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diff --git a/old/2000-09-relee10.txt b/old/2000-09-relee10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..919907f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2000-09-relee10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14464 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext Recollections and Letters of General Lee +by Captain Robert E. Lee, His Son + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. 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Lee, His Son + + + + +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--Distinguised 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 +Goest 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 humarity 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 find 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 bas 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 appliancances 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. Thee 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-bat 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 +teh 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 hisotry 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. the 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 contryman +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 he 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 occurence +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 collegates 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 intot he 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 privateone 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 haev 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 he 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 Project Gutenberg Etext Recollections and Letters of General Lee + diff --git a/old/2000-09-relee10.zip b/old/2000-09-relee10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..35d1a3e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2000-09-relee10.zip |