, and I like her to enjoy +it, though am not sanguine that she will realise it. Mildred is probably +with you, and can tell you all about us. I am somewhat reconciled to her +absence by the knowledge of the benefit that she will be to Tabb. Tell +the latter that she [Mildred] is modest and backward in giving advice, +but that she has mines of wealth on that subject, and that she [Tabb] +must endeavour to extract from her her views on the management of a +household, children, etc., and the proper conduct to be observed toward +husbands and the world in general. I am sure my little son will receive +many wise admonitions which he will take open-mouthed. I have received +a letter from your Uncle Carter telling me of his pleasant visit to you +and of his agreeable impressions of his nephew and new niece. He was +taken very sick in Richmond and delayed there so long that he could not +be present at Wm. Kennon’s wedding, and missed the festivities at his +neighbour Gilliam’s and at Norwood. Indeed, he had not recovered his +strength when Lucy wrote a few days ago, and her account makes me very +uneasy about him. I am glad Rob has so agreeable a neighbour as +General Cooke, and I presume it is the North Carolina brigadier [A +Virginian--son of General St. George Cooke, of the Federal Army, who +commanded a North Carolina brigade in A. P. Hill’s corps, A. N. Va.]. +When you go to Petersburg, present my kind regards to Mr. and Mrs. +Bolling, ‘Miss Melville,’ and all friends. All here unite with me in +love to you, Tabb, and the boy, in which Mildred is included. + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“General William H. F. Lee.” + +In a note, written the day after, acknowledging a paper sent to him to +sign, he says: + +“...I wrote to you yesterday, Saturday, in reply to your former letter, +and stated the reasons why I could not visit you. Your mother has +received Mildred’s letter announcing her arrival in Richmond and will +write to her there. I can only repeat my love and prayers that every +blessing may attend you and yours. We are as usual. + +“Truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“General William H. F. Lee.” + +The attack of cold from which my father suffered in October had been +very severe. Rapid exercise on horseback or on foot produced pain and +difficulty in breathing. After he was considered by most of his friends +to have gotten well over it, it was very evident to his doctors and +himself that there was a serious trouble about the heart, and he often +had great weariness and depression. He complained but little, was often +very bright and cheerful, and still kept up his old-time fun and humour +in his conversation and letters, but his letters written during this +year to his immediate family show that he was constantly in pain and +had begun to look upon himself as an invalid. To Mildred, who was in +Richmond on a visit to friends, he writes jokingly about the difficulty +experienced by the family in finding out what she meant in a letter to +him: + +“Lexington, Virginia, January 8, 1870. + +“My Precious Life: I received you letter of the 4th. We held a family +council over it. It was passed from eager hand to hand and attracted +wondering eyes and mysterious looks. It produced few words but a deal of +thinking, and the conclusion arrived at, I believe unanimously, was that +there was a great fund of amusement and information in it if it could +be extracted. I have therefore determined to put it carefully away till +your return, seize a leisure day, and get you to interpret it. Your +mother’s commentary, in a suppressed soliloquy, was that you had +succeeded in writing a wretched hand. Agnes thought that it would keep +this cold weather--her thoughts running on jellies and oysters in +the storeroom; but I, indignant at such aspersions upon your +accomplishments, retained your epistle and read in an elevated tone +an interesting narrative of travels in sundry countries, describing +gorgeous scenery, hairbreadth escapes, and a series of remarkable +events by flood and field, not a word of which they declared was in your +letter. Your return, I hope, will prove the correctness of my version +of your annals.... I have little to tell. Gaiety continues. Last night +there was a cadet hop. Night before, a party at Colonel Johnston’s. The +night preceding, a college conversazione at your mother’s. It was given +in honour of Miss Maggie Johnston’s visit of a few days to us. You +know how agreeable I am on such occasions, but on this, I am told, I +surpassed myself. + +“On New year’s Day the usual receptions; many of our friends called. +Many of my ancients as well as juniors were present, and all enjoyed +some good Norfolk oysters. I refer you to Agnes for details. We are +pretty well. I think I am better. Your mother and sisters as usual. +Custis busy with the examination of the cadets, the students preparing +for theirs. Cadet Cook, who was so dangerously injured by a fall +from his window on the 1st, it is hoped now will recover. The Misses +Pendleton were to have arrived this morning, and Miss Ella Heninberger +is on a visit to Miss Campbell. Miss Lizzie Letcher still absent. +Messrs. Anderson, Baker, W. Graves, Moorman, Strickler, and Webb have +all been on visits to their sweethearts, and have left without them. +‘Mrs. Smith’ is as usual. ‘Gus’ is as wild as ever [“Mrs. Smith” and +“Gus” were the names of two of the pet cats of my sister. “Gus” was +short for Gustavus Adolphus.]. We catch our own rats and mice now, and +are independent of cats. All unite in love to you. + +“Your affectionate father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Mildred Lee.” + +A month later he writes again to this daughter in the same playful +strain, and sends his remembrances to many friends in Richmond: + +“Lexington, Virginia, February 2, 1870. + +“My Precious Life: Your letter of the 29th ultimo, which has been four +days on the road, reached me this morning, and my reply, unless our +mails whip up, will not get to you before Sunday or Monday. There is no +danger, therefore, of our correspondence becoming too brisk. What do the +young girls do whose lovers are at Washington College or the Institute? +Their tender hearts must always be in a lacerated and bleeding +condition! I hope you are not now in that category, for I see no pining +swains among them, whose thoughts and wishes are stretching eagerly +toward Richmond. I am glad you have had so pleasant a visit to the +Andersons. You must present my regards to them all, and I hope that +Misses Ellen and Mary will come to see you in the summer. I am sure +you will have an agreeable time at Brook Hill. Remember me to all the +family, and tell Miss Belle to spare my friend Wilkins. He is not in +a condition to enjoy the sufferings which she imposes on her Richmond +beaux. Besides, his position entitles him to tender treatment. + +“I think it time that you should be thinking of returning home. I want +to see you very much, and as you have been receiving instruction from +the learned pig, I shall expect to see you much improved. We are not +reduced to apply to such instructors at Lexington. Here we have learned +professors to teach us what we wish to know, and the Franklin Institute +to furnish us lectures on science and literature. You had better come +back, if you are in search of information on any subject. I am glad that +Miss ‘Nannie’ Wise found one occasion on which her ready tongue failed +her. She will have to hold it in subjection now. I should like to see +Miss Belle under such similar circumstances, provided she did not die +from suppressed ideas. What an awful feeling she must experience, if +the occasion should ever come for her to restrain that active member! +Although my friend Wilkins would be very indulgent, I think he would +want her to listen sometimes. Miss Pendleton has just been over to give +us some pleasing news. Her niece, Miss Susan Meade, Philip’s daughter, +is to be married next month to a Mr. Brown, of Kentucky, who visited her +two year ago upon the recommendation of the Reverend Charles Page, found +her a school-girl, and has waited until she became a woman. He is rich, +forty-nine, and has six children. There is a fair start in the world for +a young woman! I recommend her example to you. We are all as usual, +and ‘Mrs. Smith’ is just the same. Miss Maggie Johnston, who has been +staying with us occasionally for a few days at a time, is now on a visit +to us. There is to be an anniversary celebration of the societies of the +Institute on Friday, and a student’s party on Monday night, and a dance +at the College Hotel. To-morrow night your mother has an evening for +some young students. Gaiety will never cease in Lexington so long as the +ladies are so attractive and the men so agreeable. Surprise parties +are the fashion now. Miss Lucy Campbell has her cousin, Miss Ella +Heninberger, staying with her, who assists her to surprise and capture +too unwary youths. I am sorry to hear of Mrs. Ould’s illness. If you +see her, present me most kindly to her; also to Mrs. George Randolph. Do +beware of vanilla cream. Recollect how far you are from home, and do not +tamper with yourself. Our semi-annual examination has been in progress +for a fortnight. We shall conclude on Saturday, which will be a great +relief for me, for, in addition to other things, I have to be six hours +daily in the examination rooms. I was sorry that I could not attend Mr. +Peabody’s funeral, but I did not feel able to undertake the journey, +especially at this season. I am getting better, I hope, and feel +stronger than I did, but I cannot walk much farther than to the college, +though when I get on my horse I can ride with comfort. Agnes accompanies +me very often. I must refer you to her and your mother for all local +news. Give my love to Fitzhugh, and Tabb, and Robert when you see them, +and for yourself keep an abundance. I have received letters from Edward +and Blanche. They are very anxious about the condition of political +affairs in France. Blanche sent you some receipts for creams, etc. You +had better come and try them. + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Mildred Lee.” + +The following letter to his son, Fitzhugh, further shows his tender +interest in his children and grandson: + +“Lexington, Viriginia, February 14, 1870. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh:...I hope that you are all well and that you will not +let any one spoil my grandson. Your mother has written all the family +and Lexington news. She gathers much more than I do. I go nowhere but to +the college, and when the weather permits I ride in the mountains. I am +better, I think, but still troubled. Mildred, I hope, is with you. When +she gets away from her papa, she does not know what she wants to do, +tell her. You have had a fine winter for work, and later you will have +a profitable season. Custis is well and very retired; I see no alarming +exhibition of attention to the ladies. I have great hopes of Robert. +Give much love to my daughter Tabb and to poor little ‘Life.’ I wish I +could see you all; it would do my pains good. Poor little Agnes is not +at all well, and I am urging her to go away for a while. Mary as usual. + +“Affectionately your father, R. E. Lee. + +“General W. H. F. Lee.” + +After waiting all winter for the improvement in his health, my father, +yielding at last to the wishes of his family, physician, and friends, +determined to try the effect of a southern climate. It was thought it +might do him good, at any rate, to escape the rigours of a Lexington +March, and could do no harm. In the following letters to his children he +outlines his plans and touchingly alludes to the memory of his daughter +Annie, who died in 1862 and was buried at Warrenton Springs, North +Carolina: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 21, 1870. + +“My Dear Daughter: The doctors and others think I had better go to the +South in the hope of relieving the effects of the cold, under which I +have been labouring all the winter. I think I should do better here, and +am very reluctant to leave home in my present condition; but they seem +so interested in my recovery and so persuasive in their uneasiness that +I should appear obstinate, if not perverse, if I resisted longer. I +therefore consented to go, and will take Agnes to Savannah, as she seems +anxious to visit that city, or, perhaps, she will take me. I wish also +to visit my dear Annie’s grave before I die. I have always desired to do +so since the cessation of active hostilities, but have never been able. +I wish to see how calmly she sleeps away from us all, with her dear +hands folded over her breast as if in mute prayer, while her pure spirit +is traversing the land of the blessed. I shall diverge from the main +route of travel for this purpose, and it will depend somewhat upon my +feelings and somewhat upon my procuring an escort for Agnes, whether I +go further south. + +“I am sorry not to be able to see you before I go, but if I return, I +hope to find you here well and happy. You must take good care of your +mother and do everything she wants. You must not shorten your trip on +account of our departure. Custis will be with her every day, and Mary is +with her still. The servants seem attractive. Good-bye, my dear child. +Remember me to all friends, and believe me, + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Mildred Lee.” + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 22, 1870. