Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee   By: Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870)

Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee

by Captain Robert E. 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