Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee by Captain Robert E. Lee, His SonOur objective is to make this site the WEB's most valuable source of Robert E. Lee material. For those that have asked for more in depth material, we present below an important source material, Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee, written by his son, in its entirety. Chapter headings
will take you to that chapter. There is perhaps no better single source to really understand General Robert E. Lee. 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 |