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: Your letter of the 17th inst. has been received. Lest +I should appear obstinate, if not perverse, I have yielded to the kind +importunities of my physicians and of the faculty to take a trip toward +the South. In pursuance of my resolution, I shall leave here Thursday +next in the packet-boat, and hope to arrive in Richmond on Friday +afternoon. I shall take with me, as my companion, Agnes, who has been my +kind and uncomplaining nurse, and if we could only get down to you that +evening we would do so, for I want to see you, my sweet daughter, and +dear grandson. But as the doctors think it important that I should reach +a southern climate as soon as practicable, I fear I shall have to leave +my visit to you till my return. I shall go first to Warrenton Springs, +North Carolina, to visit the grave of my dear Annie, where I have always +promised myself to go, and I think, if I accomplish it, I have no time +to lose. I wish to witness her quiet sleep, with her dear hands crossed +over her breast, as if it were in mute prayer, undisturbed by her +distance from us, and to feel that her pure spirit is waiting in bliss +in the land of the blessed. From there, according to my feelings, +I shall either go down to Norfolk or to Savannah, and take you if +practicable on my return. I would ask you to come up to Richmond, but my +movements are unknown to myself, as I cannot know the routes, schedules, +etc., till I arrive there, but I have promised not to linger there +longer than necessary; so I must avoid temptation. We are all as usual. +Your mother still talks of visiting you, and when I urge her to make +preparations for the journey, she replies rather disdainfully she has +none to make; they have been made years ago. Custis and Mary are well, +and Mildred writes that she will be back by April 1st. We are having +beautiful weather now, which I hope may continue. From + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee.” + +To his daughter Mildred he writes again, giving her the minutest details +as to the routes home. This is very characteristic of him. We were +always fully instructed, all the roads of life were carefully marked out +for us by him: + +“Lexington, Virginia, March 23, 1870. + +“My Dear Daughter: I wrote to you the other day, telling you of my +intention of going South and of my general plan as far as formed. This +morning your letter of the 21st arrived.... I hope you will get back +comfortably and safely, and if you can fall in with no escort, you had +better go as far as Alexandria, the first stage of your journey. Aunt +Maria, Cassius Lee, the Smiths, etc., would receive you. If you wish +to come by Goshen, you must take the train from Alexandria on Tuesday, +Thursday, or Saturday, so as to arrive here about twelve o’clock at +night. By taking the train from Alexandria on the alternate days, +Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, you will reach Staunton that evening by +four P. M., remain all night, and come over by daylight the following +day in the stage. By taking the train from Alexandria to Lynchburg, +Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, you will reach there the same +afternoon, about four P. M., then go IMMEDIATELY to the packet-boat, and +you will arrive here next morning. This last is the EASIEST route, and +the best if you find no escort. Tell all the conductors and captains +that you are my runaway daughter, and they will take care of you. I +leave to-morrow evening on the packet-boat. I told you that Agnes would +accompany me. Tell my cousins Washington, Jane, and Mary that I wish I +were going to see them. I should then anticipate some pleasure. But the +doctors say I must turn my face the other way. I know they do not know +everything, and yet I have often had to do what I was told, without +benefit to myself, and I shall have to do it again. Good-bye, my dear +daughter. All unite in love. + +“Your affectionate father, R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Mildred Lee.” + + + + + +Chapter XXII -- The Southern Trip + + +Letters to Mrs. Lee from Richmond and Savannah--From Brandon--Agnes +Lee’s account of her father’s greetings from old friends and old +soldiers--Wilmington and Norfolk do him honour--Visits to Fitzhugh and +Robert in their homes + + +It is to be regretted that so little was written by my father while on +this trip. In the letters extant he scarcely refers to his reception by +the people at different points visited. His daughter Agnes tells more, +and we can imagine how tenderly and joyfully he was greeted by his old +soldiers, their wives, children and friends. He was very unwilling to be +made a hero anywhere, and most reluctant to show himself to the crowds +assembled at every station along his route, pressing to catch sight of +him. + +“Why should they care to see me?” he would say, when urged to appear on +the platform of the train; “I am only a poor old Confederate!” + +This feeling, natural to him, was probably intensified at that time by +the state of his health. On Sunday he writes to my mother of his trip to +Richmond and of his stay there: + +“Richmond, Virginia, March 29, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I reached here Friday afternoon, and had a more +comfortable journey than I expected. The night aboard the packet +was very trying, but I survived it, and the dust of the railroad the +following day. Yesterday the doctors, Huston, McCaw, and Cunningham, +examined me for two hours, and I believe, contemplate returning to-day. +They say they will make up their opinion and communicate it to Doctor +Barton, who will write me what to do. In the meantime they desire me +to continue his prescriptions. I think I feel better than when I left +Lexington, certainly stronger, but am a little feverish. Whether it is +produced by the journey, or the toddies that Agnes administers, I do +not know. I have not been able to see anybody, nor was I able to get the +groceries yesterday. Agnes thinks you will have enough to last till I +get back here, when I will select them and send them up. Should you want +any particular article, write to Messrs. Bacon & Lewis for it. I saw, +yesterday morning, Mr. John Stewart and Miss Mary [Miss Mary Stewart, of +“Brook Hill,” afterward Mrs. Thomas Pinckney, of South Carolina.], who +had called to see Agnes but found she was out. Miss Mary looked very +sweet, and inquired about you all. Agnes rode out there yesterday +afternoon and saw all the family. I am told all our friends here are +well. Many of my northern friends have done me the honour to call on me. +Among them ‘Brick Pomeroy.’ The like to see all that is going on. Agnes +has gone to church with Colonel Corley. I was afraid to go. The day +is unfavourable, and I should see so many of my old friends, to whom I +would like to speak, that it might be injurious to me. I was in hopes +that Fitzhugh might make his appearance yesterday, when we should have +learned all about those below, but he did not. I hear that they are all +well, however. I expect to continue our journey to-morrow, if nothing +prevents, though I have not yet got the information I desire about +the routes. Still, I will get on. I will leave to Agnes to tell about +herself. Love to all, Truly, R. E. Lee.” + +The next letter that I find is written from Savannah: + +“Savannah, Georgia, April 2, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I reached here yesterday evening and have borne the +journey much better than I expected. I think I am stronger than when I +left Lexington, but otherwise can discover no difference. I have had a +tedious journey upon the whole, and have more than ever regretted that I +undertook it. However, I have enjoyed meeting many friends, and the old +soldiers have greeted me very cordially. My visit to dear Annie’s grave +was mournful, yet soothing to my feelings, and I was glad to have the +opportunity of thanking the kind friends for their care of her while +living and their attention to her since her death. I saw most of the +ladies of the committee who undertook the preparation of the monument +and the inclosure of the cemetery, and was very kindly received by all +the citizens of Warrenton, and, indeed, at all the towns through which +we passed. Yesterday, several gentlemen from Savannah met the train +in which we came from Augusta--General Lawton, Mr. Andrew Lowe, Mr. +Hodgson, etc., etc. I found they had arranged among themselves about my +sojourn, so I yielded at once, and, after depositing Agnes at General +Lawton’s, I came off to Mr. Lowe’s, where I am now domiciled. His house +is partially dismantled and he is keeping house alone, so I have a very +quiet time. This morning I took a short drive around the city with Agnes +and Miss Lawton, and on returning called on Mrs. Elliot, who has her two +widowed daughters living with, Mrs. Elliot and Mrs. Habersham. I also +went to see Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Gilmer, and Mrs. Owen, and then returned +to the Lowes’, where I find he has invited some gentlemen to meet me at +dinner--General Joe Johnston, General Lawton, General Gilmer, Colonel +Corley, etc. Colonel Corley has stuck to me all the journey, and now +talks of going to New Orleans. The weather to-day is rather cool and +raw, with an easterly wind, and if it continues I will go on to Florida +next week. The woods are filled with flowers, yellow jasmine covering +all the trees, etc., and fresh vegetables everywhere. I must leave Agnes +to give you all the details. The writing-desk is placed in a dark corner +in this handsome house, prepared for younger eyes than mine, and I can +hardly see what I write. All friends inquire after you, Custis, Mary, +and Mildred. Give my love to all, and believe me, + +“Most truly, R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +The Colonel Corley mentioned in the above letters had been on General +Lee’s staff, as chief quartermaster, from the time he assumed command of +the Army of Northern Virginia until the surrender. His voluntary service +as escort on this trip, so delicately offered and performed, was highly +appreciated by his old commander. A letter from his daughter to her +mother, written the next day tells many particulars of their journey, +but still leaves much to be desired: + +“Savannah, Georgia, April 3, 1870. + +“...I hardly know where to commence, I have so little time to write. We +left Richmond Monday, 2 P. M. We reached Warrenton at ten o’clock and +were taken to their house by Mr. and Mrs. White, who met us at the +depot. The next morning papa and I drove with Captain White’s horses +to the cemetery. Mrs. White gave me a quantity of beautiful white +hyacinths, which she said were for you, too, and I had brought some grey +moss that Kitty Stiles had given me. This I twined on the base of the +monument. The flowers looked very pure and beautiful. The place is +just as it is in Mr. Hope’s picture (which I have). It was a great +satisfaction to be there again. We did not go to the springs, a mile +off. Returning, we stopped at Mr. Joe Jones’s (old Mr. J----‘s son). +They insisted on our taking dinner. He has eleven children, I think, +and there were numberless others there. They loaded me with flowers, the +garden full of hyacinths and early spring flowers. Mrs. Jones is a very +nice lady, one of those who were foremost in erecting the monument. We +then stopped at the farm of the Jones’s, who were at the springs when +we were there in the autumn of 1862, and Mrs. J---- knew me at once, and +asked affectionately after you. Saw Patty and Emma--all the +daughters married except Patty and the youngest. Mr. J---- is very +infirm--eighty-three years old. That evening a number of persons came +to see us, Mrs. Alston and Miss Brownlow, two others of the committee +of ladies. Every one was very kind. Indeed, I wish you could travel with +papa, to see the affection and feeling shown toward him everywhere. We +spent that night in the sleeping-car, very handsome and comfortable, but +the novelty, I suppose, made us wakeful. At Raleigh and another place +the people crowded to the depot and called ‘Lee! Lee!’ and cheered +vociferously, but we were locked up and ‘mum.’ Everywhere along the road +where meals were provided the landlords invited us in, and when we would +not get out, sent coffee and lunches. Even soldiers on the train sent in +fruit, and I think we were expected to die of eating. At Charlotte and +Salisbury there were other crowds and bands. Colonel Corley joined us +at C., having asked to go to Savannah with us. The train stopped fifteen +minutes at Columbia. Colonel Alexander Haskell took charge of the crowd, +which in spite of the pouring rain, stood there till we left. General E. +Porter Alexander was there, and was very hearty in his inquiries after +all of us. His little girl was lifted into the car. Namesakes appeared +on the way, of all sizes. Old ladies stretched their heads into the +windows at way-stations, and then drew back and said ‘He is mightily +like his pictures.’ We reached Augusta Wednesday night. The mayor and +council met us, having heard a few minutes before that papa was on +the train. We were whirled off to the hotel, and papa decided to spend +Thursday there. They had a reception the whole of the morning. Crowds +came. Wounded soldiers, servants, and working-men even. The sweetest +little children--namesakes--dressed to their eyes, with bouquets of +japonica--or tiny cards in their little fat hands--with their names. +Robert Burwell, of Clarke, who married Miss Clayton there; Randall, +author of ‘My Maryland’; General McLaws, Wright, Gardner, and many +others. Saw the Misses Boggs, General B----‘s sisters. Miss Rebecca +knew Mrs. Kirkpatrick very well, and asked after her. Miss Russell, with +whose father and sisters we had been at the White Sulphur, helped us to +receive. She is very tall and handsome, and was superb in a white lace +shawl, a moire-antique with a train. The Branch brothers rather took +possession of me. Melville, who was at the Institute [Virginia Military +Institute, Lexington, Virginia] and knew the Letchers very well, drove +me in and around town--at the rate of a mile a minute. Another brother +took me to the ‘Skating Rink’ at night...a serenade that night. At some +point on the way here Generals Lawton and Gilmer, Mr. Andrew Lowe, +and others, got on the cars with us. Flowers were given us at various +places. I so much enjoyed the evidences of spring all along our +route--more and more advanced as we proceeded. The jasmine, though +passing away, was still in sufficient abundance, in some places, to +perfume the air. The dark marshes were rich in tall magnolia trees, +beautiful red buds, and other red blossoms I did not know. The jasmine +and the trees hanging with gray moss--perfectly weird-looking--have +been the least luxuriant places in the interim. Savannah is green with +live-oaks--and filled with trees and shrubbery. I wish you could see a +large marble table in the parlour, where I am writing, with a pyramid of +jasmine in the centre and four large plates full at the corners, almost +covering the square, all sent me Saturday. The Lawtons are as kind as +possible, wanted papa to stay here, but Mr. Andrew Lowe had arranged to +take him to his house at bed-time. So he lost the benefit of a serenade +from two bands, alternating, which we enjoyed--General Lawton telling +the crowd General Lee had retired from fatigue. Papa has borne the +journey and the crowds far better than I thought he would and seems +stronger. (Monday.) It seems impossible to finish this--I inclose some +scraps which will tell our story. Crowds of persons have been coming +to