Personal reminiscences, anecdotes, and letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee

Front matter

THE LIBRARY

OF

LOS ANGELES

Chapter I. Pagb

THE SOLDIEE 1

Tribute of General J. A. Early — Extracts from addresses by Generals John B. Gordon and Wade Hampton, and Colonel C. S. Venable — Extracts from Northern critics — Opinions of the English press — Extracts from Colonel Chesney, Colonel Lawler, Professor George Long, and Professor Worsley.

Chapter II. The Coixege Pbksidbjtt 80

Sketch by Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick, Professor of Moral Science in Washington and Lee University — Paper of Professor Edward S. Joynes, of Washington and Lee University — Incidents.

Chapter III. Duty, The Key-jtote Of His Life 133

Anecdotes given by General Magruder, and ex-President Davis — His leaving the United States Army — Extracts from his private letters illustrating his devotion to the Union — His refusal of the supreme command of the United States Army — Letters to General Scott and his sister — Reception in Richmond — Letters to Hon. Reverdy Johnson containing his own account of the circumstances of his resignation— His firmness after entering the Southern Army — Conversation with Bishop Wilmer — Incidents of the surrender given by Colonel C. S. Venable — Conversation with General Wade Hampton, and with the author — Incidents given by General Gordon — Extracts from papers found hi his army satchel — Letter to General Pendleton — Incident related by Hon. H. W. Billiard.

^ CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. Pagb

MODEST HUMILITY, SIMPLICITY, AND GENTLENESS .... 147 Simplicity of his dress— Lack of display at his headquarters— Incidents illustrating his modesty— Colonel Charles Marshall's incidents of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg— Incidents illustrating the warm friendship between Lee and Jackson — Letters — His conduct toward his other officers — The account of Lee at Gettysburg given by Colonel Freemantle, of the English Army — Orders to his troops issued at Hagerstown on his retreat from Gettysburg — Incidents — Extracts from pacers found in his army satchel — Incidents illustrating his tenderness for birds and animals — Letters to parties desiring to write his biography.

CHAPTER V. His SPIEIT OF SELF-DENIAL FOB THE GOOD OF OTHEES . . .167

Incident related by Hon. A. H. Stephens — About to go into the ranks as a private soldier — Ex-President Davis's incident — Self-denial of his living — Never used tobacco or intoxicating liquors — Incidents — Letter to a College Temperance Society — Stonewall Jackson's temperance principles — Incident related by General Ewell — General Lee's " treat " — An English officer's account of his visit to General Lee's headquarters — Incidents illustrating his deep interest in his men — Letter to the City Council of Richmond declining the gift of a residence — Refusal of gifts at the close of the war — Specimens of his letters declining pecuniary assistance — His refusal to accept a large salary, or any gratuity from the College — His letters on the subject — His object in writing a history of his campaigns to vindicate others rather than himself — Circular Letter — His want of nepotism — Incidents illustrating his refusal to promote his sons — Dr. Moore's incident of his refusal to apply for a special exchange for his son when in prison.

Chapter VI

Hia WANT OF BITTERNESS TOWARD THE NOETH, BUT DEVOTION TO THE INTERESTS OF THE SOUTH 186

Incidents — His General Orders in Pennsylvania, and the conduct of bis troops — Incidents — Treatment of prisoners — His testimony before the Congressional Reconstruction Committee — Private letter to Dr. Carter, of Philadelphia — The real facts in reference to the treatment of prisoners — Incidents illustrating his want of bitterness — Splendid conduct of Lee's veterans since the close of the war, and

CONTENTS. xiii

FAG«

his influence in bringing it about — Letters to General Grant — His application to President Johnson for " amnesty " — Letters to Colonel R. L. Maury, ex-Governor John Letcher, Hon. A. M. Keiley, Count Joannes, Commodore Tatnall, Commodore Maury, General Bcauregard, General Wilcox, Chauncey Burr, Esq., Hon. Reverdy Johnson, Mrs. Jefferson Davis, Rev. G. W. Leyburn, General Early, Captain James May, Judge Robert Ould, General D. H. Maury, General James Longstreet, Hon. J. S. Black, Hon. Thomas Lawrence Jones, Colonel Blanton Duncan, Hon. James M. Mason, and others — His refusal to attend meetings having any reference to the war.

Chapter VII

Simplicity of his dress — " Given to hospitality " — Uniform courtesy — Retentive memory of names and faces — Incidents — Letters to Federal officers — Reply to spirit-rappers — Incidents illustrating his quiet humor — A number of his private letters.

CHAPTER VIII. His FIRMNESS IN CARRYING OUT ms PURPOSES .... 283

Incidents — His devotion to the Southern cause, and firm adherence to its fortunes — The true story of Appomattox Court-House — General Lee's own account — Popular errors refuted — The correspondence — Lee's appearance — His farewell address — Touching scene — Two of General Lee's letters to President Davis.

CHAPTER IX. His LOVE FOR HIS SOLDIERS, AND THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC DEVOTION TO HIM 315

Incidents — "General Lee to the rear" — A soldier's short argument against atheism — Incidents and letters — The marked courtesy and respect with which he treated his old soldiers — Grief of the soldiers at his death — Resolutions by soldiers' meeting in Lexington — Addresses in Baltimore by General Trimble, Colonel Marshall, and Rev. T. U. Dudley — Great soldiers' meeting hi Richmond, and addresses by General J. A. Early, ex-President Davis, General John S. Preston, General John B. Gordon, Colonel Charles Marshall, General Henry A. Wise, Colonel William Preston Johnston, and Colonel Robert E. Withers.

xiv CONTENTS.

OHAPTEK X.

PAGE

Hifl DOMESTIC LIFE 357

His own sketch of the Lee family — His youth and early manhood — Stratford — Life in Alexandria — Letter to hia old teacher — At West Point — His marriage — Arlington — Letters to his family — Incidents — Leaving Arlington — Life during the war — Letters from camp to his family — His home in Lexington — Letters.

OHAPTEK XI.

His LOVE FOE CHILDREN ........ 409

A number of pleasing incidents illustrating this.

CHAPTER XII.

His CHRISTIAN CHARACTER, ILLUSTRATED BY INCIDENTS, LETTERS, AND PERSONAL REMINISCENCES 415

CHAPTER XIII.

SKETCH OF HIS SICKNESS, DEATH, AND FUNERAL OBSEQUIES, BY COLONEL WILLIAM PRESTON JOHNSTON — AUTHOR'S CONCLU- SION 446

Appendix

SELECTIONS FROM EULOGIES ON GENERAL LEB .... 461 ADDRESS OF HON. J. P. HOLOOMBE . . . 485

REMINISCENCES OF GEN, ROBERT E. LEE,