see me ever since I came. Saw Mrs. General Johnston--Nannie +Hutchenson--of course, and Reverend and Mrs. Moore yesterday. They left +to-day.... Colonel Corley has taken Corinne [Corinne Lawton] and me on +a beautiful drive this morning to ‘Bonaventure,’ which is to be a +cemetery, and to several places in its vicinity. I never saw anything +more impressive and beautiful than the avenues of live-oaks, literally +covered with long gray moss, arching over the roads. Tell Messrs. Owen +and Minis I have seen their families, who are very kind to us. General +and Mrs. Gilmer asked especially after Custis.... We think of going to +Florida in a few days. Haven’t heard from you. + +“Agnes.” + +This is the only letter from his daughter Agnes, written at this +time, that can be found. My father, in his letters to his family, left +“details” and “particulars” for her to describe, and doubtless she did +so. Unfortunately, there is but this single letter. + +On April 17th, he writes again from Savannah to my mother: + +“My Dear Mary: I have received your letter of the Wednesday after +our departure and am glad to hear that you are well and getting on +so comfortably. The destruction of the bridge is really a loss to the +community, and I fear will inconvenience Mildred in her return. However, +the spring is now advancing and they ought to be able to get up the new +bridge. I hope I am a little better. I seem to be stronger and to walk +with less difficulty, but it may be owing to the better streets of +Savannah. I presume if any change takes place it will be gradual and +slow. Please say to Doctor Barton that I have received his letter and +am obliged to him for his kind advice. I shall begin to-day with his new +prescriptions and will follow them strictly. To-morrow I expect to go +to Florida, and will stop first at Amelia Island. The visitors to that +region are coming out, saying the weather is uncomfortably hot. If I +find it so, I shall return. Savannah has become very pleasant within the +last few days, and I dare say I shall do as well here as elsewhere. The +spring, however, is backward. I believe I told you that I was staying +with Mr. Andrew Lowe, who is very kind, and where I am very comfortable. +I am going to be separated from Agnes, and have received invitations +from several of the inhabitants where we could be united. But it is +awkward to change. Agnes has been sick, too, since her arrival, which +has made me the more anxious to be with her. You know she is like her +papa--always wanting something. She is, however, better to-day, as I +learn, though I have not seen her yet. I saw her twice yesterday. She +was better then and came down to Mrs. Lawton’s room, so I hope she will +be well enough to go with me to Amelia Island. The Messrs. Mackay got +down from Etowa last evening, both looking very well, and have reopened +their old house in Broughton Street, which I am glad of. I have see Mrs. +Doctor Elliot and family, the Andersons, Gordons, etc., etc., and all +my former acquaintances and many new ones. I do not think travelling in +this way procures me much quiet and repose. I wish I were back.... Give +my love to her [his daughter Mary] and to Custis, and tell the latter +I hope that he will be able to keep Sam in the seeds he may require. +Praying a merciful God to guard and direct you all, I am, + +“Most affectionately, R. E. Lee. + +“P. S.--I received a letter from F----: all well. + +“R. E. L.” Sam was the gardener and man-of-all-work at Lexington. My +father took great interest in his garden and always had a fine one. +Still, in Savannah, he again writes to his wife acknowledging the +letters forwarded to him and commenting on the steps being taken: + +“Savannah, Georgia, April 11, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I received yesterday your letters of the 3d and 6th, +inclosing Reverend Mr. Brantley’s and daughter’s and Cassius Lee’s. I +forwarded the petition to the President, accompanying the latter, to +Cassius, and asked him to give it to Mr. Smith. Hearing, while passing +through Richmond, of the decision of the Supreme Court referred to, +I sent word to Mr. Smith that if he thought the time and occasion +propitious for taking steps for the recovery of Arlington, the Mill, +etc., to do so, but to act quietly and discreetly. I presume the +petition sent you for signature was the consequence. I do not know +whether this is a propitious time or not, and should rather have had an +opportunity to consult friends, but am unable to do so. Tell Custis that +I wish that he would act for me, through you or others, for it is mainly +on his account that I desire the restitution of the property. I see that +a resolution has been introduced in Congress ‘to perfect the title of +the Government to Arlington and other National Cemeteries,’ which I +have been apprehensive of stirring, so I suppose the matter will come up +anyhow. I did not sign the petition, for I did not think it necessary, +and believed the more I was kept out of sight the better. We must hope +for the best, speak as little and act as discreetly as possible. + +“The reverend Dr. Brantley was invited by the faculty of the college to +deliver the baccalaureate sermon next June, and I invited him and his +daughter, in the event of his accepting, to stay with us. Do you know +whether he has accepted? I should have gone to Florida last Friday as +proposed, but Agnes was not well enough. She took cold on the journey or +on her first arrival, and has been quite sick, but is better now. I have +not seen her this morning, but if she is sufficiently recovered we will +leave here to-morrow. I have received a message saying that she was +much better. As regards myself, my general health is pretty good. I feel +stronger than when I came. The warm weather has also dispelled some +of the rheumatic pains in my back, but I perceive no change in the +stricture in my chest. If I attempt to walk beyond a very slow gait, +the pain is always there. It is all true what the doctors say about its +being aggravated by any fresh cold, but how to avoid taking cold is the +question. It seems with me to be impossible. Everything and anything +seems to give me one. I meet with much kindness and consideration, but +fear that nothing will relieve my complaint, which is fixed and old. I +must bear it. I hope that you will not give over your trip to the ‘White +House,’ if you still desire to make it. I shall commence my return above +the last of April, stopping at some points, and will be a few days +in Richmond, and the ‘White House’ if able. I must leave to Agnes all +details. Give much love to Custis, Mary, and Mildred. Tell the latter I +have received her letters. Remember me to all friends. + +“Most sincerely yours, R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +After visiting Cumberland Island and going up to the St. John’s River +as far as Palatka, and spending the night at Colonel Cole’s place near +there, they returned to Savannah. Colonel Cole was on General Lee’s +staff as chief commissary during the time he commanded the Army of +Northern Virginia, and was a very dear friend of us all: + +“Savannah, Georgia, April 18, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I have received your letter of the 13th, and am glad +to learn that you propose visiting the ‘White House,’ as I feared my +journey might prevent you. I am, however, very anxious on the +subject, as I apprehend the trip will be irksome and may produce great +inconvenience and pain. I hope you received my letter of the 11th, +written just before my departure for Florida. In case you did not, I +will state that I forwarded your petition to Cassius Lee as received, +not thinking my signature necessary or advantageous. I will send the +money received from the ‘University Publishing Company’ to Carter, for +whom I intend it [This was the money that came to General Lee from +his new edition of his father’s “Memoirs of the War in the Southern +Department of the United States.”]. I returned from Florida Saturday, +16th, having had a very pleasant trip as far as Palatka on the St. +John’s. We visited Comberland Island, and Agnes decorated my father’s +grave with beautiful fresh flowers. I presume it is the last time +I shall be able to pay to it my tribute of respect. The cemetery is +unharmed and the grave is in good order, though the house of Dungeness +has been burned and the island devastated. Mr. Nightingale, the present +proprietor, accompanied me from Brunswick. Mr. Andrew Lowe was so kind +as to go with us the whole way, thinking Agnes and I were unable to take +care of ourselves. Agnes seemed to enjoy the trip very much, and has +improved in health. I shall leave to her all details. We spent a night +at Colonel Cole’s, a beautiful place near Palatka, and ate oranges from +the trees. We passed some other beautiful places on the river, but could +not stop at any but Jacksonville, where we remained from 4 P. M. to 3 +A. M. next morning, rode over the town, etc., and were hospitably +entertained by Colonel Sanderson. The climate was delightful, the fish +inviting and abundant. We have returned to our old quarters, Agnes to +the Lawtons’ and I to the Lowe’s. We shall remain here this week, and +will probably spend a few days in Charleston and Norfolk, if we go that +way, and at ‘Brandon’ and ‘Shirley’ before going to the ‘White House,’ +where we shall hope to meet you. I know of no certain place where a +letter will catch me before I reach Richmond, where the doctors desire +me to spend a few days that they may again examine me. Write me there +whether Fitzhugh is too full to receive us. It will depend upon my +feelings, weather, etc., whether I make the digression by Norfolk. Poor +little Agnes has had, I fear, but little enjoyment so far, and I wish +her to have all the pleasure she can gather on the route. She is still +weak and seems to suffer constantly from the neuralgia. I hope I am +better, I know that I am stronger, but I still have the pain in my +chest whenever I walk. I have felt it also occasionally of late when +quiescent, but not badly, which is new. To-day Doctors Arnold and Reed, +of this city, examined me for about an hour. They concur in the opinion +of the other physicians, and think it pretty certain that my trouble +arises from some adhesion of the parts, not from injury of the lungs and +heart, but that the pericardium may not be implicated, and the adhesion +may be between the pleura and ----, I have forgotten the name. Their +visit was at the urgent entreaty of friends, which I could not well +resist, and perhaps their opinion is not fully matured. I am continuing +the prescriptions of Doctors Barton and Madison. My rheumatic pains, +either from the effects of the medicine or the climate, or both, have +diminished, but the pain along the breast bone ever returns on my making +any exertion. I am glad Mildred has returned so well. I hope that she +will continue so. After perusal, send this letter to one of the children +to whom you may be writing, that Doctors Barton, etc., may be informed +how I am getting along, as I have been unable to write to them or to +any one at Lexington. I have so many letters to write in answer to kind +invitations, etc., and so many interruptions, that my time is consumed. +Besides, writing is irksome to me. Give my love to Fitzhugh, Tabb, and +Robert and to Custis, Mary, and Mildred when you write. Agnes said +she was going out to return some of her numerous visits to-day, and I +presume will not be able to write. She has had but little comfort in her +clothes. Her silk dress was spoiled on the way, and she returned it to +Baltimore, but has learned that they can do nothing with it, so she will +have to do without it, which I presume she can do. I hope you may reach +the ‘White House’ comfortably. I will apprise you of my movements from +time to time. I hope my godson will know you. Tell him I have numbers +of his namesakes since I left Virginia, of whom I was not aware. I hope +they will come to good. + +“With great affection, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +From the following letters--all that I can find relating to this part +of the journey--it appears that the travellers started for Virginia, +stopping at Charleston, Wilmington, and Norfolk. Of their visit to +Charleston I can find no record. He and Agnes stayed at the beautiful +home of Mr. Bennet, who had two sons at the college, and a lovely +daughter, Mary Bennet. I remember Agnes telling me of the beautiful +flowers and other attentions lavished upon them. + +At Wilmington they spent a day with Mr. and Mrs. Davis. His coming there +was known only to a few persons, as its announcement was by a private +telegram from Savannah, but quite a number of ladies and gentlemen +secured a small train and went out on the Southern Road to meet him. +When they met the regular passenger-train from Savannah, General Lee +was taken from it to the private one and welcomed by his many friends. +He seemed bright and cheerful and conversed with all. He spoke of his +health not being good, and on this account begged that there would be no +public demonstration on his arrival, nor during his stay at Wilmington. + +On reaching that place, he accompanied Mr. George Davis [Attorney +General in Mr. Davis’s cabinet] to his house and was his guest during +his sojourn in the city. + +Mrs. Davis was a Miss Fairfax, daughter of Dr. O. Fairfax, of +Alexandria, Virginia. They had been and were very old and dear friends +and neighbours. The next morning my father walked out and called on +Bishop Atkinson, with whom he had been well acquainted when they both +lived in Baltimore, some twelve years before, the one as rector of St. +Peter’s (Episcopal) church, the other as Captain of the United States +Engineers, in charge of the harbour defenses of the city. + +There was a dinner given to my father that day at Mr. Davis’s home, and +a number of gentlemen were present. He was looking very well, but in +conversation said that he realised there was some trouble with his +heart, which he was satisfied was incurable. + +The next day, May 1st, he left for Norfolk, Virginia, where Dr. and Mrs. +Selden were the kind entertainers of his daughter and himself. Agnes +told me that in going and returning from church the street was lined +with people who stood, hats off, in silent deference. From Norfolk they +visited “Lower” and “Upper Brandon” on the James River, the homes of the +Harrisons; then “Shirley,” higher up the river. Then they proceeded by +way of Richmond to the “White House,” my mother having arrived there +from Lexington a short time previously. The General wrote from “Brandon” + to his wife: + +“‘Brandon’, May 7, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: We have reached this point on our journey. Mrs. Harrison +and Miss Belle are well and very kind, and I have been up to see Mr. +William Harrison and Mr. George and their families. The former is much +better than I expected to find him, and I hope will recover his health +as the spring advances. The ladies are all well, and Miss Gulie is very +handsome. Agnes and I went over to see Warrenton Carter and his wife +this morning. They are both very well, and everything around them looks +comfortable and flourishing. They have a nice home, and, as far as I +could see, everything is prospering. Their little boy was asleep, but we +were invited in to see him. He is a true Carter. Mrs. Page, the daughter +of General Richardson, is here on a visit, and Mrs. Murdock, wife of +their former pastor, arrived this morning. We are to go up to Mr. George +Harrison’s this evening, where the children are to have some tableaux, +and where we are expected to spend the evening. In Norfolk we saw all +our friends, but I did not succeed in getting out to Richard Page’s as +I desired, on account of the heavy rain on the appointed day and +engagements that interfered on others. Agnes and Mrs. Selden rode out, +however, and saw all the family. Everybody inquired kindly after you, +down to Bryan, and all sent their love. ‘Brandon’ is looking very +beautiful, and it is refreshing to look at the river. The garden is +filled with flowers and abounds in roses. The yellow jasmine is still +in bloom and perfumes the atmosphere. I have not heard from you or from +Lexington since I left Savannah. I hope all are well. I am better, I +trust; am getting fat and big, but am still rigid and painful in my +back. On Tuesday night I expect to go to ‘Shirley,’ and on Thursday, +12th inst., to Richmond, and on Friday to the ‘White House,’ unless I +hear that you are crowded, in which case I will submit myself to the +doctors for two or three days, as they desire, and then go down. Agnes +now says she will accompany me to the ‘White House,’ so that I shall +necessarily pass through Richmond, as our baggage renders that route +necessary. Therefore, unless something unforeseen prevents, I shall be +with you on Friday next. All unite in love. Agnes, I hope, is better +than when she left Lexington, but is not strong. You must give a great +deal of love to Fitzhugh, Tabb, my grandson Robert, and all with you. + +“Most truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“P. S. --Monday. Your note of the 6th with Colonel Allen’s letter has +just been received. I am very sorry to hear of Tabb’s sickness. I hope +that she will be well by the time of my arrival. I shall be glad to see +Markie. + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +On the same date, he writes to his daughter Mildred at Lexington: + +“‘Brandon,’ May 7, 1870. + +“My Dear Daughter: Miss Jennie is putting up her mail and says that my +letter must go with it, so I have but a few minutes to inform you +that we have reached this point on our way home. We stayed a day in +Wilmington with the Davises after leaving Charleston, and several with +the Seldens in Norfolk, and shall on Tuesday next go up to ‘Shirley,’ +and then to the ‘White House.’ Agnes threatens to abandon me at +‘Shirley,’ and I wish that you were there to take her place. I am +better, I hope, certainly am stronger and have less pain, but am far +from comfortable, and have little ability to move or do anything, though +am growing large and fat. Perhaps that is the cause. All here are well +and send love. Miss Belle very sweet; all very kind. I rode yesterday to +the other ‘Brandons,’ and saw all the inhabitants. Captain Shirley spent +the day here. Mr. Wm. Harrison much better, and Miss Gulie very pretty. +They have some visitors. It is quiet and delightful here, the river is +beautiful. Agnes will write when she finds ‘time,’ which is a scarce +commodity with her. I had intended to write before breakfast, the +longest portion of the day, but walked out and forgot it. We have little +time after breakfast. Give much love to Mary and Custis. I hope that you +are all well and comfortable. I was very glad to receive your letter the +morning I left Savannah, and I hope that ‘Mrs. Smith’ and Traveller are +enjoying themselves. I hope to get back to Lexington about the 24th, but +will write. After paying my visit to the ‘White House’ I will have to +spend some days in Richmond and at the doctors’ request, as they wish +to examine me again and more thoroughly. I hope all are well at the +college. Remember me to all there and in Lexington. + +“With affectionate love, Your father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Mildred Lee.” + +The “White House,” my brother’s home at that time, is on the Pamunkey +River, about twenty-five miles north of “Shirley.” From my father’s +letter it is evident he had thought of driving over, instead of going +by boat and rail through Richmond. This plan was abandoned when his +daughter determined to accompany him, as a lady’s baggage, even in those +days, was too voluminous for private conveyance. Mr. Wm. Harrison lived +at “Upper Brandon” and Mr. George Harrison at “Middle Brandon.” The +mistress of “Lower Brandon,” the old historic home, was Mrs. Isabella +Ritchie Harrison, widow of the late George Harrison. Miss Jennie, +referred to in the above letter, was Miss Virginia Ritchie, sister of +Mrs. Harrison. She had succeeded in having a post-office established +at “Lower Brandon” and herself made postmistress. This was done for +the convenience of the “Brandons” and the immediate neighbourhood. The +proceeds Miss Jennie gave to the “Brandon” church. + +Of his visit to “Shirley,” his mother’s home when she was a girl, and +where she was married to “Light Horse Harry,” I can find no account +written at the time. It is a few hours from “Brandon” to “Shirley” by +steamer on the beautiful James, and they arrived there Tuesday, May +10th, and left the following Thursday by steamer for Richmond. So says +the “Home Journal” kept at “Shirley.” All the country came to see him, +and there was a large party to dinner. One of the daughters of the +house, then a young girl, says: + +“I can only remember the great dignity and kindness of General Lee’s +bearing, how lovely he was to all of us girls, that he gave us his +photographs and write his name on them. He liked to have us tickle his +hands, but when Cousin Agnes came to sit by him that seemed to be her +privilege. We regarded him with the greatest veneration. We had heard of +God, but here was General Lee!” + +My mother was now at the “White House.” I will here introduce portions +of a letter of the 9th and 13th of May from her to her daughter in +Lexington, telling of my father’s arrival on the 12th: + +“‘White House,’ May 9, 1870. + +“Fitzhugh took us on a delightful drive this morning, dear Mildred, to +Tunstall’s, where we got your letter, and Markie got nine, including +yours, so we were much gratified with our excursion. The road was fine, +with the exception of a few mud-holes, and the woods lovely with wild +flowers and dogwood blossoms and with all the fragrance of early spring, +the dark holly and pine intermingling with the delicate leaves +just brought out by the genial season, daisies, wild violets, and +heart’s-ease. I have not seen so many wild flowers since I left +Arlington.... + +“Thirteenth.--I determined, after commencing this, to wait and see your +papa, who arrived last evening with Agnes. He looks fatter, but I do not +like his complexion, and he seems still stiff. I have not yet had time +to hear much of their tour, except a grand dinner given them at Mr. +Benet’s. Your papa sends his love, and says he will be in Lexington +somewhere about the 24th.... + +“There is no news. The country becomes more lovely each day. The locust +trees are in full bloom, and the polonia, the only tree left of all that +were planted by poor Charlotte and myself. How all our labours have come +to naught. The General has just come in. Robbie is riding on his knee, +sitting as grave as a judge. He says now ‘Markie,’ ‘Agnes,’ and many +other words, and calls me ‘Bonne Mama.’ We expect Rob this morning.... + +“Yours affectionately, + +“M. C. Lee.” + +At this time my father was persuaded to make me a visit. He had been +invited before, when at different times he had been to the “White +House,” but something had hitherto always prevented his coming; now +he decided to come. My “Romancoke” farm was situated in King William +County, on the opposite side of the Pamunkey River, and some fifteen +miles east of “White House.” We arrived there in the afternoon, having +come down by the steamer, which at that time ran from “White House” + to Baltimore. “Romancoke” had been always a dependency of the “White +House,” and was managed by an overseer who was subordinate to the +manager on the latter estate. There was on it only a small house, of the +size usual in our country for that character of property. I had taken +possession in 1866, and was preparing to build a more comfortable +residence, but in the meantime I lived in the house which had been +occupied by the different overseers for about seventy-five years. Its +accommodations were very limited, simple, and it was much out of repair. +Owing to the settling of the underpinning in the centre, it had assumed +a “sway-backed” outline, which gave it the name of the “broken-back +house.” No repairs had been attempted, as I was preparing to build a new +home. + +My father, always dignified and self-contained, rarely gave any evidence +of being astonished or startled. His self-control was great and his +emotions were not on the surface, but when he entered and looked around +my bachelor quarters he appeared really much shocked. As I was much +better off in the matter of housekeeping than I had been for four years, +I flattered myself that I was doing very well. I can appreciate fully +now what he must have felt at the time. However, he soon rallied and +concealed his dismay by making kindly fun of my surroundings. The next +day at dinner he felt obliged to remark on my china, knives, and forks, +and suggested that I might at least better my holdings in that line. +When he got back to Richmond he sent me a full set of plated forks and +spoons, which I have been using from that day to this. He walked and +drove over the farm, discussed my plans for improvement, and was much +interested in all my work, advising me about the site of my new house, +new barns, ice-house, etc. He evidently enjoyed his visit, for the quiet +and the rest were very refreshing. + +About thirty miles, as the crow flies, from my place, down York River, +is situated, in Gloucester County, “White Marsh,” an old Virginia home +which then belonged to Dr. Prosser Tabb, who with his wife and children +was living there. Mrs. Tabb was a near cousin of my father, and as a +little girl had been a pet and favourite. His affection and regard for +her had lasted from his early manhood. He had seen but little of her +since the war, and when “Cousin Rebecca,” as we called her, learned +he was to be at the “White House,” she wrote begging him to pay her a +visit. This he had agreed to do if it was possible. + +While at the “White House,” we had consulted together as to the best +method of accomplishing this trip, and we determined to make it from +“Romancoke.” So I drove him to West Point, and there got aboard the +Baltimore steamer, taking my horse and trap with us. At Cappahoosic, a +wharf on the York, we landed and drove the nine miles to “White Marsh,” + arriving at “supper time,” as we still say in Virginia--i.e., about 7:30 +P. M. + +When General Lee got off on the wharf, so great was the desire of the +passengers and crew to see him, that they all went to the side of the +boat, which caused her to list so that I was unable to get my horse out +through the gangway until the captain had ordered every one to the other +side. As the sun went down, it became chilly and I drove quite rapidly, +anxious to get my father out of the night air as soon as possible. He +said nothing at the time, nor did I know that he noticed my unusual +speed. But afterward he remarked on it to several persons, saying: + +“I think Rob drives unnecessarily fast.” + +We were expected, and were met at the door by all the family and guests. +A hearty welcome was given us. After supper he was the centre of the +circle in the drawing-room, and made the acquaintance of the children of +the house and of the friends and relatives of the family who were there. +He said little, but all listened eagerly to what he did say, and were +charmed with his pleasant smile and gracious manner. “Cousin Rebecca” + introduced him to her son-in-law, Captain Perrin, mentioning that he had +been wounded in the war and was still lame from the effects. The General +replied that at any rate he was all right now, for he had a pair of +strong young feet to wait upon him, indicating his young wife. + +As was customary in this section of Virginia, the house was full of +visitors, and I shared my father’s room and bed. Though many a year had +passed since we had been bedfellows, he told me that he remembered well +the time when, as a little fellow, I had begged for this privilege. The +next day he walked about the beautiful gardens, and was driven over the +plantation and shown the landscapes and water views of the immediate +neighborhood. Mr. Graves, Dr. Tabb’s overseer, who had the honour of +being his coachman, fully appreciated it, and was delighted when my +father praised his management. He had been a soldier under the General, +and had stoutly carried his musket to Appomatox, where he surrendered +it. When told of this by Dr. Tabb, my father took occasion to compliment +him on his steadfast endurance and courage, but Graves simply and +sincerely replied, + +“Yes, General, I stuck to the army, but if you had in your entire +command a greater coward than I was, you ought to have had him shot.” + +My father, who was greatly amused at his candour, spoke of it when +he got back from his drive saying “that sort of a coward makes a good +soldier.” + +That the drive had fatigued him was quite apparent to Cousin Rebecca, +who begged him to go and lie down to rest, but he declined, though, +finally, at her request, he consented to take a glass of wine. Mrs. Tabb +was anxious to give a general reception that day in his honour, so that +all the old soldiers in the country could have an opportunity of shaking +hands with him, but at the General’s request the idea was abandoned. + +Several persons were invited to meet him at dinner, among them the Rev. +Mr. Phillips, an Englishman, the rector of Abingdon, an old Colonial +church in the country. He and his wife were ardent admirers of General +lee, and had often expressed a great desire to see him, so Mrs. Tabb +kindly gave them this opportunity. They were charmed with him, and, +writing to their friends in England, declared: + +“The greatest event in our lives has occurred--we have seen General +Lee.” + +One of his young cousins, in talking with him, wondered what fate was +in store for “us poor Virginians.” The General replied with an earnest, +softened look: + +“You can work for Virginia, to build her up again, to make her great +again. You can teach your children to love and cherish her.” + +I was struck with the tenderness of his manner to all these cousins, +many of whom he had never seen before, and the real affection and +interest he manifested toward them. He seemed pleased and touched by +their love and kindness. I think he enjoyed this visit, but it was plain +that he was easily fatigued. + +To catch our steamer the next morning, an early start was necessary. +Arrangements were made the night before, and all good-byes said, for +we had to leave the house about five o’clock. That night he was very +restless and wakeful, and remarked that it was generally so with him +whenever he had to get up at an unusual hour, as he was always uneasy +lest he might be late. However, we got off in full time--made the +connection with our steamer, and returned immediately to the “White +House.” I left the steamer at West Point to take my horse home, after +which I joined him at the former place. + +After a short stay at the “White House,” he started for Lexington, +stopping over in Richmond for a few days. From there he writes to his +daughter Mildred in Lexington: + +“Richmond, Virginia, May 23, 1870. + +“My Precious Daughter: I came up from the ‘White House’ this morning +with Agnes, but she threatens to divorce herself from me, and we have +already separated. She is at Dr. Fairfax’s and I am at Mr. Mcfarland’s. +She promises, however, to see me occasionally, and if I can restore our +travelling relations even at costly sacrifice I shall be happy to take +her along with me. I find I shall be detained here too long to take the +Wednesday’s boat from Lynchburg, but, if not prevented by circumstances +now not foreseen, I shall take the Friday’s boat, so as to reach +Lexington SATURDAY morning, 28th inst. If Sam is well enough, and it +should be otherwise convenient, he could meet me with Lucy and the +carriage or with Traveller. If not, I will get a seat up in the omnibus. +Your mother proposes to leave in the boat for Bremo on the 1st proximo, +spend one week there, and then continue her journey to Lexington. Agnes +has not yet made up her mind whether she will go with me, her mother, +or remain for a while. I hope to find you well, though alone. I must +reserve all accounts till we meet, which I am very anxious should +take place as soon as practicable. I am improving, I think, in general +health, but cannot tell certainly as to the difficulty in my chest, as +I have been unable to test my progress. I had a pleasant visit to F---- +and Robert, and enjoyed rest there, which I wanted. Love to Custis and +kind regards to all friends. I hope that I shall find all well and +doing well. All at the ‘White House’ send love. Poor Tabb is still sick. +Markie Williams is with your mother. Robert came up with us, but returns +this evening. I have seen Dr. Houston this morning, and I am to have a +great medicine talk to-morrow. + +“Your devoted father, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Miss Mildred Lee.” + + + + + +Chapter XXIII -- A Round of Visits + + +Baltimore--Alexandria--A war-talk with Cousin Cassius +Lee--“Ravensworth”--Letter to Doctor Buckler declining invitation to +Europe--To General Cooper--To Mrs. Lee from the Hot Springs--Tired of +public places--Preference for country life + + +Judged by what he says of himself, my father’s trip South did him no +permanent good. The rest and change, the meeting with many old friends, +the great love and kindness shown him by all, gave him much pleasure, +and for a time it was thought he was better; but the main cause of his +troubles was not removed, though for a while held in check. + +During the month of June he remained in Lexington, was present at the +final examinations of the college, and attended to all his duties as +usual. On July 1st he went to Baltimore in order to consult Dr. Thomas +H. Buckler about his health. + +While there he stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Tagart. + +My mother had returned to Lexington after her visit to “Bremo,” together +with my sister Agnes. To her, on July 2d, he writes: + +“Baltimore, Maryland, July 2, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I reached her yesterday evening at 9:15 P. M. Found +Mr. Tagart at the depot waiting for me, where he had been since eight +o’clock, thanks to his having a punctual wife, who regulates everything +for him, so that he had plenty of time for reflection. I believe, +however, the delay was occasioned by change of schedule that day, of +which Mrs. Tagart was not advised. We arrived at Alexandria at 5:00 P. +M., and were taken to Washington and kept in the cars till 7:45, when we +were sent on. It was the hottest day I ever experienced, or I was in the +hottest position I ever occupied, both on board the packet and in the +railroad cars, or I was less able to stand it, for I never recollect +having suffered so much. Dr. Buckler came in to see me this morning, and +examined me, stripped, for two hours. He says he finds my lungs working +well, the action of the heart a little too much diffused, but nothing +to injure. He is inclined to think that my whole difficulty arises from +rheumatic excitement, both the first attack in front of Fredericksburg +and the second last winter. Says I appear to have a rheumatic +constitution, must guard against cold, keep out in the air, exercise, +etc., as the other physicians prescribe. He will see me again. In the +meantime, he has told me to try lemon-juice and watch the effect. I will +endeavour to get out to Washington Peter’s on the 4th and to Goodwood +as soon as Dr. B---- is satisfied. Mr. and Mrs. Tagart are very well and +send regards. The messenger is waiting to take this to the office. It +is raining, and I have not been out nor seen any one out of the house. I +hope all are well with you, and regret that I was obliged to come away. +Tell the girls I was so overcome that I could not get up this morning +till 8:00 A. M. Give much love to everybody, and believe me most truly, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +The advantages of early rising my father ever held out to his daughters, +so that he knew they would enjoy hearing of his being late in getting +down in the morning. During this visit to Baltimore he took advantage of +his proximity to many old friends to visit them. + +His next letter is from Alexandria to my mother: + +“Alexandria, Virginia, July 15, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I arrived here last evening from Goodwood, and was glad +to hear from Burke this morning that our Aunt Maria was as well as +usual. I wish to get out to Cassius Lee’s this afternoon, and will spend +to-morrow on the Hill in visiting General Cooper, Mr. Mason, the Bishop, +etc. [“Aunt M----” was Mrs. Fitzhugh of “Ravensworth,” and “Burke,” her +coloured servant; Cassius Lee, my father’s cousin; General S. S. Cooper, +Adj. General of the C. S. armies; Mr. J. M. Mason, Senator in U. S. and +C. S. Congress; the Bishop, Bishop Johns of Virginia, all at that +time living on the “Hill”--or Seminary Hill--about two miles from +Alexandria.] Next week I shall go to Ravensworth and from there think +I shall proceed to Lexington. It is so hot that I shall be obliged to +forego my visit to Nannie and the ‘White House.’ It is intensely hot +here and I am unable to bear the heat now. I took cold yesterday in the +cars or elsewhere and am full of pains this morning, and was unable to +sleep last night. + +“I have seen Mr. Smith [Mr. Francis L. Smith was my father’s lawyer. +The matter referred to which caused the remark, “The prospect is not +promising,” was the chance of getting back the estate of Arlington from +the U. S. Government. Mr. Smith and Mr. Cassius Lee were my father’s +advisers in this matter. “Nannie” was the widow of Captain S. S. Lee, my +father’s brother.] this morning and had with him a long business +talk, and will see him again after seeing Cassius. The prospect is not +promising. I got your letter at Charles’s. Thank Agnes for hers. All +were well there and on West River, and sent you all messages of love. I +will give all particulars when we meet. I am at the Mansion House, where +it is piping hot. I had felt better until I caught fresh cold, but no +one can avoid it in such weather. Love to all. I cannot fix yet the day +of my return, but it will be the last week in July. + +“I hope Custis has got off, though I shall not be able to see him. + +“Most truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +Mr. Cassius Lee was my father’s first cousin. They had been children +together, schoolmates in boyhood, and lifelong friends and neighbours. +He was my father’s trusted adviser in all business matters, and in him +he had the greatest confidence. Mr. Cazenove Lee, of Washington, D. C., +his son, has kindly furnished me with some of his recollections of this +visit, which I give in his own words: + +“It is greatly to be regretted that an accurate and full account of this +visit was not preserved, for the conversations during those two or three +days were most interesting and would have filled a volume. It was the +review of a lifetime by two old men. It is believed that General Lee +never talked after the war with as little reserve as on this occasion. +Only my father and two of his boys were present. I can remember his +telling my father of meeting Mr. Leary, their old teacher at the +Alexandria Academy, during his late visit to the South, which recalled +many incidents of their school life. They talked of the war, and he told +of the delay of Jackson in getting on McClellan’s flank, causing the +fight at Mechanicsville, which fight he said was unexpected, but was +necessary to prevent McClellan from entering Richmond, from the front of +which most of the troops had been moved. He thought that if Jackson +had been at Gettysburg he would have gained a victory, ‘for’ said he, +‘Jackson would have held the heights which Ewell took on the first +day.’ He said that Ewell was a fine officer, but would never take the +responsibility of exceeding his orders, and having been ordered to +Gettysburg, he would not go farther and hold the heights beyond the +town. I asked him which of the Federal generals he considered the +greatest, and he answered most emphatically ‘McClellan by all odds.’ He +was asked why he did not come to Washington after second Manassas. + +“‘Because,’ he replied, ‘my men had nothing to eat,’ and pointing to +Fort Wade, in the rear of our home, he said, ‘I could not tell my men to +take that fort when they had had nothing to eat for three days. I went +to Maryland to feed my army.’ + +“This led to a statement of the mismanagement of the Confederate +Commissary Department, of which he gave numerous instances, and +mentioned his embarrassments in consequence. He was also very severe in +his criticism of the newspapers, and said that patriotism did not +seem to influence them in the least, that movements of the army were +published which frustrated their plans, and, as an instance, he told of +Longstreet’s being sent to the Western Army and the efforts that were +made to keep the movement secret, but to no purpose, the papers having +heralded it at once to friend and foe alike. I also remember his saying +that he advocated putting the negroes in the army, and the arguments he +advanced in favour of it. My father remarked at table one day that +he could not have starved in the Confederate service if he could have +gotten bread and milk. + +“‘No,’ replied the General, ‘but frequently I could not get even that.’ + +“His love of children was most marked, and he never failed to show them +patient consideration. On the occasion of this visit, his answers to all +our boyish questions were given with as much detail and as readily as +if we had been the most important men in the community. Several years +before the war I remember that my sister, brother, and myself, all young +children, drove over to Arlington Mills, and that while going there +Colonel Lee rode up on a beautiful black horse. He impressed my childish +fancy then as the handsomest and finest horseman I had ever seen--the +beau-ideal of a soldier. Upon seeing us he at once stopped, spoke to +each of us, and took my sister, then about ten years of age, upon +his horse before him, and rode with us for two miles, telling her, +I remember, of his boy Robby, who had a pony, and who should be her +sweetheart. Often have I seen him on the road or street or elsewhere, +and though I was ‘only a boy,’ he always stopped and had something +pleasant to say to me.” + +The Mr. Leary mentioned here was my father’s teacher when a boy in +Alexandria. His regard and esteem for him was very high, as is shown in +the following letter: + +“Lexington, Virginia, December 15, 1866. + +“Mr. Wm. B. Leary. + +“My Dear Sir: Your visit has recalled to me years long since passed, +when I was under your tuition and received daily your instruction. In +parting from you, I beg to express the gratitude I have felt all my +life for the affectionate fidelity which characterised your teaching and +conduct toward me. Should any of my friends, wherever your lot may be +cast, desire to know your qualifications as a teacher, I hope you will +refer them to me; for that is a subject on which I can speak knowingly +and from experience. Wishing you health, happiness, and prosperity, I +am, affectionately, + +“Your friend, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +His next letter is from “Ravensworth,” where he went after his visit to +the “Seminary Hill:” + +“Ravensworth, Virginia, July 20, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I arrived here yesterday from Alexandria and found Aunt +Maria well in general health, but less free to walk than when I last saw +her. She is cheerful and quiet, but seems indisposed to try any of the +healing baths, or, indeed, any of the remedies resorted to in cases of +similar character, and seems to think nothing will be of avail. I hope +in time that she will be relieved. Her niece, Mrs. Goldsborough, the +daughter of her sister Wilhelmina, is with her. She seems to be a nice +little lady--has a big boy of eight months, and is expecting her husband +to-morrow, so nothing need be said more on her account. Mr. Dickens was +over last evening, and reports all well with him. All the family are +to be over this evening, so I cannot say more of them. Ravensworth is +looking very well--I mean the house and grounds, but little of the farm +seems to be cultivated, and is growing up with pines. I received your +letter directed to Alexandria after my return from my visit to Cassius, +also Colonel Williamson’s. Resolutions will not build the church. It +will require money. Mr. Smith did not give so favourable an account of +Mr. Price as did Mr. Green. I did not see Mr. P----, for it would have +been of no avail without having the plans, etc., and I cannot wait +here to receive them. I shall have to send them, or to invite him to +Lexington after my return. I propose to leave here, if nothing prevents, +on Monday, 25th inst. If I go by Goshen, I hope to reach Lexington that +night, or Tuesday morning after breakfast. I have heard a rumour that +the water has been withdrawn from the canal above Lynchburg for the +purpose of repairs. If that is so, I shall have to go by Goshen. My cold +continues, but is better. The weather is very hot and to me is almost +insupportable. At 6:00 P. M. yesterday, the thermometer in Ravensworth +hall marked 86 degrees. This morning, when I first went out, it stood at +84 degrees. Thank Agnes for her letter. I cannot respond at this time. +The letter you forwarded from Mrs. Podestad describes the sickness her +children have passed through. She is now with them at Capon, and Miss +Emily has gone to visit Mrs. Barksdale in Greenbrier. Mrs. P---- says +she will be ready to visit you any time after the middle of August +that you will notify her. I am glad all are well with you, and hope the +garden will give you some vegetables. I am anxious to get back and see +you all. Give much love to the girls, including the Misses Selden. Tell +them they must not leave till I return, that I am hurrying back as fast +as rheumatism will let me. I have abandoned my visit to Nannie and the +boys on the Pamunkey. Tell them it is too hot and that I am too painful. +Aunt M---- sends love to all. Remember me to all friends. I must leave +details till I return. + +“Most truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. R. E. Lee.” + +The building of the church here referenced to was the Episcopal church +in Lexington, which it was proposed to take down and replace with a +larger and better building. My father was a vestryman, and also a member +of the building committee. + +Dr. Buckler, whom my father had consulted in July, was at this time on a +visit to Baltimore, having lived abroad with his family since 1866. When +about to return to Paris he wrote and asked my father to accompany him. + +This invitation he was obliged to decline. + +“Lexington, Virginia, August 5, 1870. + +“My Dear Doctor: I have just received your letter of the 4th inviting me +to accompany you across the Atlantic, and I return you my cordial thanks +for your kind solicitation for my health and comfort. There is no one +whom I would prefer to have as a companion on the voyage, nor is there +one, I am sure, who would take better care of me. But I cannot impose +myself upon you. I have given you sufficient trouble already, and you +must cure me on this side of the Atlantic. If you are the man I take you +for, you will do so. You must present my warmest thanks to your wife +for her remembrance of me and her kind offer of the hospitalities of her +house. Should I ever be able to visit Europe I shall certainly accept +them, but I hope she will soon return to this country and that you will +bring her up to the mountains to us. We are all peaceable here now and +she will find that we are not as bad as we have been reported to be, +and every one will extend to her a hearty welcome, whereas Europe is now +convulsed with the horrors of war or the agony of its expectancy, and +I fear for a season is destined to feel the greatest calamity that +can befall a people. I am pursuing your directions and hope that I am +deriving benefit from them. I have made my arrangements to visit the Hot +Springs, Virginia, on Monday next, as you recommended, and trust I may +find relief from them. My rheumatic pains continue, but have diminished, +and that in my shoulder, I think, has lessened under the application of +the blister. I shall endeavour to be well by the fall. The letter you +inclosed to me was from Mrs. Smith on the Hudson--and not from Mr. +Henry White, as you supposed. Good-bye, my dear doctor; may you have a +prosperous voyage and find your family all well on your arrival, and may +your own health be entirely restored. My family unite with me in every +kind wish, and I am most truly, + +“Your friend, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Dr. Thomas H. Buckler.” + +This letter to General Cooper (Adjutant General of the Confederate +States Army), written at this time, explains itself, and is one of many +witnesses of my father’s delicate consideration for old soldiers in +distress: + +“Lexington, Virginia, August 4, 1870. + +“General S. Cooper, Alexandria, Virginia. + +“My Dear General: Impressed, with all the people of the South, with +your merits and services, I have with them admired your manly efforts +to support your family, and have regretted that more remunerative +occupation, better suited to your capacities and former habits, had not +presented itself. This has been a subject of conversation with some +of us here, and when in Savannah last spring I presented it to General +Lawton, Colonel Cole, and others, and suggested that efforts be made +to raise a sum for the relief of any pressing necessity. The idea was +cordially adopted, and it was hoped that an amount would be contributed +that would enable you to receive some relaxation. I have received +a letter from General Lawton regretting the smallness of the sum +collected, $300, and explaining the delay that had occurred, the general +poverty of the people, the many calls upon them, and the disposition to +procrastinate when facts are not known to them personally. To this sum I +have only been able to add $100, but I hope it may enable you to supply +some immediate want and prevent you from taxing your strength too +much. You must also pardon me for my moving in this matter, and for +the foregoing explanation, which I feel obliged to make that you might +understand the subject. + +“With my best wishes for your health and happiness and for the useful +prolongation of your honourable life, I am, with true regard, + +“Your friend and servant, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +He remained at Lexington only for a short time, as it was decided that +he should go to the Hot Springs, Virginia, where he could try their +famous waters for his rheumatism. On the day of his arrival he writes to +my mother: + +“Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August 10, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: We reached here this morning about 9:30 A. M., Captain +White and I, after as pleasant a journey as we could have expected. +After taking the cars at Goshen, the old route by Milboro’ rose up so +strong before me that we determined to adhere to it. Reached the Bath +Alum about 4:00 P. M., where we passed the night and were in luck in +finding several schools or parts of them rusticating on alum-water. Mrs. +Heath was in charge of the detachment from Dr. Phillips’s [a well known +girl’s school at Staunton]. They presented a gay and happy appearance. +This morning we breakfasted at the Warm and had the attention of +Richard. There is a small party there, Admiral Louis Goldsborough and +his wife and Miss West amongst them. Here thee is quite a company. Mrs. +Lemmon from Baltimore, her daughter Mrs. Dobbin, Mrs. General Walker, +wife of the ex-Secretary of War of the Confederacy, Mrs. and Miss. +Sivent, etc., etc. + +“Dr. and Mrs. Cabell are here, and the Tandys and Mrs. Mac regret that +you are not with me...I saw Mrs. Maise at the Warm, and her sister from +Kentucky, Mrs. Tate. Rev. Mr. Mason and the Daingerfields have a girls’ +school in the village. The Warm seems to be retrograding. I hope the new +man, Edward, has arrived. Tell him to take good care of the cow, and +ask the girls to see to it and the garden, etc. I saw Mrs. Caskie at the +Baths. She looks very well. Her niece, Gay, is with her, a pretty child. +Mrs. Myers and her children are also there. Mrs. Asher also. Small +company, but select. All pleased with Mr. Brown [the manager of the +hotel]. Tell the girls I have no one to rub me now. Shall miss them in +this and other ways much. Dr. Cabell says I must continue my medicines +and commence with the hot spout to-morrow. He has great confidence in +the waters, and says that 95 out of 100 patients that he has treated +have recovered. I shall alternate the spout with the boiler. But he says +the great error is that people become impatient and do not stay long +enough. I hope I may be benefited, but it is a tedious prospect. I hope +that you all will continue well. If you wish to go to the Baths, or +to come here, you must do so and write me what you want, if there +is anything I can do or get for you. Give love to all the girls and +remembrances to all friends. Tell our neighbours that I was so occupied +the last days I was in Lexington that I had not time to bid them adieu. +If you want more money let me know. God bless you and preserve you all. +Good-bye, dear Mary. + +“Most truly, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +The Richard mentioned had been lately his house servant at Lexington, +and Edward was a new man he had engaged for the garden and stable. +The letters written to my mother and others of his family from the Hot +Springs at this time were frequent, and I give them in full, as they +tell all we know now of his visit there: + +“Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August 14, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I received this morning the last letters forwarded by +you. The first batch arrived yesterday. I am glad to hear that you all +continue well. I hope my letter of the 10th, announcing my arrival, has +reached you. It should have done so, it seems to me, previously to your +note of Friday. I have but little more to say than I had them. I have +taken four baths, Hot Spout, which seems to agree with me very well, +but it is too soon yet to look for results. I receive the water on my +shoulder, back, and chest. The sensation is pleasant, and so far I have +succeeded in preventing taking cold. The atmosphere, however, is damp, +and temperature variable. When the sun shines, it is hot; but when +it rains, which is the usual condition of the weather, the former +the exception, it is cool. Mrs. Sledge and party are here, the former +improved. She was much better, went over to the White and Sweet, +retrograded, and returned. Will stay here September. Many of our +invalids are improving. Society has a rather solemn appearance, and +conversation runs mostly on personal ailments, baths, and damp weather. +There were some pretty tableaux last evening. The Misses Tardy, Mrs. +Dobbin, and the little girls, the performers. Mr. Washington [William +Washington, a well known painter of that day, who was for a short time +professor of painting and drawing at the Virginia Military Institute at +Lexington] is here. He looks well, is quiet, and has been copying points +of scenery in the neighbourhood. I do not know whether he was in search +of health or the picturesque. The latter is more easily found in these +mountains than the former. Captain White is well and sends remembrances +to all. I hope Edward has arrived and is an improvement on the present +occupant of the situation. If he does not present himself, retain Henry +till I come. I will endeavour to find some one. You do not mention +the cow; she is of more interest to me than the cats, and is equally +destructive of rats. I am glad the girls are well; what are they +troubling about now? I wish they were with me. I find many ladies here +for neuralgia. Mrs. General Walker has been much benefited, also others. +If little Agnes should desire to try the effects of the waters, tell +her to come on, I will take care of her. I suppose Tabb will go with her +husband. I am sorry Fitzhugh is complaining. I have written to Rob and +Miss Lottie [Miss Charlotte Haxall, afterward Mrs. Robert E. Lee, Jr., +who died in 1872]. I heard of Charles Carter’s [Charles Carter, of +“Goodwood,” Maryland, was my father’s first cousin. Mildred and Ella, +two of his daughters] passing up the road to the White, and Mildred +preceded him a week. Ella, I hear, is much improved. I shall not go to +the White unless specially called by something now unknown, but will +remain here till the end of the month, if I find it profitable, and then +return to Lexington. I hope the college is prospering. What does Mrs. +Podestad say? I understand that Markie Peter [Mrs. Peter was a near +cousin of my mother, and with her as a little girl our associations had +been very near] and child are occupying her old quarters at the Lomaxes +near Warrenton. I have a merry time with my old cronies, tell Mildred. +I am getting too heavy for them now. They soon drop me. I am getting +uneasy about Edward and Blanche. The reverses of the French, which seem +to be light, appear to have demoralised the nation. May God help all +in affliction and keep and guard you and all with you, is my constant +prayer. + +“Truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee.” + +“Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August 19, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I received this morning your letters of the 14th and +18th, inclosing Dr. Buckler’s, and was informed by Colonel Turner that +he had brough the package to which you referred. He has not yet sent it +to me, but, no doubt, will in time. I am sorry that Edward has not kept +his engagement, for I liked his appearance and recommendations, though +perhaps they are deceptive. You had better retain Harry till I come, +unless you fall in with a better. I am glad that you are all well. You +have such industrious little daughters that I am sure all will go well. +Thank Agnes for her letter and say to her that I have not seen Mr. +Vanmeter or Blair, but gave the letter to the former to Colonel White, +who will send it to him when he finds out his position. Mr. Thom arrived +this morning and Mr. John Jones and family rode over from the Healing. +They are there for a sick child. My old friend, Dr. Broaddus, and the +Reverend Mr. Jones also presented themselves.... I have been trying +the Boiler for four days--and the Spout the five preceding. I do not +perceive any benefit yet, though some little change in the seat of my +pains. I will continue till the middle of next week, the 29th, when, +if no decided improvement takes place, I think of going over to the +Healing. Dr. Houston thinks that it will be beneficial, whereas, Dr. +Cabell recommends this. I am obliged to be in Staunton on the 30th ult. +to attend a meeting of the Valley Railroad Company, so I shall leave +here on the 29th for that purpose. After getting through with that +business, I shall return to Lexington. I am sorry that I shall be called +away, but I fear my stay here would be of no avail. Colonel White is +well and sends regards to all. I am glad that the cow is better. She +stands next in my affections to Traveller.... I hope that Agnes’s +neuralgia is better, and as she has not accepted my proposition I +presume she declines. Hot bathing is not agreeable to me either in its +operations or effects, but I see daily evidences of its good results on +others. I wish that it suited your case. You must try and get some one +in Sally’s place if Tabb, etc., come, and make them all comfortable. If +you want more money, let me know in time. Send over to Mr. Leyburn for +the flour, when you want it. Mr. Bowie, I suspect, can arrange it for +you. I fear Captain Brooks’s house will not be ready for occupancy this +fall. I hope that General Smith will begin Custis’s in time. I heard of +him on his way to Edward Cocke’s the other day. Mr. Washington is still +here. Better, I think. Again love to all. + +“Most truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“P.S.--Mr. Turner has just sent me the package. + +“R. E. L.” + +To his son Fitzhugh, who was at the “White House” with his family: + +“Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August 20, 1870. + +“My Dear Fitzhugh: I am very sorry to learn from your letter of the +18th, received this morning, that Tabb is sick. I hope that it will +be of short duration and that she will soon throw off the chills. +The mountain doctors, however, do not understand them as well as the +lowland, and are apt to resort to the old practice. I wish that I could +get to the White to see you, but my time is too limited, owing to the +late day that I was able to leave Lexington. I propose staying here +till the 29th inst., which will only make my sojourn here two and a +half weeks, and then going to Staunton, where I am obliged to attend a +meeting of the Valley Railroad Company on the 30th. I hope that I shall +not be detained there longer than a day or two, when I will return to +Lexington, where I hope to find you all. You must tell Mr. and Mrs. +Podestad, Mr. Carter, Ella, etc., how sorry I am not to see them at the +White, but that I hope they will call at Lexington. I wrote to Ella on +my first arrival here, but presume my letter failed to reach her. +You did not mention how her health was. I am much concerned at Tabb’s +indisposition, but am glad to hear that the baby is well. Give my love +to both, and I trust you will all be benefited by the mountain air. My +personal health is good, but I see no change in my rheumatic attack, +which is principally confined to my chest and back. I inclose a note +from your mother, transmitted on the supposition that I would write to +you. Professor White is with me and I have some few acquaintances, but I +am anxious to return. I am glad that Bertus has had a short visit to +the Orange. He says that he will come to Rockbridge in September. Custis +will be there by the first, and we shall all, I hope, be together again. + +“Affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +“Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August 23, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I have received your various notes of the 17th and 18th, +and I am glad to hear of your well-being. Our good cow will be a loss to +us, but her troubles are all over now, and I am grateful to her for what +she has done for us. I hope that we did our duty to her. I have written +to Mr. Andrew Cameron to inquire about a young cow he has of mine, and +asked him to let you know if she is giving milk. If his report is good, +you had better send for her. She is, however, young, and will require +very gentle treatment. Caution Henry on that point. I have told him, Mr. +C----, also, that you would send for the horses, which I wish you would +do as soon as you can see that they will be properly cared for. Tell +Henry to be particularly gentle and kind to them, or the gray will give +him great trouble. He must wash them clean, and not pull out their manes +and tails. The girls will have to exercise them till Custis comes. I +suppose we may give up expecting Edward. Retain Henry till you can find +someone better. You had also better engage some woman or man for a month +as a dining-room servant. I think Easter has not intention of coming to +us before October, and she will not come then if Mr.---- can keep her. +You will have so many friends staying with you that you cannot make them +comfortable unless you have more servants. As I stated in a previous +letter, I shall go to Staunton on the 29th. I hope I shall be detained +but a few days. Lest your funds may run low, I send you a check.... The +girls can get it cashed. I may be detained, but I hope to return in time +to see our children and friends. I have been here a fortnight to-day. I +hope that I am better, but am aware of no material change, except that +I am weaker. I am very anxious to get back. It is very wearying at these +public places and the benefit hardly worth the cost. I do not think I +can even stand Lexington long. Colonels Allan and Johnston [Professors +Wm. Allan and William Preston Johnston of Washington College. The former +afterward principal of the McDonough School, near Baltimore, Maryland; +the latter president of Tulane University, New Orleans] arrived this +evening on horseback and have given me all Lexington news. Mr. Sledge +and his wife, from Huntsville, brother of the Colonel, also arrived, and +a Mr. and Mrs. Leeds, from New Orleans, with ten children, mostly little +girls. The latter are a great addition to my comfort. I have written +to Fitzhugh and Mrs. Podestad. Robert, you know, said he would make his +annual visit the first week in September. Tell the girls they must make +preparations to welcome all. Mrs. Walker, wife of the former Secretary +of War in the Confederacy, is here with her son, whom she says she is +anxious to place in the college, and wishes to visit Lexington with that +view. I have offered my escort and invited her to stay with us. I do not +know whether she will go with me. The girls will have to prepare my room +for some of the visitors, and put me anywhere. I can be very comfortable +in the library. Tell the little creatures they must work like beavers +and get a supply of eggs and chickens. Recollect there is flour at +Leyburn’s mill when you want it. Thank Mildred for her letter. Remember +me to all, and believe me, + +“Always yours affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee. + +“Mrs. M. C. Lee. + +“P.S.--I send you an order for the horses. Tell Henry to take with him +a bridle and halter. You must write for the cow if you want her. R. E. +Lee.” + +Mr. Andrew Cameron owned a fine farm near Lexington, and kindly took +care of my father’s horses when he was away in the summer; also at +different times supplied him with a cow and took care of any calf, if +there happened to be one, till it was of service. My father constantly +rode out to see him, and enjoyed talking farming as they rode together +over his fields. His delight in every aspect of Nature was real and +ever present. These letters show, too, his care and consideration for +animals. + +His letter to his daughter Agnes is in lighter vein. His playful moods, +so usual with his children, never entirely left him. + +“Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August 23, 1870. + +“My Dear Agnes: I have received both of your letters, the last the 17th, +and thank you for them as well as for your care of my room and clothes. +The former I understand is used for a multiplicity of purposes, and the +cats and kittens have the full run of my establishment. Guard me against +‘MISS SELDEN’ [Mildred’s kitten], I pray you. I am sorry that you are +not with me, as it possibly may have benefitted your neuralgia. But if +MISS BELLE is with you, I am sure she will be of greater service, and +tell her she must remain till I come, that she may cure me. That you may +have some other inducements than your flowers and weeds to take you out +of doors, I will write to your mother and send for the horses as soon +as she can make arrangements to have them cared for, and then you and +Mildred and Miss Belle, the one on Traveller, the other on Lucy, can +scour the country and keep us in eggs and chickens. I am sorry for the +death of our good cow, but glad that she is out of misery.... I do not +think any of your friends are here. Mr. Washington has been vibrating +between this place and the Healing, but does not seem to be well. Miss +Alman, from Salem, Massachusetts, whom you may recollect as having +been at the White last summer, is here with her father and mother. Miss +Mollie Jourdan left to-day, and Colonel Robert Preston arrived. The +Chestnuts and Le Verts are still here. I hope that you are well and that +all is well with you. When Custis comes, ask him to see to the horses +and the cow and that they are gently treated and properly fed. I know +nothing of Henry’s capacity in that way. I hope to be home next week and +am very anxious to get back. + +“Your father, + +“R. E. Lee.” + + + + +Chapter XXIV -- Last Days + + +Letter to his wife--To Mr. Tagart--Obituary notice in “Personal +Reminiscences of General Robert E. Lee”--Mrs. Lee’s account of his death + + +The following is the last letter that I can find written by my father +to my mother. He was back in Lexington early in September, and was never +separated from her again while he lived: + +“Hot Springs, August 27, 1870. + +“My Dear Mary: I have received your letter of the 22d. I should remain +here a week longer if time permitted, as I have felt in the last few +days better than I have yet, but I am obliged to be in Staunton on the +30th and therefore must leave Monday, 29th. I should not have time to +return here. The college opens on September 15th, and I wish to see that +all things are prepared. Possibly the little improvement now felt will +continue. If not, I shall have to bear my malady. I am truly sorry to +hear of Edwin Lee’s death [Colonel Edwin Grey Lee was a near cousin. He +had distinguished himself in the late war. At its commencement he +had volunteered, and was made a 2d. lieutenant in the Second Virginia +regiment, “Stonewall Brigade.” From that rank he quickly rose to be +lieutenant colonel of the 33d Virginia, in the same brigade. In 1862 +his health, which was very feeble, compelled him to resign, but after a +short time he again entered the service, though he never became strong +enough to serve actively in the field. General lee’s opinion of his +abilities was very high.]. He was a true man, and, if health had +permitted, would have been an ornament as well as a benefit to his race. +He certainly was a great credit to the name. Give my sincere sympathy to +his wife and family. You have never mentioned anything of Dr. Grahame. I +have heard that he was in a critical condition. I saw Colonels Allan and +Johnston. They only stayed a day, and went on to the White. I have +heard of them on their return, and presume they will reach Lexington +to-morrow. Mr. George Taylor, who has been a month at the White, arrived +here to-day. Both he and his wife are well. The company is thinning, +though arrivals occur daily. Mr. Middleton and his daughter and son, +from Washington, whom you may recollect, also came. But I hope to see +you so soon that I will defer my narrative. I am glad that Mary is +enjoying herself and that Rob is so happy. May both long continue so. I +will endeavour to get the muslin, but fear I shall not succeed. I trust +I may not be detained in Staunton more than a day or two. In that event, +you may expect me Thursday, September 1st, but I cannot say as to +time. I hope that I shall find you all well. Give my love to Agnes and +Mildred, and Custis, if he has arrived. Colonel Turner is very well. +Tell his wife that he was exhibited to-day at the Healing as a specimen +of the health of the Hot. In my last I gave you my views about the +servants and sent you a check for ----, which I hope that you have +received. Most truly and affectionately, + +“R. E. Lee.” + +His last letter was written on the morning of the day he was taken ill, +September 28th. It was to Mr. Tagert, of Baltimore, at whose home he had +stayed the previous summer. Its tone was cheerful and hopeful, and he +wrote that he was much better and stronger. + +“Lexington, Virginia, September 28, 1870. + +“My Dear Mr. Tagart: Your note of the 26th reached me this morning, and +see how easy it is ‘to inveigle me into a correspondence.’ In fact, when +a man desires to do a thing, or when a thing gives a man pleasure, he +requires but small provocation to induce him to do it. Now I wanted to +hear how you and Mrs. Tagart were, what you were doing, and how you had +passed the summer, and I desired to tell you so. That is the reason I +write. In answer to your question, I reply that I am much better. I do +not know whether it is owing to having seen you and Doctor Buckler last +summer, or to my visit to the Hot Springs. Perhaps both. But my pains +are less, and my strength greater. In fact, I suppose I am as well as I +shall be. I am still following Doctor B----‘s directions, and in tie I +may improve still more. I expect to have to visit Baltimore this fall, +in relation to the Valley Railroad, and in that event I hope to see +you, if you will permit me. I am glad to hear that you spent a pleasant +summer. Colonel ---- and I would have had a more agreeable one had you +been with us at the Hot, and as every place agrees so well with Mrs. +Tagert, I think she could have enjoyed as good health their as at +Saratoga, and we should have done better. Give my sincere regards to +Mrs. Tagart, and remember me to all friends, particularly Mr. ----. Tell +---- his brother is well and handsome, and I hope that he will study, or +his sweethearts in Baltimore will not pine for him long. Captain ---- is +well and busy, and joins in my remembrances. Mrs. Lee and my daughters +unite with me in messages to you and Mrs. Tagart, and I am most truly +yours, R. E. Lee. + +“S. H. Tagart, Esq.” + +When my brother Fitzhugh and I reached Lexington, my father was no more. +He died the morning of our arrival--October 12th. He had apparently +improved after his first attack, and the summoning of my brother and +myself had been put off from day to day. After we did start we were +delayed by the floods, which at that time prevailed over the State. Of +his last illness and death I have heard from my family. + +The best account of those last days was written by Colonel William +Preston Johnston for the “Personal Reminiscences of General Robert E. +Lee,” by the Rev. J. W. Jones, published in 1874. Colonel Johnston was +an intimate friend of the General and a distinguished member of the +faculty of his college. He was also one of the watchers by his dying +bedside. I, therefore, give it in full: + +“The death of General Lee was not due to any sudden cause, but was the +result of agencies dating as far back as 1863. In the trying campaign of +that year he contracted a severe sore throat, that resulted in rheumatic +inflammation of the sac inclosing his heart. There is no doubt that +after this sickness his health was more or less impaired; and although +he complained little, yet rapid exercise on foot or on horseback +produced pain and difficulty breathing. In October, 1869, he was again +attacked by inflammation of the heart-sac, accompanied by muscular +rheumatism of the back, right side, and arms. The action of the heart +was weakened by this attack; the flush upon the face deepened, the +rheumatism increased, and he was troubled with weariness and depression. + +“In March, 1870, General Lee, yielding to the solicitations of friends +and medical advisors, make a six-weeks’ visit to Georgia and Florida. He +returned greatly benefited by the influence of the genial climate, the +society of friends in those States, and the demonstrations of respect +and affection of the people of the South; his physical condition, +however, was not greatly improved. During this winter and spring he had +said to his son, General Custis Lee, that his attack was mortal; and had +virtually expressed the same belief to other trusted friends. And, +now, with that delicacy that pervaded all his actions, he seriously +considered the question of resigning the presidency of Washington +College, ‘fearful that he might not be equal to his duties.’ After +listening, however, to the affectionate remonstrances of the faculty +and board of trustees, who well knew the value of his wisdom in the +supervision of the college and the power of his mere presence and +example upon the students, he resumed his labours with the resolution +to remain at his post and carry forward the great work he had so +auspiciously begun. + +“During the summer he spent some weeks at the Hot Springs of Virginia, +using the baths, and came home seemingly better in health and spirits. +He entered upon the duties of the opening collegiate year in September +with that quiet zeal and noiseless energy that marked all his actions, +and an unusual elation was felt by those about him at the increased +prospect that long years of usefulness and honour would yet be added to +his glorious life. + +“Wednesday, September 28, 1870, found General lee at the post of duty. +In the morning he was fully occupied with the correspondence and other +tasks incident to his office of president of Washington College, and +he declined offers of assistance from members of the faculty, of whose +services he sometimes availed himself. After dinner, at four o’clock, he +attended a vestry-meeting of Grace (Episcopal) church. The afternoon was +chilly and wet, and a steady rain had set in, which did not cease until +it resulted in a great flood, the most memorable and destructive in this +region for a hundred years. The church was rather cold and damp, and +General Lee, during the meeting, sat in a pew with his military cape +cast loosely about him. In a conversation that occupied the brief +space preceding the call to order, he took part, and told with marked +cheerfulness of manner and kindliness of tone some pleasant anecdotes +of Bishop Meade and Chief-Justice Marshall. The meeting was protracted +until after seven o’clock by a discussion touching the rebuilding of +the church edifice and the increase of the rector’s salary. General Lee +acted as chairman, and, after hearing all that was said, gave his own +opinion, as was his wont, briefly and without argument. He closed +the meeting with a characteristic act. The amount required for the +minister’s salary still lacked a sum much greater than General Lee’s +proportion of the subscription, in view of his frequent and generous +contributions to the church and other charities, but just before the +adjournment, when the treasurer announced the amount of the deficit +still remaining, General Lee said in a low tone, ‘I will give that sum.’ +He seemed tired toward the close of the meeting, and, as was afterward +remarked, showed an unusual flush, but at the time no apprehensions were +felt. + +“General Lee returned to his house, and, finding his family waiting tea +for him, took his place at the table, standing to say grace. The effort +was valid; the lips could not utter the prayer of the heart. Finding +himself unable to speak, he took his seat quietly and without agitation. +His face seemed to some of the anxious group about him to wear a look +of sublime resignation, and to evince a full knowledge that the hour +had come when all the cares and anxieties of his crowded life were at +an end. His physicians, Doctors H. S. Barton and R. L. Madison, arrived +promptly, applied the usual remedies, and placed him upon the couch from +which he was to rise no more. + +“To him henceforth the things of this world were as nothing, and he +bowed with resignation to the command of the Master he had followed so +long with reverence. They symptoms of his attack resembled concussion +of the brain, without the attendant swoon. There was marked debility, +a slightly impaired consciousness, and a tendency to doze; but no +paralysis of motion or sensation, and no evidence of suffering or +inflammation of the brain. His physicians treated the case as one of +venous congestion, and with apparently favourable results. Yet, despite +these propitious auguries drawn from his physical symptoms, in view of +the great mental strain he had undergone, the gravest fears were felt +that the attack was mortal. He took without objection the medicines and +diet prescribed, and was strong enough to turn in bed without aid, and +to sit up to take nourishment. During the earlier days of his illness, +though inclined to doze, he was easily aroused, was quite conscious and +observant, evidently understood whatever was said to him, and answered +questions briefly but intelligently; he was, however, averse to much +speaking, generally using monosyllables, as had always been his habit +when sick. + +“When first attacked, he said to those who were removing his clothes, +pointing at the same time to his rheumatic shoulder, ‘You hurt my arm.’ +Although he seemed to be gradually improving until October 10th, he +apparently knew from the first that the appointed hour had come when he +must enter those dark gates that, closing, open no more on the earth. +In the words of his physician, ‘he neither expected nor desired to +recover.’ When General Custis Lee made some allusion to his recover, +he shook his head and pointed upward. On the Monday morning before his +death, Doctor Madison, finding him looking better, tried to cheer +him. ‘How do you feel to-day, General?’ General Lee replied slowly and +distinctly: ‘I feel better.’ The doctor then said: ‘You must make haste +and get well; Traveller has been standing so long in the stable that he +needs exercise.’ The General made no reply, but slowly shook his head +and closed his eyes. Several times during his illness he put aside his +medicine, saying, ‘It is of no use,’ but yielded patiently to the wishes +of his physicians or children, as if the slackened chords of being still +responded to the touch of duty or affection. + +“On October 10th, during the afternoon, his pulse became feeble +and rapid, and his breathing hurried, with other evidences of great +exhaustion. About midnight he was seized with a shivering from extreme +debility, and Doctor Barton was obliged to announce the danger to the +family. On October 11th, he was evidently sinking; his respiration was +hurried, his pulse feeble and rapid. Though less observant, he still +recognised whoever approached him, but refused to take anything unless +prescribed by his physicians. It now became certain that the case +was hopeless. His decline was rapid, yet gentle; and soon after nine +o’clock, on the morning of October 12th, he closed his eyes, and his +soul passed peacefully from earth. + +“General Lee’s physicians attributed his death in great measure to moral +causes. The strain of his campaigns, the bitterness of defeat aggravated +by the bad faith an insolence of the victor, sympathy with the +subsequent sufferings of the Southern people, and the effort at calmness +under these accumulated sorrows, seemed the sufficient and real causes +that slowly but steadily undermined his health and led to his death, yet +to those who saw his composure under the greater and lesser trials +of life, ad his justice and forbearance with the most unjust and +uncharitable, it seemed scarcely credible that his serene soul was +shaken by the evil that raged around him. + +“General Lee’s closing hours were consonant with his noble and +disciplined life. Never was more beautifully displayed how a long and +severe education of mind and character enables the soul to pass with +equal step through this supreme ordeal; never did the habits and +qualities of a lifetime, solemnly gathered into a few last sad +hours, more grandly maintain themselves amid the gloom and shadow of +approaching death. The reticence, the self-contained composure, the +obedience to proper authority, the magnanimity, and the Christian +meekness, that marked all his actions, still preserved their sway, in +spite of the inroads of disease and the creeping lethargy that weighted +down his faculties. + +“As the old hero lay in the darkened room, or with the lamp and +hearth-fire casting shadows upon his calm, noble front, all the missing +grandeur of his form, and face and brow remained; and death seemed to +lose its terrors and to borrow a grace and dignity in sublime keeping +with the life that was ebbing away. The great mind sank to its last +repose, almost with the equal poise of health. The few broken utterances +that evinced at times a wandering intellect were spoken under the +influence of the remedies administered; but as long as consciousness +lasted there was evidence that all the high, controlling influences of +his whole life still ruled; and even when stupor was laying its cold +hand on the intellectual perceptions, the moral nature, with its +complete orb of duties and affections, still asserted itself. A southern +poet has celebrated in song these last significant words, ‘Strike +the tent’: and a thousand voices were raised to give meaning to the +uncertain sound, when the dying man said, with emphasis, ‘Tell Hill he +must come up!’ These sentences serve to show most touchingly through +what fields the imagination was passing; but generally his words, though +few, were coherent; but for the most part, indeed, his silence was +unbroken. + +“This self-contained reticence had an awful grandeur, in solemn +accord with a life that needed no defense. Deeds which required no +justification must speak for him. His voiceless lips, like the shut +gates of some majestic temple, were closed, not for concealment, but +because that within was holy. Could the eye of the mourning watcher have +pierced the gloom that gathered about the recesses of that great soul +it would have perceived a presence there full of an ineffable glory. +Leaning trustfully upon the all-sustaining Arm, the man whose stature, +measured by mortal standards, seemed so great, passed from this world of +shadows to the realities of the hereafter.” + +A letter from my mother to a dear friend tells the same sad story: + +“...My husband came in. We had been waiting tea for him, and I remarked: +‘You have kept us waiting a long time. Where have you been?’ He did not +reply, but stood up as if to say grace. Yet no word proceeded from his +lips, and he sat down in his chair perfectly upright and with a sublime +air of resignation on his countenance, and did not attempt to a reply +to our inquiries. That look was never forgotten, and I have no doubt he +felt that his hour had come; for though he submitted to the doctors, who +were immediately summoned, and who had not even reached their homes +from the same vestry-meeting, yet his whole demeanour during his illness +showed one who had taken leave of earth. He never smiled, and rarely +attempted to speak, except in dreams, and then he wandered to those +dreadful battle-fields. Once, when Agnes urged him to take some +medicine, which he always did with reluctance, he looked at her and +said, ‘It is no use.’ But afterward he took it. When he became so much +better the doctor said, ‘You must soon get out and ride your favorite +gray!’ He shook his head most emphatically and looked upward. He slept +a great deal, but knew us all, greeted us with a kindly pressure of the +hand, and loved to have us around him. For the last forty-eight hours he +seemed quite insensible of our presence. He breathed more heavily, and +at last sank to rest with one deep-drawn sigh. And oh, what a glorious +rest was in store for him!” + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Recollections and Letters of General +Robert E. Lee, by (His Son) Captain Robert E. Lee + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBERT E. LEE *** + +***** This file should be named 2323-0.txt or 2323-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/2/2323/ + +Produced by Brett Fishburne + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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